I believe I've mentioned ACX before and I never really went too far into it, but it can be a great way to make some extra cash. The only requisite, you need the TIME and the ABILITY TO RECORD.
ACX is basically a FREE place where you can audition for audiobook jobs. These aren't in studio jobs, these are jobs where you basically record everything yourself.
When I first started, I had recorded a lot of small voices and voice123 jobs. My first audiobook was through acx. I was so excited, it was a fantasy young adult novel. Somewhere deep in my dreams I wanted to voice a novel that was similar to lord of the rings. It ended up being "Circle of Sorcerers" by Brian Kittrell. I got the job for about $85 per finished hour, the whole thing ended being about 8 finished hours, but since it was my first audiobook, the amount of time I maybe spent on it was probably 64 hours maybe more.
The key thing about producing an audiobook is that you have to edit the big boy. I have no clue how to punch and roll, but it seems like it requires another person. With editing, it takes 3-4 times as long because you have to edit it, listen to it, then correct it. Maybe even listen to it again.
You definitely can utilize the person on the other end as a proof listener of sorts but you need to make sure that they know that. I didn't. You need to say in the agreement, "I'm going to be editing it, but since the pay is so low, I don't do a second runthrough check, so if you can make sure there are no errors as well, that'd be great."
The key things you need is TIME and Ability. Time is a clincher, give yourself AT LEAST a month or two months to do this. You may be able to do 20 minutes of actual finished work a day. Your voice may be sick on some days. I've found that my brain fries at the second chapter and I need a few hours or food to get it going again.
Ability just means know what it is to do an audiobook. I'd suggest buying Pat Fraleys Audiobook course. Whether it's an in person course, or the book and cds, it will give you all the information you need on how to voice it.
Remember you should read through the book once ALL THE WAY THROUGH. You also want to note what the people would sound like. If there are specifics of accent, not those down. Also, personality may be a clincher. If a character is a man's man, then his voice may need some sort of physicality. USE those physicalities to key into a character while you record. If the person is a nerd, maybe fix imaginary glasses before all of his lines. Those key elements make audiobooks so much easier.
You wanna read the narrator as YOU. No accent just you. Your main character should have a variation of your voice. Your major supporting character, perhaps partner or friend should have a small variation on your voice as well. Every one else should be very different.
Also, be present in what is happening. You may know that there is a ghost around the corner, but the narrator and audience doesn't so don't give it away. If it's eery, feel like it's eery, let the audience here it in your voice. It's as simple as, when describing a room, think to yourself, "That's interesting, i've never seen that before". It will make you a better audiobook narrator.
I'll be honest with you. AUDIOBOOKS are hard. But, there is a reward. I found that my minimum to keep my sanity was $200 per finished hour. I've also worked with people who were terribly picky about words and improv and the redoes TOOK FOREVER. I've also worked with great people like Brian Kittrell who let me do my thing and just was awesome to work with. If you want to check out my audiobooks, (I'm by no means an expert but I have done a few) check out Audible for the Circle of Sorcerers trilogy, the Depression Carpenter, The 100 (in studio recording) and Elusive Echoes.
Everyone should try one audiobook, it is a challenge. For me, doing the trilogy was my Lord of the Rings, I couldn't do another one for that cheap but it was on my VO bucket list. So, Huzzah!!
