Not to mention, its a nice reprieve from staring at a screen all day.
First, lets tackle a couple of Audiobook-101 topics.
Probably not as good as youd like.
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What Are the Most Popular Audiobook Platforms?
Like we mentioned, audiobook popularity has been on the rise for about a decade.
Enter AmazonsAudiobook Creative Exchange(ACX), which connects audiobook narrators with books to narrate.
Did you know?
How Long Does it Take to Record an Audiobook?
Speaking of from start to finish, how long does it take to actually record the thing?
To put it bluntly: It depends.
And it can vary based on a number of factors.
Whether its your first or 500th recording will also add to your tally.
How Much Can You Make Recording Audiobooks?
So, similarly, the data varies here.
ACX doesnt set or recommend rates for producers to charge.
But, it does point out many narrators are members of theSAG-AFTRA union, which typically sets hourly rates.
More established narrators can earn between $100 and $350 PFH, per the publication.
Some workers also receive a royalty share or split for their pay.
you might also find gig and full-time salaried work for voice professionals, and payment will vary.
Equipment That Audiobook Narrators Need
Of course your voice is important when it comes to narration.
But its not the only tool you’re gonna wanna be successful in the field.
If you want to become an audiobook narrator, you need solid equipment.
Well touch on how voice professionals can find work in this field, prepare for jobs and more.
I got started through freelancing and bidding on work, Keppeler said.
I bid on a short audiobook and got that, and it went well.
Based on her experience, Keppeler shares some advice and warnings for anyone interested in doing audiobook work.
My voice just fits with audiobook work, Keppeler said.
Actors are especially tuned in for audiobook work, by the nature of our training.
Thats because actors learn how to voice multiple characters, necessary for fiction narration in particular.
Even for nonfiction, acting training can help you animate narration and make a book interesting.
You definitely have to have some training, Keppeler said.
If you regularly listen to audiobooks and like them, thats a good starting point.
How is narrating an audiobook different from just reading a book aloud?
When you read a book, youre seeing and hearing things in your mind, she said.
When youre narrating that book, what youre seeing and hearing in your mind you have to then vocalize.
Its a distinct difference from other voiceover work, like commercials, where images or video complement the narration.
Because of this need to draw the reader into a made-up world, narrating fiction requires acting skills.
Not everyone is cut out for it.
But, nonfiction has its own challenge, Keppeler said.
Sometimes what youre reading is kind of dry, but you still have to make it interesting.
She says it doesnt necessarily matter whether a book is interesting toher.
Why does it take so long to land a gig?
Some of it, Keppeler says, is just learning how to narrate correctly.
I had some coaching that finally brought me to the point of doing a fairly good job.
She used trial and error.
She took whatever narration work came her way, and listened to client feedback.
When an author liked her voice, she knew it was a good fit.
In voice-over in general, there are so many different genres, she said.
Most people find you have certain specialties and certain ones dont fit.
Only audition for gigs that fit your voice, and the success rate is much higher.
you’re able to even search for books by genre.
Im becoming a bit of a nonfiction specialist, Keppeler said.
The Challenges of Audiobook Narration
Some of the work involved goes beyond just recording the voiceover.
Especially if you work through ACX, you have to do the production yourself, Keppeler said.
[Thats] editing and mastering yourself.
Theres a technical learning curve.
What I learned editing smaller jobs contributed a lot to being able to jump into audiobooks, Keppeler said.
So you might consider starting small.
Hone your skills on smaller jobs and work your way up to the lengthier projects.
What about contracting the technical stuff out to an audio editor?
Keppeler says that for what youre paid, its not usually worth it for an audiobook.
Youre expected to record, produce and deliver a finished product.
Any additional help you bring in will cut into your pay.
Keppeler says youre better off just learning to do it yourself.
As you might guess, this reduces an authors upfront cost as well as their risk in hiring you.
Mostly, Keppeler focuses on short books she can quickly complete.
And she gets paid a flat rate of about $100 per finished hour, rather than royalties.
I have done royalty deals but only on ACX with short books, she said.
I have four royalty books [on ACX], and about $20 trickles in every quarter.
Research an author before signing an agreement.
Set a flat rate, and get your money when the jobs done.
Long term, you could make much more money in sales royalties.
Your working relationship with the author also will be strengthened, because youll be invested in the books success.
Bidding through an exchange site like ACX offers the lowest of both.
I only go out to ACX when I dont have other paid work, Keppeler said.
ACX makes it difficult to achieve one of the staples of successful freelance work: repeat clients.
Keppeler said the platform isnt really set up to connect authors with narrators long-term.
Instead, you audition for each job.
It eliminates a huge opportunity for narrators to work with an author on a series or future books.
What ACXisgood for, she said, is building your portfolio.
If youre just getting started, the platform gives you an opportunity to hone your chops.
Practice your narrating and editing skills through auditions, and improve from author feedback.
Once you land a few gigs, use those as samples to land clients elsewhere.
As audiobooks increase in popularity, Keppeler is seeing more audiobook work appear on Upwork.
Freelancers, she says, tend to be better for general voiceover gigs, but not audiobook narration.
Check out job postings, casting calls and freelance work, and web connection with other voice actors.
Begin auditioning, and see what happens.
Put that great voice of yours to good use!
Or reach into your data pipe, and get creative to find freelancing gigs on your own.
A voice actor can make about $10-$350 an hour to record an audiobook.
Depending on the gig and a host of other factors, compensation will vary per person and per job.
Refer to the section How Much Can You Make Recording Audiobooks?
in this article for more information.
Amazon has aguidefor budding Audible audiobook narrators.
Dana Sitar and Kathleen Garvin are contributors to The Penny Hoarder.
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
