4 Chapter Three: Planning
Jack Derochers; Dee McKinney; and Katherine Carlsrud
Chapter 3: Planning
Good podcasts begin with intriguing ideas. Podcasts continue because of good planning, understanding the audience, and quality. This chapter looks at the prework of creating an idea and completing the complete first draft script.
Topic Ideation
Topic ideation is the process of generating topics for podcasting content. It involves brainstorming, researching, and exploring various subjects or themes that are relevant for the target audience. The goal of topic ideation is to come up with a compelling idea that resonates with listeners and align with the content objectives set out. In the case of this class, the audience for most students were wildlife professionals and stakeholders; their approach to the script was nonfiction storytelling.
The following techniques are especially useful for small groups; several can also work well for individuals. For students who want to work online, synchronously or asynchronously, we recommend something like a Zoom whiteboard, a Jamboard, or Figma. If you generate many ideas, use a system such as placing dots to upvote your favorites.
- Mind Mapping: Start with a central concept or problem and create a visual diagram branching out into related ideas. Use keywords, images, and colors to represent different concepts and connections.
- Random Word Association: Select a random word and associate it with your problem or challenge. Generate ideas based on the word’s characteristics or any connections you can make between them.
- Rolestorming: Assign participants different roles or perspectives related to the problem. Encourage them to think from that perspective and generate ideas accordingly. This technique helps to break away from habitual thinking patterns.
- Silent Brainstorming: Provide each participant with sticky notes or index cards and give them time to write down their ideas silently. Then, collect and display the ideas for further discussion and exploration.
Outline of Script
Once the brainstorming has reached a point of saturation, where no major new ideas are emerging, spend some time sorting through the ideas generated. If a writer has used sticky notes or a similar method, pull the notes into the pieces of a podcast outline discussed in Chapter 2 (i.e. the intro, the content, the outro). The following example of ideation for an Athens foodie podcast illustrates the process.
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Rough Drafts
Our thought on podcast script writing is that no matter how bad the initial draft, it’s best to create something to work from, rather than have a blank page. Even doodles and random ideas can lead to inspiration. In a time crunch, students may be tempted to skip the rough draft. This is unfortunate. That rough draft is every bit as important as the final, polished version. Here are some reasons we think rough drafts are vital to a good podcast script:
- Continue the Brainstorm: Using your initial ideas, organize th