HOW TO MAKE AN AUDIO BOOK

When I first started looking into creating an audio book, ACX.com popped up in my searches. This was over a year ago, but I never knew the difficulty of producing an Audible book. Knowing what I know now, here are 3 tips to help you create an Audible book.

​Tip 1: You Need A Book

First, you need a book that’s already written. It doesn’t necessarily have to be published yet, but you do need the final publishing draft (unless you’re searching for narrators months ahead of time). And you need to own the rights to produce an audio book.

Once you have the draft, you’ll need a sample portion to load on your Audible project. This sample is what narrators will use when sending you an audition for your book. I suggest picking a spot in your book that involves conversations between your main characters. This will allow you to gauge your narrator better and listen to their voice when speaking as different characters.
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If you have any requirements for the way certain names are pronounced and/or background info for main characters, add this info while creating the project.

Tip 2: Don’t Wait

Once your project is listed for narrators to view, don’t sit around and wait. Search the database for producers for hire. You can choose styles of voices, male or female, payment options (royalty share or pay for finished hour), etc. Contact the producers you are interested in hearing an audition from. This way you’ll receive a healthy number of narrators to choose. Ones who are hungry and contact you, and ones you contact as well.
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Each narrator normally has samples of their work on their ACX page. Listen to those samples as well. ​

​Tip 3: Stick To Schedule

Whichever narrator you pick, make sure they stick to the schedule agreed upon in the ACX contract. It’s a business, and if the narrator can’t stick to a schedule, then you’re likely to find yourself stuck without a book months later. Everyone has excuses but don’t let these excuses cloud your judgment.
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My first two narrators never finished my book, and eventually, I had a new book published and chose to move on. I was tired of waiting months after deadlines being missed constantly. The last narrator contacted me, stating she had taken on too many projects and needed to bow out. I respected her honesty and understood. But it took months of missed deadlines for her to admit she could no longer produce my book, unless I wanted to wait 6 more months.

​Narrator Choice

Throughout the year of searching for a narrator, Audra Arnold joined the ACX team. She completed training and purchased the right equipment. She soundproofed the walls in her recording studio, and I asked her to produce my recently published book, Girl Gone Ghost. She’s stuck to every schedule and turned in chapters ahead of time. Whenever I requested to change the pronunciation of a word or the voice of a character, she did so without hesitation.

Audra Arnold has been the first narrator to follow through with deadlines. I can count on her, and I highly recommend her work.

When you find a narrator who works with you, make sure you don’t let them down either. Listen to chapters when they’re sent, respond promptly to emails, and don’t forget to let them know when you liked the way they produced a particular scene or voice.

Wordy Woman
by 238631456277369771

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About the Author

Dawn Husted wrote her first book in 2008. Now, she’s the author of 5 books, owner of Yaupon Berry Press, and a member of SCBWI. She's passionate about the Oxford comma and loves a well-structured plot.
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A Wordy Woman's Guide was created with a tenacious spirit and an enormous vision to offer resources that empower aspiring authors.

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