By Peter Leslie Wild

1. Listen to as much radio drama as you can: there's at least one play on every day - and there's a 'Listen Again' facility on the BBC website.

2. Think in sound - the language of radio drama includes much more than just dialogue.

3. Know your market. Don't send the BBC a 90 minute play - it'll prove you don't listen regularly!

4. Write your passion - don't write what you think Radio 4 wants.

5. Don't send in your re-cycled theatre play - especially if someone has told you, 'it'd make a good radio play!'

6. Tell a good story: however experimental a play is, it needs to have a strong narrative drive.

7. When you've written a script get some friends round to read it out loud - it'll tell you a lot about its radio qualities.

8. Include as much action as possible - the idea that good radio plays are static and wordy is a myth.

9. 'Hook' the listener in the first ninety seconds.

10. Write. Don't make excuses not to write. Stella Gibbons wrote 'Cold Comfort Farm' on the tube to work. Write every day.

Extra bonus tip!

11. Develop as many ideas as possible. You'll deal with rejection better if you've got five more ideas on the boil.

Peter Leslie Wild is a Senior Producer for BBC Radio Drama.

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