Book Trailers...

mbroadway · Jan 20, 2010

I just discovered Windows Movie Maker and spent a great day creating a trailer for my novel. It's so much fun, you won't believe it. Plus you can get free downloads of royalty-free music for the audio.

I posted several links on my blog that you might find interesting and helpful. If you'd like the see the finished piece, let me know. I can email you a low res version because the high res version is over 10 megs.

Now, wouldn't it be great if agents started accepting trailers rather than requiring queries? Now that would be a good day.

Here's a link to a bunch of info... HERE.

underthecity · Jan 20, 2010

Just post the video to youtube and share it with the world. There are lots of book trailers to watch on youtube, some professionally produced, some amateur. And a lot of them have actors and sets in them, actually playing out brief scenes from the book. Those are really cool.

I made a trailer for my upcoming book, the link is in my sig line.

Dave.C.Robinson · Jan 20, 2010

mbroadway said:
I just discovered Windows Movie Maker and spent a great day creating a trailer for my novel. It's so much fun, you won't believe it. Plus you can get free downloads of royalty-free music for the audio.

I posted several links on my blog that you might find interesting and helpful. If you'd like the see the finished piece, let me know. I can email you a low res version because the high res version is over 10 megs.

Now, wouldn't it be great if agents started accepting trailers rather than requiring queries? Now that would be a good day.

Here's a link to a bunch of info... HERE.

I have to admit that I'm not much for book trailers - I like reading much more than video. Having said that, I've seen a couple that I really liked, and I think the idea has merit.

However, the day agents start asking for trailers rather than queries is the day I stop submitting. The problem is that creating a trailer and writing a query require different skills - and the skills involved in creating a good trailer relate tangentially at best to those involved in writing a novel. I want someone to represent my writing on the strength of my writing, not my videography. Someone could make a great trailer for a terrible book, or a terrible trailer for a great book.

Plus, I think it's a little premature to create the trailer before the book is submitted, as both agents and and editors have been known to recommend changes to the book before publication.

Libbie · Jan 20, 2010

Book trailers are fun to watch, and if my (future) publisher wants to make one for me, they're most welcome. Personally, I'll stick to writing. It's what I do best.

cscarlet · Jan 20, 2010

Nathan Bransford just had a thing about book trailers in his blog (I actually think it was a guest blog post, but that's besides the point).

I've always thought that good book trailers are freaking awesome, and bad book trailers are just about the worst things ever. They certainly seem to be getting better and better though. I've thought about doing one, but finding non-cheesy stock images to fit my book seem impossible to find.

I have heard where some people are putting a link to their website AND book trailer in the signature of their query letters to agents. I wouldn't have the guts to put it in my query unless it was awesome... but then if it was, who knows?

Post yours to youtube so we can seeeee!

Kweei · Jan 20, 2010

Obviously, I need to get out of my bubble more.

When did book trailers even start? I came across them for the first time a few months ago and was shocked. I've never heard of such a thing.

I think it's a neat idea and when done well, they are amazing. When not done well, blech.

I do remember radio and tv ads for books, though.

Regan Leigh · Jan 20, 2010

I started a thread earlier on this topic since it seemed to be blowing up this week.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168970

I've gotten great feedback on the trailer I posted earlier this week on my blog, but I would disagree that a book trailer could ever replace a query. Could it add to the appeal? Yes. Could it turn an agent off? Yes. I see queries as a very different beast and you should only add a book trailer link if you are 100% positive that yours is top notch. Otherwise, just write an amazing query. IMO...

Toothpaste · Jan 20, 2010

Well since we're talking book trailers . . . my friend, author Lesley Livingston, launched her second book last week. As part of the event we made her a trailer. Well I should say one of our friends directed it, others did the effects and made the scale model, and the rest of us were in it. Check it out here. I'm at the end laughing oh so merrily as Titania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxnspbXVOo

Now as to whether a trailer could ever replace a query . . . in possibly the rarest of instances, but what is missing from a trailer is a demonstration of one's writing ability. So it might reflect a good idea, but little more. And a good idea does not a quality author make.

SarahMacManus · Jan 21, 2010

Most of them make my teeth itch, but they'd be fun to try to do well.

Not sure I'd want them to replace the query, though.

James D. Macdonald · Jan 21, 2010

How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

Toothpaste · Jan 21, 2010

James - I think sometimes you miss why people do publicity. It isn't so that the one bit of publicity sells the book, it's a cumulative effect. A book trailer is out, people on Twitter start tweeting about it. It isn't that in watching the trailer suddenly you are convinced to buy the book, it's that in people talking about the trailer other people learn that the book exists in the first place. I have been introduced to many books I hadn't heard of through their trailers. Right now my purse strings are tight, but you can bet that when I go into bookstores I now notice those books on the shelf. What's more if you write for a younger age range, the tech savvy group who are all about sharing YouTube videos with each other and playing online, having a book trailer isn't a bad idea.

I know you think the author's main responsibility is to write the book, and I agree. But if an author has the time and the inclination, it isn't going to do harm and could, depending on the quality of the trailer, actually help.

ETA: let us remember too that Book Trailers are still very young, we're still trying to figure out what works best. But they don't seem to be going away soon, and with all the publishers these days commissioning them . . . I think they have staying power.

HConn · Jan 21, 2010

I, personally, have never bought a book because of a trailer. I have embedded book trailers in my blog, though, to share them with others (if they're good).

James D. Macdonald · Jan 21, 2010

My opinion is that most, if not all, author promotion is meaningless. So do it if it's fun, or if you'd do it anyway, but don't obsess over it.

Libbie · Jan 21, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. I bought it absolutely, 100% because of the book trailer. And it lived up to the hype the book trailer built up in my mind.

