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Books for Writers #11
Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies
Do you want to create, publish and market your audiobooks? Are you ready to use podcasting to grow your author brand and reach more readers with your books? Audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment in publishing with double-digit growth in markets across the world. Podcasting has gone mainstream with listeners consuming audio on mobile phones and in-car devices, as well as through smart speakers. Advancements in voice technology continue to expand possibilities for audio creation and marketing. With such rapid growth in opportunity, how can you position your books in an increasingly voice-first world? I've been podcasting for over a decade as well as narrating and producing my own audiobooks since 2014. I'm an avid consumer of audio content and I'm also experimenting with AI voice technologies. In this book, I'll share everything I know so you can position your books and your author brand for the next shift in reader behavior. You will Introduction Why audio and why now? The audio first ecosystem The audio mindset Part 1: Audiobooks Types of audiobooks Writing, adapting and editing your work for audio Intellectual property considerations for audiobooks Your options for audiobook publishing and licensing How to find and work with a professional narrator Reasons to narrate your own audiobook Audiobook narration tips Recording studio options Audiobook recording, editing, and production How to self-publish an audiobook How long does an audiobook take to produce? How do audiobook readers discover audiobooks? How to market audiobooks The money side of audiobooks Part 2: Podcasting Why podcasting is important for authors The difference between audiobooks and podcasting Types of podcasts How to research and pitch podcasters How to be a great podcast guest Should you start your own podcast? Podcast prerequisites Intellectual property considerations for podcasting Podcasting equipment and software Podcast structure How to be a great podcast host Podcast distribution Show notes and transcripts Collaboration and freelancers Podcast workflow and tools How to launch a podcast How to market a podcast Repurpose your content The money side of podcasting Part 3: Voice Technologies Overview of voice technologies Speech to dictation Text to speech Voice assistants, smart speakers and devices Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of voice If you want to position your books and your author brand for audio growth, then check out the book now!
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2020
58 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Penn
46 books1,239 followersJoanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling fiction and memoir author as J.F. Penn.
She’s also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two British shorthair cats, and enjoys a nice G&T.
See also Goodreads author's profile as J.F. Penn.
She’s also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two British shorthair cats, and enjoys a nice G&T.
See also Goodreads author's profile as J.F. Penn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 1, 2020
Excellent resource for author entrepreneurs.
February 2, 2021
Very easy to read, practical, and useful. I have a bunch of easy-to-do tasks now that I think will prove very useful to grow my audio brand.
April 28, 2020
One of my author friends mentioned she had bought this book, so I looked it up and it sounded like a book I would enjoy reading so I bought a copy and started reading it once I finished my current non-fiction book. Audio for Author is exactly what the title promises, it's all about audio technology and how authors can use it. From audiobooks to podcasts to other voice technologies like text to speech.
I found this book really informative and I was impressed with how long this book was. A lot of non-fiction books are quite short, which usually works fine, so I was surprised by how long this one was. And even better is that it never feels too long. The author is very to the point in her writing style, so this book has a lot of content and information in it. I feel like the author does a great job of addressing a lot of different topics and facets when it comes to audio and also gives recommendations and links to other sources of where to go if you want to know even more. There are examples when necessary to illustrate a point, but no long winded explanations.
It really feels like the author knows a lot about the topic of audio for authors and is interested in this topic in the way she writes about it. I liked this and the personal anecdotes and references to her own books only exemplified that. There are plenty of links in this book to her own site, books and podcasts, I thought this worked well here. She also links and refers to other authors, books and podcasts. Which is handy if there is something you want to know more about.
I was mostly interested in the part about audiobooks when I bought this book and quite liked that part of the book. I learned some new things about audiobooks and I liked how she advocated for being wide and making books available on other sites as well as that's something I care about as well. I only have been listening to audiobooks for a year and a few months, so I am still relatively new to this and didn't know as much about it. So I enjoyed learning more about it and how the process is like for authors to produce their audiobooks. It also had some interesting ideas about marketing audiobooks. I did think there was a bit too much focus on how to produce your own audiobook compared to hiring someone. That's probably because I think for most authors it isn't really feasible or handy to do the narration themselves, unless you really want to invest in and focus on that. If you're only picking this up for the audiobook part do keep in mind that this is only part of the book, only the first 32% is about audiobooks, the rest is about other topics.
