Yesterday, Pebbles called to gush about an audiobook she was enjoying, and we shared our different experiences and preferences. Naturally, this sent me down a rabbit hole of research into what makes one audiobook different from the next. It's not something I've given much thought to before, but with all the chatter about audiobooks in our community lately, so I'm excited to share what I learned.
Voiced, Partially Voiced, and Unvoiced
Pebbles mentioned she doesn't prefer narrations that are done as if someone picked up the book and started reading the words off the page. She prefers when each character has a distinct voice, even if they're voiced by the same narrator. I don't mind an unvoiced narration, and while I enjoy the idea of one that is fully voiced, I think there's always the chance one specific voice will bug the listener to the point of frustration. A good, fully voiced production requires a skilled narrator. A partially voiced narration would be one that has only specific characters with distinct voices.
Using a Team of Narrators
Rather than have one person use several different voices, an author might consider the benefit of hiring multiple narrators. One option is dual narration, where one or more narrators are each assigned to a specific point of view. Then there's duet narration where, instead of voicing different points of view, the narrators each take on a specific character's dialogue. Finally, there's full cast narration that uses a full cast of narrators, and often includes sound effects like weather, animals, jingling armor, or traffic.
How do you pick?
First you have to decide what tone the book needs. Does an upbeat voice fit? Perhaps you need an eerie tone, or someone younger or older to match your character. Once you decide what fits your genre and style, you can start auditions! With social media it's easier to connect with others than it ever has before. Tik Tok specifically has a huge pool of narrators in the bookish spaces. Pick a section of your book that has a range of voices, or the more challenging words to pronounce, and announce your search. Conversely, search for a handful of narrators that you think will be a good fit, message them directly, confirm their availability and budget, then go from there. Once you've got a few auditions, you'll likely find you have a few different styles and experience levels to choose from.
I had a lot of auditions for mine. Much like pebbles, I was searching for a "voice actor," not just someone who would pick up the book and read it to me.
This is the dividing line between a good production and a poor one. I've listened to good books with bad narration and couldn't finish. It was better for me to just read and stop the audio.
A good audiobook immerses me in the story through a good storyteller.
Nice article.
Crazy Mike
I have long dreamed of duel narration for my epic fantasy. That became a reality this month! No regrets!