As a client, you want to attract the best Voice actors for the job. Quality auditions will always trump quantity – you need someone who can breathe life into your Script.

But in order for the voice talent to be able to understand your vision, they are going to need clear direction on how you would like the script to be read, accompanied, of course, by a well-written script.

Take it from, Brian Kirchoff, a voice actor who has been in the industry for over 20 years. He has seen his fair share of voice over scripts and job postings. He has a lot of insight on how to give great vocal direction and what goes into a well crafted script.

Here are 4 tips from Brian on how to write a voice over script, with great vocal direction, plus bonus instructions on how to ensure that your voice actor is set up to pronounce difficult words correctly.

And if you’re needing voice over in a different language (beyond your native tongue), then scroll on down – there’s a tip for that, too!

How to Write a Voice Over Script Tip #1: Write Like You Speak

One of the most requested styles of reads is Conversational. This may seem intuitive to you, but can be interpreted in a number of ways by voice actors who struggle to find your ‘voice,’ in the words. “How can I look at that word and know how to clearly voice it?” Brian asks.

So one way to ensure that your direction is clear, and that the voice actor gets what they need, is simply to write as though you were speaking the words out loud to a friend. In most scenarios, writing for the ear results in scripts that are a lot more informal and truly conversational. It’s just a natural result of writing for the ear, as it involves using a more conversational tone of voice. More technically, you may notice that as you adopt this writing style, your resulting conversational scripts include more commonly recognized words and shorter sentences.

How to Write a Voice Over Script Tip #2: Read What You’ve Written

According to Brian, a great script is one that rolls easily off the tongue when you read it out loud. So how will you know if this is the case with your script?

“Try voicing it out to yourself before sending it over to the talent,” he says. “Read it aloud at the pacing it should be read. You need to hear it in your ears and not in your head, because there’s a big difference.”

Some key indicators to listen for when you are reading through your own script include:

• Are there any words that you stumbled on?
• Do certain sentences seem to run on?
• Did the punctuation (or lack thereof) confuse you?

Chances are, if you are having trouble reading it without any errors or slips, then your voice talent will encounter the same issues, too.

How to Write a Voice Over Script Tip #3: Proper Punctuation is Crucial

A good script has great punctuation.

According to Kirchoff, he often comes across scripts that have either used punctuation improperly, or not at all, and this greatly impacts the flow of the script.

One form of punctuation that’s often missed, is where there should be a pause in speech. Ideally, pauses would be marked by a comma, although you can even consider including the word ‘pause’ or use ellipses to indicate where talent should insert their pauses as well.

For example, “Most of the time travelers mark their luggage,” reads very differently when punctuation is added. Watch what the addition of a comma does. “Most of the time, travelers mark their luggage.”

In the first instance, ‘time travelers,’ could be misinterpreted to indicate people who are magically traveling through time, instead of as commentary on how diligent most travelers are with ensuring they have proper tags on their suitcases.

How to Write a Voice Over Script Tip #4: Vocal Direction Matches the Tone of Your Script

Another tip for ensuring you get the best read of your script, whether it is an audition script or the final script, is to make sure the written description of how the voice should sound, matches the punctuation you have included in the script.

You also want to ensure that the topic of your script matches the tone of your script. For instance, if the vocal direction you’ve given for the voice you are looking for is that it should sound calm and aloof and is geared toward serious subject matter, but your script is full of exclamation points, can create very confusing and conflicting direction for the voice over talent to follow.

Plus, you should also be keeping your target demographic in mind when selecting a voice actor.

Be clear, direct and concise in the directions that accompany the script. If specific directions are not included, voice actors will have to rely on their gut and experience to decipher how you want the script to be read.

How to Help Voice Over Talent Pronounce Difficult Words in the Script

At times, you may need to include uncommon words, difficult to pronounce words, acronyms or words that are specific to your industry. If this is the case in your script, then you can do a few things to assist your talent.

1. You can send them audio clips on how the word should be pronounced.
2. You can write out the word phonetically within the script itself.

Taking either of these steps (or both!)  will help save time and frustration for you and the voice actor – eliminating the process of going back and forth and re-doing the voice over multiple times.

Although Brian says he often looks up words online for the correct pronunciation, there are some things, such as acronyms or terms that will not be easily available to find online. A prime example of this is a new product name or term that you might have created and does not yet have any definitions online. Be sure to clear up how to say these words to make sure you are receiving the read you want.

See examples of voice over scripts to get inspired!

If I Need A Voice Over in a Language Other Than My Native Tongue, How Should I Write the Script?

When the language you want the script in, is so “fiercely different” (as Brian puts it), from your own language, you should consider hiring a professional translator. While online translating tools can sometimes work for simple words or phrases, you may not want to leave the translation of your entire script to these devices.

After all, translation and localization are very different. It pays to understand when you need translation versus localization.

The voice actors will read the script they are given, so be sure the script reads exactly as you want it to sound to the intended audience. Using a professional to translate or localize your script can ensure you avoid any incorrect phrases and literal translations. Brian recalls a time when he received a script that was meant to say, “Please turn off all mobile devices,” but due to a translation error, it read, “Please turn off your flashlights.”

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