The second part is all about podcasts and it was actually the part about podcasts that I learned the most from, simply because I knew almost nothing about podcasts. I do realize I am listening to a podcast on Youtube, but as it's shown as video I never realized it was actually a podcast. While I am sure a podcast is not for everyone and for a lot of authors this probably isn't something they want to invest in, I do think this book gives a good overview of what it's like to host a podcast and what is involved. And even if you as an author aren't interesting in hosting your own show, I think it's nice to know what involved in it and there also is enough information for if you want to be a guest on a show and how to handle that. Or even find podcasts you want to listen to.
I like how the author is clearly enthusiastic and loves podcasting, but also mentions that it is a lot of time and effort and only recommends starting one if you also enjoy doing it. It felt to me like she painted a very realistic picture of the whole process with showing what was involved and addressing all the things you have to think of. I think it's good to know what's involved so everyone can make a well informed decision about whether this is something for them.
I enjoyed learning more about podcasts and before I finished the book I had made an account on a podcast site and looked up some podcasts so I can give that a try. I never considered podcast before, but now that I know I enjoy audiobooks I think I might enjoy podcasts as well.
The book was neatly structured, from the chapter headings to the way smaller headings were done in bold. The whole book had a clear structure with different parts and within those parts chapters about different topics. The chapters aren't too long and at the end of each chapter there is a list of questions that basically goes over what you learned in that chapter. I like this way of recapping the chapters, although I would've preferred an actual summary or exercises, but that's my personal preference. At the end of the book she lists all the sources, books, articles and podcasts she mentions throughout the book as well as summing up al the questions form the end of the chapters again.
One thing I never really considered is how different audio is from written media. I've mostly found audiobooks the same way I find books, but I think that's also because I am not only audio focused. I just want to find books whether that's in audio or ebook and it's more important that I can find a book on a site I use than in which format, unless it's a series I already have a preference for. I never considered how some people might prefer that format and don't even consider your book if it's not in audio. This book really makes you see things from an audio first point of view.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book and found it very informative. This book deals with everything from audiobooks to podcast to other voice technologies. There is a lot of information and content in this book and it's quite long, although it is split up in different parts for the different topics. I like how these different topic where combined in one book and all related to how an author can make use of audio, but if you're only interested in part of those topics you might get less value from this book. The part about audiobook was great and I learned more about the whole process of producing them and what's involved as well as the marketing side. I hardly knew anything about podcasts, so that's definitely the part of the book that I got the most new information from and I am now excited to give podcasts a try. I liked the authors writing style and how this was very to the point. I also liked how the book was structured and how it was easy to read. I am planning to read more of this author's books and check out her podcast after reading this one. All in all I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to authors who want to know more about audio in general.
I found this book really informative and I was impressed with how long this book was. A lot of non-fiction books are quite short, which usually works fine, so I was surprised by how long this one was. And even better is that it never feels too long. The author is very to the point in her writing style, so this book has a lot of content and information in it. I feel like the author does a great job of addressing a lot of different topics and facets when it comes to audio and also gives recommendations and links to other sources of where to go if you want to know even more. There are examples when necessary to illustrate a point, but no long winded explanations.
It really feels like the author knows a lot about the topic of audio for authors and is interested in this topic in the way she writes about it. I liked this and the personal anecdotes and references to her own books only exemplified that. There are plenty of links in this book to her own site, books and podcasts, I thought this worked well here. She also links and refers to other authors, books and podcasts. Which is handy if there is something you want to know more about.
