How to Become an Audiobook Narrator: 10 Tips from an Industry Pro

An audiobook narrator’s main job is to read books aloud as they were written to convey the author’s intended meaning. With that said, audiobook narrators aren’t just responsible for maintaining clarity and consistency—they should also be expressive and engaging enough to pull listeners in and hold their interest.

To be a successful audiobook narrator, you need to be able to capture and convey underlying meanings, themes, emotions, and intentions through character voices, tone, pacing, and other devices. In this way, you can provide an immersive and enjoyable experience for listeners.

Audiobook narrators often work individually, but they sometimes work together with other narrators who have been assigned to read out different parts of a book.

Types of books you can narrate

As an audiobook narrator, there are two main types of books you can narrate: fiction and nonfiction.

Fiction

Below are a few of the main genres of fiction you can narrate:

• Children’s fiction
• Young adult (YA) fiction
• Romance
• LGBTQ+
• Mystery/thriller
• Science fiction
• LitRPG/gamelit
• Contemporary fiction
• Women’s literature
• Classics (like Little Women or The Odyssey)
• Historical fiction

Nonfiction

You can also narrate these types of nonfiction books:

• Biographies and memoirs
• Education and learning
• Computers & technology
• Business
• Politics
• Self-help
• Religion and spirituality
• LGBTQ+
• Wellness

These categories are just the tip of the iceberg for audiobook narration, and there are plenty of subgenres to explore. For more ideas, check out the full list of audiobook categories listed on Audible.

You don’t need a college degree or certification to start your career as an audiobook narrator. However, that doesn’t mean you can just crank out a recording today and expect to make it big in the industry.

To become a successful audiobook narrator, you need to start by honing and developing the required skills and setting up your home recording studio.

Required skills

Below are the core skills you’ll need to have to become a successful audiobook narrator:

• A great voice: You need to have a strong, clear voice with good diction and pronunciation.
• Acting skills: You need to be able to act in order to convincingly voice characters who have different personalities, ages, genders, accents, or emotions. This is an important part of making each character’s voice distinct and believable, and it may involve shifting between different vocal mannerisms, accents, and dialects.
• Storytelling: To narrate a book in a way that stays true to the author’s vision, you need to be comfortable using vocal techniques and adjusting your pacing and emphasis to create tension, evoke emotions, and grip your listeners’ interest.
• Vocal stamina: Unlike commercial voiceover actors or video game voice actors, audiobook narrators need to be able to read for long periods with few breaks.
• Breath control: You need to be able to control your breathing to avoid disrupting the narrative flow by pausing for a new breath mid-sentence.
• Reading skills: You should be able to read a text naturally, accurately, and without difficulty.
• Research skills: You’ll generally need to do your own research on how to pronounce unfamiliar words or phrases. To fully prepare for a role, it’s also essential that you read a book before you narrate it.
• Audio editing skills: You need to have a basic understanding of how to use audio software and “punch and roll” (edit as you go) to remove unwanted noises or mistakes. If you’re doing your own audio editing, you’ll also need to be able to master your recordings to meet professional specs.

It’s important to bear in mind that it takes a lot of time and dedication to develop some of these skills, especially the more technical skills behind audio recording and editing. A big part of this is getting comfortable with your recording equipment and learning how to use it efficiently.

Required equipment

As a professional audiobook narrator, you’ll be expected to have your own equipment for recording, storing, and editing audio files.

Here’s what you’ll need to set up your own home studio for audiobook narration:

• Microphone: There are different types of microphones you can buy, such as condenser mics and dynamic mics. You’ll need a high-quality microphone to get a professional-level sound.
• Noise-canceling headphones: These will stop you from getting distracted by background noise.
• Pop filter: This is a type of screen or shield that prevents bursts of air from directly hitting the microphone when you’re speaking—particularly when you pronounce “p” or “b” sounds.
• Computer storage: You’ll need plenty of file storage for recording and rendering audio files. Backing up your recorded files on an external hard drive or cloud storage platform like Backblaze is essential.
• Recording and editing software: You will need a digital audio workspace (DAW) or editing software to capture, save, and edit your sound recordings. Audacity is good free option for beginners, and affordable options include Studio One, REAPER, TwistedWave, and Adobe Audition.
• Audio interface: This is a physical device that you plug your microphone into to get a cleaner sound from your mic.
• Quiet or soundproofed space: You need a quiet room to record in. According to audiobook narrator Bob Shaw, “Any room in your house can be converted into a home studio. You can use a spare room, a large closet, or even part of a basement or garage.”
• Second screen: Having a second screen is essential for allowing you to simultaneously read a text and monitor or edit your vocal recording in your DAW. This could be an iPad or a computer monitor.
• Mounts for your microphone and monitors: A microphone arm is essential for holding your microphone in the proper place, as is a mountable arm or stand for your second monitor if it’s a portable monitor like an iPad.

