What is a book trailer?
As per Wikipedia, “a book trailer is a video advertisement for a book which employs techniques similar to those of movie trailers to promote books and encourage readers.” Movie trailers are designed to attract you into watching the movies. Similarly, book trailers are created to tempt you to read a specific book. An effective book trailer hooks the viewers and convinces them that they just have to read this book. The trailers give just enough exciting details to get viewers interested while keeping the essence intact. Book trailers are made up of visuals or images. They contain audio and music that is narrated selectively. You can also include animation, special effects, actors, or whatever your heart desires to get readers excited about the story.
A book trailer needs to be simple, short, simple, and precise! It can be from 30 seconds to two minutes long.
So, how to make a book trailer?
Firstly, you have to make notes about your book! You have to include the Keywords for note-taking ideas. Emotions in the book should be provided at a glance. Main characters need to be introduced. The main plot of your story should be talked about. It gets even better if the voices, places, and theme are also illustrated. Your trailer should not be lengthy and should include: The book’s title and the author’s name plus the visuals and audio.
Book trailers are fast-paced and the viewer has no time to read lots of text so you should use as few words as possible. The use of pictures and images is highly suggested as it gives you a semblance as to what the reader can expect.
A step by step guide to making a trailer for books:
- Plan out the entire script with detailed scenes in it. Decide what will be seen visually and what will be heard. Music, words(spoken or written), visuals everything should be thought through.
- Make a storyboard. Pan out the beginning, the middle, and the end of the trailer.
- Understand the theme and mood of the story and accordingly choose the music that reflects it best.
- Use the big dramatic moment at the start of your trailer. It will grab the viewers’ attention. Your entire trailer script should be so meticulously planned that it generates the required buzz and viewers get hooked to it.
- In one sentence, describe what the book is about, what is its theme. The central idea should be so precisely presented that it can raise expectations in the readers’ minds.
- You should quote at least a couple of meaty quotes from the book. It clears the clutter and sets the tone.
Precise words, precise duration, precise music, and a precise overall script is all it takes in making a great book trailer.
