Hosts All Forced to Read Off a Script
How to write a podcast script is one of the biggest questions new podcasters enquire when recording their first episode. The all-time podcast episodes may audio like casual, free-flowing conversations, but that's due to the hours of preparation and planning the hosts do earlier hitting the tape button.
Ahead, we offering some all-time practices to get your started, whether you plan to prepare a discussion-for-word script or want to go out room for advert libbing. We'll give you a high level view of what a podcast script looks like, go over some tips to assist y'all write your starting time script, and discuss the 3 podcast formats that crave scripting for cohesive episodes.
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Podcast Script Outline Templates
When you write a podcast script, information technology helps to starting time with a bird's middle view of your show. This outline volition create a guide that keeps yous on rail and ensures you hitting all the right points. Information technology will also help you fix transitions and go everything in within the allotted time.
Hither's a sample of a podcast script template. Notice how it includes all of the important segments we listed above. In the instance of an interview podcast, supplant each topic with a question for your guest.
- Sponsor bulletin
- Introduction
- Musical jingle/audio effects
- Longer caption of what's in store
- Topic 1
- Master point
- Supporting point
- Supporting data
- Supporting quote
- Segue
- Topic 2
- Main point
- Supporting bespeak
- Supporting information
- Supporting quote
- Sponsor message
- Topic 3
- Main betoken
- Supporting bespeak
- Supporting data
- Supporting quote
- Segue
- Outro
- Telephone call to activeness
- Sponsor message
- Musical jingle/sound furnishings
Obviously your podcast script doesn't have to mirror that outline. Customize information technology to fit the needs of your show and your preferences.
Podcast Script Tips for Beginners
We recommend all newbies prepare some kind of podcast script before they hit record. Talking intelligently, smoothly, and clearly is challenging without exercise. During the recording, you lot can focus on your mechanics, like enunciating, removing filler words, and controlling your tone and volume. Over time, you lot'll be able to reduce your podcast script to a uncomplicated outline with notes.
Here are a few tips that will help you lot craft an engaging podcast script.
Keep it conversational
The biggest challenge of writing a podcast script is keeping it conversational. If you aren't careful, reading a podcast script tin lead to a flat, monotone delivery.
A lot of podcasters find it useful to speak their script (similar a rehearsal for their recording) with a speech-to-text tool open to dictate their words. This creates a natural pattern and puts your words on a page so you can read them during your recording. Just make certain to give information technology an edit to smooth out rough patches and include all your data. Google Docs has a gratuitous tool that comes in handy hither. You can fifty-fifty use this as your podcast transcript.
Utilize delivery notes
Another fox every adept podcast script includes are delivery notes. These are notes within your script that point pauses, emphasis, laughs, sighs, and other dramatic effects. These elements exhale life into your podcast script so information technology feels natural. Make sure to read your podcast script aloud with your delivery notes then they sound genuine.
Allow for some riffing
Simply considering you write a podcast script earlier your recording doesn't mean you are bound to information technology. Information technology's quite alright to become off script during your recording if you call back of something of import or valuable on the spot. If you decide yous don't like it, you can always edit it out subsequently.
That said, be mindful about going off on irrelevant tangents. If you add a bunch of fluff content to your recording, yous're just a waste material of fourth dimension in front of the microphone and you're editing software later.
Describe the scene
Podcasting is an sound medium, which ways our audience doesn't accept any visual cues. If you refer to something, similar an epitome, person, or video, make sure to draw it well so your listeners can film it in their heed. Your descriptions should be detailed and vibrant.
It sounds easy, simply this is a hard skill to master. You may discover it is odd to speak to people who aren't in the room who can't come across what you see. It may assistance to think of recording a podcast like talking to someone on the telephone.
This doesn't mean you need to give a detailed clarification of everything you say, just you'll desire to be aware of any concepts, images, or topics that need extra description for your listeners who are effectively blind.
