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Here are all the short yet important topics that don't justify their own episode, yet make a difference for writers. Ever wondered what truly stops creative writers from finishing their audio dramas? It's the invisible barriers we construct for ourselves. For our season finale, we tackle those stubborn obstacles head-on, offering practical solutions to help you move your scripts from perpetual development into production.

Money concerns often top the list of excuses, but we challenge the notion that compelling audio drama requires significant funding. Some of the most gripping stories focus on intimate human relationships rather than elaborate productions. We explore how to craft scripts that match your available resources while maintaining creative integrity.

Perhaps the most insidious barrier is our emotional attachment to our work. We lovingly but firmly remind you that "your script is not a baby"—treating it as precious and untouchable prevents necessary growth and revision. Through personal stories of creative "disasters" that ultimately strengthened our craft, we demonstrate why finishing projects and embracing feedback matters more than perfection.

We also dive into practical advice for crafting podcast descriptions that entice listeners, approaching producers with your work, and finding community members who will hold you accountable. The audio drama world is filled with creators eager to collaborate—you simply need to connect with them.

Remember: the biggest obstacles to creating great audio drama exist primarily in your mind, and we're here to help you overcome them.

Get the scoop on audio drama news, opportunities, creative resources and more with The Fiction Podcast Weekly newsletter. For more info, visit The Podcast Host's Fiction Podcast Weekly.

Want to get in touch? You can send us a text message with the link at the top, email us at writersadwit@gmail.com, join our Discord server, or visit our website at adwit.org.

Share the love. Please write a review on Podchaser or on Apple Podcasts.

Thank you!

Sarah and Lindsay

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Table reads are an essential tool for audio drama writers to hear their work aloud and gather feedback for improvement before production. The process helps identify issues with dialogue, pacing, and storytelling that may not be apparent on the page.

• Type of table reads: in-person versus video conferencing, each with benefits and challenges
• Finding participants: seek people with strong reading comprehension, not necessarily professional actors
• Preparation: provide scripts 24+ hours in advance, include pronunciation guides if needed
• Technical considerations: choose appropriate platforms, plan for time zones, prepare for technical hiccups
• Soliciting feedback: use the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process for constructive critique
• Handling feedback: distinguish between actionable feedback and unhelpful criticism
• Rewriting process: take a break after the read, consider rewriting from memory
• Celebrating completion: recognize the achievement of finishing a draft and braving feedback

Send us your table read experiences at writersadwit@gmail.com and join our Discord to continue the conversation! Ah Gwan!

Thank you for listening! We would love your support in getting this to folks so please do share it - and also….review! We truly hope these episodes are useful - email us on writersadwit@gmail.com with any thoughts or suggestions with our hearty thanks!

Remember to #CelebrateTheWin!

Happy writing!

Sarah and Lindsay

Links mentioned in the show

Julie Hoverson’s Discord group for reading scripts

Sivan Raz Director

Liz Lerman critical response process

Conference Connection tools

ALITU

Cleanfeed

Zoom

Riverside

Discord

Squadcast

Google Meet

Get the scoop on audio drama news, opportunities, creative resources and more with The Fiction Podcast Weekly newsletter. For more info, visit The Podcast Host's Fiction Podcast Weekly.

Want to get in touch? You can send us a text message with the link at the top, email us at writersadwit@gmail.com, join our Discord server, or visit our website at adwit.org.

Share the love. Please write a review on Podchaser or on Apple Podcasts.

Thank you!

Sarah and Lindsay

Click here to tell us what you think!

Hello!

We continue our chat with...

• Brendon Connelly of Circles
• Emily Inkpen of Alternative Stories and The Dex Legacy
• Flloyd Kennedy of Am I Old Yet? and Baked Off!
• Shannon K. Perry of Oz 9 and Audiotocracy Podcast Production

.... about their writing tools of choice for audio drama scripts. Some strategies to keep in your back pocket:

• Pronunciation guides with bold words in scripts help actors with difficult or made-up words
• Voice actors need clear notation for vocalizations (grunts, sighs, gasps) or they won't exist in the audio world
• Creating banks of reaction sounds provides useful resources for editing
• The importance of actors truly listening rather than just waiting to deliver their lines
• Audio drama is arguably "the most visual medium" because it creates images in listeners' minds
• Research shows listeners have stronger physiological responses to audio than visual media
• Remote recording challenges include actors working at 2AM when it's quiet enough
• Modern audio scripts need better notation systems for sound design elements like "helmet on/off"
• Writing tool preferences vary widely: Google Docs for collaboration, index cards for structure visualization
• Color coding scenes helps track tension levels and plot arcs throughout episodes

Contact us at writersadwit@gmail.com with your preferred writing tools and experiences and to share any thoughts on these episodes or ping us a review! Thank you!

Tools discussed and listed in the show

SCRIVENER - £50

GOOGLE DOCS - FREE

CELTX - $240 FOR 2 ‘SEATS’

Get the scoop on audio drama news, opportunities, creative resources and more with The Fiction Podcast Weekly newsletter. For more info, visit The Podcast Host's Fiction Podcast Weekly.

Want to get in touch? You can send us a text message with the link at the top, email us at writersadwit@gmail.com, join our Discord server, or visit our website at adwit.org.

Share the love. Please write a review on Podchaser or on Apple Podcasts.

Thank you!

Sarah and Lindsay