Elements of a Good Audio Story

In my recent readings, I have come across what I think may be good elements of an audio story. Overall, I learned that voices telling the story are key, and that it should first be a story, then be in audio.

While reading Stephen Smith's article "Living History", I learned the following:

• The historical story in audio should transport listeners back to that time through the voices of those who were there and the stories they have to tell.
• "Some might say we are built of stories. At the very least, we are changed by stories." (135)
• "Historical characters and their stories become part of our own narrative." (136)
• Good pieces focus on particular stories or themes, not on sweeping historical surveys.
• "Hearing history transports us to the past in a powerful, imaginative way." (146)

While reading Sandy Tolan's article "The Voice and the Place", I learned the following:

• An audio documentary is best when it is a "nonfiction drama set on an audio stage with scenes, characters, narrative arc, dramatic tension, and even silence." (148)
• It's essential, and often difficult, to find the human story that will move beyond the bigger picture.
• "Sometimes the main 'character' is not a person but a place, brought to life by 'scene building': weaving voices with strong, succinct description and telling use of sound." (151)

From all of that, I now know that I need to first find the story, then find the characters, and then tell it out loud. Now, just to come up with a good story idea.... To be continued.