I was mostly interested in the part about audiobooks when I bought this book and quite liked that part of the book. I learned some new things about audiobooks and I liked how she advocated for being wide and making books available on other sites as well as that's something I care about as well. I only have been listening to audiobooks for a year and a few months, so I am still relatively new to this and didn't know as much about it. So I enjoyed learning more about it and how the process is like for authors to produce their audiobooks. It also had some interesting ideas about marketing audiobooks. I did think there was a bit too much focus on how to produce your own audiobook compared to hiring someone. That's probably because I think for most authors it isn't really feasible or handy to do the narration themselves, unless you really want to invest in and focus on that. If you're only picking this up for the audiobook part do keep in mind that this is only part of the book, only the first 32% is about audiobooks, the rest is about other topics.
The second part is all about podcasts and it was actually the part about podcasts that I learned the most from, simply because I knew almost nothing about podcasts. I do realize I am listening to a podcast on Youtube, but as it's shown as video I never realized it was actually a podcast. While I am sure a podcast is not for everyone and for a lot of authors this probably isn't something they want to invest in, I do think this book gives a good overview of what it's like to host a podcast and what is involved. And even if you as an author aren't interesting in hosting your own show, I think it's nice to know what involved in it and there also is enough information for if you want to be a guest on a show and how to handle that. Or even find podcasts you want to listen to.
I like how the author is clearly enthusiastic and loves podcasting, but also mentions that it is a lot of time and effort and only recommends starting one if you also enjoy doing it. It felt to me like she painted a very realistic picture of the whole process with showing what was involved and addressing all the things you have to think of. I think it's good to know what's involved so everyone can make a well informed decision about whether this is something for them.
I enjoyed learning more about podcasts and before I finished the book I had made an account on a podcast site and looked up some podcasts so I can give that a try. I never considered podcast before, but now that I know I enjoy audiobooks I think I might enjoy podcasts as well.
The book was neatly structured, from the chapter headings to the way smaller headings were done in bold. The whole book had a clear structure with different parts and within those parts chapters about different topics. The chapters aren't too long and at the end of each chapter there is a list of questions that basically goes over what you learned in that chapter. I like this way of recapping the chapters, although I would've preferred an actual summary or exercises, but that's my personal preference. At the end of the book she lists all the sources, books, articles and podcasts she mentions throughout the book as well as summing up al the questions form the end of the chapters again.
One thing I never really considered is how different audio is from written media. I've mostly found audiobooks the same way I find books, but I think that's also because I am not only audio focused. I just want to find books whether that's in audio or ebook and it's more important that I can find a book on a site I use than in which format, unless it's a series I already have a preference for. I never considered how some people might prefer that format and don't even consider your book if it's not in audio. This book really makes you see things from an audio first point of view.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book and found it very informative. This book deals with everything from audiobooks to podcast to other voice technologies. There is a lot of information and content in this book and it's quite long, although it is split up in different parts for the different topics. I like how these different topic where combined in one book and all related to how an author can make use of audio, but if you're only interested in part of those topics you might get less value from this book. The part about audiobook was great and I learned more about the whole process of producing them and what's involved as well as the marketing side. I hardly knew anything about podcasts, so that's definitely the part of the book that I got the most new information from and I am now excited to give podcasts a try. I liked the authors writing style and how this was very to the point. I also liked how the book was structured and how it was easy to read. I am planning to read more of this author's books and check out her podcast after reading this one. All in all I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it to authors who want to know more about audio in general.
April 16, 2020
In 2020, one of the most exciting avenues for authors to explore is audio. Joanna Penn, with over a decade of experience in podcasting, is the perfect person to pen this nonfiction work, which covers the topics of audiobooks, podcasting, and voice technologies.
As someone who’s recently gotten into podcasting, and hopes to produce audiobooks of my fiction one day, Audio for Authors was a must-read. But you don’t have to have any experience going into this book. Penn starts right at level one, explaining the benefits of audio mediums and exploring why you might want to invest in them. Audio for Authors then goes beyond the basics, providing plenty of nitty-gritty details including a detailed break down of the work that goes into her podcast, The Creative Penn.
Whether you’re looking to guest on a podcast, record your own audiobook, or learn the benefits of dictation, Audio for Authors is a very valuable resource. I honestly think it’s my favorite of Penn’s Books for Author series.