But yes, I think Toothpaste is correct. It's rare that we buy a book because of one single piece of promotion. It's the cumulative effect and the societal buzz that usually does it. All well-planned and well-executed bits of promotion create and add to that buzz.

J. Koyanagi · Jan 21, 2010

I bought The Forest of Hands and Teeth because of the book trailer.

Nateskate · Jan 21, 2010

Toothpaste said:
James - I think sometimes you miss why people do publicity. It isn't so that the one bit of publicity sells the book, it's a cumulative effect. A book trailer is out, people on Twitter start tweeting about it. It isn't that in watching the trailer suddenly you are convinced to buy the book, it's that in people talking about the trailer other people learn that the book exists in the first place. I have been introduced to many books I hadn't heard of through their trailers. Right now my purse strings are tight, but you can bet that when I go into bookstores I now notice those books on the shelf. What's more if you write for a younger age range, the tech savvy group who are all about sharing YouTube videos with each other and playing online, having a book trailer isn't a bad idea.

I know you think the author's main responsibility is to write the book, and I agree. But if an author has the time and the inclination, it isn't going to do harm and could, depending on the quality of the trailer, actually help.

ETA: let us remember too that Book Trailers are still very young, we're still trying to figure out what works best. But they don't seem to be going away soon, and with all the publishers these days commissioning them . . . I think they have staying power.

I agree. The world is changing rapidly. We hear of people whose careers began on Youtube. If something is done well, it can have a powerful impact, because people pass around great Youtube videos. But it's the same thing as a query. An uninspiring video is equal to an uninspiring query. And a great video is only the introduction. There has to be substance to the story, or it's simply a novelty. The agent still wants to see if a person can write.

BenPanced · Jan 21, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

None because personally, I don't go looking for trailers on YouTube.

nitaworm · Jan 21, 2010

That sounds sooo fun.

Toothpaste said:
Well since we're talking book trailers . . . my friend, author Lesley Livingston, launched her second book last week. As part of the event we made her a trailer. Well I should say one of our friends directed it, others did the effects and made the scale model, and the rest of us were in it. Check it out here. I'm at the end laughing oh so merrily as Titania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxnspbXVOo

Now as to whether a trailer could ever replace a query . . . in possibly the rarest of instances, but what is missing from a trailer is a demonstration of one's writing ability. So it might reflect a good idea, but little more. And a good idea does not a quality author make.

Toothpaste · Jan 21, 2010

nitaworm said:
That sounds sooo fun.

It really was. Of course it helps that we're all somehow involved in film production - either behind the camera or in front of it. I'm actually always so impressed by the talent my friends possess . . . and darn proud of them too.

Regan Leigh · Jan 21, 2010

Here is my 2 cents...

I've never bought a book because of the trailer, but I think that's because the idea is so new to me.

As far as promotion of your books, I see no reason why authors shouldn't use all their tools to self promote. The only downfall is if an author spends too much time in self-promotion that they lose time for their writing. That is NOT a good trade. IMO.

I agree that trailers can be great tools, but only if done well. The bad ones make my teeth itch, too.

For myself, I am preparing to take on my last round of beta readers for my WIP. This year will be my first try at being published. I had decided that I wanted to post a synopsis or a teaser for my WIP on my blog so that I could send possible betas there. I also just wanted to have something on my blog showing what type of story I'm working on, for all my writing and non-writing friends.

SO I decided a video would be a good idea. I love to play in iMovie, so I made one. Do I think it will sell my book months down the line? Um, I have NO idea. BUT I have gotten new beta offers. Lots actually. Before I put up that video and my first page of the WIP, no one knew what I was working on. I only had friend beta offers.

IMO, it's been a success. I can't see how it hurts, as long as you don't blow a ton of money or take too much time away from your writing.

Oh, and Toothpaste is right. It is SO fun.

Wavy_Blue · Jan 21, 2010

Oh boy! Another avenue for me to procrastinate actually writing the book!

Really, though, I wasn't aware this was a big thing. I was aware that people made fan-trailers for books they liked, but I didn't know authors made them for their own books. But in my (obviously unqualified) opinion, a book trailer seems more like something fun for the writer to do/watch than to be used to actually sell a book.

Kathleen42 · Jan 21, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

Two. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender (trailer) and Hold Still by Nina LaCour (trailer). The Nina LaCour trailer also resulted in my buying two Tegan and Sara albums.

Dave.C.Robinson · Jan 21, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

Zero, not even one of yours. (Of course I'm so far out of the loop I don't know if any of your books even have trailers).

Most of my books are bought for the single most common reason out there: I'd read another book by the author so I bought the new one.

I think the last book trailer I even watched was for Anathem - after I had bought and read the book.

shaldna · Jan 22, 2010

Libbie said:
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. I bought it absolutely, 100% because of the book trailer. And it lived up to the hype the book trailer built up in my mind.

that book was AMAZING!!

Anyway, back to trailers.

I personally don't really pay much attention to trailers for books, UNLESS they are a sequel to a book I already like.

I think that's where book trailers are best used, because they excite the fan base you already have, and help keep the fans excitement and aniticipation while waiting for the new book.

katiemac · Jan 22, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
How many books have you, personally, bought because of a book trailer?

One. It had gone viral so well it was hitting entertainment blogs, not just book-specific or publishing blogs, which is how I found it. It was one of about five book trailers I've even seen, and it was incredible.

Too bad I ended up returning the book to the store.

But whereas author promotion in of itself maybe won't move a lot of copies, it's in the best interest of the author to do whatever he or she can feasibly do, especially when it comes to online and viral. The more willing an author is to do some legwork, the smoother things work for an entire PR team.

I am talking about publicity and promo after the book is sold, however. I wouldn't put my time into this until a deal is in place.

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