Writing Scripts For Radio
The Answer Is Only One Phone Call Away by Catherine Franz
Here is a method that I love using when the words just don’t seem
to flow. I use it mainly when I want to write copy for my web site,
however, there are other uses. I will let your creative juices flow on
how you can use it to support your life.
Sometimes I have so much going on in my mind and sometimes I
have very little going on in it too (chuckle). When this occurs and I
need to get my thoughts or ideas down on paper, even if the page is
blank, or even if I have words are there but they have run out of
steam, I call a friend.
Or sometimes I call my coach. Sometimes I place the call to a
business associate. It all depends on the project or desired
outcome.
I ask them to play a role. Here are a few of my favorite roles:
* Be a master listener (ML). All they do is listen to me as I work
towards finding the right words, right points, or what I am missing.
I ask them to make notations and comment at the end.
* Spinner. If I want them to be my spinner, I ask them to play with
me and spin off ideas on the topic. This is similar to masterminding
but with a new twists. A spinner is great when exploring a title for
an article.
* Devil’s Advocate. They provide opposite feedback. The DA
acts just as a legal DA does. Usually all negative or what could or
did go wrong — why it will not work or how will some people
perceive or react to it. This helps to see viewpoints you would not
normally see or to find points you had not thought of to mention in
your copy.
* Guardian Angel. All of us need praise. I am no different. The
GA shares only what is good. Okay, this may be a stretch for you
and you may not see how it really works, however, it does.
Normally, the experience is hindsight based. This one works well
when procrastination is playing in your ballpark.
I highly recommend recording the conversation so that both of you
can be fully present in your roles. How to record the conversation
depends on which role you use.
For the ML role — the master listener. I record only my side of the
conversation. I lay the recorder next to me and forget it is there.
Afterwards, I transcribe the conversation almost for verbatim.
For the spinner role, I record both sides of the conversation. I have
a recorder connected to my phone and computer system. Of
course, have their permission.
For the DA and GA roles, I record both sides but I don’t need to
transcribe. I like taking listening to the tape or CD sitting in the
park or a caf¨¦. For each DA’s point I freewrite for 10-15 minutes
to flush out the important elements for the copywriting material or
article that I am creating. Afterwards I reuse the tape or CD-RW,
or erase it from my computer. For the guardian angel, I play the
tape over again a few times to keep me motivated and then erase it
when I am done.
This exercise works best for me when I am producing copywriting
material, writing my Radio Scripts, or producing product descriptions
for clients or myself. There are definitely more uses I am sure you
will be able to branch off with this.
Once you begin using this, you will find these people wanting to
reciprocate. It is highly contagious. As you will find out, because I
have, that even when the door swings the other dire
About the Author
Catherine Franz, business and writing coach, resides in
Virginia and is a syndicated columnist, radio producer and
talk show host of the “Let’s Talk Marketing” show, International
speaker, and author. Ezines and other articles:
http://www.abundancecenter.com
http://www.LetsTalkMarketingShow.com
Marshall McLuhan Speaks – Media Changes Us
