When writing for audio, there are several things to keep in mind that don’t matter as much in written texts. Unlike reading, listeners don’t have the text in front of them and must follow the pace of the speaker. Podcast listening is usually a secondary activity — we listen while cooking, cleaning, jogging — and the environment can easily cause distraction. Our focus while listening is therefore lower than while reading. That’s why it’s essential to adapt texts for audio formats accordingly. The following rules should be observed when writing for listening:
Short sentences
Long sentences must be broken up, otherwise listeners get lost in a tangle of subordinate clauses. When speaking, more than one subordinate clause is rarely necessary. One important piece of information per sentence is enough.
Avoid passive constructions
In written texts, a balanced mix of active and passive voice is common. In spoken language, it’s different. Passive constructions often disrupt the natural flow of speech and should be replaced with active ones.
Example: “When speaking, attention should be paid to a natural flow of speech.”
Better: “When speaking, we pay attention to a natural flow of speech.”
More verbs, fewer nouns
Verbs convey action — they carry the story, unlike the nouns. Therefore, as many pieces of information as possible should be expressed through verbs.
Make numbers understandable
Numbers often feel abstract even in written texts. When listening, they can be easily missed because everything moves quickly and the next piece of information follows immediately. Therefore:
- Make numbers comparable using familiar references (e.g., football fields).
- Round percentages (half instead of 50 percent).
- Leave out numbers entirely if they are not essential.
Explain terms
If jargon, rare foreign words, or specialized terminology appear, an explanation must follow immediately. Even better: replace the term with a simpler, more common word — as long as the meaning doesn’t change.
Repetition is OK — and important
Unlike written text, listeners cannot flip back a page or scroll up to reread something. Most podcast apps have rewind functions, but listeners rarely use them, unless for skipping the ads. Therefore, it’s helpful to summarize content at appropriate points for example at the end of a section. Word repetition is even recommended. Avoid synonyms, which are common in journalistic writing. Using the same word strengthens focus and reduces confusion.
The speaking test
The text is finished and ready for recording — but one important step remains: the speaking test. Before recording, read the text out aloud. Almost always, you’ll notice small issues that work well in writing but not when spoken. Reading aloud reveals passages that are too long, too complex, too clunky — or ones that can simply be removed. It’s advisable to revise the text two or three times.
As the saying goes:
Write without fear, edit without mercy.
— Rogena Mitchell-Jones
Now you’re ready to start writing your podcast scripts — have fun and good luck!
If you have further questions about podcasting, send us an email to: anfrage@podcastwerkstatt.com
