An Alternative to Book Trailers - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T21:00:17Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/an-alternative-to-book?id=537324%3ATopic%3A175114&feed=yes&xn_auth=noJohn, I think that format has…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768172009-01-15T06:58:18.383ZTom Cookehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TomCooke
John, I think that format has some powerful potential. It forces the viewer to read the words on the screen, not see 'Previews of Coming Attractions.'<br />
As a reader it immersed me in the story. As a viewer it got my attention immediately. There are probably some real good ideas that could be spun off (read, stolen from) that video.<br />
Tom
John, I think that format has some powerful potential. It forces the viewer to read the words on the screen, not see 'Previews of Coming Attractions.'<br />
As a reader it immersed me in the story. As a viewer it got my attention immediately. There are probably some real good ideas that could be spun off (read, stolen from) that video.<br />
Tom That is a good idea. I work i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-14:537324:Comment:1765812009-01-14T00:10:49.206ZPatrickhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Patrick
That is a good idea. I work in the book industry and have never seen a story presented in that fashion to draw viewers to want to read more of the book.<br />
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But I don't think book trailers are dead. They just have to be done better. More like video game trailers. A recent example is the trailer for Fablehaven. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud6weTNXYuI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud6weTNXYuI</a>
That is a good idea. I work in the book industry and have never seen a story presented in that fashion to draw viewers to want to read more of the book.<br />
<br />
But I don't think book trailers are dead. They just have to be done better. More like video game trailers. A recent example is the trailer for Fablehaven. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud6weTNXYuI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud6weTNXYuI</a> Great suggestions about Goodr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1760132009-01-09T23:08:01.055ZJordan Danehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
Great suggestions about Goodreads, Sheila. Thanks.
Great suggestions about Goodreads, Sheila. Thanks. I agree, Jordan.
Your genre…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1760112009-01-09T22:58:30.413ZSheila Englishhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SheilaEnglish
I agree, Jordan.<br />
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Your genre and even your brand can be shown in a trailer, but your writing style is best shown in blogs, social networks and first chapters on your website. Your trailer is really meant to help pull people to your website, or act as a catalyst to impulse buys.<br />
<br />
The trailers that are not live action are not that expensive. Yours are always great and you're so lucky to have that talent!<br />
<br />
The other part of the equation is distribution and effectiveness. Even our $300 book videos…
I agree, Jordan.<br />
<br />
Your genre and even your brand can be shown in a trailer, but your writing style is best shown in blogs, social networks and first chapters on your website. Your trailer is really meant to help pull people to your website, or act as a catalyst to impulse buys.<br />
<br />
The trailers that are not live action are not that expensive. Yours are always great and you're so lucky to have that talent!<br />
<br />
The other part of the equation is distribution and effectiveness. Even our $300 book videos get put up on the BN.com site and Powell's. And they go out to over 5000 libraries as well. Why invest in a trailer and then not follow through with appropriate distribution to a dedicated target audience. YouTube is fine, but GoodReads is better. You might get more views on YouTube, but chances are you'll get more buys from GoodReads.<br />
<br />
And I agree totally with you on how some of this can become a time suck. Choose what you like to do. That's probably the best. Who wants to invest time in something they don't enjoy doing?<br />
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Cheers! The hard part is to find a wa…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1759022009-01-09T15:55:03.130ZJordan Danehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
The hard part is to find a way in a short span of time to tell what your book is about--enough to make a reader what to know more. That's the hard part. Movies are very visual and can do a lot to intrigue a viewer. But a book is different. You have to cram a lot in with an efficient yet effective message--PLUS have the pace if you're a thriller writer--that will make a reader want to look for the book. Not an easy task.
