Friday Question: Do You Listen To AudioBooks?
When we read, we hear the words in our head, in our own voice. It is part of the magic of fiction, that we bring the words to life within ourselves. But it’s also popular, increasingly so due to portable audio media and the Internet, to create audiobooks.
Sometimes it’s old classics read by your favourite celebrities (like Stephen Fry reading the Harry Potter series) but often authors will create audiobook versions of their own stories, and read them themselves. Sometimes, like horror/sci-fi author Scott Sigler they will even start out with serialised audiobooks, building a following to allow them to then create print copies.
But, the question is…
Do You Like Audiobooks?
Audiobooks can be incredibly convenient, and they are great for listening to in the car or while you cook the dinner. But some people don’t like them as they are arguably not as immersive as reading for yourself, and the experience you would have listening to a story will most likely be different than if you’d read it.
But, does this matter?
And would you create audio versions of your own work? Maybe start out this way like Scott Sigler has (very successfully) done?
Let us know your thoughts on audiobooks.
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Please share what you think about audiobooks in the comments section below.
Photo courtesy of yum9me.
Christopher Jackson is the Editor for Fuel Your Writing and a creative copywriter. He is currently working on Project: Snotbook, an interactive children’s storybook for iPad.
I consume the majority of my fiction through audio books. I am a slow reader, and I can get through more novels that way.
I process the information in a book or novel in such a way that I don’t believe I lose anything by having the book read to me in most cases. It may even enhance to book for me in some cases.
I’d listen to a book I might not bother to invest the time and energy into reading, (since it can be a drain on me sometimes.) So listening also exposes me to novels I would not have otherwise picked up.
I listen to audio books all of the time. There are some authors who write so beautifully that I need to see every word and be able to lie down and roll around in a paragraph for a while, and those authors I read. But, if I’m just looking to be told a story, I listen to the audio book.
But, I will say that writers who read their own work in the audio book usually ruin it for me (people like Maya Angelou excluded, obviously). I say stick to what you are good at, writing, and leave the voice work to the professionals, actors.
I love audio books!
I listen to a new one about every three months. I listen to them in the car over the course of a few weeks. Sometimes music and talk radio get boring. A nice story is great.
I have thought about doing my own audio book and probably will in the near future.
I started listening to audio books when I worked in a literary group with blind teenagers. I seldom buy them, but sometimes I listen to then on the radio or in the internet. And yes, I’d like to have audio versions of my potential works.
I love audiobooks. They are a great way to multi-task through drudgery such as walking either outside or on treadmills for exercise, doing housework, except vacuuming which is too noisy, or any other mindless task that allows one to follow a narrated story.
Love audio books. As a working mother, past English teacher, and 1.5 hour commuter, I love getting lost in a story or employing Stephen Covey Habit 7: Sharpening the Saw. It’s an efficient way to accomplish learning or relaxing. I wonder, though, am I being lazy not reading? Reading creates and strengthens pathways in our brains and enhances skills not developed through audio books. Guess reading will have to come in retirement.
I am heavily addicted to audiobooks and the wonders of BBC Radio 4 Extra. I find by the time I have got home from work, eaten and made some attempts at my own creative projects it is time for bed with no real time for reading as much I would like. So the audiobook is perfect to drift off too, allowing for wonderful escapism. My favourite audiobboks are anything by Neil Gaiman being read by himself and alot of horror shorts like ‘The Man in Black; on BBC radio. But sometimes these horrors are not conducive for a peaceful nights sleep.
I love audiobooks so much. I am a college student and it is a hustle for me bring with me evryday all those heavy bags I have. I am happy to read this.