audio | The Creative Penn

Audiobook Production, Distribution And Sales With J. Daniel Sawyer

April 24, 2017 by Joanna Penn 3 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:31 — 52.5MB)

Publishing industry reports continue to show the rise of audiobook sales, and there are lots of opportunities for indie authors to get their books out there in audio. In today's show, J. Daniel Sawyer explains some of the options.

In the intro, I mention the Digital Book World report on what's fueling the audiobook boom, plus why Amazon opening up in Australia is a good thing for customers but will cause a massive disruption to the retail environment.

Plus, how Facebook futurist technologies could enable you to type 100 words a minute with your brain, not your fingers, and why I recommend technothriller Change Agent by Daniel Suarez if you want to get a glimpse of the future.

This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors.

Joanna Penn with J Daniel Sawyer in Oregon, 2016

He has just updated his book, Making Tracks: A Writer's Guide to Audiobooks.

You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher or watch the video here, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below.

Show Notes

How and why audio has opened up opportunities for authors

Why audio rights are not one right and why authors shouldn't sign them away as such

What your audio rights are and how to protect them

On the changes in the audiobook market in the past 4 years

The future of audio and the death of the smartphone?

The type of author that can embrace DIY audio

The best ways to market audiobooks and thoughts on the subscription model for audio

You can find J. Daniel Sawyer at jdsawyer.net and on Twitter @dsawyer.

Going Further With Audiobooks. A Conversation With J. Daniel Sawyer

December 9, 2016 by Joanna Penn 1 Comment

Authors talk about their ‘book' in the singular, but actually that one manuscript can be split into many different kinds of intellectual property rights.

Most authors now understand that they can produce a number of different kinds of ebooks as well as a print book and an audiobook. But did you know that each can be further split into many other rights?

Back in October, I was at a business masterclass in Oregon and I discovered that I was wrong in thinking that “audiobook rights” were just one thing.

Actually, there are many different kinds of audio rights and by signing an exclusive contract with ACX, I had made an error. I'll be going non-exclusive with ACX in future, and if you read on, or listen to the audio, you'll understand why.

I put this conversation out on the podcast about my time in Oregon, but it's important in its own right, so I'm producing it here as an audio clip and also transcript below. Listen below or here on Soundcloud.

Joanna Penn with J Daniel Sawyer in Oregon, 2016

J Daniel Sawyer is a science-fiction, fantasy and mystery author as well as a podcaster, media producer, filmmaker and philosopher/polymath. He's also one of the smartest people I know in terms of intellectual property rights, specifically for audio. Dan will be coming back on the show in 2017 for a full interview on audio, so watch out for that if it's a topic you're interested in.

Here are the highlights of the conversation, and the full transcript is below. We cover:

The different types of audio productions and rights authors can sell

What it means when ACX is the fiduciary of your audiobook productions

Recommendations for those wanting to do audio versions of their books

Reflections on Author's Republic, and Overdrive

On audio box sets

You can find Dan at www.JDSawyer.net and on twitter @dsawyer

How To Use Audio as an Author For Book Sales and Marketing

May 2, 2016 by Joanna Penn 3 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:39 — 48.6MB)

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People connect with people, and humans have used their voices to connect for millennia.

It's hard for authors who favor text, but you can stand out if you use audio for book sales and marketing.

In the intro, I talk about the launch of Destroyer of Worlds and the importance of remembering it's about long-term sales rather than short-term spikes. I also mention the How to Make a Living with your Writing Workbook, which is a new version that contains more questions and space to write your answers.

Plus, the Book to Course Summit, a fantastic, free, online summit featuring some amazing authors who have turned their books into six figure courses. If you want to turn your book into multiple streams of income, check it out here.

The corporate sponsorship for this show pays for hosting and transcription. This podcast episode is sponsored by 99 Designs, where you can get all kinds of designs for your author business including book covers, merchandising, branding and business cards, illustrations and artwork and much more. You can get a Powerpack upgrade which gives your project more chance of getting noticed by going to: 99Designs.com/joanna

My official bio! Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers (as J.F.Penn) and non-fiction, a professional speaker and award-winning entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com is regularly voted one of the Top 10 sites for writers.

