Book trailers are proving to be a powerful new tool in marketing a published book. Whether the novel is self-published, an e-book, or a New York Times bestseller, a video trailer online is a great way to entice more readers.
Not all writers are tech-savvy, but it's possible to put together a catchy book trailer for first-timers as well as those more experienced with computer media. It's also a fun, creative process that can be beneficial to writers, as it requires thinking about the story in a new and very visual way.
Step One: Watch Book Trailers
The best way to start is by watching other book trailers. They can be found by performing a search on YouTube, or by visiting author's websites (although, of course, not all books have trailers). While watching, keep note of which trailers really stand out, and what makes them so captivating.
Step Two: Write a Short Blurb About the Novel
This part will be easy for writers accustomed to summing up their entire novel in just a few sentences for a query letter. Write a few sentences or phrases highlighting the key points of the story. As with a query, focus on just a few characters, the main plot, and of course, conflict.
A fun way to do this is to imagine the book as a movie. Book trailers are obviously modeled after movie trailers. This blurb will act as the deep voice-over that accompanies most movie previews, outlining the plot for the audience while the clips are playing.
Step Three: Find Pictures that Represent the Story
For many, this is the most fun part of the process. There is a wealth of amazing, professional quality images available online, free of cost. A few places to search include Creative Commons, Flickr (be sure the photos are not copyrighted first), or Google Images (just select "labeled for commercial reuse" under Usage Rights).
Take a look at each phrase of the blurb and jot down a few images that come to mind. This could mean pictures of characters in certain situations, or it could be more symbolic images. Many writers find it difficult to find pictures of people that look the way they imagine their characters, and that's okay. The pictures can be more of setting, of objects important to the story, or anything else the writer can imagine. It's a chance to be creative and make a trailer rich with symbolism.
Try to find a picture for each phrase. Imagine the pictures as a slideshow, with the phrases either underneath the images, or displayed in between each shot.
Step Four: Create a Book Trailer Slideshow
Of course, many book trailers incorporate video. However, that is both more time consuming and more difficult to accomplish. Many fantastic book trailers use only images and words, and are very effective.
To create a slideshow, use a movie editor such as Windows Movie (for PC) or iMovie (for Mac). Another option is to use an online editor, such as Slide Roll. These programs are generally very user friendly, and the trailer doesn't have to be complex to be successful.
For those unfamiliar with these programs, spend some time on the tutorials. For a basic trailer, all that's necessary is a timed slideshow arranged so that the phrases line up accordingly with the images.
Step Five: Add Music
Once the slideshow is complete, consider finding a song (or several) to play along. This can be a great way to set the mood for the story – pop tunes for a light, contemporary novel, dark, classical music for a historical mystery. Again, this is an opportunity to really get creative! For those comfortable with the program, consider adding sound effects or even voice-overs. The possibilities are endless!
Book Trailers are Fun and Useful
A book trailer can be as simple or complex as the writer wants it to be. Often, the process of creating a trailer is inspiring, causing the writer to think of their book in a new light, or with refreshed interest. The most important thing to remember is to have fun!
Michelle Schusterman - Michelle is a musician and freelance writer just trying to see the world while doing what she loves for a living. After graduating from ...
