How to Make an Audiobook in 5 Steps (and the Best Types of Books to Start With)
Have you ever wondered how audiobooks are created? It’s not just about reading words out loud into a microphone. Audiobooks are more about bringing books to life through tone, pacing, and acting. For example, a thrilling mystery and a heartwarming romance require distinct narration styles to capture their unique moods and emotions.
This is part of the reason why audiobooks have exploded in popularity; they offer a new way of enjoying books that can be more immersive and captivating than traditional reading. So, why not try your hand at creating one of your own?
In this article, we’ll show you how to make an audiobook so you can transform the reading experience for your audience. Let’s get started!
Photo from Freepik
What Is an Audiobook?
An audiobook is a recorded version of a book that readers can listen to. They can be narrated by one or more voice actors, which is great for books with multiple points of view. And similar to ebooks, they can be accessed on phones, computers, and tablets in the form of audio files or via streaming services.
Audiobooks are typically adapted from existing books, with a script created from the original text and refined as needed. But even if you haven’t published a book, you can still create an audiobook from scratch. And if you’re a traditionally published author, just make sure your contract gives you the right to create audiobooks independently before getting started.
Why Should You Create an Audiobook?
Audiobooks have created a new, convenient, and accessible way for people to enjoy books. They offer a way, even for the busiest of people, to quickly go through their reading lists and enjoy their favorite books whenever they want. Because of this, audiobooks are highly popular and are quickly becoming a go-to medium for book lovers.
Below are the most significant benefits that audiobooks provide:
- They’re very popular and in demand: Audiobooks are in high demand these days, with a global audience that continues to expand all the time. In the US alone, more than 52% of adults have listened to an audiobook at least once, according to the Audio Publishers Association. This shows an increasing interest in audiobooks, which ensures that you will find plenty of interested listeners.
- They can be an extra stream of revenue: Alongside regular books, you can increase your income by publishing audiobooks. Most major distributors (such as Findaway Voices and Apple Books) offer between 30% and 50% of royalties on audiobooks. And even if you’re a traditionally published author, your audiobook deal can still give you 15% to 25% of the total royalties.
- They can bring your book to life in unique ways: Audiobooks can help you craft an unforgettable experience for listeners. For instance, you can hire multiple narrators to voice the characters in your story, making it more immersive. Alternatively, you can add a few subtle sound effects or even soundscapes to the recordings. This can elevate the quality of your audiobook when done right. However, make sure to research your target audience’s preferences on the topic, as many readers prefer not to hear such sound effects because they can be distracting.
- They’re more accessible to certain demographics: Naturally, having an auditory alternative to your written book can boost its accessibility. And we’re not just talking about your visually impaired audience here; many avid readers prefer listening to audiobooks on the go because they can be more convenient than reading regular ebooks
When to Turn Your Book into an Audiobook
You might think that most books can easily be converted to audiobooks, but sadly that’s not the case. In reality, some books work better in audio format, while others rely heavily on visuals or reference material, making them less suitable. Below, we explore the types of books that work well as audiobooks and those that don’t:
Books That Work Well as Audiobooks
Certain book genres are particularly well-suited for audio formats, such as:
- Fiction: Fiction books, in general, tend to make for great audiobooks. Still, there are particular sub-genres that work better than others, such as horror, romance, comedy, and mystery novels.
- Certain subgenres of non-fiction: There are many sub-genres of non-fiction books that can make for entertaining and informative audiobooks. These can include personal development, history, health and fitness, and business. Additionally, narrative non-fiction, such as memoirs, essays, and literary journals, can also be transformed into engaging audiobooks.
- Poetry: In addition to the other genres, poetry collections can also be entertaining to listen to in audiobook form.
Photo from Freepik
Books That May Not Work Well in Audio Format
On the other hand, some books rely on visual elements or structured content, making them less ideal for audiobooks:
- Books that contain lots of images: There are many genres and subgenres of books that rely on images and graphics, such as picture books, cookbooks, and graphic novels. Because of how they’re structured, it would be difficult to turn them into scripts for an audiobook.
- Technical or instructional publications: Similarly, some books, such as reference books, marketing pamphlets, and instruction manuals, are used mainly for practical reasons, such as instructing new employees or staff. So, they might not translate to a fun listening experience for a general audience.
How to Create an Audiobook of Your Own
Creating audiobooks might be a time-consuming task, but it is not necessarily a difficult one. By understanding the process, you can produce a professional and successful audiobook. Whether you hire professionals or do it all yourself, you’ll have a finished audiobook that you can be proud of.
