The Making of Audiobooks

With strong arguments in support of audiobook publishing (see previous blog post), there is an increased interest among authors who are looking for ways to appeal to all readers. And with so many options for increased visibility on the market today, it is easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you have no sense of direction. This challenge only gets more complicated as an independent author, but have no fear–creating an audiobook is not only possible but manageable. 

As a self-publishing author, the choices that must be made throughout the writing and publishing process are seemingly endless. Choosing to create an audiobook presents even more choices, with one of the main questions to answer being which route do I take? There is no right or wrong answer, but the choices should be considered carefully to maximize your audiobook’s chances of success. 

Do you take total reign and produce every aspect of the audiobook yourself from start to finish? Do you hire a professional narrator to help with bringing the story to life? Perhaps you will experiment with AI and its growing presence in nearly every facet. Whatever direction you take, feel confident in that decision and trust your instinct will guide you to your desired destination. 

If you need some guidance, we’re here to help with that as we take a closer look at three of the most popular methods for audiobook creation and why authors prefer each (in order of most to least chosen):

1. Hiring a Professional Narrator - 

The writing process can be demanding and take up both time and energy on its own. Narrating an audiobook requires precise vocal technique and ability, skills not all writers may possess. Professional narrators have trained experience that allows them to not only present a story but tell it in a way that invigorates the auditory senses. Some authors argue that the quality of professionally produced audiobooks is evident over alternative methods.

2. Self-Narration -

An outsider, who matter how well they get to know your book, will never quite know your book the way you, its author, does. That truth is significant, and choosing to be the “voice” of your story is impactful and adds a personal touch that readers appreciate. Not only does it allow you to be more involved in the creative process of producing an audiobook, a whole new adventure on its own, it also promotes authenticity. Bonus? It reduces production costs, an advantage highly appealing to authors looking to keep additional expenses minimal. 

3. AI Technology -

If time and cost are high priority, the use of AI may be your most effective option. There are growing numbers of platforms that will create text-to-speech formats of your book–Murf AI, Speechify, and ElevenLabs are some of the most commonly used apps. This method eliminates the vetting process for choosing a professional narrator and saves an author valuable time (and possibly more money) that could be spent on other things relating to production. 

Of course, there are cons for each method–a narrator out of touch with the story, a rushed finished product that does not resonate with listeners in the same way your text does, or an audiobook that has clearly been created with AI. This is why choosing the right method for you is important and requires thoughtful consideration. The cost of insufficient or subpar audiobook quality may be higher than the costs to produce it. If the thought of potentially turning away first-time readers from your work based on the quality of your audiobook sounds alarming, it speaks to the real possibility of it happening and how crucial your choice is when it comes to audiobook creation. 

Once the hardest part of choosing how to produce is done, the audiobook process is an exciting opportunity for you as an author to showcase your story in a new way. Embrace the journey and watch as your words reach ears across the world. 

-DG

P.S. Our next blog will be an overview of Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice Studio, which offers yet another option for AI audiobook narration, and it’s free!