Andrea Emmes, a professional audiobook narrator, recommends Sweetwater as a good site for getting high-quality equipment for your home recording studio. She also advises that you keep your computer outside of your recording space to prevent noise from the fan interfering with your recordings.

Nobody lands their first audiobook narration job without even trying. You’ll have to work for it, but thankfully there are a few ways to make the process easier.

1. Listen to audiobooks

As an aspiring audiobook narrator, you should listen to plenty of audiobooks. This will help you get familiar with different narrative styles, techniques, and genres. Pay attention to how narrators bring characters to life, maintain a consistent tone, and handle pacing.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on audiobooks. If you’re a member of Amazon Prime, you can listen to a rotating catalog of audiobooks for free. Alternatively, you can check out LibriVox or Project Gutenberg, which are both sites that offer free access to audiobooks.

2. Consider getting a coach

Even if you’re starting off with natural-born narration skills, you’ll need to do a bit of refining to reach a professional standard. Although not strictly necessary, an experienced coach can guide you every step along the way and help you quickly get your start as an audiobook narrator.

A good coach will be able to do the following:

• Give you access to training resources and materials
• Teach you techniques that will improve your skills
• Help you classify your voice and vocal range
• Help you create solid demos that meet industry standards
• Give you feedback on your demos, acting skills, and narration performance
• Direct you on how to market yourself effectively and find jobs

Free training resources for beginner audiobook narrators

If you can’t afford a coach, then you can still get a lot of benefit from seeking out YouTube videos or blog posts published online by experienced audiobook narrators. It’ll probably just take you a bit longer to get the info you need, and you won’t get personalized feedback or advice.

Here are a few resources that Emmes recommends for beginner narrators:

• Narrators Roadmap
• Narrator.Life
• Step Up to the Mic

It’s also a good idea to practice reading aloud and trying out different styles of narration. Record your practice sessions so you can review your performance, identify recurring problems or areas for improvement, and track your progress.

3. Don’t skimp on your recording equipment

If you plan to narrate audiobooks as a regular side hustle or a full-time career, you’ll need to have high-quality equipment for recording, storing, and editing your sound files from home. According to Emmes, this isn’t negotiable. You can’t just plug a cheap mic into your laptop and expect to nail auditions.

To give you an idea of what equipment professional audiobook narrators use, take a look at what Emmes has in her home studio:

• DAW: Studio One 4 ($99), purchased from PreSonus
• Audio interface: PreSonus Studio 68c audio interface ($299.99), purchased from Sweetwater
• Microphone: AKG C214 microphone ($325), purchased on Amazon
• Microphone mount: BTOOP microphone shock mount with pop filter ($14.99), purchased on Amazon

Altogether, these items would cost you $739. You don’t necessarily need to spend this much when setting up your own home studio, but if you want to get legit and high-paying audiobook narration jobs, you need to factor in equipment quality when setting your budget.

Budgeting tips for setting up your home studio

Not everyone can afford to shell out hundreds of dollars to start their audiobook narration side hustle. Thankfully, there are ways to cut costs, although you should plan to upgrade your equipment as you go along.

Here are Shaw’s tips for getting started on a budget:

• DIY soundproofing: Shaw says “acoustic room treatment is a must,” but it doesn’t need to cost a fortune. He uses inexpensive acoustic treatment foam from SoundAssured, but he says you can also just hang heavy blankets, comforters, or foam panels on the walls to absorb sound and use DIY bass traps made from rigid fiberglass or mineral wool.
• High-quality USB mic: Since you plug a USB mic straight into your computer, there’s no need for an audio interface. This is a huge cost saver. Shaw started off with the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ microphone, which only cost him around $100.
• Used or repurposed equipment: Consider buying used or refurbished recording equipment. Additionally, you can save money by repurposing old desks and chairs rather than buying new.