1. Prepare the Source Material
The first step of creating an audiobook is preparing and editing your manuscript. Since the book will be narrated, it can be helpful to adapt your text and modify it to ensure a smooth listening experience. Here are a few words of advice that can help you with this process:
- Improve the flow of the script: Long, complex sentences can be confusing to listen to at best, and boring at worst. So, make sure to edit your book so that every word flows smoothly into the next. That way, you will improve the quality of the audiobook and keep your listeners hooked. One way to do this is to read your script out loud. This can give you a better sense of how the audiobook will sound. More specifically, it can help you identify any issues with flow and ensure that your dialogue has a natural rhythm.
- Narrate visual material in a descriptive way: Some books might contain visuals such as illustrations or charts. In an audiobook, these elements might need to be thoroughly described if they’re essential to understanding the content. If you’re worried that some details cannot be explained well using audio, you can provide downloadable PDFs containing these visuals as supplementary materials. Keep in mind that decorative visuals don’t need to be described within the narration.
2. Record the Audiobook
Now that you have an audiobook script, it’s time to decide who will narrate it. There are two main options to think about: hiring someone or doing it yourself. Let’s go over both routes in more depth.
- Hiring a narrator (or several ones):
If you decide to hire a narrator for your audiobook, you should know how to select the right one. Start by checking their dialect and tone, their experience with recording audiobooks, and their pricing.
If possible, ask your chosen candidates for samples of their work before you make an offer. Finally, try to avoid royalty-sharing contracts, which split your royalties with your hired narrators, as these might take away some of your distribution rights.
To find the right voices for your book, you can take a look at websites such as Voices and Voice123.
- Recording the audiobook yourself:
Producing the audiobook on your own means preparing your environment and equipment for the job. After that, you’ll record each chapter separately and later compile every audio file in your audiobook creation software.
If you’re narrating the audiobook yourself, then try recording your script in a studio to achieve the best quality. However, if recording in a studio isn’t available, you can still produce high-quality audio. Just make sure to choose a quiet, soundproofed space and use a good-quality microphone.
Photo from Depositphotos
- Using AI to generate audio clips:
If you can’t afford to hire narrators but cannot record your own voice either, you can take advantage of text-to-speech AI tools such as ElevenLabs. These tools can turn your edited script into an engaging audiobook at a fraction of the cost of hiring a narrator. However, the resulting audiobook might not sound as authentic as it would if a human was narrating it.
3. Edit the Audio Files
Once the recordings are ready, you’ll enter the editing phase. During this step, you need to ensure consistency in the overall sound, pacing, and formatting of your recordings. Since this step is very important, you might want to outsource it to a professional audio engineer so you can ensure the highest quality for your audiobook.
If you don’t have the budget to hire someone, you can still get the job done yourself. To do that, you can use free audio editing software such as Audacity to help you refine your recordings. As you edit your audiobook, take into account the technical requirements of the platform on which you’ll be publishing the audiobook. For example, some platforms require that each file, or chapter, be no longer than 120 minutes.
4. Compile and Export Your Audiobook
After your audio files are edited and refined, it’s time to assemble them into an audiobook. To do this, we’ll be using Kotobee Narrator, a free audiobook maker that allows us to compile individual audio recordings into one audiobook. This gives readers the option to listen to individual chapters of your audiobook, just like reading regular books.
To get started, just follow the steps below:
- Download and set up Kotobee Narrator.
- Import audio files by dragging and dropping them onto the interface. Once they’re imported into the program, you can edit the names of each chapter if you want.
- Fill out your audiobook’s metadata (its name, description, ISBN, and other important information). Make sure to upload a cover for the audiobook as well.
- Finally, export the audiobook and share it with your readers! They can simply listen to it using the Kotobee Reader app, which is available on desktop and mobile.
If you want to publish more than one audiobook, however, you can create a digital library, which can host several ebooks and audiobooks in one place. This way, you can host your library on your website or export it as a standalone app, making it easy for your readers to access your work.
Photo from Depositphotos
And that’s it! Now you have a professionally-produced audiobook that your readers will love. Congratulations!
Final Thoughts
Humans have been narrating and listening to stories for thousands of years. So, why not take advantage of this fact by creating your own audiobook? Not only would you be reaching a wider audience, but you’ll also have an extra stream of income coming in.
If this is your first time creating an audiobook, don’t forget to bookmark this article so you can easily come back to it. And if you have any thoughts on the tips we mentioned, let us know in the comments below.
.
Read More
What Is a Webbook and How to Create One
