Meditative Story - Head Writer/Editor
Wait What, United States
Job Description
WaitWhat is looking for a Head Writer/Editor to lead an exceptionally talented team of writer/contributors for Meditative Story, a first-of-its-kind podcast listening experience that combines the emotional pull of immersive storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice. The listening experience is elevated by gorgeous, originally composed music that rides ethereally above every story.
We’re in search of an inspiring, insightful leader of other writers who is intellectually curious, and passionate about sharing provocative ideas through the art of longform personal storytelling. While this role is primarily focused on editing scripts for audio, we’re open to candidates from a range of media.
You must enjoy working collaboratively, be open to a diverse range of viewpoints, and feel energized and inspired by the lives and experiences of others. If you share our passion for exceptional storytelling and ground-breaking media formats, we would love to hear from you!
Please listen to a few episodes of Meditative Story before submitting a thoughtful cover letter, resume and writing samples which speak to the style and tone of the show.
Requirements
Qualifications:
- A talent for dramatic storytelling and editing scripts that have incisive beginnings, middles and ends, and convey beautifully nuanced, relatable ideas (avoiding cliche).
- Keen understanding of writing for audio, and more specifically exquisite first-person narratives.
- A deep passion for the Meditative Story podcast format, including a rich understanding of the uniquely inventive storytelling techniques of the show, its pacing, tone and syntax.
- An understanding and appreciation of the Meditative Story show catalog.
- A veteran storyteller, a creative writer and deep, analytical thinker with proven critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Highly organized and able to meet weekly deadlines.
- Superior communication skills, both written and verbal.
- 7+ years experience in long-form writing, and editing scripts for other writers.
- Experience producing and editing first-person narratives for audio - a plus
Responsibilities include:
- Working with the EP to build and manage a team of writers to work collaboratively and on deadline to complete weekly scripts of superlative quality.
- Providing detailed notes and coaching to a writing team of contractors from early story development and episode outlines through final draft to enhance story elements, order of scenes, voice, and pacing.
- Drafting interview questions that draw out entirely original stories from guests and highlight their natural personality, vulnerability, and wit, while identifying the universal themes embedded in the storytellers’ experiences.
- Selecting quotes from interviews and arranging them into a compelling episode outline.
- Listening to interviews with a focus on capturing the cadences and linguistic quirks of our guests while adhering to the demands of the format.
- Demonstrating an ability to work with multiple transcripts at once.
- Providing rigorous, constructive and honest feedback.
- Overseeing weekly deliverables with clear prioritization and a flexibility with change and surprise.
This is a FT position. The ideal candidate lives in New York and will be excited to join us in a creative, inspired Manhattan space once it is safe to do so, but if you do not live in New York, we still encourage that you apply.
Benefits
We offer a benefits package that’s generous and competitive with larger companies. We work startup hours, but we also rest; our whole company closes for 2 weeks in the summer and the week between Christmas and the New Year. We’re an anti-racist organization, committed to equity and diversity of all kinds on our team, among our investors, and as represented on our media properties. Most important, we only hire extremely kind people.
3 weeks of company holiday (2 weeks in summer + one week between Christmas and New Years), 5 personal days, healthcare PPO, vision and dental, short and long term disability, life insurance, 401K).