Today we’ll explore how to create a great podcast, and what Grammar Girl and I have learned in our years of podcasting.
My launch as the Get-it-Done Guy came about as a guest appearance hosting the Grammar Girl podcast. That was 12 years ago this week! As I prepare to turn over the reins of the Get-it-Done Guy podcast to its incoming host, the talented and savvy Rachel Cooke, it seemed fitting to return to Grammar Girl and explore what we’ve learned from years behind the microphone.
1. Motivation and passion are the key to success
Know why you’re creating your podcast, and make sure it’s enough to keep you motivated. Creating a podcast is work, and creating one on a regular, consistent schedule is a lot of work. Make sure you’re devoted enough to see it through.
2. Practice reading from a script
You’d think reading from a script would be just like first grade—open up the text and read aloud. What you might not remember from first grade are the awkward pauses, the indrawn breaths, and the fact that you sounded like a first-grader reading out loud from a text.
A business colleague listened to my first few episodes and promptly said, "You sound like you’re reading from a script. Poorly.” They were right.
A business colleague listened to my first few episodes and promptly said, "You sound like you’re reading from a script. Poorly.” They were right. My reading was stilted. Better than a first-grader, yes, but nowhere near the quality level I’d need.
That doesn’t fly in a podcast. Reading from a script is a serious skill. Practice until you sound natural and engaging.
3. Try voice lessons
Make sure your voice sounds nice. A round, resonant voice works very well in an audio medium. If you don’t have that kind of a voice, you can get one! I didn’t have a beautiful, resonant voice, so I took voice lessons. When you learn vocal control, your vocal quality can improve dramatically.
4. Train yourself to read ahead
Next, learn to read ahead by a few words or a sentence. By knowing what’s coming next, you can adjust the tone of the sentence you’re in the middle of reading aloud so it will flow smoothly. Imagine the script:
It’s a wonderful day-
time soap opera
You might read the first line as a complete sentence and then stumble when you get to the second line and realize you were actually in the...
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