7 Useful Tips to Create Storytelling Podcasts

  • Diana Aghumyan
  • June 08, 2023
  • 10 min read

Narrative podcasts, unlike interview podcasts, are story-driven podcasts. Compared to other podcast formats, narrative podcasts are more difficult to create. You need to come up with an interesting story, write a script, revise it several times, make sure it has a clear structure, and add music or sound effects to leave a long-lasting impression on your listeners.

However, it does not mean you should give up on storytelling podcasts. With the right tips and recommendations, you can easily get started and share compelling stories with your podcast fans.

So, if you are serious about narrative podcasts and want to try a new podcast format for your show but don’t know where to start, you are in the right place. In today’s article, we will walk you through some effective tips to make good storytelling podcasts.

Fictional Vs. Non-Fictional Storytelling Podcasts

1. Fictional Storytelling Podcasts

These are fictional stories told throughout several episodes. Some are narrated by a single voice. Others include several voice actors and sound effects. These podcasts, like TV shows, tell their tales by using climaxes, tension, and cliffhangers.

The latest studies show that 9% of Americans like long fictional storytelling podcasts that tell a story through several series. As you can see, stories are a great way to attract new listeners to your show.

This is an excellent format for those who enjoy creating characters, interesting stories, and diving into fictitious worlds.

Below you can find some advantages of fictional storytelling podcasts.

  • If you manage to create compelling stories, your audience is likely to stick to your show and wait for each episode impatiently.
  • This is not a very popular podcast format, so there is no fierce competition among other podcasts.
  • There is no need to be stressed about factual accuracy, as everything you tell is made up.

Below are some of the disadvantages of fictional narrative podcasts

  • As all episodes are connected to one another, you need to plan your whole “season” ahead of time.
  • This is an unsuitable format for people who are not creative enough.
  • It’s not a common format, so building an audience will be time-consuming.

2. Non-Fictional Storytelling Podcasts

Nonfiction story podcasts are based on true events. You may talk about a famous historical event or report the news.

This is a great audio format for anyone who wants to learn something new. You have the opportunity to introduce people to new ideas, phenomena, and events.

Below you can find some of the advantages of non-fictional storytelling podcasts.

  • There is a variety of topics to choose from and talk about in your podcasts.
  • This podcast format is quite addictive for listeners who want to learn more about a particular topic.

Here are some of the disadvantages of non-fictional narrative podcasts

  • It’s difficult to abide by a consistent publishing schedule as some episodes take longer than others to create.
  • You should know what you’re talking about.
  • This podcast format is time-consuming, especially when it comes to doing thorough research.

What Makes a Good Storytelling Podcast?

The power of narrative podcasts is their ability to build deep connections with the listeners. A well-crafted plot can take your audience on an engaging “trip.”

So, what makes a good story podcast?

  • It is thoroughly researched.
  • They evoke emotions
  • They have multiple guests or contributors per episode
  • They’re never stable; each episode brings in new ideas, characters, perspectives, and so on.
  • They usually lack a chronological structure.
  • They’re not too long – usually up to 30 minutes (however, they can last longer, too)

If your storytelling podcast has all the above-mentioned elements, then you can be sure that your podcast will gain traction.

How to Create Storytelling Podcasts: 7 Tips to Follow for Success

1. Pick a Concept

You need to write a phrase that best describes the idea behind your narrative podcast. Once you decide on it, you need to align everything with the concept you have chosen. It can undergo some modifications as you progress.

To write a sentence that best summarizes the idea of your storytelling podcast, ask yourself the following questions.

  • What is it about?
  • Are there other podcasts similar to yours?
  • How will it stand out in the competition?

Answering these questions can help you pick a concept that is unique and outstanding enough to make listeners tune in and find out more.

2. Structure Your Episodes

Podcasts that tell a story usually follow a certain structure. This might help you decide what themes to cover in your episode. You can’t go wrong with a simple framework.

Below are five common elements of a good storytelling podcast structure:

  • Setting: A setting is about when and where the story takes place.
  • Characters: Your plot revolves around several characters. So, make sure to choose a few key characters that are significant to your story.
  • Plot: This should enable your listeners to understand what your story is about.
  • Conflict: If there are no hardships to overcome, there is no story. So, include a conflict in your script.
  • Theme:  The theme is the opinion you want to express about a particular aspect of a specific subject, whether it’s money, love, or something else.

3. Write a Script

Once you are done with structuring your script, you are all set to write a script. At this point, you can write down anything that comes to your mind. If you don’t like anything, you can change it later. For now, use your creativity and use all the ideas you have.

Take some breaks. You cannot work efficiently without resting. Once you are full of energy, resume working. This way, you can clear your mind. Besides, there is a chance that new ideas can come to your mind while walking, eating, playing video games, or doing something else.

4. Edit Your Script

After you have a first draft of the plot, you should not rush to think it is the best version. Instead, you need to edit your script several times. Ask yourself if it is the best approach to deliver the message and whether there are any missing characters. Or, you might have added too many details that should be removed.

By thinking about these questions, you will be able to reveal the pain points of your script and find solutions to improve your story.

5. Record Your Podcasts

Once your script is ready and it has undergone all the necessary revisions, it is time to record it.

To begin, you need to find a comfortable and quiet place. You also need to make sure to get rid of all distractions that can prevent you from recording a good-quality podcast.

Two smiling young men recording a podcast

After finding an appropriate place where you can freely record podcasts, make sure to invest in good recording equipment. But don’t worry. It should not be too pricey. You can achieve great quality with a cost-effective mic too.

6. Edit

Editing a storytelling podcast can be daunting, but with proper editing software, it will be easier to enhance your podcast quality. After learning how to edit a podcast, you will be able to trim and cut some unwanted parts.

Make sure to use sound effects and music too. They can help to set the tone of the episode and keep your audience engaged. You can pick a sound relevant to the context. If it is a sad moment, you might want to add some dramatic sound effects. Or, if it is a happy moment, add some lively music.

This way, you can make sure your podcasts are engaging and captivating enough.

7. Share

Once you are done with recording and editing your storytelling podcasts, it is high time to share them on different platforms.

It is not enough to create podcasts that tell a story. You should also let people know that such podcasts exist and social media is the best way to attract more listeners to your show.

You can share them on your website and podcast-hosting platforms like Spotify. This way, you can make sure your podcast reaches a wider audience.

Social media icons - share concept

Don’t forget to share your podcasts on social media platforms. YouTube is a great place to share your podcasts and attract new fans to your show. If your story is engaging enough, the YouTube algorithm will definitely work in your favor, and your podcast will gain a lot of views, likes, shares, and comments.

YouTube is not the only place to share your platforms. There are other powerful social media channels like Instagram and TikTok. Those are more visual platforms, so you can share some snippets of your podcasts and leave a link to your podcasts, so people can tune in to learn more.

Summary

Even though storytelling podcasts are more difficult to start compared to other podcast formats, you can still achieve great success. All you need is to have creative ideas and use your imagination to create stories that evoke emotions and make your fans stick to your show.

We hope the above-mentioned tips will help you to get started and create your own storytelling podcasts.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

SEO Content Writer

Diana Aghumyan

 

Diana is an experienced creative SEO content writer at SayNine. She is passionate about writing and giving value to people with her articles. Her blogs revolve around advertising, digital marketing, and other similar topics.