Last updated 20 July 2023
Are you an author or publisher who is ready to get your titles into AUDIOBOOKS?
The fantastic info found in this list of links will better prepare you for the task, especially if you plan to use Audible’s Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX.com) for the production process.
You’ll also find a lot of specific information about the audiobook production process by reading the Knowledge Base articles on my site NarratorsRoadmap.com.
Subscribe to the ACX blog and my blog for authors for on-going news and features about audiobooks.
The resources listed below were found on a variety of sites and are organized by topic.
Self Published Book Launch from A-Z
Before you can think about the audiobook, you need to write and publish the book! NY Times bestselling author Travis Baldree wrote this comprehensive guide of things he learned in the process of writing and releasing his first book.
Thinking About Audiobooks
Karen Commins’s Setting Sail Into Audiobooks video
In this 41-minute video, I:
- explore the audiobook landscape (beginning at 2:43)
- explain reasons every author should produce audiobooks of their books (beginning at 7:23)
- demonstrate Amazon Whispersync capability between an audiobook and Kindle ebook (beginning at 10:19)
- offer specific tips about ways to write with audio in mind (beginning at 12:09)
- advise the viewer about the audiobook production process and gives concrete information about using ACX.com to create an audiobook, including payment for production costs and distribution options (beginning at 22:04)
Planning Your Trip to Audiobook World rack card infographic
Audiobooks: A Multitasker’s Best Friend
Authors: Want to Create Audiobooks of Your Books?
Audiobooks: The Next Big Thing
Hearing Voices: Why Audiobooks Are Suddenly Chic: RWA 2014 Handout/Resources
Going Further With Audiobooks: A Conversation with J. Daniel Sawyer
Audio Publishers Association Getting Started
From Written to Spoken Word — Part One: Bringing Stories to Life
Video (35:32) Full Interview on Audiobooks with John Marshall Cheary
- John Marshall Media produces audiobooks for all the major publishers.
- Note the timestamps in the Youtube description to jump to specific points about the video, most of which relate to the categories below.
All About Audiobook Production for Authors (comprehensive)
Getting Started from the Audio Publishers Association
Writing With Audiobooks in Mind (Hint: You’ll Become a Better Writer!)
Some Thoughts on the Lost Art of Reading Aloud
ACX Guest Post: Wendy Lindstrom on Writing For Audio
The 6 People You Have to Be When Line Editing Your Novel
4 Ways Planning For Your Audiobook Can Make You a Better Writer
Ask Correia #17: Writing for the Ear, Tweaking Your Writing to Work Better in Audiobook Form
John Scalzi: Writing For Audio Made Me A Better Writer, Period
From Written to Spoken Word — Part Two: Writing for Audio
Audiobook 101 for Authors VA Festival for the Book 2021
Audiobook Rights and Production Overview
Links to Help Authors Know Their Rights
Securing Audiobook Rights: The Rights You Need to Bring Your Audiobook to Market
Should You Sell Your Audiobook Rights?
How Julianne MacLean Got Her Audio Rights Back
Understanding Audiobook Production: An Interview with Rich Miller
Jane Friedman’s Audiobook Publishing and Distribution: Getting Started Guide for Authors
The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing Audiobooks
How to Self-Publish Audiobooks: 16 Tips from Indie Authors
Distributor Comparison Chart
My chart on NarratorsRoadmap.com is for site members only and compares 6 popular distributors across 22 individual criteria.
Author as Narrator
Should Authors Narrate Their Own Audiobooks?
Why Authors Should (Almost) Never Read Their Own Audiobooks
So You Want to Narrate Your Own Audiobook
Advice, Articles, and Tutorials to Help You Get Started With ACX
Frequently Asked Questions About Audiobooks
How to Make an Audio Book Using ACX (Step-by-Step) best tutorial I’ve found — with screenshots
ACX 101 For Authors and Rights Holders – Part 1: Preparation
How to Win Listeners and Create Great Audiobooks
The ACX Author’s Audiobook Checklist
How to Avoid 3 Costly Mistakes on ACX
Payment Options and Narrators’ Views About Royalty Share Projects
Authors, Can You Afford to Produce an Audiobook?
Audiobook Options for Indie Authors (and when it’s worth paying for production yourself)
ACX Narrator rates & other things I’ve learned
Attracting the Right Narrator: Royalty Share vs. Per Finished Hour
Let’s talk about Royalty Share and Marketing
To voice Royalty-Share Audiobooks… or not. That is the question.
How to Pick the Right Royalty Share Project
7 Reasons Why Your Book is not Getting Auditions on ACX
Negotiate Your Perfect Deal with Royalty Share Plus (be sure to read all of the comments and go through the links in the ACX help system as they provide more explanation)
Audiobooks Without Audible: The Hard Lessons I’ve Learned Routing Around Amazon Cory Doctorow describes how he used Kickstarter to fund and market his audiobooks.
How to Pay for Audiobook Production
- Don’t be in a hurry to do your whole series at one time. Save the royalties from the first book to pay the costs of the 2nd one.
- Use the creative exercise described in this article to uncover other sources of funds.
- The chart below summarizes funding options for audiobooks created on ACX.
Auditioning and Choosing Your Narrator
Karen Commins’s 2-part series in InD’tale Magazine:
Two Ways to Estimate Your Word Count
What Authors Can Do For Narrators
5 Tips For Choosing a Narrator
How to Make Sure You Never Find a Narrator For Your Audiobook
How I Chose a Narrator For My Audiobook
Choosing the Right Audiobook Narrator
How to Create an Audiobook PDF Companion Document for ACX, iBooks, and More
The Finished Audiobook
What Happens When Your Audiobook Ends Up Sounding A Lot Different Than Expected
Karen Commins’s 3:03 video demonstrating Whispersync technology
Audiobook Marketing
Karen Commins’s Audiobook Marketing Cheat Sheet
6 Low-Cost Avenues For Greater Audiobook Sales
The Elements of a Well-Reviewed Audiobook
How to Submit Your Audiobooks for Review in AudioFile Magazine
This Is The Reason Facebook Pages Are Still Useful For Authors
Other Sites to Assist Indie Authors
AudiobookRevolution.com — Casting, production via ACX, narration, audiobook directing
BigHappyFamilyAudio.com — Distributor
FindawayVoices.com — Distributor
Homecooked Books – Marketing services
NarratorList.com — Distributor comparison info in addition to narrator profiles
SpokenRealms.com — Distributor
TheAudioFlow.com — Casting, production, promotion