The parts of an episode
Most episodes follow the same shape.
- Cold open: a sentence or sound that makes the listener stay.
- Intro music.
- Welcome: show name, host, today's topic.
- Main part: two to four segments, each with one point.
- Wrap-up: the one thing to remember.
- Call to action: one instruction.
- Outro music.
Write or outline
Write out the opening, the transitions and the closing, because these set the pace. Outline the middle, so the delivery sounds like speech. Read aloud to check it sounds natural.
Mark it for the editor
Add notes the editor can use: pronunciation of names, where music should come in, passages that can be cut, and the target length.
A simple template
Title. Length. One-sentence promise. Cold open. Segment one: point, example, transition. Segment two: point, example, transition. Wrap-up. Call to action. Notes for the editor.
When not to script
Interviews and panels work better with questions than a script. See interview questions.