🎧 What You Learn by Making Audio Dramas: Crafting Stories That Carry Time

🎬 The Challenge of Filmmaking

I’ve been making films independently since around 1990. More recently, I launched the “DIY Film Club” to create a space where more people can enjoy filmmaking together.

Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that audio dramas offer a unique creative appeal—somewhere between the solitary process of writing a novel and the collaborative complexity of making a film.

Novels can be written and completed solo. Short works might take just a few days or weeks to finish. That makes it easy to turn a passing idea into a finished piece.

But filmmaking is a different beast. It requires scripting, shooting, editing, sound design—many layers of work. Turning an idea into a finished film can take months, sometimes years. And during that time, doubts creep in: “Is this idea really worth making into a film?” If you lose confidence, the project may never reach completion.

Yet without finishing projects, you don’t gain the experience needed to improve your judgment or skills. That’s the dilemma. And that’s where audio drama comes in.

🕰️ Audio Drama: The Middle Ground Between Novels and Films

Novels and comics allow readers to consume stories at their own pace. The narrative isn’t bound by time—it’s flexible.

Films, on the other hand, impose time. The story unfolds according to the creator’s timeline. That means you have to control pacing:

• Avoid dragging
• Avoid rushing

Managing time is part of the creative challenge—and the fun.

Audio dramas, like films, require this kind of time control. So producing them helps develop a filmmaker’s sense of rhythm and structure.

🎙️ Why Audio Dramas Are Easier to Produce

In practice, audio dramas and films share many similarities. But audio dramas rely solely on sound, making them far more accessible.

Recording dialogue and narration can usually be done in a single day, depending on the length of the piece. Gathering sound effects or sourcing royalty-free audio can also be completed quickly—sometimes even during your daily routine. For example, you might record ambient sound at a train station during your commute.

Just like with filmmaking, obsessing over gear too early is counterproductive. Start with what you have—your smartphone is enough.

The most important thing in any creative process is finishing the work. Only then do you see what needs improvement. Each completed piece raises your quality.

Film projects take time—months or years. That means it takes longer to learn from mistakes and apply those lessons. But audio dramas can be completed in about a week, allowing for rapid iteration and growth.

That’s one reason I recommend audio drama as a storytelling format.

✍️ Scriptwriting Matters

When adapting a novel into audio, one common approach is “reading aloud.” If that’s all you want, you don’t need a script. But then the quality depends entirely on:

• Reading skill
• Vocal appeal

There’s little room for creative intervention.

I enjoy listening to readings, but for amateur creators, a fully produced audio drama is often more engaging. That means you need to adapt the novel into a proper script.

When I’ve adapted older novels from sources like Aozora Bunko, I’ve found that much of the narrative text needs to be converted into:

• Dialogue
• Ambient sound

Otherwise, the piece becomes heavy with narration and monologue—essentially just a reading. Without strong vocal performance, it can be hard for listeners to follow.

Especially with older novels, it’s important to increase dialogue and reduce narration.

Start by writing a film-style script. Then convert it into an audio script.

🔊 How to Translate Visuals into Sound

In film, visuals convey meaning instantly. In audio, you need to ask:

• Can this be expressed with sound effects?
• Can dialogue help clarify the situation?
• If not, can minimal narration fill the gap?

Too much explanatory dialogue sounds awkward. So prioritize:

1. Sound effects
2. Dialogue
3. Narration

🤝 Collaboration Made Easy

One major advantage of audio drama is how easily it enables collaboration.

Unlike film shoots, you don’t need everyone to be in the same place at the same time. Actors can record lines at home. Sound effects can be shared remotely. It’s a flexible workflow.

The biggest hurdle is editing. Most people use video editing software on their computers, but not everyone is comfortable with it.

If that’s you—find a teammate. Editing can be fun, and many people enjoy it. With the right partner, audio dramas can be produced efficiently and in volume.

And the skills you develop—both technical and creative—translate directly to filmmaking.

🎙️ Why Not Try Making an Audio Drama?

It’s a great way to bring stories to life, sharpen your storytelling instincts, and build creative momentum.

Hope this inspires your next project.