Tag Archives: backstage

This Week in Links: January 29 – February 2

Posted on February 2, 2018 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

3 Reasons Why You Need a VO Accountability Partner – via Dave Courvoisier – Learn the benefits of an honest relationship with a trusted colleague and how to select the right person for you.

Three Characteristics Of Successful Voice Actors: What Keeps Them On Top? – via Voice-Over Xtra – “I think we all know well-educated people with great skills and a nice set-up who can barely make ends meet. So, there must be other factors at play that determine the difference between success and failure.”

The Voice Actor’s Law of Diminishing Returns – via Backstage – “I was willing to buy into the lie rather than face the truth that the marathon path to success in VO requires persistence, savvy, patience, hard work, facing your demons, and overcoming your fears.”

Is Your Portfolio Demonstrating the Best You? – via Natasha Marchewka – Are you highlighting the full breadth of your abilities on your ACX profile, your website, and elsewhere? Natasha’s got tips to make the most out of your promotional real estate.

For Rights Holders:

Why Focused Goals Can Help You Sell More Books – via a marketing expert – “If you have no direction other than “book sales” you’ll often make bad decisions, spend money you shouldn’t have, and end up nowhere near the final, end goal of selling more books.”

Submit Your Book to Holiday Gift Guides – via The Book Designer – Getting your audiobook listed in a book guide can be a great way to expose your work to tons of potential listeners. Note that you needn’t wait for the year-end holidays to take action on this tip.

What Your Brand Needs – via CreateSpace – What’s the one simple trick that will make your author brand more interesting to your fans? CreateSpace’s Richard Ridley offers his answer.

How to Get Kicked Out of a Facebook Group – via Build Book Buzz Facebook groups are a hotbed of fan activity and a great place to connect with listeners. Make sure you conduct yourself appropriately by checking out this list of “don’ts.”

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: April 11 – 15

Posted on April 15, 2016 by | Leave a comment

If you’re reading this blog, you’re likely a storyteller. More than that, by producing and publishing audiobooks, you’re changing the way stories are told and listened to. Audible Range, a new online magazine, is exploring this altered landscape by telling stories around listening, voice, literature, and technology. Check out some of our favorites below, then continue on to our weekly roundup of the best audiobook links from across the web.

Audible Range

Weird Voices Are Winning Out – In the newly democratized world of voice acting, quirky, wry, and “real” voices are having a moment.

Why Books Get Banned – Warning: Reading certain books may cause empathy.

Scandal List: The Sounds That Brought Them Down – Here are some of the most prominent people who’ve “Jinxed” themselves by getting caught on tape.

The Amazing, Strange, And Horrifying History of Irish Storytelling – Grab a warm drink and brace yourself for the dark story behind Ireland’s dark stories.

For Rights Holders

An Interview with Fauzia Burke, Author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors – via The Book Designer – An expert look at author branding and digital book marketing.

5 Ways To Connect With Your Readers – via BookMarketingTools – A handful of tips for coming out from the shadows and marketing directly to your fans.

[VIDEO] Money Upfront: How Authors Crowdfund their Books – via ALLi – ACX author Ben Galley discusses various crowdfunding platforms and how to get the most out of them, all lessons that can be applied to funding the production of your next ACX title.

Guest Blogging to Expand Your Influence and Readership – via where writers win – “You benefit from the exposure to new audiences; they benefit with new, original content for their sites. Everyone wins.”

For Producers:

Tips for Perfecting Conversational Tone in Voice Over – via Rick Lance – If you’re struggling to develop a natural, conversational style tone, try these tips.

Your 12-Step Voiceover Lesson Plan – via Backstage – Make sure you’re aware of and working on these 12 aspects of voiceover success.

How to Act Like an Audiobook Narrator – via The ACX Blog – Audible Approved producer Karen Commins stopped by last week with insight into what makes for a successful audiobook performance.

Working From Your Home Studio – via Bobbin Beam – Get a peek at what it’s like to record at home, plus seven tips for success.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: August 10 – 14

Posted on August 14, 2015 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

How to Promote Yourself as a Voice-Over Actor Online – via Voice Over Herald – Promote your audiobooks to gain sales, or promote yourself to book gigs.

Who Needs a Voice Over Coach? How To Get Training For Free! – via Gary Terzza – “It is possible to break into the industry without spending too much, but you will certainly need to invest plenty of effort.”

