All right, so you want to know how to develop voice-over scripts that are amazing. That’s fantastic! Because George Clooney has stated on several occasions that a good script can be turned into a terrible movie, but a bad script cannot be turned into a good movie. Alfred Hitchcock, the renowned Hollywood filmmaker, even went so far as to state that “you need three things – the script, the script, and the script” in order to produce a brilliant movie.
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No one in the storytelling industry will argue against such feelings. Thus, you are in the narrative industry if you are creating any type of audio or video content these days, whether it be radio advertising, long-form documentaries, e-learning, or explainer films, or even fifteen-second YouTube posters. That’s what your voiceover script has to convey.
It’s also true that viewers, no matter who they are, have very high standards for the content they watch or listen to, particularly on the internet. Is your company attempting to break through the congestion in the marketplace? Then, you must swiftly capture and hold the attention of those audiences.
Narrative
Naturally, crafting exceptional voiceover scripts is not a simple task. Not everyone also has the kind of money needed to hire a top-tier copywriter. However, there’s no reason why more common people couldn’t write a compelling voiceover script.
Do you nod in agreement because you consider yourself to be “average”? If so, you’ll be writing amazing scripts in no time with these 10 writing advice ideas!
1. Write as you talk at all times.
You are writing, mostly, for the reader’s ears rather than their eyes. You should thus write in a more casual style. A few professional copywriters employ “image-training.” They picture themselves writing to and for someone who is seated in front of them. Perhaps a regular client?
2. As soon as possible, get right to the point
People have short attention spans, and they are growing shorter. Make sure your voice over script gets right to the point otherwise your audience may become disinterested. They’ll simply scroll by or click through. Concentrate on the important things.
3. Take advice from others
One benefit of watching videos on websites like Vimeo and YouTube is that there is a wealth of content available for you to learn from. You may undoubtedly get the motivation to compose your voice over script by searching for “the best commercials.”
It’s no secret that smart comedy almost always works, thus Old Spice’s classic men’s fragrance generated a lot of buzz and brand strength with this funny and intelligent TV ad.
You may learn a lot from 30-second radio ads that have been around for a long time or are getting great ratings right now. For optimum effect, learn how to compose your voiceover script.
4. Just use one voice
Maintain consistency. Choose a first-person, second-person, or third-person perspective and stick with it throughout your work. Your audience will become confused if you switch between the two or go from first person singular to first person plural. Your voice over script will seem more convincing if it is consistent. Top-of-mind is the ideal location for your product or service to be, and believable content always sticks.
5. Make sentences concise and simple to understand.
This is true for any writing that is intended for an audience, but it could be especially true in an explanation or eLearning setting. We’re not at anyway saying that the voiceover script you write ought to seem forced or extremely straightforward! However, you shouldn’t make your audience or listener continuously go for the replay button because they didn’t comprehend what you said. Choose shorter sentences and adjust their length; this is similar to how humans communicate.
6. Be mindful of rhythm
It’s considerably simpler to read a sentence or paragraph that has been written with an awareness of natural rhythm. It’s also easier to remember. Speech has a rhythm that is influenced by pace and the alternating use of stressed and unstressed words, much like music. Read your voice over script aloud and listen for feel, flow, and timing to assess your rhythm. The goal is to make what you’re trying to convey chug along cheerfully, so change words around or find other ways to state it.
7. Quiet is precious.
Never forget that whitespace on a page of writing is what quiet is to audio. Your listener wants to be inundated with a seemingly unending stream of rapid-fire words, just as much as you like staring at a thick wall of text. At the very least, some kind of rest is required.
8. Employ transitional phrases
Using transitional words such as yet, but, because, although, and meantime, among others, can help your audience be ready for a change in tone or topic. Because transitions alter the tempo or tone, they may be quite helpful. They provide as clear indications to make the message in your voice over script more understandable.
9. Carefully calculate the length
Was “carefully” used? A voice actor would seldom deny that they had worked with a client that insisted on having 30-second commercial reads condensed from 150-word voice over scripts. Customers frequently lament that they are forced to cram as much information as they can into the least amount of time possible. The issue with that is that comprehension and the main message both suffer.
Generally speaking, a voice actor should be able to read 120 words per minute with ease and reason. Write your voice over script so that you have enough time to include pauses, tone, style, and intonation. Find a method to script no more than you really need to convey your point, even if it means deleting material you’d like to add.
10. Give it a listen
This is a must. You did really read correctly. We’ve already brought it up. To restate, you must read aloud from your voice over script, ideally in front of an audience. There’s no better approach to identify clumsy wording or concepts that don’t quite work together.
Even if they read well when used alone, some words might be difficult to read when combined. (Try skimming Sister Suzie Sews Troops Shirts fast). Unexpectedly, tongue twisters occur frequently. Unless that’s what you’re attempting to do, try to stay away from them!
A word about breathing
Although a lot of customers request that voice actors edit recordings to exclude their breath sounds, this isn’t always a smart idea because it makes reads seem artificial. Remember that people are expecting to hear breathing. We are audibly human in this era of artificial intelligence personal assistants like Alexa or Siri, after all!
Concluding remarks
It’s not easy to write voiceover scripts that are outstanding, but you may convey your message in an engaging way by writing in a natural, straightforward style and letting your thoughts flow. As writing styles change all the time, remember to stay up to date and keep practicing.