4. Find your niche

Before you can get your first audiobook narration gig, you need to figure out what genres, accents, and age groups your voice is best suited to. According to Emmes, “knowing your vocal range is key.” This will allow you to more efficiently cultivate your skills and leverage your strengths.

For example, Emmes characterizes her voice as “younger,” suitable for voicing characters aged 4–30 years old. She says this is especially good for narrating books for kids or young adults, but it’s not ideal for genres like horror or noir, which generally demand voices that are “deeper” or “raspy.”

You need to listen to your performance with an honest ear (or get a coach’s opinion) and work to your strengths.

5. Record multiple demos to showcase your range

You’ll need to create vocal demos to show casting managers what types of voices you can do as an audiobook narrator. Emmes has eight unique audiobook demos on her website. She says audiobook demos should generally be 1:30–3 mins long, although some can be up to 5 mins long.

These demos, which should be displayed clearly on your website, function like a type of “portfolio” to show off your full vocal range. They should encompass all the genres, accents, genders, age groups, and modalities you’re comfortable with.

6. Build an online presence

In today’s world, you need to be traceable online if you want to make a successful career out of audiobook narration. This makes it easier to network with other professionals and promote yourself.

There are two main routes to building an online footprint:

• Social media: Make sure you have professional accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep these accounts up-to-date with info about your latest projects and book releases.
• Your own website: Having a website is absolutely essential, even if you’re just doing audiobook narration as a side gig or part-time job. At the very least, you should have a webpage that displays your name, your vocal demos, info about your audio equipment, and your contact information.

Since you’ll probably be self-employed or working freelance as an audiobook narrator, knowing how to promote yourself online is crucial for success. This way, you can establish a good reputation and make professional connections.

7. Get experience from royalty share projects

According to Emmes, many audiobook narrators (herself included) first get their start in the industry by taking on royalty share work through platforms like ACX. This isn’t free or pro bono work, but you don’t get paid right away.

In a typical contract, you get paid for audiobook narration immediately after you finish and submit your recording. With a royalty share contract, you don’t get paid at first—instead, you get paid a percentage of the profits that an audiobook earns from sales.

Signing up for a couple of royalty share jobs can help you in the following ways:

• Practice your skills and gain experience in the industry
• Learn about the business side of audiobook production
• Grow your network and build relationships with authors
• Earn a passive income once you’ve completed the job

You can also dip your toe in the water by doing unpaid work as a volunteer audiobook narrator for a nonprofit organization like Learning Ally. However, it’s best to avoid doing very low-paid or pro bono work for companies that aren’t charities.

8. Join professional associations for audiobook narrators

Emmes says professional associations are instrumental in helping audiobook narrators like herself not only earn a living wage but also access employment benefits, professional resources, and networking opportunities that they wouldn’t have otherwise.

For example, SAG-AFTRA does a lot of work to help voice actors get access to health insurance and pensions. Other associations offer professional support in the form of educational and advocacy programs, and many host social and networking events that can help you connect with other industry professionals (including publishers, authors, producers, engineers, and casting managers).

Here are a few of the main associations for audiobook narrators you may wish to join:

• SAG-AFTRA
• Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA)
• Audio Publishers Association (APA)
• Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS)

You could also join online communities or forums specifically for audiobook narrators. A couple of examples include Facebook groups like Indie (ACX And Others) Audiobook Narrators and Producers and Audiobook Crowd.

9. Know the right (and wrong) places to find work

The final step to becoming a professional audiobook narrator is putting yourself out there and auditioning for roles. Knowing where to start can be tricky, but Emmes offers advice that’ll help you land your first audiobook narration gig and avoid being led astray.

DO: Create profiles on legit audiobook casting sites

To boost your chances of finding auditions, Emmes recommends creating audiobook narrator profiles on the following online casting platforms:

• Ahab
• Erggo
• Findaway Voices

Unlike some other job sites, which can be exploitative, these platforms offer narrators certain resources and protections.

DO: Send outreach emails

Unlike the case in other fields, audiobook narration typically doesn’t involve job applications or resumes. Instead of applying for jobs, you’ll be auditioning for roles. And the best way to get invites for auditions is to get on mailing lists with reputable audiobook production houses and publishers.

