Tag Archives: writers digest

This Week in Links: March 26 – 30

Posted on March 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

3 Trends in VO Shaping Your Future – via Dave Courvoisier – “CourVO” has recently spotted of some emerging themes in the voiceover industry, and he highlights a few for you here.

Voice-Over Is NOT Easy Money – Success Follows Hard Work And These ‘Must-Haves’ – via Voice-Over Xtra – Voice actor Natasha Marchewka offers her look at the items and skills you need to possess for success in VO.

7 Places to Learn Audio Editing for Audiobooks – via Karen Commins – Regardless of your preferred digital audio workstation (DAW), Karen’s got a directory of her favorite resources to make the most of it.

How to Get Voice Work: Define Your Brand As A Voice-Over Artist – via suchavoice – “A brand is what sets you apart from your competitors – it’s a reason for potential clients to work with you! A strong personal brand can also help you get voice work.”

For Rights Holders:

8 Tactics To Try When Seeking Media Coverage For Your Book – via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – “[S]ome of the best ways to promote or market a book may be unusual, less common, even seemingly counter-intuitive…So what might help that often isn’t tried by others?”

How to Market a Book: 10 First Steps – via The Write Practice – Every new book you publish (and each format you publish it in) is a good excuse to go back to the basics of book marketing. Do have each of these steps covered?

Ready Player One: 3 Painful Lessons About Success for Writers – via Writer’s Digest – The smash hit book’s success may just be attributed to some factors authors would rather not consider.

A Fitness Routine for Social Media – via The Write Conversation – “We all know the importance of staying in shape. Today I’m going to give you a workout plan to keep your social media life in shape. To stay efficient at social media we’ve got to be lean. After all our goal is a writing life, not a marketing one.”

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: January 7 – 12

Posted on January 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

When You Don’t Know What To Do – via Natasha Marchewka – Now is a great time to jump on board with Natasha’s 2018 series teaching you to “pull your business together, get on track, and keep your ducks in a row.”

Stop Talking for a Better Voice – via Dr. Ann Utterback – This counterintuitive advice makes sense once you read when you’re recommended to abstain from speaking.

Voiceovers And The New Tax Code – vi Tom Dheere – If you have questions about how the new tax code will affect your VO business, Tom’s got you covered. Part two can be read here.

‘Talk British To Me!’ … A Desirable Talent  For Voice Actors – Here’s What To Practice – via Voice-Over Xtra – Add another accent to your repertoire with this advice from VO  Sarah Mitchell.

For Rights Holders:

How to Build Your Brand in 2018 – via CreateSpace – Author Richard Ridey has three quick tips to improve your promotions in 2018.

Jump-Start Your Writing: 3 Myths That Hinder Creativity—and How to Conquer Them – via Writer’s Digest – If you’re battling writer’s block, it may be time to unlearn some of the less helpful pieces of wisdom you’ve come to believe.

10 Critical Author Marketing Lessons We Can Learn from Apple – via where writers win – From keeping it simple to developing an aura of mystery, this fun infographic has a number of helpful ideas.

Masterful Narrative Scenes in Novel – via C.S.Lakin – The more compelling the book, the more appealing it will be to narrator and listeners alike.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

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

This Week in Links: December 4 – 8

Posted on December 8, 2017 by | 2 comments

For Rights Holders:

Increase Engagement in Your Marketing with Visuals – via The Book Designer – “You know the saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words? It may be true but what’s proven is that a photo is better than text when it comes to social media engagement.”

How Ordinary Authors Can Promote a Book Like a Great Author – via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – The difference between an “ordinary” author and a “great” author is often a simple change in your perspective. Find out how to elevate your attitude to get to great.

10 Critical Author Marketing Lessons We Can Learn from Apple – via where writers win – This handy infographic should give you some ideas for ways to successfully market your audiobook.

20 Best Songs for Writers and About Writing: The Ultimate Writing Mixtape – via Writers Digest – Set the tone in your writer’s room with this snappy mix of literary-focused tunes.

