Storyscaping

I'll admit it: I'm wiped out! But I wanted to leave you all with a final bit of encouragement before I break for the summer, so after some introductory remarks, here's the rough script to another trailer idea I worked on. Can you hear the difference in the sound? The "sonic ID" I recorded with the Shurt SM7b, and had Katie's help making me sound my best. The middle bit I recorded with the Shure MV...

What is it that gives narrative podcasting its unique power for intimate connection with listeners? In previous episodes, we talked about two key elements: words (scriptwriting and editing), and the voice (recording and narration). In this episode, we talk about the third key element: music.  .......... Show notes:   I ran out of time to list these in the episode, but had a whole thread on Voxer w...

How do you explain your job to a kid? How do our career choices affect who we become as people? And how do our day jobs shape our approach to personal creative projects? If you've ever faced these questions yourself — or were just dying to hear about working in corporate marketing — this one's for you.  .......... Show notes: Thanks to the generous contributors to Freesound.org for two key sounds...

Are you working on your narrative podcast with the hope that winning an Ambie or hitting a million downloads will make you happy? Let's take a few minutes to think about it. I'm inspired by a very successful friend to mull over why we do creative work, how we deal with critics, and what creative living can look like.  ……………. Show notes:   Sometimes you have to let idea rest and then come back to i...

What happens when you try to write an entire ten-minute podcast script without using is, am, are, and were? What happens when you follow a rule (and a profession) that encourages brevity above all else? What happens when you're afraid you don't have any big ideas? Listen and find out.  .......... Show notes: This script started as an early-morning creative constraint free write (avoiding forms of...

What's your timeline for developing as a creator? How long does it take to become a "master" as painting, podcasting, or another art form? A humorous commute moment inspired this reflection on the creative journey, with some perspective on being patient with ourselves and motivation.  .......... Show notes: Making-of note: most of my episodes begin as text documents, but for this one, I recorded a...

Have you ever had an argument with your partner or roommate about loading the dishwasher, straightening up the living room, or how you handle some other household task? Does your spouse's habit of doing _______ drive you crazy? This episode's for you. For this one, we go into our basement, get a look at a little family history, and emerge with some helpful observations for tackling big creative pr...

Years ago, I was trying to get into advertising, but failing, so I ended up doing manual labor for a while instead. It was a dirty, frustrating, paid-in-cash period — but resulted in some valuable life skills, and a perfect illustration for a universal story structure you can put to use in scriptwriting for your narrative podcast.  In the first half of the episode, I tried to recreate a rich sense...

Are you grieving something? Do you doubt your parenting when your kids have a hard time? Are you seeing younger generations going through the same things you did (or did to others)? This one's for you.  .......... A better recording of Pacific Boychoir Academy singing the national anthem (and other videos) Graph of time with kids Another favorite  national anthem scene (beauty transcending a sligh...

Do you ever struggle to avoid distraction when you're supposed to be writing? Or do you have a dog? This episode's for you. My daughter's recent dog-sitting gig gives me a great prompt for the challenges of "staying on the sidewalk" when scriptwriting, sharing some of my typical distractions, and then passing on my most valuable practice for staying on task.  ………. Show notes: Muttville — adoption...

So you came here to make a great narrative podcast — but what about a more creative life? Checking that big thing off your creative bucket list? Should you try for a heroic effort, like NaNoWriMo, or just try to peck away, 15 minutes a day? In this episode, we get into that. (Spoiler alert? Yes.) .......... Show notes:  First Person Story (with links to other live storytelling events) Elizabeth Gi...

Have you ever struggled with putting more of yourself into your job than it's giving you back? Or do you have a somewhat-creative day job that leaves you with little creative energy left for your writing and podcasting? This episode's for you. In this personal essay inspired by the "iceberg technique" of Ernest Hemingway, I reflect on a lesson about "guarding my heart" that it took me way too long...

