Make it stand out.
About the Complete Course
Starting in August…
A 10-week course that will help you to write and develop a script, connecting you to new and more established audio drama writers through weekly talks and group discussions. Every session will be split between a workshop on vital aspects of writing for audio and audio production — including episode structure, casting and directing — and presentations/table reads. By the end of the course, you should be ready to take your project into production.
Course overview:
A structured MFA-style course that will take you through the key elements of writing for audio and audio production
Weekly quick/simple exercises with direct feedback from an award-winning audio dramatist
Diverse weekly workshops covering a range of topics
Group participation in table-reads, giving and receiving direct feedback from myself and your coursemates
Applying your growing knowledge to a project of your choosing
Participating in the group Discord to build a network of fellow creatives you can continue to benefit from beyond the course
Exclusive access to a directory of professional actors - finding voices can be hard, but our known talent pool will make casting easy
A certification on completion of the course
Support in applying for awards (outlined below) and submitting to the BBC
Emily Inkpen is Creative Director at Alternative Stories and the writer/co-director of the BSFA Award-winning audio drama, The Dex Legacy. Emily brings direct experience as a writer, voice actor, and audio director to this course, imparting wisdom from all stages of audio creation.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
WEEK 1
Script 101 and essential things to bear in mind
Equipment (not a necessity - but far more accessible than you might think!)
Introduce your project
WEEK 2
Writing strong characters for audio - tone and voice
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 3
Structuring your episodes - balancing episodic narrative with cliffhangers
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 4
Sound - the magic of bringing your world to life through atmospherics and music
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 5
Casting - how to find the right voices, creating an audition sheet and summarising characteristics that will inform performance
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 6
Directing actors
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 7
An introduction to audio editing with Director of Alternative Stories, Chris Gregory.
WEEK 8
Design and presentation - cover design, show notes, website? All of this is relevant
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 9
Planning your studio time - time is money and without preparation costs escalate fast
Presentations/read-throughs
WEEK 10
Showcase
Read-throughs with characters - guest judge/s to listen and give final feedback
Preparation for Further Opportunities
Pen to Print Audio Play Competition - An annual celebration of debut talent in the industry. The winner will have their script professionally performed and produced.
Pen to Print is an arts organisation based in Barking and Daggenham. Every year they hold the Pen to Print Awards, encouraging emerging talent throughout the UK. One of the categories is “Best Audio Play” and it is open to anyone who has never had an audio drama produced.
Entering a field of writing with an award is a huge opportunity. There are never any guarantees, but I would encourage qualifying course graduates to enter.
Submitting to the BBC - The BBC accept submissions for radio drama from approved producers. Alternative Stories is a registered supplier to the BBC and our dramas have been played on BBC radio.
There are never any guarantees, but in submitting an audio drama to the BBC, you’re knocking on the door of something huge. If you think you have a strong enough script and Chris and I agree, we can provide you with that opportunity. This goes for everyone, course graduate or not. Get in touch. You never know what might happen!
APPLY
The 10-week course, including workshops and 1-1 feedback throughout, costs £1000. Concessions may apply and there’s a field below where you can outline your personal circumstances.