February 5th, 2010 / 1:46 pm
Behind the Scenes

What do you think about book trailers?

Over at Salon.com, Laura Miller has a piece called “Never coming to a screen near you: Why promoting books with movie-style trailers is a silly idea.” Here’s a snippet of her argument:

Alas, Web videos are even more numerous than books, and as with books, the vast majority of them go unwatched and uncelebrated. A few manage to command that most mysterious of all magical powers, word of mouth, and become sensations, but that kind of success is as impossible to force as an “Oprah” booking. In the meantime, an author’s energies have been funneled into a project that’s unlikely to yield many results.

Here is an example:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1chqggKw_Ds&feature=player_embedded

Tags: ,

69 Comments

  1. Meaghan

      The book trailer for our kickstarter-powered book project has brought in almost 10 thousand dollars, for a book that doesn’t exist yet.

      I was initially an eye-roller at book trailers– seemed like Old people trying to understand the internet. But then i did one. I think if done WELL (major caveat obvs) and if done passionately, it can clearly be an effective way to convey the tone and spirit of a project. It’s tricky, though, and well-suited to only particular projects. You can’t half ass that shit.

      True, it’s a distraction from the “real work” of making a book in the sense that all book-schilling is, and it’s exhausting and scary (I’m a writer! This is why I write! Not a freaking actor!) but I think when it works, it pays off (quite literally) and I found that when it comes to my work, and getting it out there, it is totally Worth It!

  2. Meaghan

      The book trailer for our kickstarter-powered book project has brought in almost 10 thousand dollars, for a book that doesn’t exist yet.

      I was initially an eye-roller at book trailers– seemed like Old people trying to understand the internet. But then i did one. I think if done WELL (major caveat obvs) and if done passionately, it can clearly be an effective way to convey the tone and spirit of a project. It’s tricky, though, and well-suited to only particular projects. You can’t half ass that shit.

      True, it’s a distraction from the “real work” of making a book in the sense that all book-schilling is, and it’s exhausting and scary (I’m a writer! This is why I write! Not a freaking actor!) but I think when it works, it pays off (quite literally) and I found that when it comes to my work, and getting it out there, it is totally Worth It!

  3. Joseph Young

      writing a book is a project that’s unlikely to yield many results.

      i like them. i like this one, marvin.

      they are fun to make, so what’s the problem?

  4. Joseph Young

      writing a book is a project that’s unlikely to yield many results.

      i like them. i like this one, marvin.

      they are fun to make, so what’s the problem?

  5. Tom

      I think the problems are that the money spent on these (by publishers – I’m only referring to that) could spent in much smarter ways, and that the people most likely too see them are already fans. As Laura points out, people don’t search for advertising. They very, very rarely reach new audiences. It’s a problem of quality, certainly, but unless everyone is willing to make actual little movies instead of letting someone read on screen (boring) or showing blurbs (even worse), they shouldn’t bother.

  6. Tom

      I think the problems are that the money spent on these (by publishers – I’m only referring to that) could spent in much smarter ways, and that the people most likely too see them are already fans. As Laura points out, people don’t search for advertising. They very, very rarely reach new audiences. It’s a problem of quality, certainly, but unless everyone is willing to make actual little movies instead of letting someone read on screen (boring) or showing blurbs (even worse), they shouldn’t bother.

  7. Justin Taylor

      I think Miller’s argument re funneled energies is reasonable and sound, but she may be overestimating the scale of the endeavor. Most book trailers come into the world in one of two ways- they’re lo-fi diy jobs slung together by people who are probably already involved in multi-media (blogging, podcasting, etc) on a semi-regular basis, and so the trailer fits in fairly reasonably with the larger slate of ways they interact with the world, or else they exist because the author has a friend who is a film-maker and was looking for something to do, anyway. maybe that same author has a buddy in a band and he’s got a song that would really fit the video- so it’s really an exercise in casual collaboration, a premise for artifact-creation, etc., rather than a marketing scheme-proper.

