Sylvia's novel writing blog

My shiny new book trailer for my WIP

Check out my shiny new book trailer (a marketing tool) for my work-in-progress:

 

First, I used a Mac to make a Powerpoint presentation (sparse writing = good). After saving the PPT project, save the project "as pictures", so that each slide is saved as a jpg. Next, open iMovie, and insert each jpg into the story board. Once the jpgs (slides) are in place, choose a movie theme and adjust the length of each jpg (slide). Choose a song from iTunes (ask for permission from the musician first if you wish to broadcast it publicly) and lay it on the story board (this makes the background light up green). Finally, click on the Share tab to post it on YouTube. If you have a PC, you can use MovieMaker.

Write back. I'd like to hear about what other people are making.

Our brains--hardwired to enjoy stories?

One of the most useful books on writing that I've read in the past 10 years is Wired For Story by Lisa Cron. It merges art with science, deftly explaining how we are biologically wired to pinpoint those elements we as readers seek and hope to find while reading a story. 

To hear a summary of some of the most salint points in her book, I'm including the link Grammar Girl: Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing, where Lisa Cron's work is showcased in an article. You can also listen to the audio version (10-minutes), which is located just above the GG article.