Spoken Beta V0.8: Introducing Discovery On Spoken, Lexicon, and more!

Since some of our more groundbreaking enhancements of our V0.7 release including single-sitting full audiobook narration and custom-generated character voices, we're settling in to a few important requests, the ones from YOU!

We’ve now added email and password as a way to register for Spoken, but with our V0.8 release today we have added a number of other important enhancements. We're listening (because you're listening)!

Let’s dive in.

“On Spoken” Updates, driven by Playlists, Topics of Interest, and Techie Things

This, no doubt, will be the first thing you'll notice about the release: Our updates to the On Spoken page. The first "carousels" you'll see are curated lists from our content team. This is the new concept of Playlists, and soon (next release) users will be able to create and share their own.

Listeners have asked that we make it easy to find and discover the projects and writers that match the genres and projects they like, and  the writers they already follow. Using our new Topics of Interest list (more information on that below), we now rotate a genre carousel of projects from each of the topics that you follow. This new layer of personalization should help listeners more quickly find the authors, and stories, they’ll love.

We also now rotate through the authors you follow to suggest similar authors.

And we rotate through the projects you like to suggest similar projects.

Topics of interest

Listeners asked that we improve our personalization of content on our On Spoken page, and we're starting by requiring every user choose at least three topics of interest so that we personalized content by genre. This is the beginning of our framework for a unique project discovery experience that will grow significantly over time. If you’re familiar with Spoken already, you know about our channel tag system. This enhancement builds on that foundation (with more expected in the next release).

With every genre in our Explore page, or for any channel tag you click on, you can follow that topic.

Drag to reorder

Users can reorder their projects on their profile page by dragging the corner handle.

Lexicon: 

You (especially you SciFi and Fantasy writers) have asked us for it, and we're listening: The ability to detect, and manually input, a lexicon of words to mass-correct mispronunciations. We now automagically detect the words that might have multiple or difficult pronunciation to seed your Lexicon, found at the top of the Passages tab in Studio. The first step is to select, or add, a lexicon word or phrase. Next, you will go through to identify how many instances of that word or phrase exist in your passages. Then, you will generate and play how it sounds without any change. Finally, you can add a phonetic alias and test how your replacement will sound. Spell out the word or phrase how it sounds, e.g. “T'Challa” might be “TuhChahluh".

Terms of use

We have added a "Key Points" section at the top to summarize important aspects of the agreement, and we have updated our Third Party Website and Third Party Services section with additional information to clarify our relationship with services like the narration technology services. 

Other updates

• Home page background design change

• Spacing between carousels tightened up

• Em dash padding change from 200ms to 500ms

• 2000ms padding between author intro and first chapter

• Review titles can be longer without getting cut off

• Search bug fixes

• Merge character button always visible on page

• Fixes regarding adding new installments

The Era of Spoken Storytelling: Why We’re at a Turning Point for Authors

By Spoken Co-Founder Andrew Wallner and Content Strategist Stacy Smith Rogers

There has never been a better time to be a self-published author, even for writers struggling to affordably build their platforms and earn money from their writing. With recent ground-breaking advancements in technology, self-published authors have unprecedented opportunities to bring their stories to life through immersive audio performances. 

This new era of storytelling is rooted in tradition and bolstered by technology. It unlocks new creative possibilities for writers, redefines engagement between authors and audiences, and carves out new economic opportunities for storytellers. 

Even better, it’s fun.

Spoken Experience is Eye- (and Ear-) Opening

In a recent interview with Spoken, author Jessica Wheeler shared how the process of giving voice to her writing has opened up a whole new creative experience for her. “It’s inspired me to write more because the studio is just plain fun. It’s fun to do it and it’s fun to hear your work come to life. I would say for someone who’s more comfortable with a notebook, this has been so eye-opening.”

Wheeler has traditionally published poetry and is visible on several platforms but branched out to prose when she started publishing on Spoken because she wants to build her audience and connect with readers in new ways. One of her short stories, On a Bench by the Sea, was selected as a 2025 Staff Pick. (See a trailer of it here.) 

“Authors who seek to build their brands can now connect with growing audiences through affordable narration …” – Spoken CEO Phil Marshall

Like a lot of other indie authors narrating their work on Spoken, Wheeler is embracing the affordability and accessibility of quality narration on the platform. What was once reserved for major publishing houses or self-publishers with expansive budgets is now within reach for independent creators. The barriers that traditionally made audiobook production expensive and time-consuming—voice talent, studio recording, distribution—have been significantly reduced by AI-driven narration, streamlined publishing platforms, and growing audience demand.

Spoken is driven by AI automation, fueled by a three-tier economic model and fostered by a vibrant storytelling community that connects creators in new ways. One of the key features that makes Spoken unique is the ability to cast multiple voices for a project, sourcing from the voices of real voice actors (who can profit from it) and from a vast library of system-generated voices, including custom voices the authors can design themselves through prompts.

New Storytelling Economy for Creators

Spoken Founder and CEO Phillip Marshall explains how this new era in storytelling is groundbreaking not only because of the tech behind it, but because of how it helps writers, and in some cases, the actors who are lending their voices to the technology. “Authors who seek to build their brands can now connect with growing audiences through affordable narration, even uploading an entire novel with multiple voices. And for those authors who produce short works, there’s an opportunity for them to showcase their unique pieces alongside other authors. That gives listeners a broad range of works to choose from,” he said. 

