Audiobook Production Checklist for Independently Published Authors

Everything you need to prepare, decide, and complete. From manuscript to live on Audible

Producing an audiobook involves more decisions and moving parts than most independently published authors expect going in. The good news: when you work with a full-service studio most of these items are handled on your behalf.

But knowing what's involved before you start means you can prepare properly, avoid delays, and go into your first session with confidence.

We're the team at .wav Enthusiast, a Downtown Los Angeles audiobook production studio specializing in independently published authors. This is the checklist we walk every new client through before their first session.

Save it. Share it. Come back to it when you're ready to start.

Before you contact a studio

✅ Confirm you own your audiobook rights

If you self-published through KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital you almost certainly own your audiobook rights. If you published traditionally, check your contract. See our complete guide to what ACX is for more on how rights affect your distribution options.

✅ Know your word count

Your word count determines your finished hour estimate, your production timeline, and your project cost. Pull it from your manuscript before your first conversation with a studio.

✅ Estimate your finished hours and project cost

Divide your word count by 8,500 to estimate finished hours. Multiply by your studio's per finished hour rate for a ballpark project cost. See our complete guide to how much audiobook production costs for a full breakdown.

✅ Decide on your distribution strategy

Exclusive distribution through ACX earns 50% royalties on Audible but locks you in for 7 years. Non-exclusive earns 30% but lets you distribute to Spotify, Findaway Voices, and Apple Books simultaneously. Decide before your first studio conversation.

✅ Decide on author narration vs professional narrator

This is one of the most important decisions you'll make. See our complete guide to whether you should narrate your own audiobook for help making this call before you contact a studio.

✅ Know your target launch date

If you have a specific date in mind — a book launch, a speaking engagement, a course launch — tell your studio upfront. Work backwards from that date to confirm the timeline is achievable. See our complete audiobook production timeline for realistic estimates.

✅ Create your ACX account

Go to acx.com, sign in with your Amazon login, and claim your title. Takes 10 minutes and you'll need it before files can be submitted. Or — if you're working with .wav Enthusiast — we handle this on your behalf. For the full submission walkthrough see our guide to how to get your book on Audible.

Before your first recording session

✅ Read through your full manuscript

Read your entire manuscript aloud at least once before your first session. This surfaces mispronunciations, awkward sentences, and passages that read well on the page but feel unnatural spoken. Fix them in your manuscript before you record — not during the session.

✅ Create a pronunciation guide

List every name, place, technical term, or unusual word in your book and confirm how you want each pronounced. Share this with your studio before the first session. For cast narrators this is essential.

✅ Prepare your ACX cover art

ACX requires a square image between 2400x2400 and 3000x3000 pixels in JPG or PNG format. Your existing book cover may need to be reformatted to a square aspect ratio. Start this early — cover art delays are one of the most common causes of submission delays. At .wav Enthusiast we handle cover art reformatting as part of our service.

✅ Write your audiobook description

ACX allows up to 2,000 characters for your audiobook description. This appears on your Audible listing and directly affects discoverability and conversion. Write it before your first session so it's ready at submission.

✅ Confirm your session schedule

Block your recording sessions in your calendar and treat them like any other professional commitment. Cancelled and rescheduled sessions are the most common cause of extended production timelines.

✅ Rest your voice the night before

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy the evening before each recording session. Get eight hours of sleep. Your voice is your instrument — treat it accordingly.

✅ Bring water to every session

Hydration directly affects vocal quality and stamina. Still water at room temperature is ideal. Avoid carbonated drinks, juice, and coffee on session days.

During production

✅ Listen to chapter samples as they're delivered

Don't wait until the entire audiobook is complete to start listening. Review chapters as your studio delivers them. Catching issues early prevents extensive re-recording later.

✅ Provide feedback promptly

Your studio can only move as fast as your feedback allows. Set aside time each week during production to review and respond to audio deliveries. Delayed feedback is the most common client-side cause of extended timelines.

✅ Keep a revision log

As you listen, keep a running document of any corrections, re-reads, or adjustments. Organize by chapter and timestamp where possible. This makes revision sessions faster and more efficient.

✅ Confirm narrator consistency

If you're using a professional narrator, listen carefully for consistency in character voices, pacing, and tone across chapters. It's easier to address inconsistencies during production than after final delivery.

✅ Approve the final master before submission

Before your studio submits to ACX, listen to the complete final master from beginning to end. You're listening for any remaining issues — audio glitches, mispronunciations, inconsistent levels, or missing content. This is your last chance before the files go to ACX review.

