Better Fiction

The explosion of short video previews to sell books is reaching the point where more have them than don't, it seems.
Many who have them don't quite seem to know what to do with them.
And some complain that they're one more expense.

There are pros and cons to this marketing tool, which I expect some of the publishers here will have views on.

But primarily, I want to pimp my recently published manual, "How To Make Video Book Trailers Yourself For FREE With No Special Skills Or A-List Actors Attached". (I'm working on the title)

But it says it all. There really isn't much need to spend $300 on a video, especially since so many pro videos you see are essentially animated up from two basic still pictures, or even the cover alone.

You can do that yourself, using free programs that require no special education to learn. My manual is a pdf file that is mailed to you, so it's right there on your desktop when you work on a vid. It covers everything: pictures, assembly programs, soundtrack creation, and using the video to promote. In has MASSIVE collections of links to support, free downloadable resources such as programs and pictures and sound effects, and even video examples of some of techniques involved.
Like this one, for instance:




Those "clips" were all created from single pictures like book covers (except the wolf/girl fade) in minutes, using a free program...including the music!

Primarily dealing with programs for Windows, it also supports Mac and Linus programs, and many of the free download programs run on any platform. Registered users of XP or VISTA have access to a free program that enables creating videos of this kind from no more than a few pictures literally within an hour or so.
Also, the collection of resource links, which apply to any operating system, are worth the cost of the manual... a low, low SIX BUCKS U.S.!

This manual is only available through Adoro Works. If you ask for it in a store, they'll think you're crazy. Like the entire line adoro is initiating, this is a task-oriented guide aimed at writers and small publishers.

Check it out (by which I mean, of course, buy several copies) at ADORO WORKS.COM

Become the Spielberg of bookdom on a shoestring!

I have two examples of what can be done on an extremely limited budget with some help from google Don't have his book but I'm a DIYer to the end. I'm sure it's a very helpful thing for most. Mine are mixed audio/visual so to get the full effect, they really need to be heard - especially the Griffin trailer as all the words are in audio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqwNaWzIjQY - Evolution of a Shadow's trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGHvcrX8bPU - Wreck of the Griffin's Trailer

The whole process is a lot of fun but it's also really frustrating at times trying to get the transitions just so. I'm sure if I had a crazy budget they'd be better but I don't have access to any actors but me and my skill set is still expanding. Once you start doing them though, you kind of get caught up in the process. The first two trailers I did took a lot more time and weren't as good because I was still only learning the software. I was working with freeware stuff until the griffin trailer - I got a new program as I was finishing that one up. I'm working on a trailer for Switch now and so far, I like it but it's still in little pieces.

~S

"Evolution of a Shadow" works very well. I don't fully understand everything, but it's quick, engaging, and it works. It draws me in to want to read the story.

Cool

The link to click isADORO WORKS, Melinda.

Melinda Reynolds wrote:I went to the site, but only saw vids on YouTube and at Adoro Woks, not much info there.

For dense oldsters like me, you'll have to put a big red ciricle around what you're selling.

--Melinda

PS I also have problems reading small fonts on screens; anything under 12pt I won't see very well

The link to click isADORO WORKS, Melinda.

Melinda Reynolds wrote:I went to the site, but only saw vids on YouTube and at Adoro Woks, not much info there.

For dense oldsters like me, you'll have to put a big red ciricle around what you're selling.

--Melinda

PS I also have problems reading small fonts on screens; anything under 12pt I won't see very well

The link to click is ADORO WORKS, Melinda.

Melinda Reynolds wrote:I went to the site, but only saw vids on YouTube and at Adoro Woks, not much info there.

For dense oldsters like me, you'll have to put a big red ciricle around what you're selling.

--Melinda

PS I also have problems reading small fonts on screens; anything under 12pt I won't see very well

The link to click is ADORO WORKS, Melinda.

Melinda Reynolds wrote:I went to the site, but only saw vids on YouTube and at Adoro Woks, not much info there.

Those are pretty cool, Shade

I like seeing things taking different approaches from the cookie cutter formats so common in trailers.

Here are a couple of mine:

IMAGINARY LINES





By the way, I'd love it if you guys could vote for the IMAGINARY LINES vid in the Covey Awards...
COVEY TRAILER AWARDS

Entry number 7