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Maintain a reasonable footstep
The all-time podcast episodes maintain a consistent space that keeps listeners engaged. A good footstep is non as well fast and not as well ho-hum. There shouldn't be any long, unexplained pauses. And there shouldn't be any moments where you talk besides fast to exist understood.
Use segments and transitions to proceed your podcast script organized and assist listeners sympathize where they are in your episode. For instance, yous might split your episode into chapters with their ain titles, or turn your lessons into numbered steps or tips.
Write transition phrases into your podcast script to motion between segments. For case, you might say, "Now that you understand the importance of user information, let'southward talk about the tools you need to collect it."
Be yourself
You are a unique person with your ain personality. Information technology's much easier and more natural to be yourself than to try to be someone else, fifty-fifty if that someone else is a successful podcast. While it'southward useful to accept lessons from the pros, don't try to mimic them. Write a podcast script that serves your needs and shows off your personality.
Basic Podcast Script Segments With Templates
While every podcast script is unlike depending on which blazon of show y'all host, you'll want to prepare some standard segments ahead of time to make sure you lot hit all of your talking points. When it's time for your prepared content, simply read from your prepared segment, then dive back into your episode'due south unique podcast script.
Evidence introduction
A evidence'due south introduction has three key qualities: Information technology'south short, welcomes listeners to the episode, and includes a brief pitch about the podcast. Generally, you'll utilize the same script for each episode to consistently welcome listeners to your latest episode. The easiest intro to script follows this basic setup:
"Welcome to [podcast name], the show that [brief podcast pitch or tagline]. I'thou [host name] and today we're talking about [episode topic] with [guest name]. We likewise have a surprise guest for you lot at the end of the testify, so make sure you heed all the way through."
Invitee introductions
If you interview guests on your podcast, you don't want to fumble their name or credentials as they're introduced to the show. Writing out a basic introduction script volition ensure that you get information technology correct the first time. This is also a dandy opportunity to provide context effectually why your listeners should intendance about your guest's expertise. The introduction tin can exist every bit simple equally:
"Now it's fourth dimension to welcome [guest name] to [podcast proper noun]. She/he/they are here to [purpose of guest: provide expertise, respond questions, tell their story, etc.]. Hello, [guest first proper name], thanks for joining us."
Sponsor ad letters
The scripts for your sponsor's messaging will depend on how much control the make wants over their advertising placements. A sponsor may provide a discussion-for-word script you need to follow while others volition requite talking points where y'all can add together in conversational elements that are unique to your bear witness. In either scenario, you'll want to chart out exactly what to say so your ads audio natural, your listeners buy their products, and your sponsors proceed coming back.
"Today'south episode is brought to you by [sponsor name]. [Sponsor name] is [launch into the benefits of the sponsor'due south product or service and why the listener should purchase it].
Some sponsors volition supply you with a pre-written segment that they expect you to read on your show. These save you the trouble of writing your own segment, merely they may feel common cold and unengaging. Work with your sponsor to come up with a message that's right for your audience.
Show outro
Your outro is your opportunity to thank your guests for participating, recap what you lot discussed (and the value you gave your listeners), and thank your audience for their time, and announce upcoming episodes, events, or promotions.
"Make sure to join our Facebook group [proper name] if you haven't already where we break down this episode throughout the calendar week. Get your tickets to our live prove in [place] at our website [url] before they sell out."
Calls to Action (CTAs)
Your calls-to-action are a chance to ask for more listener support, from subscribing to the bear witness on Apple Podcasts or writing a review. These are of import for increasing podcast downloads.
The best CTAs audio authentic and emphasize how like shooting fish in a barrel information technology is to exercise the activeness you lot're asking of your audition. Remember, your CTA priorities will shift over time every bit you lot start selling merchandise or offering premium subscriptions and then y'all'll end upwards writing a few different scripts to fit each need. Here's a good place to start:
"Thanks for listening to [podcast name]. Earlier nosotros get, bear witness some dear for your favorite podcast by leaving united states a review on Apple Podcasts. Then stay tuned for side by side week where we [next episode'due south topic]."
