Writing

qwlauren35

(6,308 posts) Wed Aug 27, 2025, 10:11 PM Aug 27

Audible! For Free!

A friend of mine lost his job because of AI. I think of AI a lot like Walmart. I don't feel good shopping at Walmart but I do, because it's cheap and convenient. I know that the existence of Walmart has killed many small businesses. If I had the money, I would pay a fair price for what I need ...

When I first started marketing my book, I contacted and paid four people through Fiverr, had them read the book and write a synopsis. I synthesized the 4 into something I liked. Today, I could dump my entire manuscript into ChatGPT and get the same thing. Would it be as good? I don't think so. Because AI would not react to what I wrote or empathize.

So, it was with grave misgivings that I dumped my manuscript into the Amazon KDP AI and let it spit out an audible. If I had had the money, I would have paid several hundred dollars for someone to read the book, analyze the content determine tone of voice, and ACT my book. But the KDP AI Audible generator was free. It's hard to pass up "free".

I loaded my manuscript around 6pm. By 8pm, it was available for sale. Given that I paid nothing to generate it, it didn't seem right to overprice it. $3.99.

I stopped marketing the book last Christmas. I've gotten 3 sales this year. But I'm always an easy mark for a good scam. In February, a review of my book with an author interview appeared on a never-heard-of website and in a $36 book that no one would buy. I was also supposed to get a press release. That's when they ghosted me. I did get a meaningless award. More recently, someone came at me with a gimmick/scam last week to get the book read by some book clubs. Evidently too good to be true. They want it marked down. As each day goes by, I will feel less and less angst about the money I gave them.

My book is a hobby. Like a boat. Throwing money into the water like a bottomless pit. Now that I accept this, I lose no sleep.

I may never sell an audible copy of the book. And I'm okay with this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBBGLD2W

2 replies

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Audible! For Free! (Original Post) qwlauren35 Aug 27 OP

Apple Audio PATRICK Thursday #1

Thanks for sharing. qwlauren35 Thursday #2

PATRICK

(12,309 posts)

1. Apple Audio

Reply to qwlauren35 (Original post)

Thu Oct 2, 2025, 07:17 AM

Thursday

Also offered a free audiobook version with temporary exclusivity rights. Since I was not prepared then to do it the right way I experimented with it. It goes so smooth and naturally, it makes any errors seem MY fault. Likely some are, but seems far far better to get the recording done with human voices- or have someone carefully edit. Words in parentheses go badly. I usually have some verse and foreign words. I only heard a sample, but maybe a mechanical voice to clue you in that it is idiot AI at work might be better than the illusion. Definitely a human reader is better and worth the paid performance.

(I only listened as far as the preview sample, but I had a lot harder things to come)

I mean to start a post on my own publishing experience. Mostly I observe all the methods that get people trying publicity and distribution. It boils down to a popular social media base and fans FIRST, then perhaps using paid assistance to gain readership. Or, the tried and true method is to start from writing occupations in the media and broadening out to fiction, writing support and communities of writers in the real world, perhaps starting in college. Finding a reader to support you in the craft and publication PR. I have not seen any shortcut using paid services first as worth the effort(as a rule). I think those that work are due to some success with free social media anyway.

Most of us would just like our works available and discoverable but the traditional slush pile can all be in print nowadays. The author finding readers is the real hunt.

qwlauren35

(6,308 posts)

2. Thanks for sharing.

Reply to PATRICK (Reply #1)

Thu Oct 2, 2025, 03:46 PM

Thursday

I have nothing "unusual" and I think my punctuation is AI interpretable. My book has been proof-read out the ass, so I don't think there will be any (many) mistakes.

I dropped $350 recently because someone offered me access to bookclubs which really excited me. There have been a few reviews on Amazon and Amazon.uk, and a TON of activity on GoodReads with good, solid, meaningful reviews, including a criticism that I agree with. My ranking went up across all sites. (I track this.) However, I only sold 4 books, so I don't know how people are getting copies.

I think you're right - you have to have the audience before you have the book.

I have tried absolutely EVERYTHING after publishing the book, and sold about 600 books. I think I spent about $15,000. Definitely a hobby.

I tried:
- press releases (worthless)
- small book blurb advertising (fit about 5 words into a small space plus book cover.)
- Amazon ads (not economical)
- Facebook targeted ads (not economical)
- Reedsy competition (worthless)
- GoodReads giveaway (worthless)
- Curated Instagram book reviewers (not economical)
- Book magazines (worthless)
- Editorial reviews (needed for the Amazon page)
- Author Facebook page (exhausting)
- Author Blog (exhausting and expensive)

Now, I do nothing, unless something comes along that intrigues me. Like the bookclubs. I have been scammed 3 times. One person offered me a NYT review. Silly me...

Absolutely drum up an audience. Not sure how you do it, but give it a shot. I have heard that the second book sells on the back of the first. Perfect if you have multiple books in you. I only had one.

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