After reading Leah Braemel’s post on making a book trailer and seeing her new trailer last week, I decided to try making one of my own. Armed with Leah’s instructions, plus the instructions I’d saved a while ago from Brenda Coulter, I started on my book trailer journey.
I enjoyed making my trailer, although Leah was right when she said it was a huge time suck. It took me all of Saturday night plus most of Sunday to get as far as I have. It’s fairly basic and I haven’t experimented much with fading pictures out etc. That will come with my next attempt. One thing I knew for sure was that I shouldn’t make my trailer too long. As a viewer of trailers, my attention wanders after one and a half minutes. I decided I needed to make my trailer as short as I could.
There are some wonderful book trailers available for viewing on Youtube and some real stinkers. I think mine fits somewhere in the middle. I’m happy with my first attempt, and I’m sure that next time will be easier because I’ve learned so much. Trial by doing! 
Do you like to make book trailers? Do you have any handy hints to share on making trailers? Readers, do you enjoy watching trailers or do you run a mile when you see authors promoting them? Are there particular things you like or dislike about trailers?
I’m blogging over at Access Romance on Monday 19th January. The subject? My recent trip to Tongariro National Park. The post goes live at 6.00am. I hope you’ll pop over and say hello.
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January 18th, 2009 at 12:33 pm · Link
Leticia has really nice cleavage! LMAO
I’ve never made a book trailer. I think you did a nice job. I’ve seen some extremely BAD ones and I’ve seen spectacular ones. I think for your first try you did a fabulous job! Made me want to read the book so it worked.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:46 pm · Link
LOL – I thought that and was a bit jealous.
Thanks – I think I can only improve with the next attempt. Oh, and hold that thought. Leticia’s Lovers is out on Feb 27!!
January 18th, 2009 at 2:36 pm · Link
I’ve never tried to make a book trailer . I leave that to the computer savy users I’m only ggod at research. Lol but I commend your first attempt you are a brave woman
January 18th, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Link
Well done, Shelley. You’re right, trailers should stay around 1 and a half minutes or less as the viewer’s attention does tend to wander. And don’t be too anxious about doing much fading in and out and fancy transitions – they can be the sign of an amateur and become more of a distraction.
I think you’ve done a wonderful job.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:31 pm · Link
God Bless,
Rhonda
January 18th, 2009 at 8:32 pm · Link
Great Trailer Shelley, you have done a fabulous job.
I didn’t make my first trailer (time limits. etc.) but hopefully I will make my next one.
Also, I have learnt the shorter the better.
It has me intrigue.
Suzanne :)
January 18th, 2009 at 8:43 pm · Link
Tameka – it’s not actually that difficult once you sit down and work with Windows Movie Maker. It does take time though.
Thanks, Leah. I love your trailer. It’s much slicker than mine and something for me to aim for.
Suzanne – thanks. I’m not sure that trailers sell books but that are another avenue to try.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:45 am · Link
What a great trailer, Shelley, it definitely made me want to read the book. It was just the right length, some book trailers do seem to go on a bit too long!
January 19th, 2009 at 5:21 am · Link
That’s great, Shelley!
I made one myself once. It had no sound, though because I couldn’t figure that part out. But all in all, I don’t think it was too bad.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:00 am · Link
LOVE the trailer and the ‘how to’ and what not to do. Keep writing – love what you do! :) Healthy Happy 2009
January 19th, 2009 at 8:32 am · Link
Great trailer!! I’ll have to try my hand at it one day, when I get off this deadline.
January 19th, 2009 at 11:29 am · Link
JK – the sound wasn’t too difficult. I used Windows Media Maker and imported my music then clicked and dragged just like the pictures.
Ronda – thank you! Happy 2009 to you as well.
Amy – thank you. It is a time suck, that’s for sure and more fun than a deadline.
January 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pm · Link
Great job on the trailer!!!!!!!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm · Link
Thanks, Sandra.
January 19th, 2009 at 3:02 pm · Link
Very nice.
I’m tempted to try it once I get a book closer to being finished. After all, I’m not short on picture material.
January 19th, 2009 at 3:11 pm · Link
Ok, I think that was awesome for your first try. Usually trailers turn me off from a book because the images they use don’t seem to have anything to do with what they’re talking about. And your kept me interrested and was too the point without any big gaps, which is fabulous in my opinion.
My only problem with yours was how the text came onto the screen, a bit too jumpy for me and my vision problems. But since it was your first try I’m sure you’ll figure out how to get it to fade in or scroll onto the screen here eventually. I do like that you kept the same image for Leticia, as I hate it when they show different people for supposed the same person.
So I give you an A for your first trailer ever, and I say it’s actually in my top ten of trailer’s I’ve seen if that tells you anything about how I feel about them.
You are still evil to tease me in this new format. I think that’s the whole reason you did this. So you’d have a new method to tease me with. You are truly evil!!!
Hugs,
-Amy
January 20th, 2009 at 1:02 am · Link
Amy – thanks for your comments. I thought the text moved a little quickly at times and couldn’t figure out how to fix it. As I said, it’s a learning process and each attempt will benefit from the added experience.