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How To Become An Audiobook Narrator
How To Become An Audiobook Narrator
Do you love your voice and ever wonder ‘What if…?’ Audible Studios’s Kat Lambrix breaks
down the skills you need to turn your narration dreams into a professional reality with expert
tips and guidance.
So, you want to learn how to become an audiobook narrator, but don't know where to start?
Say no more—we've come up with a thorough guide on everything you need to know about
this type of vocal art. To provide even deeper and hands-on insight, we've enlisted the help of
Audible Studios's very own Kat Lambrix, who dives into everything you need to know about
being an audiobook narrator. Starting with basic information about how audiobook narration
works, you’ll find techniques and skills to build upon, plus practical advice on breaking into
the field and finding audiobook narrator jobs. You'll also get some welcome guidance for
long-term career planning and resource suggestions, all from one of the foremost experts on
the subject.
Listening to an audiobook isn't simply about reading the words on the page: an audiobook
narrator must have the skills and empathy to bring a book to life for the listener.
From a business standpoint, many audiobook narrators work as freelancers, so you must be
organized, professional, and have the ability to work on your own time, meet deadlines, and
keep track of invoices and contracts. While it might not be the most stable career choice at
first, if you're passionate about audiobook narration, it can be a dream job.
Background in Acting
It may seem obvious but having some type of foundational knowledge of acting makes a
huge difference when making the transition to narration. "Narration is an acting gig. You're
embodying different characters, you're telling stories. So, it's really important to be able to do
that," Lambrix stresses. "Lots of people have gone to theater school. Some people have come
to us from other parts of the acting world. But no matter what, being able to act is a
foundational skill…you’re telling a story, and it’s not your story."
This may seem like another given but knowing how to expertly embody characters of
different backgrounds is an essential skill that will separate you from other narrators.
“Inevitably you'll run into a scene with seven sisters or four women who are in their 30s, and
you have to find a way to make their voices all sound distinct for your listener,” says
Lambrix.
Stamina
Getting through a day of narrating may seem simple: you’re sitting down for a few hours and
reading a book you like (hopefully) out loud. But in reality, these hours can chug along and
exhaust you in the process, so it’s important to be able to keep up as best you can. “We tend
to record about six hours a day. So, you have to physically be able to do it. And it's a lot; it's
not just sitting and talking," Lambrix acknowledges. "It's breath control. It's knowing when to
be loud. It's knowing when to pull back. Those quiet scenes can be just as fatiguing as the the
big loud ones, because you’re handling a lot of emotion and a lot of nuances.”
Research Skills
And finally, research! Now how does this fit in? You’re just narrating a book, right? But what
happens when you’re in the studio and you stumble across a word, country name, or anything
else you aren't familiar with how to say? Doing your research beforehand can go a long way
towards making your narrating skills that much better. “So rather than pretending to know it
all, the ability to know what you don't know, and to go out there and do that research is
important,” says Lambrix.
Plus, this research may save you from potentially embarrassing situations in the booth. “We
were recording a nonfiction book and the narrator watched a video of an interview with this
person and used the pronunciation of their name for the book. It turned out the interviewer
said the person's name wrong. So, the narrator said the name wrong throughout the entire
book.” Needless to say, research goes a long way!
You’ve identified that you have the necessary skills to get started, so how do you further
refine those skills? “Practice!” Lambrix emphasizes. “It's a great idea to go to your bookshelf,
close your eyes, and pick a random book to narrate. Maybe it's a book you don't like–that's
even better. And go and read that and see if you can do it. Because the fact is, you don't
always get to read what you want to read.”
Much like anything else, you can get better and learn a lot from experts in the field, so listen
to your favorite narrator–a lot! “Listen to people who are best in class at what they do. And
then see where you can take those things and incorporate them into yourself,” says Lambrix.
“The more you do it, the easier it gets. The more you prepare, the more you can step into the
booth and just let go.”
When you feel confident in your abilities, consider recording a demo. This is the perfect time
to invest in a good quality microphone, noise canceling headphones, and a pop filter (a screen
that goes in front of your mic to filter out the sound of your breath and the noises your mouth
makes while speaking). Set up a quiet studio area. There's no need to remodel a room in your
house to be soundproof, but you want the best possible environment for recording. You'll also
need a computer with recording software, such as GarageBand or Audacity, and it won't hurt
to know a few things about sound editing in order to put together the cleanest recordings.
Most audiobook narrators also read off of a tablet screen, so you might want to invest in
something that will allow you to read and scroll ahead without noisily flipping pages. Once
you've finished your demo, you can use it on your website or in your profile for one of sites
listed below.