“What’s even better, is that after we move through the beta phase, we have a monetization plan in place that enables authors to make money in ways they have never done before. So, for the first time, these writers can self-publish spoken stories, build their brand, and share their work in a way that benefits them.” According to Marshall, this isn’t just a shift in format. It’s an entirely new economy for creators who have never had a viable way to monetize their work in audio storytelling. 

“I think Spoken is going to speak for itself” – Author Jessica Wheeler

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, storytelling is undergoing a profound transformation. The resurgence of audio storytelling marks a return to our roots, where narratives were shared orally, fostering deep connections and communal experiences. For authors like Wheeler who are using the studio experience in Spoken to foster their own creativity and reach readers in new ways, it’s not just about authors pushing a button or the automation of the process. It's about being a part of this new era in storytelling. “It’s not going to take them long to see what the potential is,” Wheeler noted, emphasizing her excitement in casting voices for her stories and how that has contributed to her editing process. “I think Spoken is going to speak for itself,” she added. 

Why This Moment in Audio Storytelling Matters

Just as platforms like Instagram revolutionized visual storytelling, audio is now poised to become the next frontier in narrative expression. This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about a fundamental shift in the way audiences consume and interact with narrative-based written content.

• The Spoken Word Audio Report released in 2023 from NPR and Edison Research highlights that almost half (48 percent) — approximately 135M people — of people in the U.S. age 13 or older listen to some type of spoken word audio daily. According to the report, listeners spent 31 percent of their daily audio time with spoken word, which is a 55 percent increase in the last decade.

• The global audiobooks market (estimated at $10 billion) is expected to continue to grow at more than 25 percent each year.

• Thirty-eight percent of American adults listened to an audiobook in the last year - that equates to nearly 100 million people, listening to an average of five books in a year (up from four just a year earlier)

“This is a monumental time in the audio self-publishing industry,” Marshall added. “Here at Spoken, we’re creating a platform where authors are rewarded, and we’re delivering listeners a high-quality audio experience in a format that celebrates authors and readers alike. We believe that Spoken storytelling is the missing link that finally allows unpublished authors to turn their passion into sustainable income.”

What’s Next for Aspiring Authors?

Join us! Tune in and listen to a narrated version of this article on Spoken. (The voices cast for this performance are those of real voice actors.)

Learn more about the Spoken experience at spoken.press. and follow along on socials at social.press. And when you have time, check out the interview with Jessica Wheeler on Spoken's YouTube channel. Jessica's story, On a Bench by the Sea, and others can be found at spoken.press.

Help Storytellers. Tell Stories. Author Jessica Shares Her Experience.

Jessica Wheeler’s creative journey is one of transformation, resilience, and discovery. From her early days writing poetry to her current foray into storytelling across genres, Jessica embodies the spirit of an ever-evolving artist. Her connection to Spoken began during its beta phase, when she was both intrigued and intimidated by the platform’s promise of giving writers tools to narrate and share their work. Reflecting on her first impressions, Jessica said, “I’m not the most tech-savvy person, and for this to be as seamless as it’s been says a lot about the platform.” What began as an experiment with AI-driven narration became a pivotal part of her creative process.

One of the standout features Jessica discovered was Spoken’s custom voice generator, which allowed her to assign unique voices to her characters. She described this as a turning point in how she approached her work, explaining, “The custom voice generator was the only thing that truly brought my character to life. It made me dig deeper into who they are—it’s like casting more than picking voices.” This feature not only added depth to her characters but also helped Jessica refine her storytelling in ways she hadn’t anticipated. “It’s fun to do, fun to hear your work come to life,” she shared, “It’s like a toy and a tool at the same time.”

Jessica’s interaction with Spoken also reshaped her editing process. Listening to her stories narrated in real-time revealed nuances in pacing, tone, and dialogue that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. “Assigning voices has become a part of my editing process,” Jessica explained. “Listening back forces me to think about pacing, tone, and even word choice. I didn’t realize how much Spoken would help me refine my work until I started.” This newfound approach has not only elevated her craft but also reinvigorated her passion for storytelling.

Beyond the technical aspects, Jessica’s experience with Spoken has had a ripple effect on how she connects with audiences and the broader writing community. She’s shared links to her Spoken stories on other platforms, where the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “Spoken makes sharing your stories fun and engaging,” Jessica said. “I added links to Spoken on other platforms, and the feedback has been amazing.” Through these efforts, Jessica has expanded her reach while inspiring other writers to explore new creative tools.

Jessica’s journey is a testament to the power of experimentation and the importance of embracing new methods in storytelling. From rediscovering her love of writing to refining her craft and connecting with audiences in fresh, exciting ways, Jessica Wheeler shows how technology can empower storytellers to bring their visions to life. As she put it so eloquently, “Spoken has made storytelling approachable. It inspired me to write more.” Her words remind us of the transformative power of storytelling, and how the right tools can help writers push boundaries and create works that resonate deeply with others.

Listening Is

Beleiving Is

Listening Is Beleiving Is