Shaping Stories Through Editing

Editing isn’t just about cutting “ums” and tightening pauses. It’s about shaping the story your audience experiences. Even when you record a great conversation, the story doesn’t always reveal itself in real time. Editing is where you uncover it. In this episode we talk about how to approach editing as storytelling.

Find the Spine First

Before you cut anything, listen through. Ask: What is this episode really about? Often, the most compelling theme isn’t the one you planned. Spot the turning point, the emotional beat, the insight that everything revolves around - that’s your spine.

Cut the Scaffolding, Keep the Structure

Most recordings are full of tangents, verbal scaffolding, and repeated points. Strip those away, but protect the core. Editing isn’t about sanitizing every imperfection - it’s about letting the strongest ideas breathe.

Don’t Be Afraid to Reorder

Great stories don’t always unfold in a straight line. Some of the best hooks come late in the conversation. Use editing to move them up front, frame the narrative, and create flow.

Listen for Rhythm

A good edit feels musical. It has variety - quick runs of short sentences, pauses that give weight, moments of release. Pacing matters as much as clarity.

Protect Personality

The danger in over-editing is sanding away the human edge. Laughter, a stutter, a pause that lands - those are often the moments listeners remember. Keep them in. Editing is narrative work. It’s about finding the story and shaping it so listeners stay engaged. Clean audio is important, but alive, authentic audio is what connects.

👉 Want to sharpen your editing style or get support with full production? Get in touch at hello@1878.studio.