Audiobooks – The Next Level in Publishing
The folk epics like Homer’s Illiad were sung by bards and passed down the generations through oral traditions. Literature in the form of audio stimuli goes back to the epic poetry of Sumerians with examples like the heroic deeds of king Gilgamesh and the other folklores we are quite acquainted with today. The written form of literature is now found in both print and e-book formats and the oral tradition now appears as audiobooks.
All of these formats have their own joys and also negative aspects. It is important to acknowledge that different readers have their subjective preferences but while considering which format of publication to go for, an author must recognize the social perspective and know which format is most favourable and in vogue. It is also recommended to select a target audience and acknowledge the requirements of that particular age group.
If the age group is 6-10, a colourful picture book would be recommended as the parents want their children to stay away from electronics and develop healthier habits like reading. The vibrant pictures and big texts help in attracting the attention of children and sustaining it throughout the length of the book. For the next age of 11-14, the teen fiction books usually come in print format because children of this age prefer print books over other formats.
The books that are meant for young adults and adults can be published in all three formats. Different studies show different preference results but before selecting a format, let’s go over the three formats and their features.
The paperback format is the traditional and oldest format of book publication. Most bibliophiles believe in the superiority of this format and are biased towards books that are present in paperback over other formats.
The creation of ebooks and ebook platforms has won over the reading world recently. This format has been so successful because of the portability and convenience that it provides. The urban world has less space and time. One can carry thousands of books that are present within one small device. They don’t need a space-occupying bookshelf or carry around books in bags where there is not only the hassle of baggage but also the possibility of little accidents causing harm to the book like water spilling over them. Paperback books take time to be delivered. However, an ebook is delivered immediately to the person’s e-library. They are also the cheapest compared to paperback or audiobooks. Thus, it saves three of the things most valued by millennials- money, time, and space.
Now, let’s take a look at the audiobooks. The most fascinating part of this is how we think it to be something very modern but this is one of the oldest forms of literature - oral literature. The audio versions of short stories have been popular for a long time, most prominently as radio plays. The audiobooks can beautifully combine sound effects, music and convey the proper emotions of the book. If the author uses a pun or sarcasm, it is communicated much better through the audio format. In a space in time where people are always straining their eyes over laptops and phones, it is also a very relaxing exercise to close one's eyes and listen to a book rather than read it. It can also be beneficial for the ones who want to involve themselves in a story while travelling as it is harmful to read while one is constantly moving in a car, bus, or train. Some people are too busy to make time for just reading a book. They can multitask and listen to a book while doing office or household work. One can also simply reminisce their childhood days of bedtime stories and listen to a book while they drift into sweet dreams.
As the creation of an audiobook is quite costly, its penetration in terms of more audiobooks being published is slow. With the rising trend of self publishing books, writers are cautious of the budget to be allocated on each aspect of publishing – be it paperback, ebook or an audiobook.
To encourage and facilitate authors to publish audiobooks, White Falcon Publishing has launched its AudioBook Production service where we assist authors in finding the right voice for their book, recording and editing the audio, producing the audio and publishing it on 15+ audiobook sale platforms. Get in touch to know more about this author-friendly service.
From the Director’s desk
Navsangeet Kaur