Creative projects
Outline a podcast episode around one question
Episodes drift when the central question isn't fixed from the start. Share the one question the episode will answer, the sources you already have, any guest and their actual background, and your target running time.
A text to start with
I'm outlining a thirty-minute solo episode on why so many community gardens in mid-sized cities closed between 2010 and 2020. I have a city planning report from [city], two interviews I recorded with former organizers, [Name 1] and [Name 2], and a historical piece from a local paper. I want an intro, three content segments, and a short close, with no music breaks. Flag where I still need evidence.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check before you record
Read the outline against your source material. If a segment makes a claim, confirm you have a source for it before recording. The outline may suggest a quote or statistic for a slot where you have nothing yet. Mark those gaps and fill them with real material. Then add up the segment times to see whether they match your target, and check that each segment builds on the one before.
Moving from outline to recording
Fill the flagged evidence gaps before you write the script. If you have a guest, send them the outline so they can correct any details about their background. Once the gaps are closed, ask for a tighter segment breakdown with suggested transition lines.