When you’re new to something, it’s easy to get lost. And when you’re new to podcasting, things can turn left quickly. That’s because podcasting is such a new medium that not many people have a full grasp of it. Most have no idea what they are doing. One of the first questions many people have about podcasting is how much effort should go into pre-production. How much research, note-taking, and scripting are involved in the entire process. Some people write out complete scripts, while others have a topic and go with the flow. What’s the best way for you? That’s what we’re going to discuss today. Before you press the rec button, read this article, and learn how to write a good podcast script. You mainly have three options, and the first one is…
Podcast Script Option #1: Word-By-Word Approach
People who’ve never run a show before usually start by writing thorough scripts before recording. And then sticking to the podcast script word-for-word during the recording session. If this is the case for you, be prepared for some creative writing. The word-by-word approach is also great if you’re not confident in your memory. Sticking to the podcast script will allow you to talk without worrying about not covering everything you wanted during the initial brainstorming session. This technique is obviously good for interviews. However, the approach isn’t perfect by any means. There’s a chance you’ll sound too stiff while recording. Your delivery may be monotone while you’re reading the podcast script. This could potentially take all of the personality out of your podcast and leave the listener bored.
Podcast Script Option #2: Highly-Detailed Episode Plan
On the other hand, if you don’t want to write every sentence, you can still create a highly detailed plan. You can include all of the topics you want to talk about and a few sentences about each. Furthermore, you can include references, quotes, and other pieces of information that need to be precise in your episode plan. If you want to talk about specific news stories, you can simply include the basic information about the news and link to the article you want to read. If you’re afraid of forgetting your talking points, this is a good comprise. A detailed plan allows you to talk about specific topics without forgetting while sounding as natural as possible. The approach is best for people who don’t want to overwork themselves with preparation.
Podcast Script Option #3: Loose Plan With Bullet Points
And if you really don’t want to sound like you’re reading cue cards, you have an option to create an open plan and go off the top of your head for long periods. Just write down a few headers, put the rest in bullet points, and you’re ready. The headers will tell you what topics need to be covered in that single episode, and the bullet points will inform you about specifics. Due to its unscripted nature, this approach is what podcast listeners find the most engaging when done right. For people with no experience, this approach can be problematic because you can forget to cover many things. What’s more, there’s a chance you’ll go off-topic, which will leave your editor with a ton of job trying to piece together a cohesive episode.
Final Thoughts
Different people have different habits in life. Some podcasters enjoy having everything written down and planned out before they start talking into a microphone. Others enjoy going off the cuff and improvising through the recording process. You can pick whatever style you feel will suit your personality. As you record more and more, you’ll gain confidence and be able to go through the writing/recording process seamlessly.
