How to Become an Audiobook Narrator in 5 Steps

An audiobook narrator is a voice actor who lends their voice to spoken word audio for an audiobook or “book on tape” format. Audiobook narration involves reading the entire text of a literary work aloud for an extended recording time. In the world of audiobook production, the audiobook narrator’s job is to craft an entertaining experience for audiobook listeners, which involves embodying different characters in dialogue, matching a narrative’s energy, and maintaining vocal stamina.

The best audiobook narration work involves more than simply reading words off a page and having a great voice. The narrator’s performance in an audiobook can make or break the listener’s narrative experience. Before you record an audiobook for the first time, consider beefing up on the following skills:

1. 1. Acting: Strong voice-acting skills are the cornerstone of recording audiobooks professionally. Audiobook narrators must narrate the action and perform dialogue in different character voices. They may have to learn region-appropriate dialects, invent vocal mannerisms, and use various performance techniques to fully embody each character role and match the changing emotion of the story.
2. 2. Breath control: Improper breathing during an audiobook recording can sound unnatural and be distracting to the listener. A good narrator knows how to breathe into a microphone without interfering with the flow of a text. As a book narrator, breath control can also help give you a softer, more pleasant voice. Try different breathing techniques to help control your breath and create a seamless listening experience.
3. 3. Excellent reading skills: Audiobook narrators must keep up with the flow of a text, making it sound smooth, natural, and accurate. Proper pronunciation of obscure words, country names, and foreign terms is imperative. Whether you’re auditioning for a job or already won the role, you should always read through a text and research any unfamiliar words to set yourself up for the best performance come recording time. Learn how to audition for voice-acting jobs.
4. 4. Vocal stamina: Recording an audiobook requires long hours of uninterrupted talking with few breaks (especially if you use a professional recording studio that charges by the hour). Take proper care of your voice by drinking tea and honey, doing warmups, and avoiding vocal strain to help keep your vocal cords strong and increase vocal stamina for long audiobook-recording sessions.

Whether you’re looking to expand your range in voiceover work or trying to land your first audiobook recording job, there are many different steps to take on your way to becoming a professional audiobook narrator. Note that few narration jobs in the audiobook industry are full-time, with part-time freelancing making up most of these positions. Here are some steps to consider on your path to becoming a professional narrator for audiobooks:

1. 1. Do pro-bono projects for practice. Offering to lend your voice to a few pro-bono projects—like student films or podcasts—can help you gain experience and exposure as an audiobook narrator. (You might need to do this to get enough material to make a vocal demo, which can help you land freelancing gigs.) Volunteering your services as a narrator can be a valuable learning experience, helping hone and refine your talent.
2. 2. Practice your craft. Practice reading a book aloud at home. Record your practice sessions with professional recording software to help you refine the details of your performance. Create your own space for a casual home studio—perhaps in a closet where you can hang soundproof material on the walls to cut down on ambient noise. Consider investing in a professional microphone with a pop filter, which can soften distracting hard consonants in your speech. Listen to an audio file of your narration, and pay attention to your speech quirks so you can refine your cadence and articulation.
3. 3. Study various audiobooks. Research and listen to a range of audiobooks featuring prominent or up-and-coming narrators in the field. Scrutinize their pacing, cadence, inflections, and other reading techniques. Studying how experienced narrators regulate their breathing and switch between different voices can inform your reading and performance techniques. Audiobooks can be pricey, so check online to see if your local library has any in stock that you can reserve. Some library systems have apps where you can stream specific audiobook titles for free.
4. 4. Promote yourself. Most audiobook narrators work freelance, so you will need to promote yourself diligently to land new gigs. Start by making a website where you can host a voice-over demo to give potential clients a sample of your vocal style. A voice-over demo, or VO demo, is an audio compilation that voiceover artists use to showcase their abilities (and what casting directors use to connect voice actors with potential clients). An audiobook demo reel should showcase your talents and range of vocal skills, which will increase your chance of landing a paid role.
5. 5. Apply for positions. Regularly search the postings on career websites for online casting calls. Any experience you can gain is valuable when you're just starting out. Be wary of scams lurking in online job postings or pay-to-play sites that require a membership fee for auditions, and always research a potential position before accepting it.

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