Over the past few years, working on audio documentaries has become a passion and a joy. Being freelance has allowed me to source stories, serve unheard voices, and create a systematic and holistic approach to my craft. Rather than churning out content week by week, I can go deeper into my research and sources and take the time with each voice rather than hurry the scripts into production.
On the other hand,
I have no idea where my next documentary will come from. The ideas, leads, questions, and curiosities that develop into a story worth hearing and telling do not just suddenly land on my desk, ready to go.
I Listen & Watch
I pay attention to everything around me. What are people going through? What topics are rising to the surface? Who is not feeling heard? What is surprising? What is unsurprising? Who is angry? Who is hurt? Who is heard from often? Who is heard from rarely?
I discern
Often, a story that needs to be told will become something I have underlined repeatedly. A collection of screenshots on my phone or a thought I have written down more than once. It becomes louder in my head until I intuit deeply there is something there.
I listen again
I go back to my notes and screenshots and re-read and observe the snippets of a story I have accidentally collected over time.
I Get curious
I wonder aloud to myself, the internet, and books at large if other people know about ‘this.’ I write down what I believe would give me answers. I drop the topic in relevant conversations and see if it raises more thoughts. I consider what the format might be, stumble into voices, and start to ask to talk to them to approach this new story.
I ask questions
I ask more questions and begin to discern which voice has the answers, perspectives or ideas I still need to include.
I listen again
I listen to them and set up times to record.
I record.
I hold space for their story.
I listen again.
I listen back, transcribing on my laptop as I go.
I highlight
I print out the transcription and read back, highlighting what is essential.
I Lay it all out.
I lay out all the transcriptions, focusing on the highlighted portions to find the story.
I listen & piece it together.
I begin to put the story together, listening back to each segment as I go, confirming each voice's pace, accuracy, and intention.
I listen again.
I listen to each portion in order, confirming continuity and maintaining accuracy.
I double check.
I circle back and ask questions about lack of clarity and confirm simple but essential things like pronunciation of names.
I listen again.
I listen to my finalized draft/audio.
I submit the final script
I let it go, applied incoming notes from executive producers, and often adjusted the scripts the day of recording, adding, removing, and making on-the-spot adjustments as needed.