[VIDEO] Marketing Persistence – via Marc Scott – This week, Marc offers thoughts and encouragement, to help you develop persistence in your marketing efforts.

5 Ways to Get Hired in Voice Acting – via Backstage – Here are five ways to ensure your land solid, quality jobs that pay good money.

For Rights Holders:

Free Newswires Help Promote Books & Author Brands – via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – Learn how to promote your audiobook for free via press releases.

4 Methods to Invigorate Your Prose With Surprising Sentences – via Helping Weiters Become Authors – Give your narrator something cool to say in the booth.

Simple Promo Tip: Nailing Your Email Subject Line – via Writer Unboxed – Sometimes, it only takes a few words to sell an audiobook. Find out which will have the biggest impact on your potential listeners.

11 Ways to Ask for Writing Advice (And 10 Major Mistakes to Avoid) – via The Write Life – “Connecting with other writers — who are at your experience level or above it — is a great way to learn, grow and expand your career.”

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: March 9 – 13

Posted on March 13, 2015 by | 1 comment

For Rights Holders:

This Is The Reason Facebook Pages Are Still Useful For Authors – via BadRedHead Media – You may be suffering from Facebook fatigue, but it’s still a valuable tool for writers to connect with readers.

6 Tips to Writing a Bestselling YA Series – via Writer’s Digest – Want to be the next Suzanne Collins? Find out more about writing in this popular genre.

The Difference Between “Flawed” Characters and “Too Dumb to Live” – via Kristen Lamb – Bad decisions do make great fiction, but make sure you’re not taking this axiom to the unrealistic extreme.

3 Reasons Twitter and Writers are a Perfect Match – via The Write Conversation – Get a crash course in using this social network from fellow author Edie Melson.

For Producers:

How To Understand Voice Over Copy: Develop A Process That Works For You – via Voice-Over Xtra – Having a tried and true process can save you from reinventing the wheel every time you get a new script.

Quality Voice Overs Start with Quality Audio. – via Tony Pasquale – Tony’s got 3 aspects of audio to listen for to help separate high quality form low quality.

Session Improvement Tips for Producers from Voice Talents – via J. Christopher Dunn – A look at what makes a great audio producer, straight from the mouths of voice actors.

6 Ways to Nail Your Voiceover Audition – via Backstage – Learn how to “stay calm and focused and make your first take your best for your voiceover audition?”

 

1 Comment

Posted in This Week In Links, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: October 20 – 24

Posted on October 24, 2014 by | 2 comments

Welcome back for another installment of This Week in Links. Before we get to the latest roundup of audiobook information, we’d like to invite you to join us for #TalkingACX, our upcoming Twitter chat with AudioFile Magazine!

We’ll be speaking with AudioFile’s Publisher Michele Cobb about all the things a professional audiobook reviewer listens for in a good audiobook. If you’re new to audiobooks or you’ve always wondered what the experts value, join us Wednesday, October 29 at 8 pm ET on Twitter for this interactive event! Here’s what to do:

1. Visit Twitter and follow @ACX_com & @AudioFileMag

2. Start searching the hashtag #TalkingACX just before 8pm. Or visit Twubs.com/TalkingACX to follow along.

3. Bring your questions, and tweet them with #TalkingACX.

It’s that easy. We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday night! Now, on to those links.

For Producers:

The Last Job He Expected to Love – Via Amazon.com – Actor/producer RC Bray shares how ACX helped him thrive in a career he never imagined for himself.

How to Sell Without Selling – via Nethervoice – Paul Strikwerda shares an example of subtle self-marketing.

The 3 Ultimate Keys to Success for L.A. Actors – via Backstage – Good advice for all actors, really.

Harry Shearer: A Legend Teaches The Next Generation – via VoiceOverTimes – The famed voice actor is now an Artist-In-Residence at Loyola University in New Orleans.

For Rights Holders:

How to Make the Most of Any Writing Conference – via Writer’s Digest – Writing and publishing events can be a great place to network and learn. This article has tips on maximizing your time.

The Curious Kick of Hearing an Actor Reading Your Writing – via The Millions – Author Bill Morris discusses the positive effects of experiencing his own novel in audio.

Fact or Fiction? How Novelists Can Blend Factual Research with Creative Storytelling – via Live Write Thrive – Learn how to imbue your writing with details that keep it grounded in reality.

