Make Your Own Book Trailer

The road to getting your novel published can be long and tiresome, but for many people that day will come. When it does many authors must be prepared to market and promote their own books. Book trailers are an easy and effective way to get your book out there and help accomplish part of the process.

5 easy steps to making your own book trailer.

1. Download Windows Movie Maker.
You may already have this on your computer so check-- if not its a free download.
(There are other programs you can choose from but I used WMM)

2. Gather pictures.
Choose pictures that go with the theme of your novel. Is your story lighthearted and fun? Choose pictures accordingly. Also make sure that each picture represents a scene in your novel and that their colors blend nicely. Try to avoid cartoon pictures UNLESS it directly goes with your novel. It may work fine for middle grade, but teens and adults are not likely to be drawn in by them.

This is where your query letter will come in handy. (They're not just for agents anymore!) Remember the three sentence beginning of your dreaded query? The hook, the conflict, and hint of the resolution. Use this as your guide in choosing pix and telling your story in the trailer.

AVOID pix that show someones full face because each reader will see your characters differently. Don't take that away from them. Remember how they turned your favorite book into a movie and none of the characters were how you pictured them? I do. Yuck. Don't kill the book with the trailer. Choose character pix where the face is obscured, or hidden.

Now import your pix to Windows Movie Maker. (very easy to do-- just open up WMM and click on the link where it says IMPORT PICTURES)

[Note: be mindful of copyright laws. There are tons of free pix on the web. Hunt for them!]

3. Play around.
Open Windows Movie Maker, import your pictures, and begin making your book trailer!
At the bottom of the page you will see your story board. Simply click and drag each picture into the slot. Put them in chronological order. Next, use the TRANSITIONS application. Play around with how each picture will lead to the next. There are many to choose from. Next choose any special features you find to make it look how you want. Really, Windows Movie Maker is pretty self explanatory. Play around with it and have fun!

TEXT can be placed on the pix, under the pix, over, or after-- you choose. Again, use the opening parapraph of your query as a guide. It's short, sweet, and will do the job.

[Note: Keep it short. One minute or less should suffice. 7 to 10 pictures with accompanying text will be enough.]


4. Choose your music wisely.
Again think of the theme of your novel and choose music that goes with it. Is your novel serious, romantic, edgy, sweet, for kids? Choose music that will reach your audience NOT turn them off. Remember this: your music should be the BACKGROUND and enhance the pix and words, not be the FOCUS. A bad music choice could be fatal.

Once you choose music that will help tell your story click on the IMPORT MUSIC link. Follow the simple directions. Next click and drag the music down to the TIMELINE. (be sure to clip off any excess music at the end)

[Note: you can also find free music on the web. Hunt for it!]

5. Credits.

Click on the link that says ADD CREDITS. This is where you put your website, your contact info, where the book can be found, etc. It will play at the end of your movie. Type it in and voila! You now have your very own book trailer! Congratulations!!