Putting Together a Book Trailer

Hello Lovelies!

It has been quite some time since I've posted. Ironically, I've been blogging the last 10 weeks for a marketing research company. Technically, their new website is about to come up, but they have 9 of my posts ready and in the queue for when the blog finally launches. I'll be posting when the time comes!

Today though, I figured I'd talk about putting together a book trailer. As some of you know I've been helping out Stacey Darlington, author of Athena's Curse, with publicity efforts, and of course, her official book trailer. The beauty of a book trailer is the fact that there is either limited or no animation. Instead, it relies on the mood created by the music and images chosen for the piece.

Step 1. Decide the mood you wish to convey. Eerie? Adventurous? Romantic? Terrifying?

Step 2. Decide aesthetically how to convey this mood. For example, would cartoons work? Black and white illustrations with sparse colors, like what I used for Stacey? Or would photoshopped images and photos create a better impression and aide you with the mood you wish to convey? It's really a matter of preference. Also consider what is easier and readily available to you.

Step 3. Do you have a program that you can build this trailer on? Or know someone who does? Figure out what it is capable of before you jump in. Mac has iMovie, not too sure what Windows has.

Step 4. Create a storyboard. This can be as elaborate as a giant poster or as simple as a few thumbnail (miniature) sketches that contain the general idea you want on each slide/scene.

Step 5. This step goes hand-in-hand with Step 4. Consider the copy (words) to go along with each frame. Remember keep this short and minimal. You know those tag lines and elevator pitches we use whenever we go to a conference? Keep it to that length.

Step 6. Once that has been decided, get started on those pictures/drawings/illustrations or what have you.

Step 7. Choosing the music. This step can really be done at any point in the process. Some prefer to know what kind of music they are using beforehand so that they know what works as they created the images. Others, like myself, wait towards the end once we have the idea on paper. Remember to choose royalty free music or music you or a friend composes themselves. Here are a couple sites my tech-savvy cousin recommended I try:

http://incompetech.com/

http://freepd.com/

Step 8. The last step is putting it all together using a simple program. My advice: If you don't have a lot of knowledge keep things as simple and clean as possible. Simplicity can oftentimes have a greater impact than those trying to clutter a screen with extraneous details. Trust me. Keep it simple.

Below is the trailer for Athena's Curse. Hope you guys like it!

The Fine Line Between YA and MG

I've been so sporadic with my blog posts over the last few months and for that I am sooooo sorry! Blogging can be difficult between school, writing, extra curricular stuff, and work. BUT I am trying to change that.

Anyway on to my post.

I've been wrestling with the idea of pitching my YA novel as Upper Middle Grade. While researching the topic I stumbled upon an interesting thread at YALITCHAT. In short, most people agreed that age was a factor, but not a deciding factor. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was considered MG (middle grade) even though it contained dark themes and Harry was fifteen. The romance that soon started to develop within the series was relatively tame as was most of the violence. Even though book 7 turned out to be YA and a bit violent it was in no way as violent as many other YA novels so it was still okay to advertise the Harry Potter books to middle grade readers.

Basically, a book can be considered MG as long as these older themes are tamed. Consider, Tamora Pierce's the Lioness quartet series. It was considered MG yet spanned the life of a girl trying to become a knight from age 11 to 18. Throughout this time she learned about love, sex, and how to fight and protect her people. Even though Pierce's novels could be somewhat violent it was always understated and any sex scene faded out. They were all tame, making the topics perfectly acceptable for MG.

YALitChat's Middle Grade lair also posted an interesting article from Upstart Crow Literary explaining the fine line between YA and MG. I found it helpful and think it may prove useful to others in the same boat.

Happy Writing!

Wisdom Teeth, A New Story, & Write On Con

I've missed posting!!

Just had my wisdom teeth removed...for some reason only one side is doing most of the swelling. Does that make me half chipmunk?

Alright, lots to cover.

1. I'm going to TRY to post at least once a week, but I'd love to know what you guys would love to read about oh, and things you NEVER want me to mention again.

2. Write On Con was a blast!! It was an amazing FREE online conference. Next year--I recommended you all give it a shot--check out the info here.

