Development - yet Another Teaser Example

21 April 2012, Development - yet Another Teaser Example

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

If you haven't guessed yet, I've left this up because I plan to use it in the future as we move through development.  The steps in making and using a character in a novel are as follows:

1. Development of the character (history, description, personality, etc.)
2. Revelation of the character (within the novel, show don't tell)
      a. Description of the character - introduction
      b. Voice of the character
      c. Continuing revelation by showing

In a classical plot (and in most of my novels) you have a protagonist, an antagonist, and a protagonist's helper. If you develop these three characters for a novel, the plot will naturally fall out of the development of the characters.

I've been going over teasers, trying to show good examples with my teasers which were developed along with my publisher.  I've also tried to point out what makes a bad teaser.  Let me go ahead with today's example.  I think this is the last I'll give you.  This teaser is for A Season of Honor: 

The fragile peace of the Human Galactic Empire hangs in the balance. Book Three, The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox. Don't miss Book One, The End of Honor or Book Two, The Fox's Honor. By L.D. Alford, the author of the suspense-thriller, Aegypt, Centurion, and The Second Mission. Baron Shawn du Locke must choose between honor and desire. Shorn of his lands, regency, title, father, lady, and name, the only thing left to the Baron Shawn du Locke is his honor. Nothing in the past has shaken it and nothing would cause him to compromise it--until he meets the Lady Elina Acier, the last hope of the Noble Houses of the Human Galactic Empire. To protect the planet Acier from the Emperor, she must marry a Duke's son. Shawn must safely deliver Elina to the Imperial capital before the Emperor discovers and kills Elina, and before her presence drives him insane...or he falls in love.

Excitement, excitement, excitement!  If there is anything that I can write about teasers and blurbs is to keep the excitement level high.  Look at the beginning of this teaser (and all the teasers I've shown you for my books).  The first sentence is crafted to intrigue and excite.  There is a portion that mentions my other novels.  Then, wham, right into the plot and the characters.  In every teaser I've shown you, first there is the opening sentence--it is filled with excitement.  Then there is the intro to the plot.  Finally, we get the characters.  Everything in the teaser is meant to get the reader excited about the novel and interested in checking it out.  There is nothing extraneous.  There are no explanations.  There is little detail--short, sweet, plot, and characters.

Let me give a little detail on what not to do.  I'll do this generically.  I'll use one of my novels--so don't quote this as a real teaser.  Here is a terrible trailer I just made up from one I saw today:

***This is not a real teaser for my novel.  This is an intentional bad example***The date is 10,000 AD.  The times are unknown.  This is a great science fiction novel in the style of Frank Herbert.  Baron Shawn du Locke is a man whose brother, the Emperor banished him for ten years.  Now the Baron must take a lady from the planet Acier to the Imperial Capital to wed.  Acier is a planet under Imperial ban, but it's a wealthy planet.  Acier is kind of like the planet Dune except it has radioactives instead of spice.  Because of Acier's wealth, the Emperor wants to take control of the planet.  He intends to murder the woman, Elina Acier, whom Shawn is taking to the Imperial Capital...***This is not a real teaser for my novel. This is an intentional bad example***

I could go one and on, but I think you get the picture.  I took my novel and wrote a terrible teaser.  No excitement, little on the plot, you can't care much about the characters, too much detail, messy comparisons, comparisons with other novels, statements about how good the novel is.  I didn't put in all the bad stuff I could have.  This is not the way to write a trailer
 
The ultimate point is so you will have advertising that will drive people to your novel. Then the novel has to catch their attention. I'm going to move in that direction tomorrow.

I'll get back to introducing the theme in the first scene.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - Wrap Up on Trailers

18 February 2012, Publication - Wrap Up on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

When you have completed your trailer, you now need to distribute it.  There are potential problems with distributing any video file.  They are usually from 10 to 30 Megs big depending on their length and quality.  Many times they won't make it through as an attachment on an email.  You need to get the files to your publisher.

