{"id":1259,"date":"2018-12-05T18:55:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T02:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/write-time-blog\/how-to-work-with-your-audiobook-narrator"},"modified":"2018-12-05T18:55:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-06T02:55:00","slug":"how-to-work-with-your-audiobook-narrator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/how-to-work-with-your-audiobook-narrator\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Work With Your Audiobook Narrator"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2019\/10\/jonathan-waters_orig.jpg\" alt=\"Picture\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"205309741713284880\" align=\"left\">\n<h1>The Audiobook Opportunity for Authors<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<span><span>Authors and readers love audiobooks. Many authors are considering publishing audio editions of their book to add to their<\/span> <span>backlist<\/span><span>.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>Creating an audiobook has many benefits for independent authors.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span><span>The audiobook industry is huge. It’s a billion dollar industry and growing. Be part of the action.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Book lovers consume audiobooks. Book consumers who read 50+ books a year also use audiobooks. They can’t stop just because they are driving, working out, or cooking. Audiobooks give them a way to consume more books.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Audiobooks boost paper and<\/span> <span>eBook<\/span> <span>sales. People who love an audiobook go back to buy a copy to have in their library. Plus Amazon’s<\/span> <span>Whispersync<\/span> <span>encourages<\/span> <span>eBook<\/span> <span>sales.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Reach non-readers. Many people who don’t like reading love stories. They will listen to an audiobook. You’ll reach millions of “non-readers.”<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Your book is easy to find. Although the audiobook market is growing, it is much smaller than the book market. Your book can stand out in a<\/span> <span>relatively<\/span> <span>smaller crowd.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><span>With all the great reasons to create an audiobook, you’ll want to know how to work with your narrator.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span><span>Interview with Audiobook Narrator<\/span> <span>Jonathan Waters<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<span><span>Performance artist<\/span> <span>Jonathan Waters<\/span> <span>shares tips for authors about keeping your narrator happy. Plus you have an inside pick at a narrator’s recording studio and how he works to produce a finished hour.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/>\n​\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<span><span>Video Time stamp<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>0:54 What a narrator looks for in an author<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>2:06 Good communication<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>5:17 Character comes alive in narration<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>6:17 Provide a “casting call”<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>9:20 The Author in the director’s seat<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>9:45 How to give notes back to the narrator<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>14:39 The narration recording studio<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>19:47 What is a finished hour of production?<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>23:36 Editing author suggestions<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>24:35 The editing process<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><span><span>28:33 Narrator tip for authors<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>If you think Jon is right for your book contact him on Facebook at<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/jonathan.waters.524\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Jonathan.waters.524<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/>\n​\n<\/div>\n<h2><span><span>Two Places to Find and Audition Narrators<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<span><span>For years,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>ACX<\/span><\/a> <span>has been the go-to place to find narrators for your book. With thousands of voices to choose from, you can refine your search with many options for the voice and tone you want for your book. You can pay for the production or find a narrator who agrees to split the royalties.<\/span> <span>You book will be distributed<\/span> <span>through Amazon, Audible, iTunes with choices on<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acx.com\/help\/distribution\/200474580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>distribution<\/span><\/a> <span>and<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acx.com\/help\/royalty-payment-terms-and-procedures\/200498480\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>royalty rates<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>A new option for audiobook creation is<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/findawayvoices.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Findaway Voices<\/span><\/a><span>. The process is<\/span> <span>different<\/span><span>. You tell Findaway Voices what you are looking for and they send you selections. You can always ask for more recommendations. Once you choose your narrator, you pay upfront.  <\/span><span>Your audiobook will be distributed<\/span> <span>to many outlets giving your book a much broader reach than ACX. And your royalty is higher.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/>\n​\n<\/div>\n<h2><span><span>Practice Professionalism<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<span><span>Once you have selected the right narrator for your book or series, act as a professional in your interactions. You want to let your personality shine through, but treat your narrator with respect. He or she is a professional artist with other clients. Make it easy for your narrator to work with you.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>Steps you can take.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<span><span>Create a character background for all the characters in your novel. A brief description with name pronunciation, age and any personality strengths you want to emphasize. Then give your artist the freedom to interpret the book.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Be precise with any changes you want in the reading samples you receive. If you want a sentence changed or a line of dialogue interpreted with another emphasis, state the change<\/span> <span>clearly<\/span> <span>and time stamp the place where it occurs in the audio recording.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<span><span>Don’t annoy your narrator. As excited as you are, refrain from asking when the next chapter will<\/span> <span>be finished<\/span><span>. Request editorial changes in a factual, polite, and even light-hearted manner.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span><span>You and the narrator are partners in the audiobook creation. You selected this performance artist as the right person to tell your story. Think of them as a member of your team. Give them encouragement and praise the work when deserved.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>With the right attitude, you and your narrator will be on your way to creating a finished audiobook listeners will love.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><br \/><span><span>Zara Altair<\/span><\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><br \/>\n​\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Audiobook Opportunity for Authors Authors and readers love audiobooks. Many authors are considering publishing audio editions of their book to add to their backlist.Creating an audiobook has many benefits for independent authors. The audiobook industry is huge. It’s a billion dollar industry and growing. Be part of the action. Book lovers consume audiobooks. Book…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,23,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audiobook","category-author-learning","category-uncategorized"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":30,"label":"Audiobook"},{"value":23,"label":"Author Learning"},{"value":1,"label":"Uncategorized"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Zara Altair","author_link":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/author\/zaltair\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":30,"name":"Audiobook","slug":"audiobook","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":30,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":30,"category_count":1,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Audiobook","category_nicename":"audiobook","category_parent":0},{"term_id":23,"name":"Author Learning","slug":"author-learning","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":23,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":63,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":23,"category_count":63,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Author Learning","category_nicename":"author-learning","category_parent":0},{"term_id":1,"name":"Uncategorized","slug":"uncategorized","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":131,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":1,"category_count":131,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Uncategorized","category_nicename":"uncategorized","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1259\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zaraaltair.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}