At submission

✅ Confirm ACX technical requirements are met

Your studio should confirm all files meet ACX specifications before submission: MP3 at 192 kbps CBR, integrated loudness between -18 and -23 LUFS, peak ceiling no higher than -3 dB, noise floor at least 60 dB SNR, and correct file structure. At .wav Enthusiast we've never had a file rejected at submission.

✅ Have your ACX metadata ready

You'll need: title, subtitle (if applicable), author name, narrator name, publisher name, language, and your 2,000 character description. Have all of these confirmed before submission day.

✅ Have your cover art ready

Square format, 2400x2400 to 3000x3000 pixels, JPG or PNG. Confirm it's ready before submission day — missing cover art delays the entire submission.

✅ Choose your distribution preference

Exclusive (50% royalties, Audible only, 7 year term) or non-exclusive (30% royalties, all platforms, no lock-in). Make this decision before submission — changing it afterward involves waiting periods.

✅ Submit and start the clock

ACX review typically takes 7 to 14 business days. Once submitted there's nothing to do but wait. At .wav Enthusiast we monitor submissions and notify you the moment your title clears review.

After your audiobook goes live

✅ Claim your Author Central page

Go to authorcentral.amazon.com and claim your author page. Link your audiobook, ebook, and print editions to your author profile. Add your bio and photo. This improves discoverability across all your Amazon titles.

✅ Request early reviews

Audible reviews directly impact your audiobook's visibility on the platform. Reach out to your existing audience — email list, social media, author communities — and ask them to listen and leave a review. The first wave of reviews sets the trajectory for long-term discoverability.

✅ Share your audiobook across all channels

Announce your audiobook launch to your full audience: email list, social media, website, podcast if you have one, speaking events, and any author communities you're part of. Your existing audience is your best first group of listeners and reviewers.

✅ Set up wide distribution

(if non-exclusive)

If you chose non-exclusive distribution,

submit your audiobook to additional

platforms: Spotify for Authors

(formerly Findaway Voices),

Authors Direct, Libro.fm, and

OverDrive. At .wav Enthusiast

we handle wide distribution

submissions as part of our service.

✅ Monitor your royalty dashboard

Log into your ACX dashboard regularly to monitor sales, royalties, and listener data. Understanding your audience and sales patterns helps you make informed decisions about future audiobook projects.

✅ Start planning your next audiobook

The best time to start planning your next audiobook is right after your first one goes live. You now understand the process, have a relationship with your studio, and know your audience's response to the format. Lisa Ryan, a three-time .wav Enthusiast client, is a great example of what's possible when you build audiobook production into your ongoing publishing strategy.

The complete checklist at a glance

Before you contact a studio:
☐ Confirm audiobook rights
☐ Know your word count
☐ Estimate finished hours and cost
☐ Decide on distribution strategy
☐ Decide on narrator
☐ Know your target launch date
☐ Create ACX account (or let us handle it)

Before your first session:
☐ Read manuscript aloud once
☐ Create pronunciation guide
☐ Prepare square cover art
☐ Write audiobook description
☐ Confirm session schedule
☐ Rest voice night before
☐ Bring water to every session

During production:
☐ Listen to chapter samples promptly
☐ Provide feedback within 48 hours
☐ Keep a revision log
☐ Check narrator consistency
☐ Approve final master before submission

At submission:
☐ Confirm ACX technical specs met
☐ Have metadata ready
☐ Have cover art ready
☐ Confirm distribution preference
☐ Submit and monitor review status

After go-live:
☐ Claim Author Central page
☐ Request early reviews
☐ Share across all channels
☐ Set up wide distribution if non-exclusive
☐ Monitor royalty dashboard
☐ Start planning next audiobook

Ready to start your audiobook project?

If you're an independently published author ready to produce your audiobook, we'd love to help you work through this checklist together.

At .wav Enthusiast we handle most of these items on your behalf — from ACX account setup through cover art reformatting, metadata, submission, and distribution. Your job is to write the book and show up to record. We handle the rest.

Start with a free consultation — no commitment, no pressure. We'll review your checklist, learn about your book, and give you a clear production plan and custom quote.

Visit our Independent Authors page to learn more, or contact us directly:

📍 1667 N Main St, Unit B206
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012

📞 (909) 702-2280
✉️ info@waventhusiast.com

Written by the .wav Enthusiast team | Downtown Los Angeles Audiobook Production Studio