Try to email it to your publisher and follow up with a separate email to see if they get it.  If they do, that's great.  If they don't you need to go to step two.  Usually, your publisher has run into this problem before.  They will tell you how they prefer to receive the file.  In most cases, they use a file transfer company or they will ask you to upload the file on their server through the Internet.  A file transfer company allows you to upload your video file to their site.  The transfer company sends an email to your publisher, who then can download your file.

With an htp transfer, your publisher gives you a site (an htp protocol address) where you can copy your file.  Your file shows up on their website.  In either case, your file ends up where they can use it. 

You also can post your file to your own websites and to a video distribution site.  The most well known video distribution site is Youtube.  You need to have a channel for this, and at first, your files need to be smaller than 15 minutes and 1 Gig.  That's easily within the size for most trailers. 

So put up your trailers and send them to your publisher.

I'll begin to write about the reasons I wrote and conceived of the novel Aksinya, tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - and even even more on Trailers

17 February 2012, Publication - and even even more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

After you have recorded your trailer and you are happy with the results, now is the time to really make it into a trailer.  Most digital recorders and many computers come with digital editing software.  You can edit your trailer with this software and make it really appear professional.  You can add titles, graphics, photos, cover shots, and music.  You can make the trailer as fancy and artistic as you can stand.

Covers are always a required show in your trailer.  Just cut in a shot of your cover and throw in your and your novel's websites.  If you or your novel don't have websites, you need to get them and make them.  If your book includes maps or graphics, you can also throw them into the trailer.  Be judicious, but provide some exciting material.  Put in the name of your novel in the title of the trailer and include your name too.  There is so much that is possible using digital video editing, it would be nearly impossible to go over every possible combination and capability.  Make it simple or make it complex, video editing can significantly improve your trailer.  Do forget, you need to own the rights to the items you put in your trailer--like the music, pictures, graphics, etc.

More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - and even more on Trailers

16 February 2012, Publication - and even more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

Once you have all the pieces together, you can start on your trailer.  Get dressed.  Set up the camera at the location.  Prepare your script and set up teleprompter.  Now, start recording.  Digital film is magic inside the aether--you can reuse it over and over and throw away anything you don't like.  Since the trailer is only 2.5 to 3 minutes, you can keep recording it until you are happy.  If you are a real pro, you can record parts and put them together.  You'll want to manipulate and work on your trailer anyway.

Remember to act!  This is a piece of advertising that is supposed to get people excited about your novel.  If you aren't excited about your book, no one else will be.  Put on a big smile.  Speak clearly.  Speak with animation.  Use your hands.  Think entertainment show and give your audience something to be entertained about.  In more advanced trailers, you might try to convey an emotion or a feeling to your audience.  This is much more difficult in a trailer, but it can be very effective.  If you an figure out some very special trick or turn relating to your novel, you could get people so excited about your trailer, it could go viral.  Remember, any publicity is good publicity.
More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - and more on Trailers

15 February 2012, Publication - and more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

To make a trailer, you need the following:

1.  A script
2.  A means to project the script so you can read it
3.  A video camera (a device that electronically records video, almost every digital camera in the world can do this)
4.  A place (a scene)
5.  Appropriate clothing
6.  Digital editing software
Put the script into a PowerPoint slide show.  That's what I do.  You can project it on your computer and read it while recording the trailer.  Dress in clothing appropriate to the kind of trailer you are making.  For example, if your novel is about the intercity, you might wear contemporary urban clothing.  If your novel is about the west, you might wear jeans, boots, and chaps.  For Aegypt I wore a white suit coat.  For Centurion, I wore a regular suit coat.  Choose the proper location for your trailer.  Aegypt is a suspense novel; I used an unfinished corner in my basement.  Centurion is a historical novel; I just used my living room.  When you have everything set up, you are ready to begin.

More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - even more on Trailers

14 February 2012, Publication - even more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

Here is a script for a trailer:

Research:

Before I write a book, I spend one to two years of intense historical study prior to putting ink to paper.  I spent even longer on Centurion.  I started writing the novel in 1989 while flying in Europe and especially in Turkey.  The Middle East and Italy were inspirations to me in putting together a work about Roman Legionnaires, Galilee, and Judea around 0 to 35 AD.    