As someone who’s recently gotten into podcasting, and hopes to produce audiobooks of my fiction one day, Audio for Authors was a must-read. But you don’t have to have any experience going into this book. Penn starts right at level one, explaining the benefits of audio mediums and exploring why you might want to invest in them. Audio for Authors then goes beyond the basics, providing plenty of nitty-gritty details including a detailed break down of the work that goes into her podcast, The Creative Penn.
Whether you’re looking to guest on a podcast, record your own audiobook, or learn the benefits of dictation, Audio for Authors is a very valuable resource. I honestly think it’s my favorite of Penn’s Books for Author series.
April 19, 2020
As a fiction writer interested in narrating my own books and narrating for others, I was excited to hear that Joanna Penn was publishing a book on the topic. I am a regular listener to her podcast, The Creative Penn, and her comfort level with audio is what I wish to cultivate. I have heard her recount her journey through the audio landscape and how she has learned along the way, and it has given me the impetus to research it myself. Her newest book, Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies is a fabulous guide to this fast-evolving sector.
Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies is organized in three logical sections, so if you are more curious about one aspect over another, you can easily find what you are looking for. Joanna also augments her principles with her real-world experiences and lessons learned. I find these examples helpful for boosting confidence in those of us just starting out with audio. Each section is well-organized and thorough in its explanation of the topic, including recommendations and tips to keep in mind.
One of Joanna's favorite subjects to keep tabs on is the future of audio. AI technology is poised to make a big entrance into the sector and the advice in this section is something authors should reflect on. I have considered ways that I can incorporate audio into my own writing business to be part of the audio wave that is imminent.
I highly recommend Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies for anyone interested in adding audio skills to their author platform. In a highly readable, conversational style, Joanna Penn provides more of her informed insight into the world of audio, designed especially for authors. She provides the basics and answers questions you may not even have yet. Well worth the time invested before you pick up a microphone!
Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies is organized in three logical sections, so if you are more curious about one aspect over another, you can easily find what you are looking for. Joanna also augments her principles with her real-world experiences and lessons learned. I find these examples helpful for boosting confidence in those of us just starting out with audio. Each section is well-organized and thorough in its explanation of the topic, including recommendations and tips to keep in mind.
One of Joanna's favorite subjects to keep tabs on is the future of audio. AI technology is poised to make a big entrance into the sector and the advice in this section is something authors should reflect on. I have considered ways that I can incorporate audio into my own writing business to be part of the audio wave that is imminent.
I highly recommend Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies for anyone interested in adding audio skills to their author platform. In a highly readable, conversational style, Joanna Penn provides more of her informed insight into the world of audio, designed especially for authors. She provides the basics and answers questions you may not even have yet. Well worth the time invested before you pick up a microphone!
May 13, 2020
Disclaimer: I didn't read the whole book. I read the first third, which is about creating audiobooks (the bit I was interested in), and then I stopped because I'm unlikely to start my own podcast and because I have no intentions of setting up my own home audio studio.
As you can guess from the disclaimer, this book is organised in three parts: creating audiobooks from your novels or non-fiction books, doing podcasts and joining them as a guest, and audio technologies. I read this book as early research into my own audiobook journey and found it extremely informative for that, but I also wasn't really interested in the other two parts. While I'm not against appearing on someone's podcast as a guest, I felt the second part was much more useful for people wanting to start their own, which isn't me.
SO, I can't really review the other two thirds beyond saying that they look useful and in-depth.
As for the part on audiobooks, it did everything I bought this for. Penn explains the difference between ACX (Amazon's company) and Findaway Voices, which is a popular alternative option. She talks you through the process on both and gives plenty to consider, so you can decide which option is right for you. As someone who's never done audiobooks before (well, short of listening to them, anyway), I feel like I've got a good idea of what I'm going into now, and I feel much better prepared.
If you're thinking about turning your books into audiobooks but have no idea what to do, I strongly recommend this book. It'll give you a good first grasp over the process, and you'll go in feeling more prepared.
