Writing for Radio - Avoiding the Pitfalls

"Radio has really become the National Playhouse.  It is where people who don't go to the theatre turn to hear the rearrangement of life into drama, that curious process which can make sense of what happens, help with pain, heal through laughter."  Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph.

Hopefully, you're halfway through the opening sequence of your brand new play for radio by now, but here are a few tips to keep you on the right track...

1. Radio doesn't have scenes in the way that a stage play has.  It consists of a number of sequences, which can be a single line long or last for several pages, although be wary of sequences which go on and on as listeners can easily become bored, or distracted by the ironing, or whatever.
2. Avoid overcrowding -- the only way you can establish a character's presence is by having them speak or being referred to by name. If you have too many people crammed into one small scene the listener will quickly lose track (and go and do the ironing, or whatever...)
3. Stage directions - let your dialogue do the work for you, so that everything necessary for the actor or director is contained in what the character says.
4. Brevity is the soul of wit -- and good radio writing. Be sparing with your sound effects. don't overload the script like this: A CAR DRAWS UP. ENGINE OFF. DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS. FEET WALK TO THE FRONT DOOR. A KEY TURNS IN THE LOCK. FEET WALK DOWN THE HALL TO THE KITCHEN. This  is a literal approach and sounds dull.  I'd be ironing the pillow cases already.
5. Be more lateral and think in sound -  GEOFF'S BREATHING IN THE PHONE BOX BECOMES MORE LABOURED AND PAINFUL. BEHIND HIM AN ORCHESTRA, AT FIRST QUIETLY, PLAYS MAHLER'S FIFTH. BRING UP INTERIOR ALBERT HALL..

 There is a mass of useful information available from the horse's mouth at http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

In the meantime, FX SAILING BY TO FADE....