      At least that’s my theory.

  8. Justin Taylor

      I think Miller’s argument re funneled energies is reasonable and sound, but she may be overestimating the scale of the endeavor. Most book trailers come into the world in one of two ways- they’re lo-fi diy jobs slung together by people who are probably already involved in multi-media (blogging, podcasting, etc) on a semi-regular basis, and so the trailer fits in fairly reasonably with the larger slate of ways they interact with the world, or else they exist because the author has a friend who is a film-maker and was looking for something to do, anyway. maybe that same author has a buddy in a band and he’s got a song that would really fit the video- so it’s really an exercise in casual collaboration, a premise for artifact-creation, etc., rather than a marketing scheme-proper.

      At least that’s my theory.

  9. Eric Anderson

      When done right, they are another form of advertising that can bring in new readers.

      Miller, in her post says: “Yet [a book trailer is] an irrelevant thing all the same. Ultimately, the better a video is, the more it makes you want to watch more video, and the more it reminds you of what a book can’t do, which is ravish us with images, movement and sound.”

      Really? Is video that much better than fiction that the two forms should not be coupled in fear of fiction being crushed? A book can’t offer images, movement and sound? Has the art of a book cover ever made you wish the book could have done more? A book trailer is just an extension of cover art, giving a short glimpse (from outside the medium of text) of the story.

      Yes, most book trailers are bad, but so are most books!

      In my opinion, this is a good trailer: http://bookscreening.com/2010/01/31/the-women-by-tc-boyle/

  10. Eric Anderson

      When done right, they are another form of advertising that can bring in new readers.

      Miller, in her post says: “Yet [a book trailer is] an irrelevant thing all the same. Ultimately, the better a video is, the more it makes you want to watch more video, and the more it reminds you of what a book can’t do, which is ravish us with images, movement and sound.”

      Really? Is video that much better than fiction that the two forms should not be coupled in fear of fiction being crushed? A book can’t offer images, movement and sound? Has the art of a book cover ever made you wish the book could have done more? A book trailer is just an extension of cover art, giving a short glimpse (from outside the medium of text) of the story.

      Yes, most book trailers are bad, but so are most books!

      In my opinion, this is a good trailer: http://bookscreening.com/2010/01/31/the-women-by-tc-boyle/

  11. Adam R

      Ditto.

  12. Adam R

      Ditto.

  13. Matt Cozart

      “Has the art of a book cover ever made you wish the book could have done more?”

      oh yes! i often judge a book by its cover–positively–only to find out that the story isn’t anywhere near as cool as the cool cover.

  14. Matt Cozart

      “Has the art of a book cover ever made you wish the book could have done more?”

      oh yes! i often judge a book by its cover–positively–only to find out that the story isn’t anywhere near as cool as the cool cover.

  15. Eric Anderson

      Awesome, then we agree that Getty Images should start a literary press?

  16. Eric Anderson

      Awesome, then we agree that Getty Images should start a literary press?

  17. VD

      The same way I feel about novelizations of movies. Indifference.

  18. VD

      The same way I feel about novelizations of movies. Indifference.

  19. Eric Anderson
  20. Eric Anderson
  21. Eric Anderson

      Out of curiosity, why were my comments deleted?

  22. Matt Cozart

      i don’t see how that follows…

  23. Eric Anderson

      Out of curiosity, why were my comments deleted?

  24. Matt Cozart

      i don’t see how that follows…

  25. Eric Anderson

      oops.. Mind the delay! :)

  26. Blake Butler

      they werent deleted… the spam filter automatically pulls comments with links in them to spam most of the time. i just pulled them out. sorry bout that.

  27. Eric Anderson

      oops.. Mind the delay! :)

  28. Blake Butler

      they werent deleted… the spam filter automatically pulls comments with links in them to spam most of the time. i just pulled them out. sorry bout that.