I delivered this session at the London Book Fair Indie Author Fringe. You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher or watch the video here, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below. You can also download the slide pack with clickable links.

Why audio? Why now?

Audio as another income stream for authors.

How to self-publish audio books, both with and without ACX, including information on contracts and agreements, narrators, and narrating your own books.

The costs involved with creating audio books.

Marketing an audiobook and the differences between that and marketing a book.

Podcasting and its advantages for authors.

How to create a podcast and why it's a brilliant marketing tool for books.

If you like audiobooks, check out Business for Authors: How to be an Author Entrepreneur on Audible, which I narrate myself. For fiction, you can find all the links to my thriller audiobooks here.

How To Use Audio And Podcasting Effectively To Promote Your Book With Viv Oyolu

March 31, 2015 by Joanna Penn 5 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 49:29 — 39.8MB)

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One of the best ways to stand out as an author is to have some aspect of multimedia in your platform.

With the growth of streaming audio through smart phones and soon to be implemented in cars, it's time to learn how to incorporate audio into your book marketing. Today I interview Viv Oyolu, The Audio Marketing Expert.

In the intro, I mention that I am currently away in the US, speaking in Charleston at Pubsense Summit and then heading down to Savannah. I recommend a book I am finding useful: Better than before: Mastering the habits of our everyday lives by Gretchen Rubin.

This podcast episode is sponsored by 99 Designs, where you can get all kinds of designs for your author business including book covers, merchandising, branding and business cards, illustrations and artwork and much more. You can get a Powerpack upgrade which gives your project more chance of getting noticed by going to: 99Designs.com/joanna

Viv Oyolu is a radio presenter, podcaster and an audio marketing expert. She works with authors, businesses and entrepreneurs to increase online visibility and engagement with audio. Viv is now the author of How to use podcasts to promote your book.

You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher, watch the interview on YouTube here or read the notes and links below.

Viv has a marketing background but always wanted to be a radio presenter. Eventually she did make it on air with the Dream Corner show interviewing female entrepreneurs. When the radio station went offline, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She started interviewing guests around London and then online via Skype, starting her own podcasts and specializing in audio especially for book marketing.

How audio will continue to grow as a medium with the launch of Apple CarPlay and Google Auto and how this will make podcasting more mainstream.

Why audio enhances an author brand and helps you stand out. Humans connect through voice before words on the page. An audience will connect with you directly when they hear your voice or see your face. It's a very personal aspect to be in someone's ears for hours every month. It facilitates that ‘know, like and trust' aspect which will lead to connection with fans – and ultimately will lead to book sales.

Audio can also expand the content in your book, and you can go deeper into aspects that you want to talk about more. Audio is sideways marketing, where you can give loads of value to the audience and people can buy or give if they want to. It feels good to podcast and share via audio. It's authentic and possibly the least scammy way of marketing!

Getting over your voice and tips for performance. We all hate our voice and the way we look! You just have to get over it! Viv did some voice coaching to correct a high pitched tone, but I've never done that (although I have thought about it). We give some tips about performance – you need to use your energy in your voice, your passion. You need to smile and communicate expression that way. It's a bit like speaking in public, you need to be 150% you.

Planning and pitching. Are you raising awareness of your brand? Or are you talking specifically about one book? Decide on your objective and then decide on the target audience. Break your book down into the various elements – either topics (for non-fiction) or themes (for fiction) and then research the various podcasts that cover these things. DON'T pitch podcasters who are not interested in your topic! Make sure you are targeting very well and offer the podcaster some talking points. It's very unlikely that they will read your book – they may skim it, but you need to make it easy for them.

