Announcing ATC Soundwright: The Scriptwriting Tool Made for Audio Drama

I am excited to tell you about something that I've been working on behind the scenes for some time now. It's called ATC Soundwright, and it's a free, browser-based scriptwriting tool designed specifically for audio drama. The idea is simple: Soundwright handles all the formatting stuff so writers can focus on the story.

I can't count how many times over the years I've encountered folks who want to write for audio drama but don't have the budget for premium scriptwriting software, or they just find all the options some other tools have to be overwhelming or confusing. Many of them end up using a regular word processor, and while it may be fine for just getting words on the page, when you start to work with other folks in the space, it's likely to be viewed as amateurish if you don't have a properly formatted script in PDF format. That's not a reflection on the writer's skill, of course, so I wanted to make something to help people clear this hurdle.

The Philosophy Behind ATC Soundwright

I started with a simple question: what does an audio drama writer actually need? Not every feature a script program could have. Just the ones that matter when you’re writing a story meant to be heard. The goal from day one was to make it easy to use and not bury new writers in formatting details, settings, and menus before they’ve written a word.

ATC Soundwright on mobile

Professional scriptwriting software is powerful, but it can be daunting. (Plus, most of them are built with screenplays in mind.) There are menus inside menus, settings you don’t understand, and a learning curve before you’ve written a single line. Soundwright takes the opposite approach. You open it and start typing, and the app does the formatting for you. Type a name in capitals, and it becomes a character. Start a line with “SFX:” and it becomes a sound cue. A plain sentence becomes an action line. You end up with a clean, properly formatted script without having to learn the rules first.

That simplicity is deliberate. I’ve left out a lot on purpose, because every extra option is one more thing for a new writer to work out. What’s left are the essentials, done properly, plus a handful of extras that make a real difference in production without suffering from “feature creep.” And because it’s browser-based, you can use it on just about anything: your computer, a tablet, even your phone. And did I mention it's free?

ATC Soundwright isn’t trying to replace the premium tools, and it doesn’t need to. It’s built to work alongside them if you want it to. If you’re already happy with Final Draft or another tool, this may not be for you, and that’s okay. But your scripts can be exported to Final Draft and Fountain, so you can hand them to a collaborator or move to another program at any time. 

Soundwright is meant to lower the barrier to entry and the learning curve for new writers. It’s also another option for experienced writers who want something they can use on a device other than the one with their Final Draft license. Think of it as an open door: a free, user-friendly place for newcomers to start, and a quick, no-fuss option for experienced writers who just want to get words on the page.

So What Can Soundwright Do?

Here's what the tool can do and why I think it's a great option for both new and experienced writers.

• Free, with no account or download. It runs in your web browser on a computer, tablet, or phone.
• It formats as you type. Character names, dialogue, sound cues, music cues, and directions are recognized automatically.
• Made for audio. Sound effects and music get their own line types, with a cue sheet and a runtime estimate built in.
• Character names autocomplete. Type the first letter or two and press Tab.
• Keyboard shortcuts if you want them. Switch line types instantly, or just let the app work it out.
• Proper script PDFs. Standard script layout, with scene numbers, page numbers, and long speeches split correctly across pages.
• Plays well with others. Export to Final Draft, Fountain, or PDF, and import Fountain scripts too.
• Helpful extras for production:
• a cast report showing each character’s line and word counts
• yellow highlighting for a chosen actor’s lines in the PDF
• optional color-coded sound and music cues for your post-production team
• a watermark for drafts or branding
• an optional extra page for a glossary, character list, or pronunciation guide
• Find and replace. Rename a character across the whole script in seconds.
• Undo, redo, dark mode, and a title page, including series and episode titles.
• Your work stays yours. Scripts are saved in your own browser, not on someone else’s server. You can (and should) export backups to keep your work safe or move it between devices.*

Thank Yous

I want to give a huge shout-out and thank you to the following folks who helped me out by testing early versions and offering valuable feedback:

• Christopher Green
• Bethany Baldwin
• Craig Hart
• Glenn Hascall
• Scott Sowers
• Johnny Martin
• Wesley Bryan

So, if you're an audio drama writer, or a "soundwright," I hope you'll check out ATC Soundwright! Whether you're an experienced writer in this medium or someone who's been wanting to try your hand at it for the first time, give it a try. There's nothing to download, no account to create, and no cost. Just open it up and start writing!

And if you know someone who might benefit from it, please share it with them. I'd also love to hear your feedback as I continue to refine and improve the tool. Click the link in the app's footer to let me know your thoughts.

Try ATC Soundwright

*Your script is saved in your browser, but it's always best to back it up to your computer via the JSON export option. I recommend saving your backups to Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar so that you can access them from any device.

J.D. Sutter is the host and producer of the Audio Theatre Central podcast and editor of the blog. A lifelong fan of audio drama, he is an industry critic who has guest lectured and spoken at conferences on the subject. J.D. is also a voiceover artist, podcast consultant, and chair of the ATC Seneca Awards, the annual awards for the family-friendly audio drama industry.