As you can guess from the disclaimer, this book is organised in three parts: creating audiobooks from your novels or non-fiction books, doing podcasts and joining them as a guest, and audio technologies. I read this book as early research into my own audiobook journey and found it extremely informative for that, but I also wasn't really interested in the other two parts. While I'm not against appearing on someone's podcast as a guest, I felt the second part was much more useful for people wanting to start their own, which isn't me.
SO, I can't really review the other two thirds beyond saying that they look useful and in-depth.
As for the part on audiobooks, it did everything I bought this for. Penn explains the difference between ACX (Amazon's company) and Findaway Voices, which is a popular alternative option. She talks you through the process on both and gives plenty to consider, so you can decide which option is right for you. As someone who's never done audiobooks before (well, short of listening to them, anyway), I feel like I've got a good idea of what I'm going into now, and I feel much better prepared.
If you're thinking about turning your books into audiobooks but have no idea what to do, I strongly recommend this book. It'll give you a good first grasp over the process, and you'll go in feeling more prepared.
February 29, 2020
This is another exceptional book from Joanna Penn. Audio for Authors isn't just for authors, it's for any creative with a desire to work with audio. It's jam-packed full of tips and tricks for you to launch your podcast or audiobook and then market it long into the future. I personally wrote two pages of actions while reading! I've left this book feeling like I have a plan to iterate and optimize both my podcast, my platform and my marketing going forward. The book provides insightful advice and guidance for anyone at any level coming in to work with audio. It also gives a glimpse at what is going to be a technologically exciting future. Whether you're a beginner with audio or a seasoned pro, there's stacks of takeaways to help you grow and mature your body of audio work.
July 3, 2025
Read "Audio For Authors: Audiobooks, Podcasting, And Voice Technologies (Creative Business Books for Writers and Authors)" by Joanna Penn. When Joanna Penn writes a non-fiction book on any subject pertaining to authors and publishing, trust and believe we should pay attention. She is insanely curious and well researched. On top of that, she writes so you can consume with a minimum of head scratching. I found the chapter on "Writing, Adapting and Editing for Audio" very helpful and I was recording poetry which is so different from narrative fiction and non-fiction. Her advice on podcasts in the second section is also helpful and all in one place. It's persuasive for introverts who are afraid to talk about their book.
June 5, 2020
There is no one better positioned to provide authoritative advice on the use of audio for authors than Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn, who brings to bear her practical experience gleaned from the production of her podcast, the narration of her audiobook, her use of dictation, and her other forays into the world of audio. She also applies her futurist bent, keeping tabs on emerging audio trends, such as the increasing use of voice assistants, and what that can mean for content creators. An excellent resource that examines all aspects of audio opportunity.
June 9, 2020
It must be difficult to write a book like this where the technology is changing every day but this author has accomplished it. This book gave great tips to help me create my first audiobook, confirmed I was pitching podcasts correctly (with a couple of minor improvements to do) and provided a fascinating look into the future of audio. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in being on the cutting edge of audiobooks and podcasting or wants to know how A.I will impact narration and audio. The future is already here and it is an exciting place to be.
May 21, 2020
A wellspring of inspiration
Joanna Penn has delivered another quality book. In her easy to read and engaging style, she put together all the elements I needed to get myself launched into audio books. As well as a good grounding on all the bases, Penn provides links to other resources for further information, and gives us some hints of the future intersections between technology and the written - or spoken word. She has opened the door to a whole new world for me to explore.
Joanna Penn has delivered another quality book. In her easy to read and engaging style, she put together all the elements I needed to get myself launched into audio books. As well as a good grounding on all the bases, Penn provides links to other resources for further information, and gives us some hints of the future intersections between technology and the written - or spoken word. She has opened the door to a whole new world for me to explore.
May 22, 2020
I’m a long time fan of The Creative Penn. I’ve listened to many of Joanna’s books for indie authors, but this one takes the cake.
She talks about everything from dictating a first draft to optimizing for voice search to creating an audiobook and more, all things I’m trying to incorporate in my own author journey. I’m going to purchase the ebook edition as well now, just for my own note taking purposes!
