Just
like the first page of a novel, the opening scene of an audio book can either
hook the listener or spur him to do an Audible return, which is very easy. The
first scene of an audio book is the second most important piece of recording
after the audio retail sample. So what can the audio book producer do to ensure
the listener does not return your audio book early?
How
to Get Audio Book Sales
Okay,
so your audio retail sample has piqued the interest of the reader enough to
upload your audio book. But what about the first scene? There is a huge choice
of audio books available, so the reader must be hooked straight after uploading.
This means getting chapter one or the prologue as tight as possible. No waffle
or verbal dithering is allowed. The following elements are vital:
The
style of the narration, the narrative style, the dialogue (if any) and the
action description. Added up, each makes a whole, which is only as good as its
weakest point. This means tight prose, read by a compelling narrator that
pushes curiosity upon the listener. The listener has to keep listening or the
audio book could be returned. And Audible members can return any audio book
within one year of purchase, no questions asked.
The
opening scene of my audio book, A Hard Lesson by Charles J Harwood narrated by Violet North propels the
listener straight into action via the viewpoint of Frank, who witnesses his
friend, Kurt being physically abused by his uncle. Click to take a listen to the audio sample.
Straight
away, questions present themselves. Why is the uncle angry with his nephew? Is
all as it seems? What sort of relationship does Frank have with Kurt? What
series of events led to this point? Within the fear that Frank experiences,
there is a back story. The narrator paces the reading to convey the tension.
Some words are clipped; others are preceded by a pause or a breath.
Compelling
Scene Openers of Audio Books
Not
every audio book has to hurl the listener into action. The opening can intrigue
via an unusual narrative imparted by a soft voice. Perhaps a secret is about to
be revealed or a meeting of people who have not seen each other since childhood.
Perhaps something terribly embarrassing is about to happen or a unique problem
needs solving. The listener should be piqued by curiosity – not so much by a
mystery, but an irresistible urge to keep on listening.
How to Keep your Audio Book Interesting
What
to omit is as vital as what to include, as a good narrator is also a story
teller. Reading out a novel will often reveal problems within the text or the
dialogue and a redraft will be necessary. Perhaps some sentences are too long
or waffly, or the dialogue sounds stilted. Both must be addressed before
recording.
But
the best story in the world will sound uninteresting if not performed well by
the narrator. Tension and suspense should be evident in the voice, as well as
variations in pitch and tone. Narrating an audio book is all about story
telling. Don’t give the listener any reason to switch the book off. And this
means:
1 No
annoying clicks and swallows from the narrator. A beautiful story can be
spoiled by sloppy reading.
2 Good
recording quality. Recording in a bathroom won’t do. And no one wants to hear
the hush of traffic or echoes from wall tiles, it spoils the listener
experience. ACX do a quality check, but these issues do sneak though.
3 No
waffly words and wordy paragraphs. The listener can be a fickle audience. Don’t
give him or her any reason to switch off, or your audio book could be returned.
How
to Begin an Audio Book
If
your audio book has a rash of returns, take a second look at the opening scene.
Consider substituting it for another scene in the book. Perhaps the beginning
is too slow. Cutting the first chapter or prologue can sometimes improve the novel,
in that it pushes the listener further into the story. Look out for other
issues, such as the recording quality or the narration. Re-recording the
opening scene will often be worth the trouble.
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