Voice Actor Script Tips for Natural Delivery

Professional Audio Drama Script Writing Guide • Published November 2, 2025 • 12 min read

The difference between an amateur script and a professional one isn't just storytelling—it's speakability. Voice actors immediately recognize scripts written by someone who understands vocal performance. These scripts flow naturally, provide clear emotional guidance, and avoid common pitfalls that cause stumbles, unnatural phrasing, and vocal strain.

This guide teaches you how to write scripts that voice actors love to perform and that result in natural, compelling audio.

The Speakability Test

Before finalizing any script, read it aloud. If you stumble, hesitate, or run out of breath—your voice actors will too.

Golden Rule: If it's difficult to read, it's difficult to perform. Every line should feel natural in the mouth, not just logical on the page.

Tip #1: Write for the Ear, Not the Eye

Audio scripts must prioritize how words sound, not how they look.

Written for the eye (awkward to speak):
"The aforementioned individual subsequently proceeded to utilize the implement in order to accomplish the previously discussed objective."

Written for the ear (natural speech):
"He picked up the tool and got to work."

Speakability principles:

Use contractions: "Don't" not "do not" (unless formality is intentional)
Favor simple words: "use" not "utilize," "help" not "assist"
Break up long sentences: Shorter sentences = natural breath points
Avoid tongue twisters: Test alliteration carefully ("she sells seashells" = problematic)

Tip #2: Mark Breath Points Strategically

Voice actors need to breathe. Failing to account for this creates unnatural pauses or rushed, breathless delivery.

No breath consideration (60+ words, one sentence):
"Detective Sarah Morrison stood at the edge of the crime scene, observing the scattered evidence, noting the peculiar arrangement of objects, considering the multiple possible explanations, analyzing the potential motives, reviewing her mental notes from previous similar cases, and ultimately concluding that this was unlike anything she had encountered before in her fifteen-year career."

Natural breath points:
"Detective Sarah Morrison stood at the edge of the crime scene. She observed the scattered evidence—the peculiar arrangement of objects, the multiple possible explanations. [BREATH] This was unlike anything she had encountered in her fifteen-year career."

Breath mark guidelines:

One sentence = roughly one breath (vary for rhythm)
Use periods and em-dashes as natural pause points
Max ~15-20 words per breath for comfortable delivery
Mark extended passages with [BREATH] or ellipses when needed

Tip #3: Avoid Phonetic Clash

When consecutive words create awkward sound combinations, voice actors stumble.

Phonetic clashes:
"She sells six statistics specifically..." (too many S sounds)
"The thick thief thought thoroughly..." (difficult TH clusters)
"Bob lobbed the marble..." (confusing B sounds)

Smooth alternatives:
"She shares six statistics specifically..."
"The cunning thief considered thoroughly..."
"Bob threw the marble..."

Common phonetic problems:

S-clustering: Multiple S sounds close together cause lisping
Hard consonant pileup: "asked to extract exact facts" (too many T/K sounds)
Similar-sound words: "right" followed immediately by "write"
Vowel collision: "I ought to often..." (awkward transitions)

Tip #4: Provide Clear Emotional Direction

Voice actors need emotional context, but over-direction kills creativity.

Over-directed:
SARAH
(Sadly, with a hint of resignation, but also a glimmer of hope, speaking softly but with underlying strength)
I'll try.

Clear and concise:
SARAH
(Quietly determined)
I'll try.

Direction guidelines:

One emotional note: "Angry," "Frightened," "Sarcastic"
Physical context when needed: "Breathless," "Calling from distance"
Let the dialogue carry emotion: Good writing needs minimal direction
Trust your actors: They'll find nuances you didn't script

Tip #5: Write Dialogue That Sounds Like Real Speech

Real people don't speak in complete sentences or perfect grammar. Characters shouldn't either.

Too formal (no one talks like this):
"I am uncertain whether or not we should proceed with this plan given the potential risks involved."

Natural speech:
"I don't know... Should we really do this? It's risky."

Natural speech characteristics:

Contractions: "I'll" not "I will"
Sentence fragments: "Never mind." "Forget it."
Interruptions: "But I thought—" "No, listen—"
Filler words (sparingly): "Well..." "Um..." "I mean..."
Incomplete thoughts: "What if we... no, that won't work."

Pro Tip: Eavesdrop on real conversations. Notice how people actually talk—repetitions, false starts, interruptions. Incorporate these naturally.

Tip #6: Use Proper Ellipses and Em-Dashes

Punctuation guides voice actors on pacing and emotion.

Ellipses (...) = trailing off or pause:
"I thought I saw something... but maybe not."

Em-dash (—) = interruption or sudden shift:
"I was going to tell you—wait, what was that noise?"

Interrupted dialogue:
JOHN: "But we need to—"
SARAH: "No. We're done talking."