The Question:  

I always ask a question when I write.  The question I asked myself in Centurion is what would the Roman Legionnaire be like who crucified Christ?  What would he think and what would his life be like.  Who was he?

The Characters:  

The idea came from a short story I put together one Easter.  I imagined the response of the woman of the streets who lived with the Centurion who crucified Christ.  I saw her as a person like the women who initially trusted in the Christ, like Mary Magdalene.  At first the Centurion Abenadar was not a sympathetic character, but in building his life, he was an honorable man who was driven by events and his responsibility to do what needed to be done.  Each of the characters grew from the reality of their times and place in the society of 30 AD. 

We see Abenadar change from a recruit through the training of the legion into a legionnaire, and with battles and training to become a Centurion assigned to Pilate in Judea. 

We see Ruth, the woman he rescues from the street both vulnerable and yet powerful.  A strength behind the compassion of the Centurion.

Teaser: 

Finally, though a novel, Centurion is good history.  For the reader, through the eyes of Abenadar, the world of 30 AD in Judea comes alive. 

This is the script for the trailer to my novel Centurion.  I need to redo the trailer, but the script isn't too bad.

More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - more on Trailers

13 February 2012, Publication - more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

You need to make trailers for each of your books.  Making a trailer is really easy to do.  Making a really good trailer takes some work.  If you can make a trailer so good that it goes viral, you might get some attention for your books--I'm not so sure.  Any advertising is good--it can't be bad.  Even bad advertising helps people remember your name.

You need to script your trailer.  If you go to the secret pages for my published books: Aegypt and Centurion, you can see the basic scripts I used for their trailers.  I make the script into a PowerPoint presentation so I can put them on a computer screen while I'm recording the trailer.  The point is to make your script into a teleprompter so you don't have to memorize it and you can read it while recording the trailer.  If you put the script into a PowerPoint presentation, you can use a mouse or a presentation device to click through the presentation.  If you do it right, you will be able to read the PowerPoint presentation script while recording the trailer and no one will know that you were reading it.
More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - Trailers

12 February 2012, Publication - Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

I've written about trailers before--I'll do it again.  Trailers are videos that are usually from 2 to 3 minutes long that describe and feature your novel.  They are used for advertising. 

How important are trailers?  No idea.  My publisher wants them, encourages them, and posts them.  You can see my trailers at http://www.oaktara.com/bookpage-centurion and http://www.oaktara.com/bookpage-Aegypt.  I suggest you should put together trailers for your books.  I have three other books that need trailers.  I should make them just because my publisher wants them.  That's kind of the point.  If your publisher thinks trailers are a good idea--then they are a good idea.  I recommend following your publishers advice always.  If you are an indie writer--do what you want, but realize, most publishers are encouraging writers to make trailers.

How effective are trailers.  I have no idea.  I'm not certain if people watch them or not.  I haven't received any feedback positive or negative about my trailers.  I'll admit, my trailers could use some work.  Still, no feedback is an indicator.  It means that few have watched them.  What I should do is put them up on my You-Tube site and see what happens.  That way I'll know if anyone watches them.

More on book trailers tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - more on Trailers

16 January 2012, Publication - more on Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  Book signings.
14.  Book trailers
15.  ...

You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few. 

I already wrote about trailers before, but these interview trailers are both unique and different than the normal trailers you make for your novel.  In general, they tend to be less formal.  This is because you are answering questions rather than just giving information.  Like I mentioned, you want to have an interviewer.  An interviewer gives the impression of personal contact.  So your interview trailer should be warm and if possible personal.  I wish I had an example to point you to, but I don't.  I can only point you to my very simple book trailers as examples of middle of the road trailers and tell you that your interview trailer should have a different feel.

