Homework assignment part two: Be a better writer

OK, this may sound like it is just for reporters, but producers can get in on this as well.

I want you to use natural sound to "write" part of your story. You can write "into" or "out of" a piece of nat sound, but you have to tie your copy into the sound.

Examples:

(writing out of a nat break)

Nat sound: people screaming on roller coaster

Copy: "...You'll be hearing a lot of that at the state fair this weekend."


(writing into a nat break)

Copy: "This is what's waking people up in the middle of the night...."

Nat sound: train roaring by, blowing whistle


For producers, instead of just writing vo's or vo-sots, try making nat sound part of your copy.

Remember, for those of you who have trouble writing copy, the more you use sound to "tell" your story, the less you have to write!