1 Two Hundred plus paged book
1 Search Engine
1 Pencil
1 Day or more to proof read for pronunciations and comprehension
As much time as you need to develop character catch phrases and personality.
Record your novel in studio for a minimum of 3-4 hours per day (Preferably the same time every day).
(Optional for best results)
1 Engineer or someone to help out during recording
1 Editor (or you can do your own editing)
Consistency and patience are what truly make this recipe work. You have to be a great story teller to give off the right effect, then you have to make sure that all your personalities are consistent (including your narrator). If you record a sample of each of your characters by creating a catch phrase for each of them, this will help you have an audio reference to follow. Keep this in a separate organized folder/area on your computer so it’s easy to access.
If you edit this on your own, I can’t stress enough the importance of organization. Create a pattern for yourself each day. For example record for 3 – 4 hours (making sure to listen to the recording done the previous day to keep the flow of the read), then edit for at least 4 hours more. Or use programs like Word to Wav, which makes it much easier to record and edit at the same time.
Everyone has their own mixing style. I highly recommend using an editor and allowing for that in the budget. The bottom line in audio book is that you have to know what you’re doing and know exactly what you need to make it happen.
“Wow, $4,000 for an audiobook. This is excellent pay.”
If you’ve thought or heard this statement, let me fill you in on a few things you should know before EVER entering the world of audiobooks. Perhaps you can learn from my own experience.