Narration is not reading a document aloud. A good script sounds like a knowledgeable colleague explaining something clearly, once.
Pace and length
Plan on about 130 words per minute for instructional narration. A three-minute lesson is roughly 400 words. If a lesson runs over six minutes, split it.
Write for the ear
- Short sentences. One idea each.
- Concrete examples before abstractions.
- Say numbers the way people say them: "fifteen minutes", not "15 min".
- Signpost: "There are three steps. First…"
- Avoid parentheses, footnotes and "see above".
Structure each lesson
Hook (why this matters) → the idea → an example → the common mistake → a one-line recap. Then the knowledge check.
Read it aloud
The fastest edit is to hear it. Coursecast's Preview narration reads any lesson with your browser's built-in voices, and every lesson shows its word count and estimated speaking time. Try the script timer.
Try it on your own material. Coursecast drafts an outline, scripts, key points and knowledge checks from one document in minutes. Open the free app.