The author changed the manuscript after I started. Now what?
When starting production of an audiobook, the Rights Holder is obligated to provide you with the final version of the manuscript. Sometimes, though, the RH will decide to tweak the book after you're already recording. This has happened to me a couple of times, and I wasn't sure what I should do about it. I recognized that it was not appropriate for the author to do this, yet I wasn't sure how to address it.
Here are a few ideas:
Remind them of the ACX Audiobook Production Standard Terms. Most of them won't have read those terms. To be honest, you probably haven't, either.
Rights Holder will provide to Producer the final recordable manuscript
for the Audiobook within 3 business days after acceptance of the offer.
Jeffrey Kafer:
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept
revisions to the manuscript, only errors in my recording, per the ACX
contract. If you'd like me to record revisions, I can do so at my hourly
studio rate of $XXX per hour."
One other note: for the sake of communication and being on the same page, it's not a bad thing to bring this up early in the process by simply asking, "Is this the final manuscript?". If the answer is "no" or "I'm not sure" or some variant, let the RH know that you need to wait for them to deliver the final before you can get started.
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