In a book trailer, you want to connect your book to your potential readers.  In an interview trailer, you want to connect yourself, to a degree, with your readers.  You want them to get excited about your novel because you are excited about it.  In a book trailer, it doesn't matter if you are in the trailer at all, but in an interview trailer, you, the author have to make an appearance.  You are selling yourself as an author as well as your novel.
I'll move on to blog tours tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - more Trailers

17 November 2011, Publication - more Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/. 

I wrote in detail about how to make a book trailer yesterday.  Today, I'll give you some ideas about what to put in your script.  Here is the script I used for Aegypt.  I should put one together for Aksinya.  Perhaps I will and share it with you later. 

This script gives the basic information about the novel plus a little on why it is a special book.

In the Tomb of Darkness and Light

Research:

I study an era by reading every primary source document I can find from the time period.  Then I begin researching strong scholarly works on the subject.  I studied about a year before I began to write Aegypt. 

The Question: 

When the world was young, people believed in all kinds of gods and goddesses.  In the novel Aegypt, I ask the question what would happen if modern people came face to face with a real goddess.

The Characters: 

The characters grew out of this question.  You have the pragmatist, Paul Bolang.  He is a military man, a no nonsense leader.  He believes what he sees and knows it for what it is.  You have the archeologists Mr. Audrey, Monsieur. Perrain, and Mr. Williams.  Audrey is a modern scientist, he doesn’t believe in anything he can’t understand.  Perrain is a secular politician.  He follows to the letter the current agreement of general human thought.  And Williams is driven by the work.  If it isn’t a normal part of his work it can’t be real.

The Theme: 

So these are the men who open an ancient Egyptian tomb and find a mystery over 4000 years old—the goddess of light and her sister, the goddess of darkness.  Paul Bolang believes.  He finds the goddess of light who was released from the first tomb when it was opened.  She is gentle and beautiful, but also powerful.  Now he must stop the archeologists who want to open the second tomb—the tomb of the goddess of darkness.  The goddess of darkness is malevolent.  She is driven by a desire for power and to control the lives of others.  

Teaser:

Aegypt opens up the ancient world for your observation.  Will you be a realist like Paul Bolang or will the Goddess of Darkness catch you unawares. 

You can see this in the secrets page for Aegypt at http://www.aegyptnovel.com/.
I'll give you more details on marketing tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Publication - Trailers

16 November 2011, Publication - Trailers

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/. 

With the publication of your novel, you have become a marketeer (even if you didn't want to be).  I'd rather write--I really don't have the time to market my books, but this is a responsibility that comes with the territory.  You need to be ready to toot your horn and sell your books.  That's just the way it is.

Your publisher will send a list of recommended and required actions.  One of them is likely a video trailer for your novel.  I have two video trailers out there--they aren't that great.  I made them myself.  I really need to make trailers for my other three science fiction works.  Trailers are kind of painful to make.  Let me tell you how. 

You could hire someone to make them for you--that costs money and usually results in a quality product.  You can do almost the same yourself.  Here's how.
1.  Buy or borrow an inexpensive modern digital camera--they almost all have a video recording capability.
2.  Write a script that lasts 2.5 to 3 minutes that talks about why you wrote your novel, it's plot and theme, and what makes it unique.  You might get a little into the characters.  You want to present it as a short introduction to your work.  Put the script on a PowerPoint presentation you can control with a mouse on a computer or laptop.
3.  Put on some nice clothing (that matches the feel of your novel) and select a good background (that does the same).  For Aegypt I wore a white coat and chose an unfinished part of my basement.  I also used a lighted lantern.
4.  Put the camera on a tripod and the computer/laptop in front of the tripod where you can see it at near eye height.
5.  Practice a couple of times reading your script from the laptop/computer.  Try to act excited etc.
6.  Turn on the computer and record yourself giving the script about your novel.
7.  Now you can make it as professional as you wish through editing.  Microsoft as well as many other companies have video editors.  Use these to put in music, pictures of your novel, graphics, titles, pictures, etc. to make your presentation more exciting.  Keep it to 2.5 to 3 minutes long.
8.  Upload it to You Tube or another Internet video site and email it to your publisher.

That's all there is to making a trailer for your book.  You can get as fancy as you wish.  You can see my trailers at http://www.oaktara.com/.  Go to the author tab and select "A" then "LD Alford."

I'll give you more details on marketing tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.