Episode 307 - Crafting Stories for the Ear with Cindy Gunderson
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Cindy Gunderson discusses CRAFTING STORIES FOR THE EAR, including the challenges and benefits of self-narration, how narrating your own work can improve your writing, tips for preparing a manuscript for audio, the performance skills that bring stories to life, and the impact of AI on audiobook production and accessibility.
Cindy Gunderson is a voice actress and award-winning author. Since she has commitment issues, she writes sci-fi, fantasy, plus contemporary romance and women's fiction under the pen name Cynthia Gunderson. When she's not typing away in a quiet corner of her local library, you can find her traveling with her family, narrating audiobooks, or attempting to beat her kids at card games. Cindy's first novel TIER 1 was awarded First Place in Science Fiction at the 2021 CIPPA EVVY Awards and her women's fiction novel YES, AND was honored with the Indie Author Award's first place prize for the state of Colorado, 2023.
Episode Links
www.youtube.com/cindygunderson
Summary
In this episode of The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Cindy Gunderson about audiobook narration, including the opportunities and challenges of self-narration, the skills authors need to bring their stories to life, the impact of audio on writing craft, and how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of audiobooks.
GETTING STARTED WITH AUDIOBOOKS
Cindy describes how her love of audiobooks and background in acting led her to narrate her own work. When she looked into hiring a narrator through platforms like Findaway Voices or ACX, she realized the cost was prohibitive as a new author. At the same time, she recognized that many narrators had credentials similar to her own, including theater and voice work. This prompted her to explore narrating her own books.
She quickly discovered that audiobook narration required more than acting skills. Beyond performance, there was the technical side: recording, mastering, and editing. Cindy recalls that “the first few audiobooks were rough” and that the learning curve was steep. The stamina required to sustain a consistent performance over hours of narration was also a challenge.
THE LEARNING CURVE AND TIME COMMITMENT
Cindy explains that in the beginning, it took her roughly three hours to produce one hour of finished audio. Over time, as she refined her process and recording setup, she reduced that to about 1.5 to 2 hours per finished hour. For new narrators, she recommends setting realistic expectations for time investment, particularly if handling both performance and technical production.
Despite the challenges, Cindy emphasizes the unexpected benefits of narrating her own books. She says, “At the end of that book, I became a better writer.” Reading her work aloud revealed weaknesses in dialogue, pacing, and sentence variety. This convinced her that even if authors don’t want to continue narrating long-term, they could benefit from trying it at least once.
WHEN AUTHORS SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T NARRATE
Cindy encourages authors to weigh the time cost carefully. If the process feels stressful or unenjoyable, outsourcing may be the better option. She also notes that some people receive feedback that their voice may not be pleasant to listen to, which can be another deciding factor.
On the other hand, for authors willing to invest the time and effort, self-narration can deepen their connection to their characters and stories. Cindy herself now considers narration central to her creative process: “I write my books so I can narrate them.”
THE PHYSICAL AND PERFORMANCE ASPECTS
Cindy stresses that audiobook narration is a physical activity: “It’s an athletic event.” Years of singing helped her develop the breath control and vocal stamina to record for long stretches, sometimes up to six hours in a day. She and Matty discuss how unused vocal muscles can weaken, much like any other part of the body.
When it comes to performance, Cindy observes that listener preferences vary widely. Some enjoy highly performative narration with distinct voices, while others prefer a straightforward style. She personally favors a natural, conversational approach—“like you’re talking to your best friend.”
PREPARING MANUSCRIPTS FOR AUDIO
Cindy highlights adjustments authors can make in their writing to create smoother audio experiences. She strongly recommends reducing dialogue tags such as “he said” or “she asked,” which can become abrasive when spoken repeatedly. Instead, she relies on action tags that both identify the speaker and add descriptive detail.
She also adapts descriptions for audio. For example, she front-loads physical descriptions so listeners can visualize a character immediately rather than revising their mental image later. Likewise, she modifies the way she writes text messages or letters, ensuring that dialogue cues are clear for audio.
Cindy has adopted these changes not only for audio versions but in her writing overall, believing they streamline the prose for all readers.
CHALLENGES FOR NARRATORS
Accents and tongue-twisters are common stumbling blocks for narrators. Cindy mentions avoiding words she personally finds difficult, like “grasped,” which can disrupt flow. She recalls the challenge of narrating a scene with multiple characters speaking in different accents—Irish, British, and Kiwi—which slowed the process significantly.
She emphasizes that authors can help their narrators by anticipating such challenges and being open to feedback. “My greatest wish for people hiring a narrator is to find a narrator that gives you feedback,” she says. Narrators often notice repetitive word choices, awkward phrasing, or cultural inaccuracies, but many hesitate to raise them unless invited.
Matty shares her own experience of a narrator pointing out that she used the word “evidently” too often, which allowed her to revise future work. Cindy suggests authors explicitly let narrators know they welcome constructive input.
WORKING WITH NARRATORS
Cindy advises clear communication as the foundation of a successful author–narrator relationship. Expectations vary widely: some authors want to approve every chapter, while others prefer a hands-off approach. Timelines also differ dramatically, with some narrators turning projects around in weeks and others taking months or longer.
She encourages authors to align not only on voice suitability but also on workflow and communication style. Misaligned expectations, she cautions, can lead to frustration on both sides.
AI AND THE FUTURE OF AUDIOBOOKS
The conversation turns to artificial intelligence. Matty shares her vision of working with a human narrator to train an AI model of their voice, allowing for quicker production and customizable performance while still sharing royalties. She sees this as a potential solution to delays between book and audiobook releases and as a way to expand accessibility.
Cindy acknowledges the growing role of AI and welcomes its potential to increase accessibility: “There are so many books that would never be accessible to people that need audio without it.” However, she believes human narration offers something irreplaceable—the element of surprise. Each time she performs, she discovers new emotional layers in her characters that an AI, trained on past data, cannot replicate.
She predicts AI will coexist with human narration, providing affordable and efficient options while highlighting the creative value humans bring to the process.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR AUTHORS
Throughout the discussion, several practical lessons emerge for authors considering audiobooks:
· Self-narration is possible but time intensive. Expect roughly three hours of work per finished hour at first, decreasing with experience.
· Narration improves writing. Reading your work aloud highlights weaknesses in dialogue, pacing, and word choice.
· Adapt your prose for audio. Minimize dialogue tags, front-load descriptions, and rethink elements like text messages for the listener’s experience.
· Communication with narrators is essential. Set clear expectations on workflow, timeline, and feedback.
CONCLUSION
Cindy encourages authors to at least try narrating, even if they ultimately decide to hire a professional. The process provides unique insights into writing and storytelling that can benefit every author. For those hiring narrators, she stresses the importance of collaboration, openness to feedback, and alignment on expectations.
Ultimately, the episode underscores the value of both human creativity and technological innovation in the evolving world of audiobooks. Whether through self-narration, professional collaboration, or AI assistance, authors have more tools than ever to bring their stories to the ears of readers.