BookTrack: Why Soundtracks For Books Are Great For Readers And Authors

December 17, 2014 by Joanna Penn 15 Comments

I just did a fantastic event in Auckland, New Zealand, so a big thanks to everyone who came! Plus a big thanks to BookTrack who sponsored and organized the event, as well as Auckland Libraries who hosted it.

So what is Booktrack?

First up, watch this quick video to get the idea about what it is – watch below or here on YouTube

In order to learn more about this, I interviewed Paul Cameron, CEO and co-founder of Booktrack about the service. In this video, we talk about why he and his brother started the company and what they want to achieve, as well as the benefits for authors and readers. You can watch below or here on YouTube.

Highlights of our discussion include:

People often read in public accompanied by a soundtrack of some kind – either to shut out ambient noise, or to accompany the story.

Books are (currently) one of the only entertainment choices that doesn't have synchronized sound.

Authors often choose soundtracks as they write, and share it with readers. For example, check out the Undercover Soundtrack on Roz Morris' blog
Booktrack takes a movie style soundtrack and synchronizes it with individual reading speed via apps. You can create these yourself for free – and it's super fun!
Booktrack has a LOT of music and sound available to use – you can't just use any music because of copyright

They also have an education side, Booktrack Classroom, where schools are using books to help children engage with texts. Studies show that people retain far more when they read with a soundtrack. It's also fun to create, and music means a lot for certain age groups.

I mention how soundtracks on film are designed to underscore emotional elements, and no film is complete now without a soundtrack. Booktrack is aiming to get to this point in the future.
Readers can find Booktrack on the app stores or online Booktrack.com – it's free to use and try at the moment.
The company's aim is to become something similar to Audible but without words – selling books with soundtracks direct to consumers.

Marketing and sales with BookTrack

Book marketing is a constant challenge for us all and one way to stand out is by having more than just text available. If you can add sound to your words, it brings another atmospheric dimension to the reading experience, and may be enough to draw people into your book.

The easiest thing to do is to check out a few books. Here's my prologue for One Day In Budapest, and Hugh Howey's Sand

You can easily share the Booktracks on social media and email, and you can also use embeddable widgets on your website.

In terms of monetization, you can add a link to all the platforms where people can buy your book as part of the free aspect of the platform. In 2015, Booktracks will be available for sale, so could provide another revenue stream.

Five useful tips for using Booktrack

I asked author D.C.Grant to share her tips for using the service. You can check out her book, Where the flag floats, here on Booktrack.

Dawn also has a book for authors, The Booktrack Author User Guide, which will help you if you want to do DIY.

When you are creating a sound track for your book using Booktrack, it is called booktracking.

Treat booktracking time like writing time – block off a period of time with no distractions, switch off email/ text message/social media notifications. Also limit or exclude other sounds, or work using a headset so that you can concentrate on the tracks.
Booktrack short sections at a time. Don’t attempt to do too much all at once.
Keep pen and paper handy, or a note-taking app like OneNote, to make a note of the tracks that appeal to you as you go through the results of your search criteria. It’ll be a certainty that you won’t remember the track that you liked on page 2 by the time you get to page 6.
If you find the diversity of music tracks overwhelming, search for a composer whose music suits the genre/theme of your book and make that your ‘go-to’ composer when choosing tracks. For a showcase of composers and the type of music they produce, use the Booktrack Music Showcase.
Layer your sound – start with music, then layer on an ambience track and finish with sound effects. Or layer two ambience tracks and then sound effects. Or a music track and two ambience tracks and no sound effects. The choice is up to you. You can layer on as many tracks as you like, but too many and things may get muddled! Play it back to make sure it’s not too much and that the sound effects don’t get overwhelmed.

Booktracking can appear daunting but there’s no better way to learn that to just jump in and do it! Have a go today.

BIO: D C Grant writes books for boys because she reads books for boys. Her favorite authors are Lee Child and Bernard Cornwall and with these influences she was never going to be a romance writer. D C Grant currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand but was born in Manchester, England and lived for twenty years in Durban, South Africa. She currently lives in a New York style loft apartment with a slightly psychotic cat called Candy.