 

2 Comments

Posted in This Week In Links

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: Sept 29 – October 3

Posted on October 3, 2014 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

4 Tips to Focus Your Voiceover Career This Fall – via Backstage – Jen Ruden has a handful of great tips to make autumn a time of renewal for your VO work.

Stop Being So Shy: Why A Lack Of Self Promotion Is Stopping You Getting Voice Over Work – via Gary Terzza’s Voice-Over Blog UK – Actors have no excuse for being shy! Let Gary help you learn to self promote.

Defining the “IT” Factor – via Nethervoice – Paul Strikwerda believes having IT is all about charisma, and this post is dedicated to helping you understand exactly what that is and how to get it into the mic.

The Top Three Tired Tropes of the VO Business – via Rob’s Blog – Just starting out in the voice over game? Don’t make these three rookie mistakes.

For Rights Holders:

Social Media Scheduling Tools for Authors – via BadRedhead Media – We don’t have to tell you that authors are busy people! Save yourself some time and improve your audiobook promotion by using one of these tools.

5 Moral Dilemmas That Make Characters (& Stories) Better – via Writer’s Digest – Believable internal conflict can be the key to a compelling story. Here’s a deep look at how to pull it off.

Face Time – via The Blood Red Pencil – Thoughts and advice on recent changes to Facebook and how to make the most of it as an author promoting her work.

The First & Most Crucial Step to OWNING NaNoWriMo – Kristen Lamb’s Blog –  Participating in the annual novel writing competition? Kristen advises you fill up your creative well before putting pen to paper.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: June 9 – 13

Posted on June 13, 2014 by | 1 comment

We’re nearly halfway through “June Is Audiobook Month,” the annual celebration of our favorite spoken word format, and the audiobook community’s month-long observance got us wondering what our authors and producers are doing to promote the audio format. Are you talking about audiobooks on your blog? Running giveaways using your promo codes?

Tell us how you are joining the Audiobook Month fun in the comments, and use the info in the links below to keep yourself writing and recording beyond the month’s end!

For Rights Holders:

How to Tell if Your Story is On Target—What is Your Book About in ONE Sentence? – via Kristen Lamb’s Blog – Kristen uses a recent trip to the movies to illustrate the importance of good story structure.

3 Ways to Plan a Marketable Novel without Losing Creativity  – via Live Write Thrive – Let’s face it: You’re in this industry to be creative and make money. Find out how to do one without sacrificing the other.

Writing What Scares You – via The Huffington Post Books – Rachel Thompson has a simple piece of advice: Stop Worrying and Write Already!

For Producers:

5 Health Tips for Voice Over Talents – via Lance Blair – A handful of ideas on how to stay healthy even with a sedentary, studio-based career.

Unlocking the Hidden Secrets of Your Voice – via Gary Terzza’s Voice-Over Blog UK – Gary provides an in-depth look at a VO’s most important piece of equipment.

‘Law & Order’ Voice Steve Zirnkilton on Sustaining a VO Career – via Backstage – The voice behind the popular series’ famous intro talks about his VO journey.

1 Comment

Posted in This Week In Links

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: May 5 – 9

Posted on May 9, 2014 by | Leave a comment

This week was a fine one for all those looking for advice on marketing their ACX productions. We offered year-round guidance for authors that can be put into practice immediately for June is Audiobook Month, and we gave producers 5 ways to make use of the 25 promotional codes they’ll now receive to aid in their marketing efforts.

For advice on other aspects of audiobook creation, check out our weekly links roundup below.

For Rights Holders:

How To Design The Best Book Cover for Online Sales – via ALLi – Digital media has changed the rules of book cover design, and those who adapt will be more likely to succeed.

This Is How You’re Doing Social Media Wrong… And How to Do It Right – via The Huffington Post – Author Rachel Thompson offers advice on the do’s and dont’s of social media for authors.

Just What Is Theme in a Novel, Anyway? – via Live Write Thrive – “Too often writers don’t consider theme or even think their novel has one (or more), but I believe every story is about something more than plot. Or if it isn’t, it can and should be.”

For Producers:

How Listening Helps You as an Actor – via VoiceOverTimes – You talk for a living, but listening might be the best way to help you VO career.

Improving Your Voiceover Skills with Improv – via Backstage – Improving your ability to think – and talk – on the fly just might help you in the booth.