Volunteering to Read
One of the simplest, and likely most rewarding, ways to get into narration is by volunteering
to read for the blind. While this method may not pay, it’s a good way to get your foot in the
door while doing a service for someone–a winning proposition. “Volunteering to read is a
great way to refine the narration skills that you’ve been practicing. But it’s also a great way to
meet other people in the space,” says Lambrix.“ A lot of really well-known narrators do
volunteer work as a public service, which is lovely.”
Networking In-Person and Virtually
No matter your career path, networking events are always a great place to meet others in your
field and potentially find your next job. The same holds true for narrators. You’ll be able to
meet other aspiring narrators, learn tips and hear advice from pros, and even pitch yourself
for potential gigs. “Networking is really important. You can consider joining the Audio
Publishers Association. Pre-COVID, they hosted mixers, and events. But even now, they're
actually doing producers speed dating, virtually–which has been awesome,” says Lambrix.
Especially today, being able to market yourself online is key to gaining any traction in the
narration space–so having a strong website is essential. You should have a good selection of
samples that showcase your talents and abilities. To stand out even more, be sure to highlight
some skills that can potentially set you apart, like fluency in another language or a specific
topic that you’re an expert in. “When I'm looking for a narrator, or when I'm researching
somebody, I will listen to their samples. And it's always better if you have them easily
accessible on your website,” says Lambrix. In short, the more you can showcase, the better
off you’ll be.
Be Kind
While this may seem unrelated, it goes back to that old adage of “treat people how you want
to be treated.” The narration industry is tight-knit, so if you give off stellar first impressions,
this will only benefit you in both the short and long term. On the other hand, if you’re abrupt,
dismissive, and rude, you’ll likely find it hard to find work. “People in the industry are nice
and really willing to share what they know. So, if you're putting that good energy out there,
it's going to come back to you. Because, people are not hesitant to recommend actors,” says
Lambrix.
You might want to gain some experience before auditioning for major audiobook publishers,
so consider looking for work on Guru, Freelancer, Fiver, or Upwork. You might not find
audiobook narration jobs right away, but you can build your portfolio. More audiobook-
specific venues for jobs include ACX.com, VoiceBunny.com, and Voices.com, though some
of these platforms are looking for narrators with experience.
During the day, be sure to take advantage and connect with those around you if you’re in a
studio. Remember the tip above about networking? Here’s your opportunity to do just that,
even if you are a bit more conservative in your approach. “Get to know everybody at the
studio. Talk with your producer, your engineer. Figure out how they like to work. Let them
know how you like to work. And then make sure that you're getting your styles to mesh,”
says Lambrix.
At the end of the day, whether you’re recording on site or at home, you’ll likely finish off
with something called “pickups,” which are essentially do-overs for any audio mishaps.
Maybe there was background noise or your producer wants you to go back and repeat a line.
This will be the time to do it. But don’t worry–just because you have pickups doesn’t mean
you aren’t doing a good job. “Everybody has pickups–even Richard Armitage. It’s not a big
deal,” Lambrix assures.
While you may be skilled as a narrator in general, the most successful audiobook narrators
typically have found a specific niche that they focus on. Let’s take award-winning
narrator Ray Porter as an example. While Porter is an outstanding narrator in his own right,
he particularly shines in science fiction and thriller audiobooks. Because of this, he’s the go-
to narrator for many high-profile sci-fi and thriller releases throughout the year. “Figure out
where your voice fits. If you have a great voice for sci-fi. really dig in on sci-fi. Develop
great relationships with your authors, publishers, and producers in that genre and really dive
right in,” says Lambrix.
Social media platforms can be incredibly useful tools for people across many professions, but
particularly up-and-coming narrators. From connecting with other narrators and reaching out
to authors and publishers, there are plenty of ways to make social media your best friend
during the course of your narrating career. "Put your work on social media. See what people's
reactions are—see what people are engaging with. Lots of narrators have social media
followings, and listeners find them through their accounts. Sometimes authors even approach
narrators through their social accounts," Lambrix says. So, be sure to slowly but surely build
out your social media presence. There's a good chance that you'll land your next gig because
of your efforts!
It's important that you understand how to manage your time wisely, so that you're working
efficiently and getting paid fairly.
You might also consider networking with other voice actors and learning as much as you can
about the audiobook industry. Read AudioFile, keep listening to audiobooks, and study
different types of narration and performing techniques to grow your skill set. Oftentimes, one
opportunity will lead to another, so always be professional, kind, and gracious to anyone you
work with.
This article was updated in August 2021 to include guidance from Kat Lambrix by Audible
editor Luis Gonzalez.