In non-fiction, it’s also not uncommon for authors to read their own work. It’s lovely for your ego to have an audiobook recorded by you, the author. An inexperienced narrator with vocal tics and poor microphone technique could mean twice as much studio time, and at least as much again for editing and mastering. Every single fluff and mouth-click needs to be edited out, or it’ll sound dreadful, especially under the repeated scrutiny of a listener with good speakers. Narrators are locked up for hours with your book. It calls for a close, intimate kind of projection, lively modulation and rhythm and tremendous stamina. Stop right there! Narration for audiobooks is a demanding skill. I’ve also done some drama / public speaking and I’m a natural. I’m good at live reads and get good audience reactions. If you’re like me, you need to ask yourself: 3. I have a radio background, and didn’t find it straightforward at all. However, a lot of intrepid authors (myself included) have thought ‘how hard can it be?’ and decided to learn their own audiobook narration and production skills.Īt this point, I’d urge great caution. If you’re going to an audiobook provider, the process shouldn’t take long. Findaway has been bought by Spotify, so audiobook platforms are evolving fast. The biggest one is Amazon’s ACX, with Findaway Voices also a highly regarded audio-author services market place, for indies who prefer to go wide. The straightforward route is to go to one of the marketplaces where authors can meet audiobook narrators who provide services. Do you have time to invest in audiobook production? On the other hand, if you’re a leisure writer and/or you have spare cash and would love to have your audiobook out, this may not be a consideration – in which case, go for it! 2. You may well find that new covers, or a professional editor for your book, is a better investment. If you’re a writing business, look at this with a business hat on. If you hire an experienced narrator, and have a more complex book involving lots of characters, sound backdrops or other production extras, the sky’s the limit. But even if you go to a relatively inexpensive audiobook provider, or do a profit share where the narrator gets a cut of sales income in return for reduced rates, you’re still looking at a starting point of around £2,000 for basic quality. Yes, costs have come down, as most narrators now have home studios. This calls for close-up, detailed work on every sentence you write. It needs to be recorded, edited and mastered so it’s ready for uploading to Audible or one of the other platforms. Even a 50k novel will take several days of an experienced narrator’s committed time in a studio. Do you have money to invest in audiobook production?Īudiobooks are expensive to produce. And note that if you love audio and it’s your dream to have an audiobook out, crack on! You might find my book Writing for Audiobooks helpful for the editing stage. I discussed this recently with writer and podcaster Emma Dhesi and it’s such a tricky issue! Every writer is different, and the answer will depend on the stage you’re at, too.īut here are 11 questions to help you think it through. Is recording an audiobook a worthwhile investment for authors? Are time and money well spent on audio production, or would you be better focusing on other things – such as writing your next book?
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