Short-form audio is becoming a meaningful new outlet for authors. As listening habits shift—and as tools for production become more accessible through human and AI narration—short audiobooks are gaining ground with both readers and platforms. From Spotify’s recent launch of a short-form program for independent authors to new experiments among ALLi members, this format is quickly finding its place in the indie publishing toolkit.
Why Short-Form Audio, and Why Now?
“Ten to twenty thousand words is roughly one to two hours in length—which coincidentally is about the same amount of time most people spend sitting in traffic, running on a treadmill, or washing their dishes in a day.” — Leah Kleynhans, Spotify.
The rise of short-form audio reflects broader shifts in how people consume stories. Listeners are increasingly looking for content that fits into tight timeframes—commutes, workouts, or short breaks—and shorter audiobooks are filling that gap.
Spotify recently launched a new program to support indie authors who want to publish works between 10,000 and 20,000 words in length, or roughly one to two hours of audio. Leah Kleynhans, Audiobooks Producer at Spotify, said the idea grew out of listening trends as well as feedback from authors.
“Spotify listeners are hungry for short, dynamic content—something indie authors historically excel at creating,” Kleynhans said. “Authors want a publishing partner who can make audiobook production a financially viable and enjoyable experience.”
She noted that short-form content has the potential to lower the barrier to entry for new audiobook listeners, making it easier to try out a book without the time commitment of an eight- or ten-hour production. And for authors, shorter works mean a lighter lift in production costs and a chance to experiment with audio more affordably.
In the broader audio landscape, shorter formats are helping bridge the gap between podcasts and full-length audiobooks. Spotify has long seen success with bite-sized listening—especially for commuters, multitaskers, or listeners new to audiobooks.
“Ten to twenty thousand words is roughly one to two hours in length—which coincidentally is about the same amount of time most people spend sitting in traffic, running on a treadmill, or washing their dishes in a day,” said Kleynhans.
“This program is meant to appeal to listeners who are seeking consumable books that fit their busy schedules.”
What ALLi Authors Are Saying
ALLi members have already begun exploring short-form audio from multiple angles, including human narration, AI tools, and experiments with different formats.
“AI narration makes a huge amount of sense for short books. Though I do worry a lot of casual authors won’t check the audio generated at all.” — Tim Lewis
Author Delaney Diamond has produced a 32-minute audiobook using a narrator and has also published novellas under 25,000 words. She says short audio serves a clear purpose for both creative expression and reader engagement.
“Short-form audio is another way to share a sample of my work—just like the excerpts and free short stories I post on my website,” Diamond said. “It’s a quick way for readers to experience my storytelling style, especially if they’re short on time. Eventually, I’d like to put all my short stories into audio so readers will have the option of reading or listening. Using ElevenLabs would allow me to do that at a fraction of the cost of hiring a narrator.”
Tim Lewis, another ALLi member, has been experimenting with Amazon’s new AI audiobook beta for his short novellas. He recently used the tool to produce an audiobook version of Timeshock: I Want My Life Back, a time-travel novella, and documented the process on LinkedIn.
Lewis supports using AI for shorter works but urges authors not to skip quality control. “AI narration makes a huge amount of sense for short books,” he said. “Though I do worry a lot of casual authors won’t check the audio generated at all.”
Lewis noted that while the creation process was smooth, the tool currently limits distribution to the U.S. market, which means even authors in the UK can’t purchase their own AI-narrated audiobooks on Audible.
What Spotify Is Looking For
Spotify’s short-form audio program is currently open to authors of romance, mystery/thriller, and sci-fi/fantasy works between 10,000 and 20,000 words. All submissions are evaluated by Spotify’s team, and narration is handled by human voice talent.
“Just because something reads beautifully on the page doesn’t mean it will work out loud,” Kleynhans said. “My number one piece of advice is to read your work out loud before hitting submit. Ask yourself—do my characters have distinct voices? Does the story have momentum? Is the narrative witty, atmospheric, or otherwise engaging? And most importantly, does this book hold people’s attention when read out loud?”
Spotify hopes the program will serve both seasoned and emerging indie authors, and there’s currently no deadline for submissions. Kleynhans encouraged authors to take their time and treat audio as its own creative medium:
“Even if your story has been previously published and well received as an ebook, slow down and really spend time with your submission. Try narrating it out loud, and fill out the application in as much detail as possible.”
A Note on Author Rights and Ownership
As tools like AI narration become more accessible, indie authors are navigating new questions about rights, cost, and control. While Spotify’s short-form program uses only human narrators, many authors are turning to platforms like ElevenLabs or Amazon’s AI audio beta to reduce the cost and complexity of production.
“We appreciate the different perspectives when it comes to this, and continue to listen and learn from the industry,” Kleynhans said. “As for this program, all titles will be read by human narrators.”
Authors using AI tools for short-form work should always review licensing terms carefully, especially if uploading content to third-party platforms. Retaining control over your rights and understanding where and how your work is being used remains essential in the fast-evolving audio space.
Publishing Options for Short Audio
For authors interested in trying short-form audio outside of Spotify’s curated program, several platforms offer distribution support. These include:
- Findaway Voices, which is gradually expanding its AI narration capabilities and already distributes across multiple audiobook retailers.
- Author’s Republic, which has noted rising interest in shorter audio formats and provides broad distribution with author-friendly terms.
A number of newer platforms are also experimenting with short-form audio. Spoken, a startup launched in 2023, offers AI and voice actor narration and direct streaming. “We’re seeing increased interest from indie authors who want to monetize shorter works in audio,” said Phil Marshall, co-founder of Spoken. Authors are encouraged to evaluate new services carefully and consult the ALLi Watchdog Desk for guidance.
Final Thoughts
Short-form audio is not a trend—it’s a new mode of storytelling that meets real-world demands. Whether you’re using it to give listeners a taste of your style, revisit a novella that never found the right format, or test out a new idea, short audio is emerging as both a creative and commercial tool for indie authors.
And as platforms like Spotify continue to invest in new formats, now is a good time to consider what short-form storytelling could mean for your publishing strategy.
Whether you're using short audio to offer free samples, revisit a novella, or experiment with serialized storytelling, the tools are evolving quickly—and indie authors are well positioned to lead. With more distribution options, improved voice technology, and listener demand on the rise, short-form audio could become a core part of your publishing strategy in the years ahead.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.
