The words get more credibilty when they are spoken by their own creator. Everything from fear to hope become alive before the very eyes of its listeners. But this could not be done only by reading the text. It is a whole set of skills that enliven these words.
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What kind of elements and skills are used by an author or narrator in the successsful narration of their memoirs.
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Here, some practical tips and examples are given for the better understanding and comprehension of this topic.
Why Author-Narrated Memoirs Stand Out
Professional are professional after all. Their narration of text no doubt give all the ups and downs of emotions but they lack one major thing, the aura of truthfulness. Oppositely, with the narrartion of the author, we feel the depth, pains, and joys, the author felt at that moment of life, with out replacing its credibility. Which in the end find out to be a private conversation of the author with their listeners or hearers. Took the examples of;
- Viola Davis in Finding Me brings her award-winning acting skills, delivering powerful emotion and depth.
- Barbra Streisand adds spontaneous singing and laughter in My Name Is Barbra, making it feel personal.
- Trevor Noah uses accents and timing in Born a Crime to transport listeners to his South African childhood.
Being superb in their respective fields, they do not need any thorough practice for such atmospheric conditions but the beginners surely need them!!
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Core Narration Techniques for Authors
Some hit techniques drawn from weathered author-turned-narrators and experts are,
- Prepare Your Manuscript for the Ear; A deep and careful editing is needed after the manuscript completion. All that sounds good and grammatically perfect may not be acceptable to ears.
- Use Acting and Emotional Recall; Narration and acting go side by side. Picturing of scences and recalling memories would add the flavors of emotions to the narrator voice.
- Master Pacing, Pauses, and Rhythm; Speaking in a natural way would give the authenticity to the speaker removing the artificiality from their words and sounds. But speaker should know their subject and topic upon which they are now talking. Pace, pauses, and rhythming are the keys of best narration.
- Handle Dialogue and Voices; Narrator should change their voice and frequencies according to the situations , dialogues, and characters.
- Vocal Health and Stamina; Drinking water, warming up one’s voice, and avoiding dairy before narration recording would result in best narration and its recording. Apple slices or neutral mouth feel help reduce clicks and mouth noises.
- Microphone Technique and Recording Basics; Mic 6–8 should be inches away from mouth. Move closer for whisperings, farther for louder moments. Record in a quiet space. The beginners should use closet with blankets for their voice recording.
- Consistency and Retakes; Consistency is the key which is needed in all narration recording. Critical examinations and re-recording of weak sections would give good narrtions.
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Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
- Hating Your Own Voice: Everyone does at first. Keep recording — you’ll get used to it.
- Reliving Emotions: Memoirs can be painful to narrate. Schedule breaks and be kind to yourself.
- Technical Issues: Start simple. Test recordings and get feedback before full production.
- Length: A 10-hour book can take 20–30+ hours to record and edit.
Many authors hire a studio or coach for professional results.
Listening Tips: What to Notice in Author-Narrated Memoirs
Next time you listen:
- Notice how the author’s voice adds intimacy.
- Spot changes in pace during emotional parts.
- Enjoy unique elements like laughter, singing, or accents.
Try Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey or The Woman in Me by Britney Spears for great examples.
Do it Yourself
Author narration brings unmatched authenticity to memoirs. Start small: Record a short chapter, listen back, and improve. Tools like ACX (Audible’s platform) make publishing possible even for beginners. But after all do it yourself… DIY… This is the point….
FAQ on Narration Techniques
What is the major drawback of a professional narration?
They lack one major thing, the aura of truthfulness. This is their major drawback.
One positive point about author narrated audiobooks is what?
With the narrartion of the author, we feel the depth, pains, and joys, the author felt at that moment of life.
Is narration and acting are inter-related?
Yes. Narration is an acting by voice for conveying your feelings.
Do celebrities use their skills in their audio narration?
Definitely. They use their skills and expertise in the narration of their audio books.
