Audiobooks Part 3: The 15 Minute Check

Once you select a narrator and have an accepted offer, the real work begins. The author sends the narrator the complete book manuscript, otherwise known as the script. I used the final Word version of the ebook minus the front and back matter. If you wish to make certain edits, do them before hitting Send.

The first file you receive from the narrator is the 15 minute check. When will you get it? Well that depends. The deadline is something you and the narrator agreed upon in the offer. Make sure to give the narrator enough time to put together a stellar read. I decided on one week and my narrator had no problem with that. The phrase 15 minute check is actually a misnomer as the narrator begins at the first page of the book and stops at a logical point roughly fifteen minutes later. For many books, mine included, this is the first chapter. Mine took a little over sixteen minutes.

Make sure you and the narrator are on track with pacing and flow. If you think the reading is too fast or slow, or didn’t quite capture the mood of a scene, say so now. Is any part confusing? If you have a dialog between two or more characters can you tell which one is speaking. Is the tone correct? Did a character who's supposed to be lightly teasing sound snarky and sarcastic instead? A few missed words in the script is no biggie. Simply note them down and the narrator can make corrections in the audio file. You’re not Steven Spielberg, so don’t pick apart each sentence. Remember, an audiobook is a collaborative process between two professionals. You want the narrator to bring his or her interpretation to your words. That’s why you hired a pro. But if a scene doesn’t work for you, state the reason clearly. Telling a narrator, “I need you to make this, you know, like better, you know, cause it’s like, you know, not right.” isn’t helpful. 

Next up in Part 4: Building the Book