She talks about everything from dictating a first draft to optimizing for voice search to creating an audiobook and more, all things I’m trying to incorporate in my own author journey. I’m going to purchase the ebook edition as well now, just for my own note taking purposes!
August 3, 2022
Useful Guide for Audio
While I have a narrator for my first audiobook, I wanted to read to see any tips for marketing my audiobook. It has some, but this book is mostly for those interested in narrating their own books or creating a podcast. Although the idea of a podcast is familiar to me, I don’t plan on doing a podcast. I do use a bit of my own audio for social media publishing. I’ve done audio interviews. So it’s nice to see that I’m familiar.
While I have a narrator for my first audiobook, I wanted to read to see any tips for marketing my audiobook. It has some, but this book is mostly for those interested in narrating their own books or creating a podcast. Although the idea of a podcast is familiar to me, I don’t plan on doing a podcast. I do use a bit of my own audio for social media publishing. I’ve done audio interviews. So it’s nice to see that I’m familiar.
June 20, 2020
I listen to Joanna's podcast, so some of this information wasn't new. But I still learned a lot and it was nice to have everything in one place. If found the section about podcasting especially helpful, as that is something I have tried yet. If feel confident doing that now if I decided it was a good fit for my business. Recommended!
I listened to the audio book.
I listened to the audio book.
August 30, 2021
An in-depth look at audiobooks, podcasts, dictation and other audio things for authors. Loads of resources, tips and questions to think about.
I got a lot out of it for my journey in podcasting and audiobooks – especially marketing them and leveraging podcasts to sell books.
A great addition to every author’s library.
I got a lot out of it for my journey in podcasting and audiobooks – especially marketing them and leveraging podcasts to sell books.
A great addition to every author’s library.
March 9, 2020
Another super helpful book by Joanna Penn
Practical, succinct, and full of super helpful links. Highly recommend. She's a pro! Listen to her podcast, too. It's entertaining and helpful.
Practical, succinct, and full of super helpful links. Highly recommend. She's a pro! Listen to her podcast, too. It's entertaining and helpful.
October 10, 2020
Very good explanations on how to produce audio, how long it takes, and ways to use audio to promote books and earn revenues. Like Joanna's other book marketing books, provides lots of resources and links to references.
June 8, 2024
Excellent primer on the big three aspects of audio—audiobooks, podcasts, and dictation. I skipped the section on podcasts but the rest was very informative, and I will absolutely be returning to the book to reference information.
March 11, 2020
Grest
This is a great book that I read in one go as it was filled with great information for any interested in audio.
This is a great book that I read in one go as it was filled with great information for any interested in audio.
April 27, 2020
Easy and Informative
A great, easy read. Full of useful information and will be a great book to sit on the bookshelf to dip in and out of again in the future.
A great, easy read. Full of useful information and will be a great book to sit on the bookshelf to dip in and out of again in the future.
July 22, 2020
Excellent resource for authors.
November 5, 2020
A good book for those wanting to learn more about creating audiobooks and podcasts. Would definitely suggest to beginners looking to get to know more about voice-related products
January 18, 2021
Thorough, well researched, and packed with good knowledge, this book should serve as an excellent introduction to anyone considering audiobook or podcast production.
February 22, 2021
Joanna Penn provides you with an exhaustive run-down of all the ways that being an author intersects with audio. This is not just about audiobooks! Very worthwhile and informative.
August 11, 2021
I love Joanna's voice, so I was glad she read it herself. A good step-by-step on how to create audiobooks, although the last bit was beyond me and my options.
December 31, 2021
Very readable, highly practical, this book is a must for any writer wishing to explore the possibilities afforded by audio technology.
Read
August 16, 2022I knew this book was about audiobooks and podcasting; I think I just expected more of it to be focused on audiobooks. The audiobook section was good – just shorter than I'd expected.
September 23, 2022
Excellent detailed information. Highly recommend.
January 1, 2023
Some good nuggets in there but more about mindset than technical stuff
September 4, 2024
Perfect book to get an overview of the audio aspect of the writing business.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews