One of the things Reading Activists love doing is creating book trailers. We've been looking at what makes a good one and here are our top six tips.

1. Write a script

Don't just use the jacket copy. People digest text very differently when watching video compared to when they read a book cover so it's best to be clear and concise and make sure the text and imagery are perfectly aligned.

2. Start strong

You want to grab people's attention from the beginning so you need to start with something engaging. A question or quote from the book can work well.

3. Keep it steady

There's nothing worse than a film that's been made with a shaky hand. So use a tripod when shooting your trailer. If you haven't got a tripod you can improvise with whatever you do have, a pile of books and some blu tac can work a treat.

4. Simple ideas are sometimes the best

Using too many different elements can make a book trailer confusing and hard to watch. Try to think about the strongest themes of the book and base your trailer on those.

5. Don't just summarise the plot

You don't want your trailer to be boring, so try not to summarise the plot. Make hints to the story and remember DON'T spoil the ending of the book. Your viewers won't want to go and read the book if you do.

6. Choose music carefully

Copyright is an issue when it comes to using someone else's songs in your trailer. You can choose to download some public domain music or visit iStock to purchase music clips or if you are musically inclined (or have friends who are) why not compose your own soundtrack!

And here are some of our favourites...

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Interested in building your CV through volunteering or like the idea of meeting new friends whilst helping out at your local library? Find out more about Reading Activists and what you can do for yourself and for your local community.