The OnWriting Guide to Crafting Scripted Podcasts: Part One

<div>Over the past five years, podcasts have exploded in popularity. You listen to them, and with over 700,000 active podcasts out there, chances are you or someone you know has a show of their own. A 2019 report by Edison Research found that 70% of the U.S. population has heard of podcasts and over 50% have listened to one.</div> <div> </div> <div>Fictional or scripted podcasts represent a small but steadily growing subset of the podcast industry. The Guild – and our members – have a lot of questions about this new frontier of scripted podcasting. Is it a lower-cost way to get a story known to the public… and to TV producers? Is it a viable, fulfilling way to create stories in its own right? What are some ways writers can protect ourselves as we explore this new form of work?</div> <div> </div> <div>To answer these questions, we spoke to writers and producers who have made a name for themselves in the scripted podcast industry – some who are just starting out, and some whose podcasts have gone on to become TV shows.</div> <div> </div> <div>In Part One, LIMETOWN co-creator <strong>Zack Akers</strong>, HOMECOMING producer <strong>Alicia Van Couvering</strong>, and WGA East executive director <strong>Lowell Peterson</strong> talk to us about the industry's business side: what the market looks like, how to break in, and how to protect yourself once you're there. In Part Two, we'll take a deep dive into the creative side of the industry, from recruiting talent to necessary skillsets to creative satisfactions and beyond.</div> <div> </div> <div>Learn more about the Guild’s work in the scripted podcast industry: <strong><a href= "https://www.wgaeast.org/podcasting">wgaeast.org/podcasting</a></strong>.</div> <div> </div> <div>--</div> <div>The OnWriting Guide to Scripted Podcasting, Part One was written & produced by Molly Beer; hosted by Kaitlin Fontana; sound design, mixing, and tech production by Stock Boy Creative; with special thanks to River Donaghey, Danielle Trussoni, Zack Akers, Skip Bronkie, Alicia Van Couveri