Audiobook from text: narrate your manuscript chapter by chapter
You wrote a novel, a memoir for the family or a training manual, and some readers would rather listen. Attach the manuscript and this prompt has your todo.is agent check it for things that trip up a narrator, then record every chapter as its own MP3 in one consistent voice, with chapter announcements and a combined file.
The prompt
- Make an audiobook from the attached manuscript, [BOOK TITLE] by [AUTHOR NAME]. Narrator voice: [NARRATOR VOICE]. Before recording, list every character name, place and unusual word with how you plan to say it, and wait for my OK. Then record one MP3 per chapter, starting each with the chapter number and title, with a short pause between scenes. Read dialogue naturally but don't do silly voices. Add an opening credit with the title and my name, and a closing line "The end." Finally, give me one combined MP3 and a list of each chapter's length. Language: [LANGUAGE].
What to change
- [BOOK TITLE]: The exact title, e.g. "The Salt Road".
- [AUTHOR NAME]: How you want to be credited, e.g. "Elena Marsh".
- [NARRATOR VOICE]: E.g. "warm, mature female storyteller", "young male, light Irish accent", "calm neutral voice for a manual".
- [LANGUAGE]: The language of the manuscript, e.g. "English". Or "translate to Spanish first".
Example result
- Audiobook: The Salt Road by Elena Marsh
- Warm, mature female storyteller · English · 14 chapters · 62,000 words
- Step 1: pronunciation check (sent for your OK)
- • Aoife (main character): EE-fa
- • Ciaran: KEER-un
- • Caherdaniel (village): kah-her-DAN-yel
- • currach (boat): KUR-ukh
- • "Mrs. O'Dea": missus oh-DAY
- • Found 3 places where a scene changes with no blank line (chapters 4, 9, 11); a pause was added there
- Step 2: files delivered
- • 00_opening_credits.mp3: "The Salt Road, written by Elena Marsh." (6 s)
- • 01_chapter_1_the_crossing.mp3: 21 min 40 s
- • 02_chapter_2_low_tide.mp3: 18 min 05 s
- • ...through 14_chapter_14_home_water.mp3: 24 min 12 s, ending "The end."
- • the_salt_road_full_audiobook.mp3: all chapters joined, 4 h 49 min
- • chapter_lengths.xlsx: chapter, title, length and start time in the full file
- How it was narrated
- • At about 155 words per minute, a comfortable audiobook pace
- • Dialogue read with natural expression, one consistent narrator for every character
- • 1.5 s pause between scenes, 3 s between chapters in the full file
- • Every file has the same loudness, so listeners don't reach for the volume between chapters
- Before you share or sell it
- • Listen to the first and last chapter in full, and spot-check the middle
- • Some audiobook stores have their own rules for AI narration; read them before you upload
- • For family and friends, a shared folder or a private link is the easiest way to pass it on
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your book title, name, narrator voice and language.
- Attach the manuscript as Word, PDF or plain text, and paste the prompt on the Today screen in todo.is.
- Check the pronunciation list your agent sends and correct anything it got wrong.
- Download each chapter MP3 and the full file. Ask for any single chapter to be re-recorded after you edit the text.
Tips for a better result
- Clean up the manuscript first: remove comments, tracked changes and page headers so they aren't read aloud.
- Mark scene breaks with a blank line or "***". Your agent turns them into pauses.
- Try one chapter in two voices before you commit to the whole book. The narrator is what listeners remember.
- A full-length novel takes many minutes of audio and uses more credits. Start with chapter 1 to check the voice and pace.
audiobook from text: FAQ
- How long does an audiobook from text take to make? Your agent records chapter by chapter, so a short book is ready in one session and a long novel takes longer. You can listen to early chapters while the rest are made.
- Can I sell an audiobook narrated by AI? It depends on the store. Some accept AI narration, some have their own programs, and some don't accept it. Check each store's current rules before you upload.
- What file format do I get? MP3 files, one per chapter, plus one combined MP3. MP3 plays on phones, computers and most audiobook apps.
- Is PDF to audiobook the same thing? Very close. This prompt is set up for your own manuscript with chapters and names to check; for reading any PDF aloud, see the PDF to audiobook prompt.
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