Have you ever watched a book trailer? If you haven't, they're very similar to movie trailers. They give you a general idea of what the book is going to be about; however, I've seen some book trailers that reveal crucial information that spoils part of the story. I think book trailers should only include the information within a blurb, otherwise, they risk sharing too many details (and we all know even the blurbs can contain too much information about the story).
Why are book trailers a part of the marketing and publicity for new books? Where are they advertised? I feel like they have a really high potential to spoil something about a book. Even if they're not spoiling the content, they do damage and alter the characters for me. I like to picture the characters in my head as I read, and the trailers essentially give you a picture to recall. They're not always accurate, or even follow all of the descriptions listed in the book, so I would rather create the images on my own. It's also why I like reading a book before watching the movie, so I already have a clear idea of what the characters look like to me.
Do you watch book trailers? Do you actively search them out, or just click on the ones you randomly come across? Or are you like me, and try to avoid them altogether? I watched a lot of trailers before writing this post, because I wanted to see how trailers made my publishers compared to the ones made by fans. If it's just music and words, I'm okay. It was when the book trailer felt like a movie trailer that I lost interest. Do you think there is a large fan base for book trailers?
I confess that no, not really.
ReplyDeleteI will randomly see a book trailer being promoted on Twitter, but even then I tend to avoid them.
DeleteI don’t actively seek out book trailers but I do sometimes watch if I come across them. The ones from publishers are usually well done (good production value) over fan made ones. I don’t recall ever being spoiled by one so I guess that’s lucky. Even if a trailer portrays a character or setting a certain way I still tend to let my own imagination kick in when reading so I’m still picturing things the way I want. :)
ReplyDeleteLucky you! I watched a book trailer a few years ago, and it showed the main character getting shot. The synopsis didn't mention a shooting, and she wasn't actually shot until towards the end of the book. I spent the entire time wondering when it would happen, and hating that I knew something before I was supposed to. :(
DeleteI've watched a couple and after that I just avoid them. I don't click on the videos anymore. I'd rather just read the book, the book trailer does nothing for me.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't do anything for me either. There's nothing about them that makes me more inclined to read the book, so I don't click on them anymore. If anything, I want to avoid the book until the images from the trailer have left my brain, haha.
DeleteI'm like Mary above - they do nothing for me. I'm not very visual...yes, I love a few TV series, but for instance, I don't even like movies. So it probably make sense that, when it comes to a book, I stick with the blurb. I also understand the "danger" to be spoiled, or to get a particular version of the characters seared into your head before you "meet" them in the book...but in my case, I don't watch trailers because frankly, I couldn't care less haha. Not that I see many of them around (but maybe it's because I'm rarely interested in popular books...).
ReplyDeleteYou don't like movies? Interesting! We don't have a TV, but we use our computer for Netflix, PBS, and any movies we feel like renting. We rarely buy movies, but we have a few of the classics for the kids. The Goonies, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Mary Poppins, some Disney, etc.
DeleteI'm very visual, so seeing someone portraying a character really sticks with me. For example, I've read the Harry Potter books multiple times, but I've started pictures the actors from the movies when I re-read them to my son. I just can't help it! However, I do sort of remember what I thought they looked like before seeing them in a movie. It's why I always prefer reading the books first, so I can at least experience them once before something else is planted into my brain. ;)
I've come across a few randomly and don't mind them when they're 30 seconds long and just tease the book but when they're two minutes I'm genuinely baffled and never bother watching to the end.
ReplyDeleteI like fan made youtube videos though of favourite book ships etc. But then, I love fan made 'ship' videos for anything. :)
Yes! Why would a book trailer be two minutes long? For it to be that long, the trailer has to cover more than the blurb. I don't really mind the trailers that simply share quotes from the books, but I dislike it when they try to give the characters a face/voice.
DeleteOh! I haven't heard of those! Do you have a favorite?
I don't think I've ever watched a book trailer!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Try Googling your favorite book and add "trailer" at the end. I'm sure you'll find one! :)
DeleteI do watch book trailers an I do love them. Funny thing is I search them out generally after I read the book. I want to see how they envisioned the characters. I usually watch the ones that are for books I obsess over. If I come upon one while on youtube or goodreads. … I will for sure watch it. I do like them.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Do you think it's how the author's envisioned the characters, or the publishers? I wonder if the authors have any say in the trailers at all -- hmm. I don't mind the trailers that quote the synopsis, but the ones with people I tend to avoid. Like I said before, I don't like having those images/sounds in my head when I read the book. It's weird because I don't mind audiobooks, and they usually have one narrator for multiple voices.
DeleteI do not watch book trailers. When they first became popular it was a common Rafflecopter entry to have to watch one, but I haven't seen that in quite awhile, now. I usually only see them on blog tour posts for indie Horror and Romance books. Do the Big Five publishers still do them? 📚
ReplyDeleteReally? I had no idea they were used as Rafflecopter entries! Interesting! I've stumbled across a few on YouTube, but I rarely click on them anymore. I have no idea which publishers are still putting them out, or if it's something they've stopped doing. I'd have to check!
DeleteI don't seek out book trailers, but I will sometimes click them, when I see them out on Twitter. Some are good and some are no more than a moving print ad.
ReplyDeleteTruth. I might click on one if it's for a book I've never heard of, or one I'm not planning to read. If I do happen to see a trailer, I have to wait until those images have left my brain before reading the book, haha. I want to read how an author describes their characters, and then see what my mind comes up with. :)
DeleteI've actually only seen a couple of book trailers. One I saw recently was one that the author was kind enough to quote from my review! :) I'll have to keep an eye out for more of them. That's such a bummer that some spoil bits of the book though! :(
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Erica! It's always nice when authors and publishers quote reviewers. I know there are some good book trailers out there, but more often than not they spoil something for me. It's really frustrating when a two minute trailer highlights all of the major plot points within the book. I don't mind the trailers that simply quote the synopsis, but there are a lot that take it a little too far. It's just easier to avoid them altogether (for me anyways). :)
DeleteYeah, I'm not really into book trailers either!
ReplyDeleteThey just don't do it for me! It's a bummer, because I love movie trailers, but I don't think it translates well. :(
DeleteI only watch trailers occasionally when I run across them. I don't think I've ever felt like a trailer ruined a book for me, but I generally don't love them either. I'm relatively neutral when it comes to them, I guess.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm happy trailers haven't hurt your reading! It's only happened to me a few times. Before I started blogging and was looking for something new to read, I would peruse YA book trailers on YouTube for ideas on what to buy next. However, those trailers started telling me way more about the books than I wanted to know, so I stopped watching them. I want to be surprised by every aspect of a book, which I can't do when a trailer fives you more and a blurb's worth of information.
DeleteI used to love watching book trailers when I was in junior high and early high school, but something made them less interesting for me. I think it was because I was moving away from getting my information about new books from Amazon, and the trailers weren't that great after a point.
ReplyDeleteHmm -- I've never really looked on Amazon for books or suggestions (perks of working at a library and then a book store), so I wasn't aware they used trailers as a marketing tool. Interesting! I didn't know about them for the longest time, but would watch them occasionally when it was for a book I was familiar with. Unfortunately, one of the trailers spoiled something for me, and it made me wary of all book trailers after that. I feel like they have the potential to really help with a book's marketing, but only when they're done well. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! :)
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