Audiobook publishers and production companies are organizations that create, produce, and distribute audiobooks.

Here are a few examples:

• Spoken Realms
• Pink Flamingo Productions
• The Audio Flow
• Audiobook Empire
• One Night Stand Studios
• Curated Audio
• Fright Night Audio
• Macmillan Audio
• Penguin Random House Audio
• HarperAudio
• Hachette Audio

To get on their email roster, send these publishers a short and polite email introducing yourself and providing a link to your website where they can listen to your audiobook demos.

DON’T: Rely on job platforms

Emmes strongly advises against using freelancer websites like Upwork or generic job sites like Indeed to find audiobook narration work. She says these sites are simply not set up for acting work like audiobook narration, and the gigs advertised on these sites feature the very lowest rates you’ll find in the industry.

Accepting low-paid jobs on these types of job sites won’t just negatively affect your earnings—Emmes says it’ll also make it harder for your fellow audiobook narrators to earn a living wage.

Another major drawback to these sites is that audiobook publishers won’t consider these types of jobs to be valid work experience. To make sure you’re starting your audiobook narration career on the right foot, it’s best to avoid these sites altogether.

10. Stay organized and prepared

According to Emmes, “It’s imperative that you are organized.” You need to come up with a system for keeping track of each character you do at the start of a project so you can ensure consistency throughout the entire book or series. This could be as simple as creating a system of folders on your computer.

You’ll want to take note of features like age, quirks, vocal qualities, accents, specific characteristics, or story plot notes. You should also render an audio sample of each character’s voice so you have a voice bank that you, your co-narrators, or the production team can reference if necessary.

Another often overlooked factor for success is good vocal health. Emmes stresses the importance of getting enough sleep, doing proper vocal warm-ups (her go-to is a 10-min daily vocal workout by vocal coach Cheryl Porter), and avoiding aggravating foods like dairy. In her words, “it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” and staying health-conscious will help you succeed in the long run.

The main feature that draws people to the field of audiobook narration (or even other types of voiceover work) is passion. If you enjoy storytelling and breathing life into characters off a page, then becoming an audiobook narrator is probably a great side hustle idea for you.

Here are some of the qualities that make audiobook narration a worthwhile side hustle:

• Flexibility: As an audiobook narrator, you’ll work as a freelancer, which means you’ll have more flexibility in terms of scheduling since one book will vary in length from the next.
• Freedom to work from home: You can narrate audiobooks from home, as long as you have the right equipment. A big draw for many people is the fact that there’s no need to commute or rent a physical studio space.
• Potential for passive income: With some recording contracts, you can get paid royalties for the audiobook you record, which means you can keep earning money even when you’re not actively working.
• High earning potential: Since audiobook narration is an artistic profession, there’s no set upper or lower limits on your earnings. You probably won’t earn much when you’re starting out, but if you’re incredibly talented, hardworking, and lucky, you could eventually make some real money in this field.
• No degree or certification required: You don’t need a degree or certification in audiobook narration to have a successful and lucrative career. You just need passion and determination.

Not everyone is cut out for this type of work, and it’s important to give it a test try before you fully commit yourself. To find out whether audiobook narration is a good career choice for you, try taking audiobook narrator Sean Pratt’s test “So… You Want to be an Audiobook Narrator?”

How much do audiobook narrators make?

Unlike many other types of workers, who charge per working hour, audiobook narrators typically charge per finished hour (PFH). In other words, earnings are based on the duration of the finished audiobook. According to Emmes, typical rates for professional audiobook narrators are in the range of $225–$400 PFH.

For experienced pros, it may take 2–3 hours to record 1 hour of finished audio, which would roughly translate to $75–$200 per working hour. But when you’re new to the game, you can expect it to take you longer, meaning a lower rate per hour worked.

It’s worth bearing in mind that earnings in a creative field like audiobook narration vary widely based on a variety of factors. You could easily earn significantly less or more than this as an audiobook narrator.

Alternatives to narrating audiobooks

If you’re not quite sure audiobook narration is right for you, you can also explore these similar alternatives:

• Voiceover acting
• Tutoring
• Making money on YouTube

Depending on how busy your schedule is, you could even try taking up a couple of different side hustles and seeing which one works best for you.