  29. Eric Anderson

      No problem… thanks Blake!

  30. Eric Anderson

      No problem… thanks Blake!

  31. Lincoln

      Yeah, I don’t get the impression people have been using lots of marketing budget on book trailers, but I could be wrong.

  32. Lincoln

      Yeah, I don’t get the impression people have been using lots of marketing budget on book trailers, but I could be wrong.

  33. Vaughan Simons

      Can’t say I like them much *at the moment*. They seem like a bit of an oh-so-wacky-aren’t-we-just-so-postmodern-engaging-with-the-meejah afterthought. A bit like a movie having an official iPhone app because the social media guru in the ridiculous spectacles has told them that they’ve simply got to have an iPhone app for marketing purposes.

      Also, too many of the book trailers seem self-consciously arty. Which is fine for some books, but for others, if they’re going to market themselves through a trailer, I’d prefer them almost to come on with a high-pressure salesman more used to selling cars, who can simply say “Hey, buy this book – now!”

      But it’s early days. I think this area will improve and become more sophisticated. It’ll be interesting to see how they develop …

      (Then again, it might just prove to be a fad and they’ll all die out tomorrow.)

      Personally, I’m waiting for the first book ad between the music on Spotify.

  34. Vaughan Simons

      Can’t say I like them much *at the moment*. They seem like a bit of an oh-so-wacky-aren’t-we-just-so-postmodern-engaging-with-the-meejah afterthought. A bit like a movie having an official iPhone app because the social media guru in the ridiculous spectacles has told them that they’ve simply got to have an iPhone app for marketing purposes.

      Also, too many of the book trailers seem self-consciously arty. Which is fine for some books, but for others, if they’re going to market themselves through a trailer, I’d prefer them almost to come on with a high-pressure salesman more used to selling cars, who can simply say “Hey, buy this book – now!”

      But it’s early days. I think this area will improve and become more sophisticated. It’ll be interesting to see how they develop …

      (Then again, it might just prove to be a fad and they’ll all die out tomorrow.)

      Personally, I’m waiting for the first book ad between the music on Spotify.

  35. Sean

      I have never watched one. It is not what makes me want to read a book.

      That could change, things do.

      But I am overwhelmed now with books I want to read, sans trailers.

  36. Sean

      I have never watched one. It is not what makes me want to read a book.

      That could change, things do.

      But I am overwhelmed now with books I want to read, sans trailers.

  37. Roxane

      I hate book trailers, almost to the point of irrationality. I wish I had a coherent explanation as to why but they really really upset me. I never find them interesting or clever or cute or funny and it has really made me think there is something wrong with me because so often, I see people going gaga over book trailers or short story trailers or sentence trailers and I think, what a flipping waste of time.

  38. Roxane

      I hate book trailers, almost to the point of irrationality. I wish I had a coherent explanation as to why but they really really upset me. I never find them interesting or clever or cute or funny and it has really made me think there is something wrong with me because so often, I see people going gaga over book trailers or short story trailers or sentence trailers and I think, what a flipping waste of time.

  39. davidpeak
  40. davidpeak
  41. darby

      i agree with ‘whats the problem?”

      anything fun to make, why not make it.

      though i dont think they serve as ads so much for me. i dont like the name ‘book trailer.’ more like it should just be a supplemental video, no expectation that it should serve to sell something, but just be a thing.

  42. darby

      i agree with ‘whats the problem?”

      anything fun to make, why not make it.

      though i dont think they serve as ads so much for me. i dont like the name ‘book trailer.’ more like it should just be a supplemental video, no expectation that it should serve to sell something, but just be a thing.

  43. Vaughan Simons

      Part of me thinks that you’re joking about sentence trailers. Another part of me kind of hopes they’re true so that I can go and watch one, then sit here cursing the sheer mind-numbing pointlessness of it all, and slamming my forehead into the desk repeatedly until it bleeds.

