By Pete Larkin
When people ask me what it’s like to narrate an audio book, I always give the same answer. It’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but also the most gratifying. I’ve done all kinds of voiceovers for many years, but the skill set needed for audio books is unique. First off, you’re not “announcing” anything; you’re almost not even reading. You’re really telling a story; that’s the mindset you have to get into. If you’ve ever read a bedtime story, you know what I mean. You have to get into your characters’ heads, decide what kind of people they are, and how they would react in specific situations. When you figure out what kind of voice you want to use for a given character, you then have to remember it. Some people use recording devices to help with a certain voice, others merely write down a description. You have to figure out what works best for you. For non-fiction, of course you don’t need an array of voices, but you DO need to sort of act the part of the off-camera “observer.” Almost a reporter. Every audio book brings its own special challenges, but when you’ve finished, and you hold that finished product in your hand, there’s nothing like that feeling.
You’ll find more details at petelarkin.com.
You’ll find more details at petelarkin.com.