3. Also, do you guys prefer I post about new agents I stumble across? Interesting publishing articles? Helpful links? You name it and I'll try my best :)

4. I read manuscripts for a literary agent who focuses on children's lit--YA, MG, PB. Would you guys like to hear about common mistakes etc and stuff that I see?

Alright guys, comment away and help me out here! :)

Write On Con!

This is a free writer's conference for kidlit writers but it's open to anyone. Some events are coming through on blog posts or video blogs, while others require participation in the forums. You can even post your work for critique. Joanna Stampfel-Volpe is even holding a query critique contest!

There are so many kidlit professionals willing to lend out their advice--I'm sure it'll be helpful!

At the moment the site is down but you can find everything on here. Enjoy!

Guide to Literary Agents

I would just LOVE to recommend this site to anyone who has yet to take a look! Guide t0 Literary Agents Blog

It is full of helpful tips. Interesting feedback on real queries and why they worked. Word Counts for just about every genre. Q&A's with agents. Also Agent Alerts that let you know when a new agent has joined an agency (please note new agents are building up their client list...good for first time writers :) )

And loads of other stuff. It's hosted by Chuck Sambuchino the editor of Guide to Literary Agents.

Chuck also set up on the left hands side certain categories you can click if you're only interested in a certain thing like for example Successful Queries, or Children's, Christian etc.

Hope those of you who haven't seen this site check it out---it's one of my absolute favs and the one I actually follow habitually! ;)

New Site!

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been posting much, but it is Finals week here in college so I'm a bit overwhelmed and my brain is a bit fried. I promise by next week I should be posting more regularly.

But I wanted to announce the creation of my very own WEBSITE! The actual url is www.elizabethprats.weebly.com but to see it just click on the title of this post :]

I have a bunch of helpful links listed which I will be adding to, some artwork, a poem or two, and a blurb of my novel. Check it out. :]

Happy Writing!

When an Agent Offers Representation

Since I am waiting to hear from an agent I figured knowing what to say in case she does like my work and wants to represent it would be important. I found a great source on what to do and say after an agent offers you representation. It is on www.agentquery.com

Click on the title of this post and it will take you to the specific page. Hope this helps :]

Writers and Scams

Okay. I'm trying to do all I can to help a fellow writer of mine understand what it takes to be published. Unfortunately, she fell for a scam agency back in March-Children's Literary-avoid them! I have even shown here Preditors and Editors-a site that'll usually help you figure out if an agent or publisher is legit or not.-http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Yet, I get an email from her stating that Publisher America is interested in her picture book which I think is great! But when I look them up, I find out that they are nothing more than a vanity press that POD's (prints on demand)-Guess what, Borders will not place your book on its shelves. Instead the book won't be printed unless someone orders it and even then who says they will know of its existence.

I wish I could help her further, but she just hasn't taken the advice about finding an agent or at least using Writers Market or checking the Association of Author's Representatives database that I've given her. I know she is far from computer savvy, but I don't know what else to tell her...

Helpful Sites for Writers

Hello all!

I figured I'd put together a list today of some great and helpful sites. Along with an explanation of them.

Great database of agents:

http://www.agentquery.com

www.querytracker.net

www.writersmarket.com Although this requires buying a subscription.

Great information on how to write Queries:

http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

http://www.charlottedillon.com/query.html I personally love this site because it has TONS of links for query writing and will even show you winning samples of romance queries.

She also has a great one for a Synopsis: http://www.charlottedillon.com/synopsis.html

Seriously, just browse her site and you'll be sure to find something for you, even though most queries and such are for the romance genre you can easily apply them to your own work.

~Wonderful Writing Communities Online~

www.key-publications-network.socialgo.com I'm head of the YAWR(Young Adult Writers Rock) group there. It is an amazing online critique group for writers. Check it out you won't be disappointed.

http://writersdigest.ning.com/ This is the writer's digest community

Great E-zine

www.viciouswriters.com ---> soon to be renamed.


Check em' out. If I'm missing any feel free to post some other helpful sites :]