The hard part is to find a way in a short span of time to tell what your book is about--enough to make a reader what to know more. That's the hard part. Movies are very visual and can do a lot to intrigue a viewer. But a book is different. You have to cram a lot in with an efficient yet effective message--PLUS have the pace if you're a thriller writer--that will make a reader want to look for the book. Not an easy task. I agree John that you have to…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1759012009-01-09T15:52:45.351ZJordan Danehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
I agree John that you have to show your writing style in some way, but I don't think a book trailer (in a minute or two--the attention span of most people) is the best way to do that. That's why you have your website & blogs & social networks and many other ways to get your work out there. All of it is a time suck, however, so we all need to find a balance that works for us, one that allows quality writing time.<br />
<br />
But I like the discussion here and the presentation of John D's. Something…
I agree John that you have to show your writing style in some way, but I don't think a book trailer (in a minute or two--the attention span of most people) is the best way to do that. That's why you have your website & blogs & social networks and many other ways to get your work out there. All of it is a time suck, however, so we all need to find a balance that works for us, one that allows quality writing time.<br />
<br />
But I like the discussion here and the presentation of John D's. Something new. I like it. I think John D is right, a bo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1758992009-01-09T15:44:46.004ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
I think John D is right, a book trailer needs to be something other than a movie trailer. It's fine for the movie trailer to tell you a bit about the story and show some visual images - those are the elements you're looking for in a movie, but a book is different - the writing style is the book's version of the visual images and that's what needs to be showcased somehow.<br />
<br />
It's a tough one, that's for sure.
I think John D is right, a book trailer needs to be something other than a movie trailer. It's fine for the movie trailer to tell you a bit about the story and show some visual images - those are the elements you're looking for in a movie, but a book is different - the writing style is the book's version of the visual images and that's what needs to be showcased somehow.<br />
<br />
It's a tough one, that's for sure. Allison Brennan has consisten…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-09:537324:Comment:1758972009-01-09T15:30:18.268ZJordan Danehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
Allison Brennan has consistently good book trailers and national book chains have featured hers on their websites. Here's a link to Playing Dead--one of her latests.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFfYqenVZs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFfYqenVZs</a><br />
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And Lisa Jackson's have always been excellent too. Nice post, Sheila.<br />
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These types of trailers are very expensive since they are done by a production company. The last time I got a quote of it, they were several thousand dollars.…
Allison Brennan has consistently good book trailers and national book chains have featured hers on their websites. Here's a link to Playing Dead--one of her latests.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFfYqenVZs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFfYqenVZs</a><br />
<br />
And Lisa Jackson's have always been excellent too. Nice post, Sheila.<br />
<br />
These types of trailers are very expensive since they are done by a production company. The last time I got a quote of it, they were several thousand dollars. Too rich for me. I make my own for now--for free--using microsoft moviemaker. Mine pale by comparison to Allison's or Lisa's but they allow me to post in a few places from my website to youtube. And my house posts on their various sites and with booksellers too. And like many of you have said, I can't justify the expense since I don't know if it translates to actual sales. So for now, free is good and I can control what gets out there without paying someone else. Plus these are fun to make.<br />
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<a href="http://www.jordandane.com/evil.php">http://www.jordandane.com/evil.php</a><br />
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If you want to know how this was free and what I do to put these together, I have an article on my FOR WRITERS page at my website on making free book trailers. I also put fun ones together that are more personal for posting on MySpace & Youtube, like the political satire one I did for Christmas that merged It's A Wonderful Life with Politics - "Is it a Wonderful Life? You Betcha!" That's on youtube at jordandanebooks.<br />
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Like Rob implied, trailers are not an author's main schtick and I'd rather be writing. Yet trailers seem to be popular for whatever reason and I will continue to make them too. But I can choose how much money I spend on them. And for now, free is good. I like this book trailer a lo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-08:537324:Comment:1756722009-01-08T09:13:54.794ZSheila Englishhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SheilaEnglish
I like this book trailer a lot-<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6umP-KoMvY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6umP-KoMvY</a><br />
I think there are a lot of great trailers out there.<br />
Trailers appeal to readers who want to browse visually online, but they are also meant for people who only read occasionally. They are presented in a medium that is easy to distribute online and it, at least currently, popular.<br />
<br />
As a producer of book trailers I know they are effective because we get feedback from…
I like this book trailer a lot-<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6umP-KoMvY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6umP-KoMvY</a><br />
I think there are a lot of great trailers out there.<br />
Trailers appeal to readers who want to browse visually online, but they are also meant for people who only read occasionally. They are presented in a medium that is easy to distribute online and it, at least currently, popular.<br />
<br />
As a producer of book trailers I know they are effective because we get feedback from readers, booksellers, publishers and libraries. I think that anything that encourages someone to get excited about reading is worth the effort. Thanks. I tried the yellow, i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-08:537324:Comment:1756502009-01-08T04:10:39.394ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
Thanks. I tried the yellow, it looks good. I'm still thinking books, you know, black and white text and all that. the yellow also works well with the cover of the book at the end.
Thanks. I tried the yellow, it looks good. I'm still thinking books, you know, black and white text and all that. the yellow also works well with the cover of the book at the end.