My process of narrating
These are the steps I take when producing an audiobook, especially when I’m able to work directly with you, the author.
First comes prep. My first step is to pre-read the manuscript. Any surprise reveals? Is there a bad guy hiding in plain sight? An Irish brogue mentioned for the first time on the last page?
Pre-reading is the stage where I get a feel for the tone, and make friends with the characters. I welcome a character sheet, and synopsis if you have one. Well-written characters seem to just have a voice that just comes out through my mouth, and I trust that, but I make notes about everyone’s characteristics, and especially any comments in the text about their voice qualities. Notes about how their characters sound in your head, and what actors you’d cast to play them, are super helpful!
If there are any names or unusual/made up words, words I don’t know how to pronounce, and some words that I think I know how to pronounce but I’m not 100%, I will be making a list, and researching them, and asking you how any invented words or names should be said. There are many excellent resources and most narrators employ the same set of online sources; Merriam-Webster is the last word on American pronunciations.
Languages and accents are a whole ‘nother level of research and preparation! I often have to hire a dialect coach to help with unfamiliar accents.
After prep, if required by the production house, our agreement, or if we’re going through acx, I record a fifteen minute-ish sample. This doesn’t have to be the FIRST 15 minutes, but a sample that represents the book. It’s our mutual opportunity to confirm pronunciations, the main characters’ voices, and overall tone, vibe. I want you to be confident I’m honoring your intentions, because after this, I’m alone with the book until it’s done.
After approval that I’m on the right track, then I do principal recording, which is several hours a day in the booth. I always work on one book at a time, not switching between books. After recording, mastering. The raw sound files are edited and mastered, to make it sound as good as it possibly can and also meet audio specifications
After the book is complete, or as chapters are completed, it must be proof-listened to to catch any sound flaws, edits that may have slipped through, and more. Any of those “pick-ups” must be fixed (back to the booth!), repaired seamlessly in the audio file, and then a final file is ready to be uploaded, to go on sale.
These stages- editing, mastering, and proofing, are generally called “post-production”
Depending on the chosen distributor or production house, there is some quality control delay, the terms of contract must be fulfilled (your approval of the final audio, and payment if applicable), and the book is released for sale!