  44. Vaughan Simons

      Part of me thinks that you’re joking about sentence trailers. Another part of me kind of hopes they’re true so that I can go and watch one, then sit here cursing the sheer mind-numbing pointlessness of it all, and slamming my forehead into the desk repeatedly until it bleeds.

  45. Roxane

      Someone did a sentence trailer recently… maybe electric literature? All I know is that when I saw the trailer, a part of me died.

  46. Roxane

      Someone did a sentence trailer recently… maybe electric literature? All I know is that when I saw the trailer, a part of me died.

  47. Joseph Young
  48. Joseph Young
  49. Richard

      Meaghan, could you explain how that worked for you? How did you get it done, how much did it cost, where did you put it? I’m working on a trailer for my debut novel Transubstantiate, out 6.18.10 and I’ve gone back and forth on doing a trailer. Also, do you have a link to the trailer?

  50. Richard

      Meaghan, could you explain how that worked for you? How did you get it done, how much did it cost, where did you put it? I’m working on a trailer for my debut novel Transubstantiate, out 6.18.10 and I’ve gone back and forth on doing a trailer. Also, do you have a link to the trailer?

  51. Richard

      Meaghan, could you explain how that worked for you? How did you get it done, how much did it cost, where did you put it? I’m working on a trailer for my debut novel Transubstantiate, out 6.18.10 and I’ve gone back and forth on doing a trailer. Also, do you have a link to the trailer?

  52. Roxane

      See, that, I find insane. I do not get it. The music makes me want to cry its so annoying. All I see is crazy images all over the place. It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand why it is great.

  53. Roxane

      See, that, I find insane. I do not get it. The music makes me want to cry its so annoying. All I see is crazy images all over the place. It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand why it is great.

  54. Roxane

      See, that, I find insane. I do not get it. The music makes me want to cry its so annoying. All I see is crazy images all over the place. It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand why it is great.

  55. darby

      this doesnt fall into the ‘trailer’ category for me. its more an adaptation.

  56. darby

      this doesnt fall into the ‘trailer’ category for me. its more an adaptation.

  57. darby

      this doesnt fall into the ‘trailer’ category for me. its more an adaptation.

  58. Merzmensch

      It depends, imho.

      If this the “book trailer” is rather video clip not for the selling’s sake, but as an adaptation or examination, it’s very nice transmedial add-on to the book.

      And if the book is transmedial object, like “Dark Art: Personal Effects” by JC Hutchins, a trailer is almost a requirement.

      I see sometimes in Germany trailers to the books, where the major goal of the video is to sell this book. And that’s often mediocre piece and after that I don’t want to read the book, even if I’ve heard good things about it.

      The best possibility is when the readers make their own trailers, post factum, after they read the book. Because this is most awesome way to deal with things you’ve read. And the best advert possibly.

  59. Merzmensch

      It depends, imho.

      If this the “book trailer” is rather video clip not for the selling’s sake, but as an adaptation or examination, it’s very nice transmedial add-on to the book.

      And if the book is transmedial object, like “Dark Art: Personal Effects” by JC Hutchins, a trailer is almost a requirement.

      I see sometimes in Germany trailers to the books, where the major goal of the video is to sell this book. And that’s often mediocre piece and after that I don’t want to read the book, even if I’ve heard good things about it.

      The best possibility is when the readers make their own trailers, post factum, after they read the book. Because this is most awesome way to deal with things you’ve read. And the best advert possibly.

  60. Merzmensch

      It depends, imho.

      If this the “book trailer” is rather video clip not for the selling’s sake, but as an adaptation or examination, it’s very nice transmedial add-on to the book.

      And if the book is transmedial object, like “Dark Art: Personal Effects” by JC Hutchins, a trailer is almost a requirement.

      I see sometimes in Germany trailers to the books, where the major goal of the video is to sell this book. And that’s often mediocre piece and after that I don’t want to read the book, even if I’ve heard good things about it.

