By trailer I mean book trailer not a double-wide (What’s not in a double-wide is me in Daisy Dukes drinking a beer.) What authors and publishers are doing with mini movie-like previews of books ranges wildly. Here we’ll review what not to include.
Too many words
Darling, now is not the time to wax on. You have one or two minutes to impress, so the writing on the screen or the voice-over better be succinct. (Please, no authors at home using hand-held cameras saying “I wrote this because…”.) Sum up and sell the story.
Spoilers
As a friend of mine used to say while playing Kanasta, “Chest your cards, girls, chest your cards.” Pitch just enough so readers will want to buy the book. Why buy the cow…
Stolen Stuff
I love Yo-Yo Ma but I can’t use his music. Make sure you have the rights to images, music, videos and even fonts by purchasing them for a small fee from reputable stock websites and sources. The music on Bonjour 40 cost $39 and is it mine to use? Yo-Yo betcha.
BlahBlah
It’s tempting to list where to buy the book, reviews, available formats, etc. This is not a used car ad. Most likely the trailer will reside on your website, on Amazon, or in digital press kits with other details, so add a quote or two, but keep the blahblah to a minimum.
Credits
You aren’t Ron Howard. Think of these as commercials, and unless you’re selling book trailers or giving credit to live actors, focus on the book.
A great sampling of trailers can be found on BookRiot. Stay tuned for more trailer information soon…
