Questions people ask us first.

Yes — that's exactly who Author Out Loud is for. If you can tell a story at the kitchen table, you can make a book here. You answer questions by talking; we handle the writing craft.

Memoirs and life stories, family histories, business and expert books, how-to guides, self-help, devotionals and faith books, and collections of true stories. Fiction is coming later. See examples in our showcase.

No. Everything works on a phone, tablet or computer, and your progress follows you from one to another.

It depends on the book and on you. Most people answer a few questions a day. When you set a finish date, we pace your questions and send gentle reminders to help you get there.

You see one question at a time, with a few prompts underneath to jog your memory. Tap the button and talk, type if you prefer, or upload a voice memo you already recorded. Your answers save automatically.

Never. Chapters are written only from what you actually said. If a sentence needs a detail you didn't give, it's highlighted with a “Check this” note and we ask you — we don't guess. A second check flags anything not supported by your answers.

You record a short sample and choose your tone — serious or light, gentle or straight-talking. Your chapters keep your words, your phrases and your way of telling a story.

Yes. In your book settings you can mark any topic “off-limits”. We will never ask about it, and it will never appear in your book. You also choose whether to use real names or change them.

Of course. Accept it, ask for another version, or tell us what to change — out loud or in writing. Every version is kept, so nothing is lost.

Setting up your book, your outline, and your whole first chapter. On the free plan you can read your chapter in the app; downloading, printing and copying are part of a paid plan. See pricing.

Yes. Your book stays saved, and you can come back later and pick up where you left off.

Yes — churches, coaching programs, schools and companies can talk to our team.

A print-ready PDF typeset like a bookstore book, an ebook (EPUB), a Word file, your cover, and a page where readers can buy your book.

Only to sell your printed book in stores. Copies for you, your family and events need no ISBN, and neither does your ebook (Amazon Kindle gives it its own number for free). To sell a paperback or hardcover on Amazon, in bookstores or in libraries, each printed edition needs its own ISBN: $39 each, one time. If you already bought ISBNs, you can use your own.

Yes. Order paperback or hardcover copies for yourself, your family or an event. You'll see the price — printing, shipping and tax — before you buy. Copies are printed on demand and shipped to you.

Readers can buy your book from your book page. You earn a share of every sale, and Author Out Loud keeps a share as the distributor. You'll see the exact split before you publish, and earnings are paid out to your bank account.

Only you. Your answers, recordings and chapters are private to your account. Read our privacy policy for the details.

Yes. On a paid plan you can download your answers, recordings, chapters and book files. Anyone can delete their account from Account → Your data, which permanently removes their books, answers and recordings.