For Producers:

Marketing Seasons & Rhythms: When Are Best Times For The Voice Over Biz? – via Voice-Over Xtra – “All effective marketers in every business field know the calendar year and what they should do (OR NOT DO) for maximum effect each month.”

The Turning Point – via Paul Strikwerda – Are you working towards you own success, or just hoping good things will happen to you?

Don’t Let a Cold Wreck Your Holiday or Your Voice – via Dr. Ann Utterback – Crowds and confined spaces are breeding grounds for cold-causing germs. Learn how to combat them this holiday season, and spare yourself the literal headache of missed workdays.

Audiobook Advice from Hall of Fame Narrators – via ACX – Learn from your peers as they share their reflections on a successful career in audiobook narration.

2 Comments

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: October 16 – 20

Posted on October 20, 2017 by | Leave a comment

It’s that time of year again. While you’re prepping for Halloween, we’re prepping for the upcoming December audiobook sales season. For the best chance for your book to be on sale in time for the 2017 holidays, we recommend your titles are approved and submitted to ACX by Friday, December 1, 2017.

Please also ensure your audiobook meets all of our Audio Submission Requirements before submitting, as your title may be delayed going on-sale if our QA team needs to reach out to you with questions. Watch our recent video on passing ACX QA, then check out our favorite links from the past week below.

For Producers:

Study Peter Coyote’s Compelling Narration In Ken Burns’ ‘The Vietnam War’ PBS Series – via Voice-Over Xtra – Listening to the narrator’s documentary and contrasting it against his audiobook performance can be an enlightening exercise.

Voiceovers, Napping, and Meditation – via Tom Dheere – “Whether it’s napping, mediating, exercise, yoga, or reading a book with a warm beverage, at some point during the day you should find time to recharge.”

The One Surefire Way to Find New Clients – via Dave Courvoisier – CourVO offers a surprisingly simple directive, for those willing to put in the effort.

The Agony Of Ignorance – via Paul Strikwerda – Read Paul’s advice for achieving “unconscious competence,” and why it’s better in the long run not to get spoon-fed easy answers.

For Rights Holders:

Book Promotion: Do This, Not That – October 2017 – via The Book Designer – Instead of hoping your friends will leave glowing reviews of your (audio)book, learn how to earn reviews from motivated readers and listeners.

Opinion: How Indie Authors Can Stop Worrying and Learn to Love Book Marketing – via Alli – “You wrote the story you needed to tell – now you need to ensure the people who need to hear it have the opportunity to do so.”

Utilize Your Blog as a Powerful Marketing Tool – via The Write Conversation – “A blog post infused with personality, well-written content, and benefit to the readers can cause them to follow your blog or explore your website. But first, you have to get them interested in your post.”

Using Physicality to Bring Your Characters (And Your Fiction) to Life – via Writer’s Digest – Add this one to the “give your narrator something awesome to say” folder.

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: July 17 – 21

Posted on July 21, 2017 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

Cultivating Your Personal Brand As A Voice-Over Artist – via suchavoice – You know you need it, even if you don’t want to work on it. Read up on the five ways to “cultivate a personal brand that is really, and truly your own.”

What Are You Waiting For? – via Paul Strikwerda – Paul’s here with that kick in the pants that every freelancer needs from time to time.

4 Reasons You Should be Marketing Your VO Business on Instagram – via Dave Courvoisier – Learn why the visual social network is a great place to spread word of your audio services, and the best part is that now you can Buy instagram likes whenever you want, this will improve your marketing strategies on social media.

ACXU Presents: Inside the Booth: A Day in the Life of an ACX Pro Producer – via ACX – Get an idea of what it takes to make a career out of voiceover work with Audible Approved Produced Caitlin Kelly.

For Rights Holders:

How to Create Pre-Launch Buzz for Your Book Right Now – via Bad Redhead Media – As you read this, note the tips that can be repurposed for your audiobook launch.

A Step-By-Step Indie Authors Guide for Attracting Media Attention – via Book Marketing Tools – “If you’re like most indie authors who can’t afford the razzle-dazzle of today’s publicity masterminds, there is an option for you. It’s called DIYing your own publicity campaign, and it’s not as scary as it sounds.”

