4 Lessons from Recording My Audiobook

I spent three days recording the audiobook version of my book, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘: 𝑃𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝐸𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑠 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑤. Here's what I learned during that process.

1. Narration is very different from conversation. Reading all the words perfectly with the right inflection and tone is tough. I had to focus on the page much like you'd focus on the rock right in front of you when you're climbing up a mountain. When I looked at how much longer I had to go or let my mind wander, I'd feel fear and mess up. Take it one rock, or one paragraph at a time.

2. If you write a book, voice it yourself if you can. No one knows your words as well as you will. Putting the right emphasis on the right word made a huge difference when I read it aloud. Some people will understand my points better by hearing the narration.

3. Speaking and singing professionally means you have to take care of your voice. This was especially important for me because of my challenges with allergies and asthma. I steamed my vocal cords each morning, drank special soothing teas, and even took ibuprofen to get through the strenuous task of recording almost 6.5 hours of words. After recording, I'd try to take "vocal naps" and talk as little as possible. (Thanks to my family and team for being patient with me on this!)

4. Stretch yourself throughout your career by tackling something new. I've never narrated a book before and it was hard. Learning to center my mind through hours inside a small sound booth with hundreds of pages to read through proved I could manage my mental game. Focusing on the task, and working through something so unique was a growth experience I am now proud to have accomplished. Now, I can prepare others for such big life experiences.

Big thanks to my new friends at Harter Music for being so accommodating, supportive and lighthearted during the recording sessions.