Punctuation performance guide:

Period: Full stop, falling inflection
Question mark: Rising inflection
Exclamation point: Emphasis, emotion (use sparingly!)
Comma: Brief pause, continuing thought
Ellipsis: Trailing off, uncertainty, thinking
Em-dash: Interruption, abrupt change, emphasis

Tip #7: Avoid Excessive Parenthetical Directions

Too many parentheticals interrupt the flow and make scripts hard to read during performance.

Parenthetical overload:
SARAH
(Walking toward the window)
I never (pausing) thought it would (hesitating) come to this (turning around) but here we are (sighing deeply).

Cleaner approach:
SARAH
(At the window, hesitant)
I never thought it would come to this. But here we are.

When to use parentheticals:

Emotional tone isn't obvious from dialogue
Physical action affects delivery (breathless, distant, calling out)
Sarcasm, irony, or subtext that might be missed
Specific pronunciation needed (e.g., name pronunciation)

Tip #8: Character Voice Consistency

Each character should have distinct speech patterns voice actors can latch onto.

Character Voice Elements:

Vocabulary level: Educated professor vs. street-smart teen
Sentence length: Rambling thinker vs. terse soldier
Formality: "Indeed" vs. "Yeah"
Verbal tics: "You know," "Right?" "Listen,"
Rhythm: Fast talker vs. deliberate speaker

Distinct character voices:

DR. CHEN (Formal, precise):
"The evidence suggests a correlation between the variables, though causation remains unproven."

JAKE (Casual, direct):
"Look, the numbers don't lie. Something's going on here."

Tip #9: Mind the Pacing

Script pacing controls the rhythm of your audio drama.

Fast-paced (tension, action):
"Run!"
"Where?"
"Anywhere! Just move!"
"I can't—"
"Now!"

Slow-paced (contemplative, emotional):
"I've been thinking about what you said."
[PAUSE]
"And?"
[PAUSE]
"You were right. About everything."

Pacing techniques:

Short lines = fast pace: Creates urgency and tension
Long lines = slow pace: Builds atmosphere, introspection
Silence/pauses: Mark with [PAUSE], [BEAT], or action
Vary rhythm: Mix fast and slow to avoid monotony

Tip #10: Format for Easy Reading

Voice actors perform better with clean, easy-to-scan scripts.

Formatting Best Practices:

Character names: ALL CAPS, easy to spot
Directions: (In parentheses, italicized)
Sound effects: [IN BRACKETS] or SFX: format
White space: Double-space between speakers
Font: 12pt, easy-to-read (Courier or Arial)
Page numbers: Always include for reference
Scene headers: Clear, consistent formatting

Common Voice Actor Complaints (And How to Avoid Them)

What voice actors hate:

"Lines that run out of breath halfway through"
"Tongue-twister sentences with no rewrites"
"Unclear emotional context—am I angry or sad?"
"Names I can't pronounce with no guidance"
"Dense paragraphs of exposition"
"Inconsistent character voice across scenes"

What voice actors love:

"Scripts that flow naturally when read aloud"
"Clear emotional guidance without over-direction"
"Distinct character voices that are fun to perform"
"Proper formatting that's easy to scan during recording"
"Lines that sound like real people talking"
"Writers who understand vocal performance"

The Read-Aloud Test (Step-by-Step)

Before finalizing your script:

Record yourself reading: Use your phone or computer
Listen for stumbles: Where did you hesitate or mispronounce?
Check breath points: Did you run out of air?
Note awkward phrasing: What sounded unnatural?
Revise problem areas: Rewrite until it flows
Test again: Repeat until smooth

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Professional Script Example

SCENE ONE: INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT [SFX: OFFICE AMBIENCE, DISTANT PHONES] DETECTIVE MILLER
(Tired, frustrated)
Three weeks. Three weeks and nothing. OFFICER CHEN
(Encouraging)
We'll find them. [PAUSE] DETECTIVE MILLER
Will we? Every lead goes nowhere. Every witness remembers nothing. It's like they vanished. [SFX: PHONE RINGS] OFFICER CHEN
(Picking up phone)
Detective Chen. [PAUSE] When? [PAUSE] We'll be right there. DETECTIVE MILLER
(Hopeful)
What is it? OFFICER CHEN
They found something at the warehouse. [SFX: CHAIRS SCRAPING, HURRIED FOOTSTEPS]

Final Thoughts

Great voice acting starts with great writing. When you write scripts with speakability in mind, you make voice actors' jobs easier and final recordings sound more natural, engaging, and professional.

The best audio drama writers don't just tell stories—they craft performances. Every word choice, punctuation mark, and breath point shapes how your script sounds when spoken aloud.

Write Professional Audio Drama Scripts

About EpicScribe: We're an AI-powered writing platform designed for audio drama creators and voice actors. Our tools analyze speakability, detect phonetic issues, and help you write scripts that sound natural when performed. Learn more