Authors and Marketing Fatigue – via The Book Designer – If you’ve got an excuse for why your book marketing isn’t working an are ready for a dose of reality, this is the article for you.

Tips on Writing a Sequel (When You Didn’t Plan to Write a Sequel) – via Writer’s Digest – So, you’ve heard that series do well in audio, and you’re kicking yourself for not planning ahead. Never fear, Writer’s Digest’s got you covered.

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: June 26 – 30

Posted on June 30, 2017 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

Do This Instead of Buying a New Mic – via Dave Courvoisier – Ready to add to cart? Consider whether coaching and technical training may be a better  investment for your career than new equipment.

What Is Your Computer Backup System? And Will It Work? – via Edge Studio – “Whether your computer succumbs to a malware attack, a hardware failure, or your own human error, having a backup will make the situation much less nerve-wracking, and probably far less expensive.”

Why I Don’t Listen to Fictional Audiobooks Narrated by Men – via Book Riot – One listener offers her perspective on a performance choice that drives her buying decisions.

5 Years As The VO Strategist Taught Me 3 Things – via Tom Dheere – What can you learn from Tom’s three big revelations from his time as VO coach? Find out in this milestone post.

For Rights Holders:

Use Cheat Sheets & Checklists to Entice, Engage Readers – via The Book Designer – “Readers love chunks of information they can digest easily in just a minute or two…tie the topic of your cheat sheet or checklist into your book, and you’ve got a promotional hook that reels in readers.”

How to Carry Your Book Cover Design Through to the Marketing Campaign for Your Self-published Books – ALLi – Find out how image, color, texture, and typography can be used as a theme for your (audio)book promotion.

How to Set Up Your Own Online Book Tour – via BookMarketingTools – “Whether you’re launching for the first time or hoping to drum up support for a published book, virtual tours can be incredible for building buzz, encouraging people to share your content, growing your platform, enhancing your reputation, selling books, and much more.”

An Illustrated Guide to Dynamic Characters – via Writer’s Digest – Compelling characters are a dream come true for any actor to perform. This fun infographic takes a look at what makes some of your favorite TV/movie characters so interesting.

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: May 22 – 26

Posted on May 26, 2017 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

Feeding Your Soul – via Paul Strikwerda – Find out why the “Nethervoice’s” best ideas come when he’s trying NOT to focus on business.

5 Customer Retention Tips for your Voiceover Business – via Victoria DeAnda – If you voice it (well), they will come. But how do you keep them coming back?

Get Into Voice-Over Work: Beginner’s Guide – via Gary Terzza – Learn the VO coach’s essential tenets of a successful narration career.

Storytellers: Amanda Rose Smith – via ACX – “For me, getting paid to do something you’d probably do anyway is the highest form of success.”

For Rights Holders:

Public Speaking Tips for Writers: 7 Keys for a Great Speech – via The Write Practice – We’d say the 8th key is “ask your narrator for advice.”

6 Tips for Creating Believable Characters That Win Over Readers – via Writer’s Digest – This one’s for the “give your narrator something awesome to say” file.

10 Ways To Approach Book Publicity – via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – “Believe in your abilities, trust in your creativity, and take the initiative to get the media exposure you feel you deserve.”

Clear Step-By-Step Guide to Editing for Self-Publishers – via where writers win – Every good book deserves an editor (and no, your narrator doesn’t count!)

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

That Week in Links: May 8 – 12

Posted on May 15, 2017 by | Leave a comment

Kick off your Monday with a look at our favorite links from last week!

For Producers:

Make Every On-Air Day Your Best – via Dr. Ann Utterback – What would you say if not just on-air days, but every day could be your best? Don’t miss the additional resources at the bottom of the post.

How to Track Voiceover Projects That’s Quick and Easy – via J. Christopher Dunn – Learn a straight-forward system to keep your various emails, invoices, files, and folders straight.

I Am a Female Voice Over, Hear me Roar! – via Voice Over Herald – Take a look at the history of the gender divide in VO, capped off with a handy infographic showing why women rule.

