Recording an audiobook has unique challenges.
Back in college, I was a DJ on both campus radio stations.
One of the stations – with a full FM broadcast signal – was one of the most popular in the college town. Even the larger university in town didn’t have a following nor presence as we did.
I LOVED being a DJ. In fact, I had the privilege of working for pay – during the summer before my senior year and that winter break – to keep the station going. Additionally, I was production manager my senior year – and most of the PSAs were recorded by me.
Unlike many – who cannot stand how weird their recorded voice sounds – I know my own quite well. Though it took me a long time to get on the bandwagon, a couple of years ago I began podcasting regularly.
As a reader, I have a ton of respect for audiobooks. I have listened to most of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series on various road trips, for example. As I wrote previously, I consider listening to an audiobook to still be reading said book.
I have had a desire, for a long time, to be a voice artist. Like everything else I am into – not an easy industry to become a part of. But I have acquired equipment so that I could record my podcast.
Yet when it comes to my fiction – I’ve been less inclined to record it as an audiobook. One of my larger concerns, however, was addressed when I received a new, higher quality microphone.
Thus, when I release Unexpected Witness – the first novel of the Forgotten Fodder series – it will be available for Kindle, paperback, and as an audiobook via Audible.
The challenges of recording an audiobook
Previously, I recorded my You are Amazing nonfiction works for Audible. Beyond that, I have also recorded a whole bunch of additional audiobooks which got me some income – but – they’re not good books. Hence, no, I am not sharing links to them.
Fiction is a whole other animal. The best audiobook recording artists, for example, do multiple voices for different characters. While I can do this – by-and-large my books have had lots, and lots, and LOTS of characters.
Forgotten Fodder, as a series, has fewer characters than my works tend to. Taking that into account, I am working with this and, so far, am satisfied with what I’m creating.
The next challenge is recording quality. As I mentioned prior, I have a new mic which is quite an improvement over its predecessor. What I don’t have, like many, is a soundproof booth or fancy space to minimize background clutter and such.
When I record, I set-up my space using my audio production knowledge to create what’s needed to produce an acceptable recording. I DID minor in audio production in college, after all, and I was good at it. My set-up is unconventional, as such – but I think I am still producing a quality recording.
Of course, my cat will sometimes visit and can be a pain in my ass as such. Thalia loves to jump on my desk – and background purring and meowing doesn’t generally mesh with sci-fi storytelling.
Additional considerations
When I recorded the for-pay garbage audiobooks, I only edited for major errors. I was a lot less focused on putting in the time and effort to remove deep breaths, for example.
This is MY book. So, I must be much more diligent in my process. Editing is just as important as recording – the same as editing the novel itself.
I am an excellent cold reader. This is a skill I have cultivated for almost 30 years.
In college, working as my own newscaster, I did what they called “rip and read.” We got a feed from the Associated Press. We were supposed to take it, pre-read, and edit it. I just ripped it off the printer (which was dot-matrix. It was the early 1990s, after all) and did on-the-fly editing as I read it.
Now, in my medieval reenactment society, when doing Royal Court, I attempt to pre-read scrolls before sharing them with the public. But often, I only do a sweep of the text moments before reading it. BUT – nobody notices, and I cold-read better than some practiced readers.
Even though I wrote this novel – when was the last time I read it? I have an answer to that question.
When the novel came back to me from my editor, it was time for me to go over his edits. I accept 90% of what he gives me. But, sometimes, he wants to fix things (largely within dialogue) I don’t agree with.
When I edit – or go over my editor’s edits – I read aloud. Long ago, I found you discover errors better this way.
Making use of this, I am editing two chapters at a time. Then, since I just read them aloud – going back, rereading, and recording.
More options = more good
I am excited to have the ability to record the book.
For a long time now, I’ve wanted to be a narrator for audiobooks. In addition to being a voice artist in general. While this can be risky – for a lot of reasons – I think the reward is far greater.
In my quest to increase my brand presence as an author, availability and more options are never a bad thing. Having my books available for Kindle and in paperback is big. Also having a book available in Audiobook form is huge.
Unlike nonfiction – where it’s just a singular voice by-and-large – this is storytelling. I need to alter my voice to accommodate major characters and keep the listener just as engaged as I strive to keep the reader. I believe that I can do this.
The tagline on my website and my new business cards is writer/editor/voice artist/world-builder. This is me being what and who I claim to be.
Nothing worth having is too easy. Hence, the time and effort that is going into this process, I believe, is utterly worthwhile. This is who I have always desired to be as an artist.
I believe that this will expand my audience and my reach. As part of my brand, this is not something to be neglected or done halfway.
Unless my meeting with my marketing company changes things – and it might – Unexpected Witness will be available as of February 22nd. The first arc of Forgotten Fodder – books 1-4 – will be released every 2-4 months before the end of 2021.
I’m excited to share this – and hope you will check it out in one of its three formats.
Recording an audiobook has unique challenges. But I am excited to be working to surmount them.
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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