Hey Everyone!
Audiobooks. They're the latest boom in the publishing world and you want one. But how do you make sure your book is optimised for narration?
Whether you write short or long, fiction or non-fiction, here are four simple ways to improve your writing before producing an audiobook.
1. Write with Your Voice
Using speech to write you book in the first place will create a text that's well suited to be read aloud. Dragon Naturally Speaking is currently the most popular premium dictation software used by authors.There is a learning curve involved in switching from using your fingers to your mouth to write, but once mastered, dictation can also boost your productivity while reducing repetitive strain injuries to your hands.
2. Vary Sentence Length
As well as looking repetitive, a collection of sentences of the same length or rhythm will sound repetitive. You can find these trends with the Sentence check in Pro Writing Aid.Hemingway app is another online program that can help you flag these patterns.
3. Take Out Tongue-Twisters
Find the long, complex sentences in your manuscript and simplify them. You can do this by reading the text aloud and re-writing sections that you find difficult to say. You can also use Pro Writing Aid to run a Readability check. This will flag all the over-complicated paragraphs to consider re-writing.Another type of tongue-twister is alliteration. This is where the same letter sound occurs at the beginning of words. Goold old Peter Piper picking pecks of pickled peppers comes to mind. Pro Writing Aid also has an Alliteration check to help you pursue these pesky patterns.
4. Echo, Echo
Repeated words and phrases particularly stand out when you listen to a story. Sometimes repetition can be used on purpose for a specific effect, such as in poetry or literary fiction, but when unintentional, it can throw a reader off. Pro Writing Aid has a fabulous check for close repeats and echoes.
Another type of echo is repeated sounds and rhyming. They may not be obvious in written form but when voiced aloud can stand out like a wet trout. The best way to pick up on this is by reading the manuscript aloud, whether you read it to yourself or use a text-to-speech program. I personally use the @Voice Aloud Reader app on my android phone to listen to my book without being tied to my desk the entire time.
These tips are equally effective whether you plan to hire a narrator or record the audiobook yourself. If you are thinking about self-narration, grab yourself a copy of Narrated by the Author for step-by-step instructions on how to go from manuscript to MP3. One of the plusses about narrating yourself in that when you find a better way to say something while you're recording, you can edit the ebook to match.
*I've used affiliate links and alliteration where available.