Exploring Audiobook Opportunities
Facilitated by Nancy Peterson
Is an Audiobook Right for You?
- You can choose from various audiobook platforms, such as the following:
- ACX.com—most commonly used platform for producing and distributing audiobooks (an Amazon company); the finished recording is sent to Audible.com (also an Amazon company)
- Findaway.com
- Spokenrealms.com
- Platforms help you find the right narrator for your project; also help with production and distribution.
- You can arrange to have a nonexclusive contract so you have the audio rights to sell the audiobook wherever you want.
- Coaches are available to train authors to read their own books. One recommendation is Sean Pratt (seanprattpresents.com).
- Once you put your book on a platform, you’ll receive sample narrations from people interested in being your narrator. You can listen to the samples to decide which voice you like best.
- After you’ve selected a narrator, send him/her the manuscript.
- A narrator reads about 9,200 words per hour. (Divide book’s word count by 9,200 to estimate how long the recording will be.)
- Typically, a narrator can complete one finished hour of recording per workday. So a five-hour book will take five days to record. Then add several days for editing, proofing, and corrections. Plan on about fourteen days from starting the process to having the audiobook ready for sale.
Payment Options for Narration/Production
- Royalty share—narrator and production team take half of royalties for seven years. If your audiobook does really well, you’ll probably pay more than if you paid upfront.
- You won’t get as many auditions because royalty sharing is a risk.
- Narrators might ask what your sales numbers are to ensure they’ll earn enough.
- Upfront fixed fee—the narrator is paid an hourly fee.
- Fees start around $50/hour; for that low price, you probably won’t get many auditioners.
- Fees are for finished hours (not hours the narrator spends).
- Hybrid–combines aspects of the royalty and fixed-fee models.
- Listen to auditioners’ work on Audible.com to get a good idea of whether you like their work (search by name, and pay attention to their recent work).
- The narrator is paid by the author/rights holder and then pays the editor, proofer, and so forth.
- Self-narrate your book.
- You can rent a studio to record your book.
- Create a space in your home (e.g., walk-in closet with a lot of clothing) with good-quality software and hardware (which can be expensive).
- You need to be a dynamic speaker with a lot of energy. If you’re used to speaking in front of crowds, that can help with book narration.
Distribution
- Libraries: publishers go to library conventions to get book in libraries. You can also donate a copy to a local library.
- Spoken Realms has great distribution outside of Audible/Amazon. You can do an extended distribution to get audiobooks in more places. (You’ll get better royalties by going through Spoken Realms than Audible if you want to distribute beyond Audible.)
- Book sales typically drive audiobook sales (not vice versa). So if your book is selling well, your audiobook will also likely sell well.