So Rob Daly and I are now working on a book trailer for CHERISHED. This is a 90 second video designed to catch your attention, move you, and make you want to order the book instantly.
Right, it ain't easy.
In my infinite wisdom I thought maybe an interview with me telling how the book came about, and then ending up with me and Nelson on the beach. I cannot tell you how awful this idea was. How boring it was, how self-serving. I then cut the concept of the video (and book) down to about five sentences, Rob did a slide show with photos of some of the authors and music and my five sentences in text - and it is much, much better. In fact it's almost finished. I've sent it out for comments from writer friends and we're still tinkering but it'll be ready to post in a few days.
If you're writing a book or about to publish one, think about the book trailer for it. And check out Jonathan Franzen's cranky book trailer, voted the worst performance of an author. (Really, we should all just shut up and write.)
There's something about the book video thing that makes my skin crawl. I know, I know -- I'll get over it!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 09, 2011 at 12:20 AM
I know - but I think you'll like the video. Let me know what you think. We'll post it in a few days. xo
Posted by: Barbara | June 09, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Check out this one that's getting a lot of buzz:
http://www.quirkbooks.com/post/miss-peregrine%E2%80%99s-home-peculiar-children-book-trailer
It probably helps that the author, Ransom Riggs, went to USC film school!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 15, 2011 at 06:13 AM
There is a simple and ablfrdafoe way to copyright any creative work .You can mail a copy of your script or a depiction of your painting to yourself by USPS. When it arrives , do not open it , keep it . If it comes to proving your rights in court , give the judge the envelope with your work as a prove of your rights to it. I judge , it is called homemade copyright .
Posted by: Muhamet | May 16, 2012 at 06:32 PM
Yes Jerry; I am thrilled with the pcepsort off a word weavers group. I was part of a local critique group in my hometown, and it was good, but I was the only Christian writer so even though God used me there, and it was beneficial for writing reviews, there was not any bonding fellowship around the inspired word of God and how our writing can help change lives. Please count me in for a word weavers group. This is very exciting news. Blessings for a joyful Christmas! Carmen Zeph 3:17
Posted by: Jar | May 18, 2012 at 06:37 PM
attributions. I think of them the same way I think of advrebs. Adverbs aren't evil, they're just overused. My rule of thumb is: if an attribution distracts me from the dialogue, I get rid of it. This is where that subjective feel factor comes into play. What is distracting to me might be enhancing to you. But I think we'd both agree that judicious use of creative attributions is probably wise.Finally, I think some writers use creative attributions as a shortcut to illustrate what's going on in the scene. Sometimes, that's fine. But if you've written the scene well, readers will usually know exactly what sort of response the person speaking is having to the conversation. The overuse of creative attributions is akin to telling instead of showing. And when you have a choice? I say show. (Mostly just so I don't get stabbed by any of Katdish's rogue punctuation.)
Posted by: Noval | July 28, 2012 at 05:38 PM