Scripted Fiction Podcasts: the radio drama reborn

 The other day, one of the members of the Underground Authors (my writing group) asked if I’d consider entering the fiction podcast category of the Austin Film Festival annual podcast competition.

The idea being to enter 3 scripts drawn from Death Wears a Crimson Hat (Book 1 of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles).

Not having any idea what a scripted fiction podcast was, I did a bit of research. Basically, the scripted fiction podcast was the contemporary reincarnation of the old radio drama.

What many of you who are younger than myself may not realize is that before television people listened to the radio for entertainment. Not only music did they listen to, but also dramas. Plays, as it were, adapted to listening rather than seeing.

Scripted fiction podcasts are the same thing: plays adapted to listening, rather than watching. Audio dramas, as it were.

Whereas TV and movies rely mostly on what we see and hear, the podcast relies solely on what we can hear.

A scripted fiction podcast is a story with dialogue, music, and sound effects to convey the tale. There is nothing to see and everything to hear.

I’ve been reading old radio drama scripts and have listened to quite a few contemporary fiction podcasts. And have found that I like them very much. Sort of like an audio book on steroids.

Here is a sample of what I’ve listened to thus far:

Death by Dying, Episode 1

The Lovecraft Investigations: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Episode 1

Take a listen and you’ll understand what I’m writing about. A drama, story, that is written to be listened to.

They’ve been around for quite awhile, since 2012.

What I especially like about scripted fiction podcasts is that they are dialogue dependent. Which is what my writing style is.

I get flak that my books and stories are too skimpy on the description. And that’s because I think most description is unnecessary. I don’t like reading it and often skim or skip it entirely. And if I don’t like, then there are others who don’t as well. And it’s those folks that I write for.

So it may be that I’d make a better script writer than a novelist. Maybe. Won’t know until I try, eh?

And try I intend to. Of course, the obstacles to getting a scripted fiction podcast produced are fairly large. Like getting a play produced. Or a movie produced. Unless one does it one’s self.

But that is something to consider down the road. In the meantime, I’m going to try my hand at writing one. If the writing comes easy, then the rest of it can be considered. No sense considering the obstacles if I don’t like writing the things.

If I was making beaucoup bucks on my books, I’d most likely not even consider scripted fiction podcasts. But I’m not making beaucoup bucks. So what do I have to lose? Nothing, that’s what.

Stay tuned and I’ll let you know how this new writing adventure plays out.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

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