Are you in this just for a project — or are you in this for life? In this episode, I learn a gardening-inspired lesson for long-term creative growth and sustainability — a lesson that's countercultural in our always-on society.  .......... Show notes:  The Wheel of Life exercise (scroll down a bit) Shelter in Place episode Productivity Unhacked Thanks to freesound.org and soundbible.com contributo...

What happens when you put your usual writing blueprints aside, and just let yourself play with language? I find out on my birthday morning, when I free-write my way to a David Foster Wallace-esque reflection on global manufacturing, thinking about aging, and how we want to spend our fleeting days.  .......... Show notes: David Foster Wallace's essay collection Consider the Lobster Our scriptwritin...

Many great writers and podcasters say how important it is to edit your work to make it better—but after you have a draft script, how do you know what to keep, and what to cut? Beginning with trip back in time, Nate shares a dead-simple script and audio editing practice he uses every single episode to help his creative babies grow up into healthy episodes.  .......... Show notes: For more on editin...

Why is it so important to make a trailer for your narrative podcast, and not just regular episodes? Nate explains in this episode, and then gives a checklist of the five things a great trailer will do.  .......... Show notes: Hear some sample podcast trailers from graduates of our online course and workshops How do you triage audio? Or what's your editing ethos? Check out this post for my 15-step...

A narrative podcast begins with a script, then ends with audio editing and sound design, but what's the all-important middle step? Recording and narration — but what's so special about narration? Why is embracing and discovering your "podcast voice" so important? Nate reflects on his own journey with narration and his own voice, and shares a handful of tips to help you find your own voice as a pod...

What can we learn about narrative podcasting by dropping our kids off at school? An important lesson, as it turns out. Join Nate to hear about the one-in-eight-billion spark inside each of us, and how to bring that to our recording studio.  .......... Show notes:  Scientific American article on how clothing influences our mindset I don't have a sequinned t-shirt, but I do have a sweatshirt with an...

Lots of us meet our partners online these days, and have a happy, fulfilling relationship. But what's not so fulfilling for listeners who are looking for a story when they ask how we met? That common three-word answer: "we met online." After hearing that several times, I realized there was something missing in terms of story elements — and there's a lesson here for all of us writing podcast script...

What makes us who we are as creators? Is it where we grew up, the books we read, movies we watch, friends we keep, musicians we admire? Yes, and it's also something else — as Nate realized during a painful trip to the dentist. In this episode, we share a redeeming perspective on the hard things we go through, and the value our scars can have for connecting with others.  .......... Show notes: * Ho...

How does a narrative podcast begin? With a script. In this impassioned episode, I try to uncover what it is about creative writing that is so important — both for ourselves, and for our listeners. .......... Our Narrative Foundations scriptwriting & editing workshop Anne Lamott's wonderful creative writing memoir, Bird by Bird .......... Who is Storyscaping for? It's for all of you who are dedicat...

What can manual labor teach us about the creative process? Turns out — a lot, as I find out the hard way one week at the cabin in northern Minnesota. Ten quick tips about narrative podcasting (which also apply to other types of creative work, with an intro reflection on family and priorities).  .......... Show notes: * Scrubbing the boards: more on  script writing and editing * Punch up your podca...

What is it that makes narrative podcasting special compared to other art forms like writing, singing, or photography? Intimacy. But how do we create that sense of intimacy as podcasters? In today's episode, we suggest an answer to that question, reflecting on a distracted, noisy world, and how we can create the emotional connections we're all seeking.  .......... Show notes: Sherry Turkle's TED ta...

Storycaping started as mini teaser episodes to answer questions for prospective students — but as I kept working on it, I realized it had to answer questions for me. A reflection on creative motivation, long gestation processes, hopes and aspirations, and why I believe narrative podcasting is special. (Also: types of episodes we'll have here, and what you can expect from the show.) .......... Show...

Do you want to create an unforgettable narrative podcast — and a more creative life? Welcome to Storyscaping: with bite-size personal essays and proven creative practices, we'll uncover the contours of the story inside you. .......... Show notes:  Katie Semro , composer and sound designer Shelter in Place , the 200-episode narrative podcast that got us here Post about the question, " Why should I...