How to Write and Produce Engaging Audiobooks: Insights from the ACX Author Summit

In May 2025, we held the ACX Author Summit, bringing together audiobook authors to explore ACX and Audible's latest product innovations, new features, and discovery strategies. We're sharing the key learnings from our sessions on how these updates can help grow your audiobook business. An audio-first approach means considering how your story will sound from the moment you start writing—crafting dialog that flows naturally when spoken, including environmental details that help listeners visualize your world, and structuring sentences that narrators can deliver smoothly without getting tongue-tied. At our recent ACX Author Summit, industry experts shared practical insights on how to write, produce, and optimize content specifically for audio performance—techniques that can dramatically enhance listener engagement and open doors to new opportunities.

Should You Write Differently for Audiobooks?

This is a common question we hear from authors, and the short answer is: it depends on your current writing style, but small adjustments can make a huge difference.

Dialog-Driven Storytelling

Author and narrator Erin Mallon, who's worked on both sides of the creative process, put it perfectly: "The story needs to move forward mostly through the dialog itself." This doesn't mean you need to write like a screenplay, but it does mean thinking about how conversations can carry more of your storytelling weight. Why does this matter for audio? Because when someone's listening during their commute or while doing dishes, they're following your story primarily through what they hear. Dense paragraphs of internal monologue can work, but snappy, revealing dialog keeps listeners engaged.

What this looks like in practice:

• Minimize dialog tags - "He said/she said" becomes repetitive and distracting when spoken aloud

• Create natural interruptions - Real conversations include interruptions that work beautifully in duet narration

• Write for rhythm - Think of your prose as music, using punctuation intentionally to guide pacing and breath

The Sentence Structure Problem Most Authors Don't Know They Have

You know that sentence you're particularly proud of—the one with three clauses and a perfectly placed semicolon? Your narrator might not love it as much as you do. Author-narrator Nick Sullivan explained the challenge: "If you've got sentences that are chockablock with dashes and semicolons and parenthetical [additions]... sometimes one of the most difficult things as a narrator is getting a sentence that we get about three quarters through and we're like, I have no idea where this is going." Here's the thing: those beautifully complex sentences that showcase your literary skills on the page can become genuine challenges in the recording booth.

Quick fixes that make a big difference:

• Read your work aloud during editing (seriously, do this)

• Limit yourself to one main idea per sentence when possible

• Use those semicolons and em-dashes intentionally—not just because you can

What's the Deal with Duet Narration?

If you write romance, you've probably noticed more books featuring dual narrators—with each narrator voicing one half of the main romantic pairing. There's a reason this format is exploding: when done well, it's incredibly engaging for listeners and complements the genre.

When Duet Narration Makes Sense

Erin Mallon, who regularly performs in duet productions, explained: "If you've got characters where the dialog is so important and there's a lot of back and forth between them, I think that can be so much fun... if you have enemies to lovers romance—boom! Those are so good in duet because it's like a back and forth. It's very exciting." The key insight here isn't just about romance—it's about any story where character dynamics drive the plot. Two people having distinct voices makes their relationship feel more real to listeners.

Stories that work especially well for duet narration:

• Enemies-to-lovers with lots of verbal sparring

• Alternating POV stories where each character has a strong voice

• Any book where the relationship between two characters IS the story

The Cost Question Everyone Asks

We know you're wondering about budget. While our panelists couldn't share specific numbers, Audible sound designer and engineer, Tim Kim confirmed that "the ROI [Return on Investment] is completely there" for enhanced audio production. Multiple narrators do cost more upfront, but they often generate higher engagement, better reviews, and stronger sales.

How Sound Design Works (And Whether You Need It)

You might be thinking sound design is only for big-budget productions, but Tim’s work shows how even subtle audio enhancements can transform a listening experience. He played two versions of the same scene from "Maybe This Time"—first the basic narration, then with subtle sound effects that made you feel like you were inside a sci-fi story rather than just hearing about one.

What Makes Sound Design Worth It

The difference wasn't about expensive effects—it was about atmosphere. The enhanced version included simple elements like spatial audio that made characters feel like they were in different locations, and subtle background sounds that supported the sci-fi setting without overwhelming the narration.

When to consider sound design:

• Genre fiction where setting is crucial (sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers)

• Stories with strong environmental elements

• Multicast productions where you want that "movie in your ears" feel

• Books you're hoping might attract media adaptation interest

Working With Sound Designers

Tim shared helpful advice for authors working with sound designers: "Instead of saying like, 'oh, we need this to be scary,' you know, that can be interpreted so many different ways. So being as descriptive as possible, like, do you want it to build slowly? Do you want to hear like a low rumbling drone that kind of builds up with the suspense?" In other words, specificity beats generality. Rather than "make it spooky," try "I want this to feel like something's lurking just out of sight, building tension slowly until the reveal."

In Summary

Great audiobook production starts with the writing itself. When you write with listeners in mind—prioritizing dialog, considering pacing, thinking about atmosphere—you create content that production teams can bring to life in ways that surprise even you. As Tim put it: "Give it a shot. Partner with a sound designer, try something weird. Maybe if the timeline allows it, give them some free rein, and you may hate it. It may be exactly what you envisioned, or it could inspire other ideas." Sometimes the best creative breakthroughs happen when you're willing to try something different. Looking for more key takeaways from the first ACX Author Summit? Check out our recaps of the panels on audiobook marketing & promotion or tools for growth & discovery.