There are thousands of podcasts out there, all of them promising to offer something authentic. Some of them feature two people chatting away about a subject they care about. Others unearth witnesses or experts. And some weave in dramatisation, with music, reenactments, a tense narrative and cliffhangers.

While a breezy celebrity gossip podcast differs wildly from one that specialises in unsolved murders, they share a commonality: they each have a strong story. Rather than simply being a story that sounds ‘good’, it’s a carefully curated narrative that is both shaped to the needs of the podcast, and which guides the listener from episode to episode – it is, in essence, essential to the listener journey.

In this masterclass, Jonathan Myerson, the BAFTA-winning writer and podcast creator, will explore every stage of the podcast planning process, drawing on hit successes such as The Battersea Poltergeist, My Dad Wrote a Porno, Sweet Bobby and more, to discover that crucial spine: the story.

You will also learn about point of view, the role of using interviews with experts or guests and how to use dramatisation, as well as the importance of bringing your own personality and identity into your podcast. You will then drill down into the all-important episode structure, from how to use a teaser up-front and the slow release of information to keep your listener hooked, to the key to all binge-listening: the cliffhanger.

This course is for …

Anyone with an interest in podcast creation – no experience necessary

Course content

Podcast genres: how many are there?
Early formatting choices, from pure narration and interviews, to dramatisation
Keeping the story central
Episode structure: the teaser, the careful release of information and the cliffhanger
The pitfalls: over-extending and rabbit holes
Guiding your series to its climax – or leaving it open for a second series

Tutor profile

Jonathan Myerson is an Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning dramatist, author and producer. From 2008 to 2018, he led the creative writing master’s at City University London. He has written and directed three major podcast series: That Was Then (2018), Nuremberg (2021) and Nazis: The Road to Power (2023). He has also written many series for BBC Radio 4, including The Clintons, The Republicans, The Price of Oil, It’s Your Country Now Too and The Way We Live Right Now. His TV writing includes The Bill, Eastenders and Holby City.

Course Details

Date: Saturday 18 March 2023 – Sunday 19 March 2023
Time: 2-5pm both days (GMT)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

2pm GMT | 3pm CET | 7am PDT | 10am EDT

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

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Storytelling for podcasts: A weekend bootcamp