How to Succeed in the Voiceover Industry – via Victoria DeAnda – Victoria shares the career building blocks that allow you “let your passion bleed into your work.”

For Rights Holders:

Can You Market Your Book For 5 Minutes A Day?– via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – If you’re too busy, or big marketing projects seem daunting, check these tips for working a little bit of promotion into every day.

How to Launch Your Blog With Your Book in Mind – via Writer’s Digest – “Blogging helped me hone my voice and connected me to a community of readers. But, oh, if I could start over knowing that many of my far-fetched writing dreams would come true, I sure would do a few things differently.”

Branding: The Rule of Coaching – via CreateSpace – See how being genuinely altruistic within your creative community can have the side benefit of building your brand.

The Elusive Value of PR as a Book Marketing Tactic – via The Write Life – “I am constantly reminding myself to invest my time and efforts wisely as an author. And that means putting my efforts toward growing a long-term following—not just pestering readings into that one or two next sales.”

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: February 20 – 24

Posted on February 24, 2017 by | Leave a comment

For Producers:

7 Steps to LinkedIn Success – via Marc Scott – Are you using the professional’s platform for your voiceover career? Marc’s here to show you how to make the most of it.

Listen To The Books Behind This Year’s Film Awards – via Audible range – from book to audiobook to Oscar-nominated film, get inspired by the performances in the source material from this year’s academy awards.

Online Tools For Freelance Voice Actors – via Dave Courvoisier – Learn about a variety of programs and apps that can make running your VO business easier.

Voice-Over Work (and All Else) Got You Uptight? Relax! – via Edge Studio – “A relaxed voice also gives you greater tonal range, has more endurance, enables you to follow direction more accurately, helps you enunciate better, adds to your confidence, and simply makes VO work (even) more fun.”

For Rights Holders:

Growing Your Audience One Fan at a Time – via C.S. Lakin – Find out why the self-published author thinks your mailing list is the best way to build your fan base from the ground up.

How to Get the Most Marketing and Publicity Bang for Your Buck – via Writer’s Digest – Is it time for you to invest in your success and hire a publicist?

Creative Book Marketing and Promotion Ideas for Indie Authors and Self-published Books – via ALLi – Learn the almost-accidental, counter-intuitive ideas that led to marketing success.

The Inspired Writer & Book Marketer – BookMarketingBuzzBlog – “Maybe [these ideas] will help you move towards aiming higher, achieving more, and living a fulfilling life as a writer or book marketer.”

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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

This Week in Links: February 13 – 17

Posted on February 17, 2017 by | Leave a comment

For Rights Holders:

Launching a Book? Why You Should Start Building an Email List Today – via Book Marketing Tools – “Besides generating more leads, email marketing identifies better-quality leads, shortens the sales cycle, improves conversion rates, reduces marketing costs, and more.”

Interview With Audie Awards Competition Chairperson Janet Benson – via BookMarketingBuzzBlog – Get a peek at what an insider thinks of the audiobook industry’s top honors.

Her Debut Novel Just Turned 1. Which Marketing Tactics Worked? – via The Write Life – Learn went went well, what went not-so-well, and what comes next for new author E.J. Wenstrom.

Emotion vs. Feeling: How to Evoke More From Readers – via Writer’s Digest – File this evocative story under “give your narrator something to chew on.”

For Producers:

Bookkeeping Tips to Help You Keep Your Voiceover Business Financials Organized – via Victoria DeAnda – “You don’t want to be that person scrambling right before your taxes are due—only to send off your “financials” in a bag stuffed with receipts.”

Five Questions. Five Answers – via Paul Strikwerda – The veteran VO answers the questions he is most often asked, including “What is the one thing you know now that you wish someone had told you when you started out in voice-over?”

Your Business Plan – via Dave Courvoisier – Discover a business planning resource for saving time day-to-day and mapping out your career path.

R.C. Bray: From Audiobook Beginner to Audie Winner – via ACX University – Find out how the award-winning narrator of The Martian got his start on ACX

Leave a comment

Posted in This Week In Links

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