Alright, so I’ve been wanting to share this for a bit. I recently dived into trying to write a serial podcast script. It was quite a ride, let me tell you.
Getting Started – The Spark
It all began because I was listening to so many of these story-driven podcasts. You know the type, the ones that keep you hooked episode after episode. I thought to myself, “Hmm, I wonder what goes into making one of these?” The idea just kind of stuck in my head, and I figured, why not give it a shot? I like telling stories, and this seemed like a new way to do it.
The Messy Middle – Brainstorming and Outlining
First things first, I just let my brain go wild. I grabbed a notepad – yeah, good old pen and paper – and started jotting down any and all ideas. Themes, characters, potential plot points, even just snippets of dialogue. It was a real jumble at first. Lots of “what ifs” and “maybes.”
Once I had a pile of notes, I realized I needed some structure. A serial podcast isn’t just one long story; it’s broken into chunks. So, I started thinking about episodes. How many would there be? What would be the main focus of each one? I tried to think about a hook for the beginning of each episode and definitely a cliffhanger or something to make people want to come back for the next one. This part was tricky, trying to balance giving enough information without giving away too much too soon.
- I sketched out a basic arc for the whole series.
- Then I tried to break that arc into individual episode plots.
- I kept asking myself: “Why would someone keep listening?”
Putting Pen to Paper (or Fingers to Keyboard)
Then came the actual writing. This is where the real work started. I decided on a main narrator’s voice first, because that felt like the backbone of the whole thing. I tried to make it conversational, like someone was telling you a story directly. I spent a good amount of time just getting the tone right.
For each episode, I’d start with my outline and then just begin writing the script. I included not just the narration, but also placeholders for where sound effects or music might go. For example, I’d write something like: [SOUND of footsteps on gravel, fades under narration]. It helped me visualize – or rather, audiolize – how it might come together.
Dialogue was another big thing. If there were characters speaking, I tried to make them sound distinct. I’d read the lines out loud to see if they sounded natural. You’d be surprised how different something looks on the page versus how it sounds when spoken.
Revising and Tweaking
Oh boy, the first draft was… rough. But that’s okay, right? That’s what first drafts are for. I let it sit for a few days, then came back to it with fresh eyes. I read through the whole thing, looking for plot holes, awkward phrasing, or parts that just dragged on too long. I did a lot of cutting and rewriting. It’s like sculpting; you chip away at it until it starts to take the shape you want.
I also shared a couple of episode scripts with a friend who’s also into these kinds of podcasts. Getting that outside perspective was super valuable. They pointed out a few things I hadn’t even considered, places where things weren’t clear, or where the tension could be ramped up.
What I Ended Up With
So, after all that, I have a complete multi-episode script. It’s not perfect, I’m sure, but it’s a thing! A whole story, laid out and ready. The process was challenging, for sure. Way more work than I initially thought. Keeping track of all the threads, making sure the pacing was right for an audio format, it was a lot to juggle.
But honestly, it was also incredibly satisfying. Seeing those initial scribbled notes turn into a full-fledged story that you could imagine listening to? Pretty cool. I learned a ton about storytelling specifically for audio, and how different it is from, say, writing a short story or a novel. It’s all about what the listener hears.
Would I do it again? Yeah, I think so. Maybe after a bit of a break though! For now, I’m just chuffed I saw this one through from a random idea to a finished script.
