How to Make an Audiobook—Part 2
by Kim Catanzarite and Laura Botten
Last week, I talked about the general process for having an audiobook made using ACX.com. If you missed that article, you can find it HERE. This week, Laura Botten, voice talent and author of A Recipe from Rome, goes into detail about everything from how to hire the right narrator for your book to the possibility of narrating your own book.
Here are Laura’s five insider tips for authors who would like to produce an audiobook but have never done so:
1. Find a narrator whose voice matches the tone of your book. If you wrote a thriller or a mystery, you might want your narrator's voice to convey a bit of mystique. If you wrote a romantic comedy, you'll want a narrator who can deliver humor. In short, just because someone has a "nice voice," it doesn't mean they're the right narrator for your book. Listen to samples, and pick the one that fits the mood of your book.
2. Don't be shy about asking potential narrators to read a sample of your book. Most will provide a sample for free or for a low cost. What you hear in someone's demo might not give you an idea of what they'll sound like narrating your book, so this step can be super helpful.
3. Professional studios are wonderful—they have the best sound quality due to sound-treated rooms and professional recording equipment. However, since the pandemic, many voiceover professionals have installed professional-quality equipment in their own homes. This will save you from paying an hourly rate to rent out a recording studio.
4. Many authors, especially indie authors, may consider narrating their own audiobook. After all, you wrote it and can clearly hear the narration in your own head. If this is the route you decide to take, you'll want to make sure you record in a quality environment using quality equipment. You’ll also need to be sure you can pace and deliver the story well.
Narrating an entire book takes a long time (a 90,000-word book averages about 40 hours). So, ask yourself: Do you have the space in your schedule to take on such a time-consuming project? Do you have a quiet place to record? Can the space be "treated?" (Tacking up blankets on the walls to prevent echoes, for example.)
Do you have a high-quality microphone? Trust me, you don't want to skimp when it comes to the microphone. Listeners will have a hard time listening to your book if the recording quality is poor. Do you have audio editing software and the capability to remove flubs or noises, or do you know of an audio producer who can help you with that? Audacity is a free audio-recording program, and it’s a good place to start if you don’t have experience. These are all things you must consider if you decide to go the DIY route.
5. Listen to audiobooks that are available today, and ask yourself what you like or don't like about them. Is the narrator reading too fast or slow? Are they emoting enough? Is there anything about their voice or the recording you find distracting? These questions will help you decide what kind of narrator you'd like for your own audiobook, and allow you to provide guidance for your narrator as well.
How does one find an audiobook narrator?
Laura says that sites like ACX and Authors Republic are great places to start. You can choose a narrator who’s on their roster, and they will walk you through their specific requirements. (You also have the option of using your own narrator and simply uploading the audio to their site for distribution.) Freelance sites like Fiverr might be more budget-friendly.
Some things Laura recommends you consider when you're hiring a narrator:
Tone: Do they have a bubbly and friendly delivery? Are they somber and serious? Are they nasal, high-pitched, deep-voiced? Their tone should match the tone of your characters.
Pacing: In general, audiobooks are narrated a bit slower than most other commercial voiceover projects. Telling a story should unfold naturally; you don't want your narrator to rush it.
Mood: Similar to tone, you want to make sure their voice matches the mood of your book. You wouldn't want a dramatic delivery for a humorous book, so make sure to find a narrator that has the right range of emotion. Listen to their demo and, if possible, a sample of them reading your writing.
Cost: Does the narrator’s hourly rate fit within your budget?
Speaking of cost ... Laura says that rates vary in a big way. She explains:
Some narrators charge per hour, some per word. Ask for quotes. Many will charge 50% up front, and the balance upon completion of the project. (That's what I do.) Cost can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on the narrator’s experience and whether or not you are doing any of the work yourself. You may need to hire both a narrator and a producer—this will cost more. Some narrators, however, can also produce (like me!), and this will generally save you money. If you are narrating it yourself, you might still need to hire a producer, unless you feel confident enough to clean up the audio yourself using editing software—just be aware that there’s a learning curve to all of this!
Laura Botten has been doing professional voice work since 2004, with a focus in commercial voiceover. She began narrating audiobooks last year. (Give Remy Vs. Rome by Bonnie Callahan a listen!) Her debut novel A Recipe from Rome was published in September in e-book and paperback form, and it will be available as an audiobook later this year. Visit www.LauraBotten.com for more information on her voiceover service and to grab the first chapter of her book free.
