Resolving to Write for the Ear in 2023

“You’re such a good writer.”

Well, thanks.

We can’t tell you how often in our respective careers we’ve heard this comment from colleagues, supervisors, friends, family, etc.

And while it’s really a kind thing to say and while a compliment like this is always appreciated, here’s a little secret.

Being a good writer for a reader is quite different than being a good writer for a listener. And of course when you’re working in aural media – also known as podcasts and broadcasts – knowing how to write for a listener rather than for a reader is really important. You might almost even say…it’s vital.

So, here are four things you can do TODAY to start writing better stories for your listening audience.

First, go back to the beginning.

Remember when you were learning to read and write? You started with some of the building blocks – the basic stuff. The alphabet, for one thing. Basic punctuation for another.

And, as you started to learn to read and write, you probably started with short and easy to understand sentences.

I see the dog.
The cat is brown. 
The car is fast.

Well, keep that in mind when you’re thinking about stories to share on the air. Your listener cannot reread what you’re saying – you’ve got one chance to help them understand. So, keep it simple – as simple as possible. And, if you’re sharing a story with a lot of necessary details, well, make sure you’re repeating information often enough and reiterating your main point often enough that listeners can follow along.

Second, ask yourself – and answer! – who is listening…and why do they care?

When you know who your listeners are, why they are listening, and what their priorities are, well, you can craft language in a way that’ll hopefully appeal to them and engage with them. If you know your audience is of a certain age, for example, you know any references you make for an audience much older likely won’t be relevant. Here’s an example: does the very common reference to hearing classical music on Saturday morning cartoons still resonate with your current audience – or with the audience you’re trying to attract?

If the information isn’t relevant to your audience…why are you sharing it? If it’s necessary for your story, make sure you’re explaining it in a way that makes sense to your listeners.

Third, tell your story in order! As the song goes, “...start at the very beginning…a very good place to start!”

What happened first? Then what happened next? How about after that? And then? And finally, what happened?

Again, your listener can’t flip the pages back and reread the order of events in this particular tale. They’re relying on YOU to keep them on track – they’re relying on YOU to tell the story in a way they understand.

If your story jumps all over the place – and if you’re moving forward and backward in time like some of your favorite time traveling books – well, your listener won’t be able to follow you…they’ll lose interest…and they’ll tune out. And that’s not something you want to happen.

Finally, how does your story end? You might have an attention-grabbing beginning, an engaging middle with some action that your listener will really enjoy. But how does your story end? What’s the resolution? What’s the conclusion? Did they live happily ever after? Did it end in chaos? Did it lead to a new problem? Figure out HOW your story ends and make sure you share that ending with your listener.

There you have it. Four (easy? easyish?) ways to write a better story for your listener. What would YOU add?

And remember – need an extra pair of eyes to review your story? We’re here – and ready to work with you in 2023.