Wednesday, April 6, 2022

#IWSG and Audiobooks

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.


IWSG badge

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!   

April 6 question - Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?

I haven't taken the dive into audiobooks yet.

It's cost-prohibitive - or at least it was when I first checked into it a few years back. One piece of advice I received at the time was that it was only smart to do an audiobook if your profits from one month for that title (only the one book) would easily pay for the narrator, which at the time was between $2k and $5k. Um...no.

As a teacher, I've been reading aloud for decades and have pretty good skills in that area...but...I'm certainly not a professional, nor do I have a sound booth or good place for a "studio".

I may try it for Dancing With Dementia at some point but I'm not as sure about the romance. Maybe. It's a whole new skill and at least two new technologies to learn (microphone, program, sound editing...). Even though the idea of learning new skills and tech appeals to me, I'm not sure I have the time for that.

How about you? Are you an audiobook reader? (I'm not because of the bouncy brain and that might be part of my reticence as well.) Have you enjoyed the audiobook process if you're a writer?


33 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

My books are all on audio which is cool, but my publisher set it up. Hopefully one of yours will be an audio book soon.

M.J. Fifield said...

I haven't taken the ebook plunge, though I have considered looking into it.

I have a writer friend who has done quite a few audiobooks. He used to have a narrator read them, but now he actually reads, records and produces them himself. Now he keeps trying to get me to do the same. :)

Nancy Gideon said...

My only audio book was done by a publisher (I talk about it on this month's post). The idea of handling it myself with my sef-pubs is too daunting to even consider. I know they are money makers but one must first have money to make them!

Jemi Fraser said...

Hope so! I think it would be fun to learn

Jemi Fraser said...

It sounds like a good plan - it's mostly time. Time to learn the skills and then figure out the process!

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly!! It's a LOT ... but it's intriguing!
And congrats on the success of your audio book - that's a great story!

Jemi Fraser said...

It's definitely in the "some day" pile for now :)

Rachna Chhabria said...

I'm not yet an audio book reader, I mean listener. Infact, I love my physical books more than anything else.

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm not anywhere near the audiobook part of the author journey.
As it is, I've never listened to an audiobook. I'm not against audiobooks but I do prefer hardcopy.
Happy IWSG Day!

Jemi Fraser said...

My brain struggles to focus on audiobooks. I'm much better with my e-readers!

Jemi Fraser said...

My brain doesn't work well with audiobooks either. But I've taught many kids over the years who love them!

Tyrean Martinson said...

I love your term "bouncy brain" - that's possibly why I don't listen to audio for more than 20 minutes or so. I start daydreaming. I have also taught students who love them, and I know adults who do. I took the audio book plunge and paid a tiny $ amount by going through ACX and stating how much I would pay up front. I had a lot of bad auditions, but I went ahead with the process after choosing a narrator I liked.
I wonder if I could have narrated it because I've done podcasts, but I wasn't sure and I wanted to "just do it." Sometimes that attitude works, and sometimes it's gotten me in trouble. I'll see what happens this time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Love it!! That attitude has caused me a few bumpy moments as well! :)
I bet you'd be able to do the narrating well. For me, it's the time to learn the editing and programs. We'll see!

emaginette said...

Never done one, but I do love listening to audiobooks. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Olga Godim said...

I never produced an audio book, and I don't listen to them either. I prefer to see words on the page instead of listening to them.

Jemi Fraser said...

Nice. My brain just doesn't work that way!

Jemi Fraser said...

My brain prefers it that way, but I wish I could do the audiobooks when I'm baking :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I tend to reserve audio books for long road trips. But they are certainly gaining in popularity--[audio books, not road trips ;)

C. Lee McKenzie said...

A friend of mine just made an audiobook of her memoire. If you're a good reader--I'm sure you are-- and can gain access to a proper studio and editor, you could do your own!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

If you decide to do your own, please blog about your experience, Jemi. I would love to hear about it.

kimlajevardi.com said...

I like audiobooks sometimes, especially when driving.

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - if we ever go on a road trip again, I may have to try it. Although hubby doesn't share my taste in romance :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I never thought of looking into a local studio - that might be doable! Thanks!!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's such a great idea, Joylene!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'll have to try it one day - if I'm ever in the car for more than 15 minutes

Denise Covey said...

Hi Jemi. When I enquired, it'd cost at least $3,000 to do an audiobook, but that's probably the minimum. I don't enjoy listening to audiobooks, but there's a whole market out there we're missing out on. Publishers are the ones to do it - some do an audiobook when you've sold 1,000 copies.

I think 'Dementia' would make a great audiobook. Just sayin'.

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - that's good info!
Thanks - that would be the one I'd start with!!

Carol Kilgore said...

I haven't taken that plunge either and for many of the same reasons. Add to that the hassle of finding someone with a solid but not exaggerated Texas accent.

Jemi Fraser said...

That definitely adds an extra "hmmm" to it all!

DMS said...

I love audiobooks and listen to them all the time. For the last three years I have been toying with the idea of have an audiobook created, but it's a lot to look into and I have not looked into it again recently.
~Jess

Jemi Fraser said...

Agreed - it's a lot. I'd love to make time to do it...one day!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Audiobook has been something I want to look into for quite a while, but I also found it cost prohibitive. While I do know minor sound editing, I simply don't feel I have a voice for audiobooks. Like you, I've considered trying it with the nonfiction book first. We'll see!

Jemi Fraser said...

One day!