      The best possibility is when the readers make their own trailers, post factum, after they read the book. Because this is most awesome way to deal with things you’ve read. And the best advert possibly.

  61. Merzmensch

      If somebody is interesting, I did as a reader one little trailer to the book by JC Hutchins:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3OwUqjql0
      Sorry for this blameful self-cultivation. I just want to illustrate the fact, that sometimes, especially in transmedial case, you need perhaps to see the book itself, or, better said: its… ehm… physical contents.

  62. Merzmensch

      If somebody is interesting, I did as a reader one little trailer to the book by JC Hutchins:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3OwUqjql0
      Sorry for this blameful self-cultivation. I just want to illustrate the fact, that sometimes, especially in transmedial case, you need perhaps to see the book itself, or, better said: its… ehm… physical contents.

  63. Merzmensch

      If somebody is interesting, I did as a reader one little trailer to the book by JC Hutchins:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3OwUqjql0
      Sorry for this blameful self-cultivation. I just want to illustrate the fact, that sometimes, especially in transmedial case, you need perhaps to see the book itself, or, better said: its… ehm… physical contents.

  64. Reno Lovison

      This is a very good and important discussion. As a producer of book video trailers I supposed I am biased but I urge your readers to consider that a good short trailer ( 30 seconds to about 1 minute) is a great way to promote your book. Think of it as a kind of video dust jacket. Just as in a retail store you want your potential reader to pick up your book and look at the cover (front, back and inside). So can a video trailer accomplish the same thing on the Internet but in a much more compeling and engaging way. You can see some trailers at authorsbroadcast.com . Cheers.

  65. Reno Lovison

      This is a very good and important discussion. As a producer of book video trailers I supposed I am biased but I urge your readers to consider that a good short trailer ( 30 seconds to about 1 minute) is a great way to promote your book. Think of it as a kind of video dust jacket. Just as in a retail store you want your potential reader to pick up your book and look at the cover (front, back and inside). So can a video trailer accomplish the same thing on the Internet but in a much more compeling and engaging way. You can see some trailers at authorsbroadcast.com . Cheers.

  66. Reno Lovison

      This is a very good and important discussion. As a producer of book video trailers I supposed I am biased but I urge your readers to consider that a good short trailer ( 30 seconds to about 1 minute) is a great way to promote your book. Think of it as a kind of video dust jacket. Just as in a retail store you want your potential reader to pick up your book and look at the cover (front, back and inside). So can a video trailer accomplish the same thing on the Internet but in a much more compeling and engaging way. You can see some trailers at authorsbroadcast.com . Cheers.

  67. Ingrid

      I like the idea of book trailers and I think authors would be very foolish not to take advantage of every opportunity to promote to the broadest audience possible. But most of the trailers I see look the same – there have been one or two that tried something diffierent. The one for “Lady Vernon and Her Daughter” is a little longer than most but very well done and entertaining in its own way. The one for “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” uses something like special effects to liven it up. Whether or not book trailers will lead to book sales has yet to be proven.

  68. Ingrid

      I like the idea of book trailers and I think authors would be very foolish not to take advantage of every opportunity to promote to the broadest audience possible. But most of the trailers I see look the same – there have been one or two that tried something diffierent. The one for “Lady Vernon and Her Daughter” is a little longer than most but very well done and entertaining in its own way. The one for “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” uses something like special effects to liven it up. Whether or not book trailers will lead to book sales has yet to be proven.

  69. Ingrid

      I like the idea of book trailers and I think authors would be very foolish not to take advantage of every opportunity to promote to the broadest audience possible. But most of the trailers I see look the same – there have been one or two that tried something diffierent. The one for “Lady Vernon and Her Daughter” is a little longer than most but very well done and entertaining in its own way. The one for “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” uses something like special effects to liven it up. Whether or not book trailers will lead to book sales has yet to be proven.