Types Of Podcast Scripts With Templates
The type of bear witness you host is a big factor in whether you decide to write a podcast script. There are generally three types of podcast formats that are all-time served with a script.
1. Solo prove podcasts
If y'all host a podcast by yourself, it helps to prepare at least a bones outline earlier you start recording. You may find it difficult to come up with things to say for 30 or 45 minutes if you don't plan alee. But many solo shows write a complete word-for-word script of each episode. Once the script is finished, recording and editing are quick and painless.
If you decide to write merely notes for your podcast script, organize them in a logical guild that leads through your content. Get-go with a few section headers that include supporting data points and relevant anecdotes. Here's a sample of an outline from GothamCast.
Section headers represent the important topics or themes of your episode, helping y'all stay on runway to avoid forgetting of import points. Having this general outline too helps yous speak in an active, conversational tone that listeners observe engaging. As you proceeds experience recording from a basic outline, y'all'll find information technology creates some of the most natural sounding and authentic podcast episodes.
1 of the biggest advantages of hosting a solo show is you tin can do a lot of mail-production that other podcast formats can't. If you aren't happy with the way you said something, you can simply say it once again and cut out the mistake later, repeating this process until you're satisfied.
2. Interview prove podcast scripts
Interview-style podcast episodes by and large require more podcast script preparation compared to other formats for both you and the interviewee. As the host, it's important to know exactly what you'll enquire your invitee for two principal reasons.
Detailing a listing of questions and main talking points volition stimulate conversation, helping you avoid running out of things to say. If you cut the session short because you lot're unprepared, your invitee may not arrange another fourth dimension to record. Not but does this go out yous looking unprofessional, but you'll also end upwardly with a fractional episode.
2d, your guest likely has less podcast experience than yous, so they're non as comfortable thinking on their anxiety. Providing a list of questions and comments before the show allows them to ready the thoughts and anecdotes they want to share during the recording. Essentially, the more comfortable the guest, the more conversational the interview and so you create an amazing episode.
Create a listing of questions and topics that yous hope to address on your bear witness. Send them to your guest a few days before the recording so they have some time to set up their thoughts.
3. Co-Host show podcast script
When you lot work with a co-host, it's best to utilise a hybrid arroyo. Y'all'll desire to script some things, just go out other areas of your episode open for organic conversation.
Some organization beforehand will help you avoid some classic co-host mistakes, such every bit…
- Interrupting ane another. ("This is important and I want to mention information technology earlier you motility on.")
- Making the aforementioned argument your co-host made a moment ago.
- Talking and then long people forget your co-host is on the bear witness.
- Transitioning abruptly from i betoken to another.
Map out your episode with a basic outline (like you would for a solo show) and add supporting points, data, and anecdotes under each heading. Then tag each line detail with someone'southward name so you distribute the talking smoothly. You'll want to script and note who volition take intendance of the basic podcast segments of the episode too, like your bear witness'south introduction and CTAs.
Finally, add scripted transitions to your outlines. Questions are the easiest way to practise this, sort of similar you lot're interviewing each other. Hither's an case:
Jim: "…and that'south when the judge sends the jury to deliberate. How long would you say deliberation usually takes in a case like this?"
Mike: "It'due south tough to say, but I would expect at least iii hours. First, the courtroom has to re-explain the charges…"
Find how this script with a podcast script written for co-hosts leave space for each person to enter smoothly, and how each is given enough speaking time to make a point without crowding out the other person.
With a co-host, it'south important to remember to record each person on different tracks. This way you lot can edit your voices independently subsequently, saving you lot a few headaches and a lot of editing time.
Preparation Is Key
Preparation is a critical part of producing loftier quality podcast episodes. Writing a podcast script is a key mode to ensure your audio is clear, tight, and valuable for your listeners. You don't take to write out every give-and-take yous intend to say, but it'south important to accept notes for each episode to keep yous on track, specially if you lot're new to podcasting.
Do you create a podcast script for each episode? How detailed exercise y'all make information technology? Allow u.s.a. know in the comments!
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