7 Bad Habits That Will Hurt Your Voice Over Career – via Voice-Over Xtra – Learn from narrator Dan Hurst’s personal experience and avoid these VO career killers.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: April 28 – May 2

Posted on May 2, 2014 by | Leave a comment

However you’re looking to improve your craft, we’ve got you covered. Are you fighting allergies, or wrestling with your writing tics? Maybe you’re looking for a better way to audition or to monetize your backlist.  Perhaps you’re looking to master punctuation, or land a gig with Audible Studios.

Whatever you want to achieve in your writing or recording time, read on for our hand-picked tips and advice from around the audiobook web.

For Producers:

Are You The Next Voice of Audible Studios? – via The ACX Blog – Get all the details of our latest open casting before you audition for Audible Studios and AudioFile magazine.

The 7 C’s of Auditioning – via Backstage – Great advice for all types of actors that can be put into practice the next time you step in front of the mic.

The Secret Weapon For Beating Allergies – via Jordan’s Chopped Thoughts – Seasonal allergies can derail your recording sessions in no time flat. Jordan has some remedies that may put your ears, noses, and throats at ease.

10 Ways to Keep Your Clients From Falling Through the Cracks – via J. Christopher Dunn’s Voice-Over Blog – In the voiceover industry, your relationships with your clients are as important as your narration skills.

For Rights Holders:

Divas on Writing: How to Spot Your Tic – via Write Divas – Run on sentences? Redundant words and phrases? Let Lauren help you find, and fix, your writing tics before it’s too late.

Three Tips for Monetizing Your Back-List – via Digital Book World – Bone up on some of the best ways to make money off your already published titles (aside from turning them into audiobooks via ACX, that is!)

Want to Write Better? Start Reading, A Lot (Infographic) – via Bid 4 Papers –  Take a fun look at the books that have inspired some of your favorite pop culture personalities

Busted—Authors Caught Exciting Emotion with Creative Punctuation – via The Blood-Red Pencil – Proper punctuation informs how your readers – and your listeners – experiences your words.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Week in Links: February 17 – 21

Posted on February 21, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Winter getting you down? If you live in much of the US, you’ve likely spent a good portion of the past month battling cabin fever from gray days spent locked inside.  While more time inside can mean more time to write or record, it’s also important to take a break once in a while. Watch a travel show, call a friend just to chat, or strap on the booties and go for a (wet) walk.

When you’ve got a new outlook, read our weekly links roundup to get some education on writing and producing audiobooks. Then dive back into your art with a clear head and a fresh batch of ideas to inspire you!

For Producers and Rights Holders:

34 Audible Productions Named as Finalists for 2014 Audie Awards – via BusinessWire – 7 of the 34 nominations were made via ACX! You did it!

For Producers:

So You Want to Be a Voice Actor – via Backstage – The first in a new series designed to introduce voiceover to stage actors.

Twitter for Voice Over Talents – via Lance Blair American Voice Over Talent – Lance offers a crash course on the  basics of Twitter for VO’s.

Are You Suffering From Audition Fatigue? – via vo2gogo – DHL17 shares his advice for making a mountain of manuscripts scripts feel energizing instead of tiring.

What “Friends” Should Expect – via Voice Acting in Vegas – Dave Courvoisier polled VO’s on Facebook and came away with data on what people will and won’t tolerate on social media.

For Rights Holders:

Author Branding—Harnessing the Power of Digital Age Storms – via Kristen Lamb’s Blog – “Proper branding is one of the most critical elements of author success. Brands that are outdated, boring, rigid, abandoned, fractured, negative or nonexistent are not only unhelpful, but they can spell disaster to our career and earning potential as artists.”

Tips for Managing Writer’s Block – via CreateSpace -Maria Murnane has a three step process for overcoming the scourge of writers everywhere.

5 Steps to Self-Publishing Success – via The BookBaby Blog – James Ventrillo of ReadersFavorite.com stops by with “some steps that will guide you through the self-publishing “system” so you and your book will be more successful.”

Turning Chaff into Wheat – via Hugh Howey – ACX author imagines a world where “[r]ather than beg readers for contributions with no idea of the quality of the final product, you have the financial backers begging to be included in something they see as worthy.”

Did you read a great audiobook article this week? Share it below!

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,