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The Danger of Building an Audience for Authors
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2023
- Building an audience as an author is difficult, and only grows tougher with time, as platform incentives pull you in directions you may not have intended to go.
In response to this, I present the video I wish I had watched when I started this channel :)
Hey everyone :) This is a video I would have benefited from watching a couple of years ago: some thoughts on "building an audience" as an aspiring author, for those of you who are (or soon will be) doing the same, and as a broad outline of my approach to future videos.
Hey Yarn Ray, I just wanted to say that I'm currently in a situation where I have to make some BIG decisions (not directly related to writing), and your question about what we'd like our days/our journey to look like is really useful to me. 💖
I also loved your point about how anything we make and put out into the world subtly nudges the larger body of work in a certain direction. I often get hung up on whether I should write something "marketable" or something that is closer to my heart. Your video and the questions you pose will help me get some clarity on that.
Glad to see you back! I watch your Save the Cat video when I need a refresher but don't want to re-read the whole thing, it's so useful! 😺
Thank you for the comment and kind words-I'm glad my videos have been of some use to you!
My focus on process is inspired (borrowed?) from the Stoic's prioritization of the present, along with the idea of mindfulness. I like Seneca's thoughts on the matter: "True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future."
If you found what I touched on in this video helpful, that may be a helpful start for further reading! Seneca's "On The Shortness of Life" and Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" have helped me through many a big decision.
Thanks again for the comment and for watching; best of luck with your writing and decisions!
This video is exactly what I needed. Glad to have you back, dude! I’ve only interacted a few months ago in these comments. Happy to see this new upload.
Glad to have you back, sir. Feel like this niche of video hasn’t been properly filled. Need more honesty on the platform. Thanks for coming back!
My man just came in, droped one of the best videos about writing on youtube, didn't elaborated and just left.
Welcome back!
i came from one of kris MF’s vlogs and i’m glad she mentioned this video. the main thing i resonate with is the fighting duality between the creative pursuits: writing and content. i do, in fact, prioritise my channel over my own writing. which seems - perhaps to you and other writers - self-sabotaging to the writing craft. it is interesting how i make videos ABOUT writing and yet find myself without time to write. but i think my love of *talking* about writing with likeminded people is just as rewarding as my actual projects. i want to be selfless in a way that brings other younger writers up first and foremost, before tending to my own novels.
after reaching 70k just last week - it feels bizarre. bizarre because, after my unsuccessful querying attempt at one of my books, this ‘following’ got me no where. it’s just difficult seeing that first hand.
however your video was insightful to me, with things i didn’t know other authortube writers went through. i hope everything goes well with your pursuit for writing and content! 💕also - you talk like a literal professor i could never hahah. such fancy words.
That makes sense, being conscious of what you truly enjoy (in this case, both writing and discussion of the craft) is important, and proves a level of self-awareness that I may still be striving for! When it comes to the balance of content and writing, I've decided, at the moment, to simply rotate: one video, then one short story, then one video...
The idea is to ensure I don't tip too heavily to one side or the other, but we'll see how this works out haha.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thank you for the kind words, and best of luck with your channel and writing!
welcome back! as a writer who's been doing content creation on this platform for over 2 years now, I admire your decision to step away for a period and return with some clarity and insight. I can't tell you how much this resonates with me. like this video should be mandatory viewing for aspiring authortubers because that RUclips Analytics dashboard will mess up your brain sooo fast. I haven't even dipped my toes into tiktok yet but I know that once I go on submission, I probably won't have a choice because there's a huge readership over there and as a writer you fear you're "missing out." sometimes I feel resentful about having to be a part time youtuber instead of just focusing on my craft but those are the marketing realities. that said, my hope for my channel was never to grow big, but just to be in conversation with other writers. it's reassuring to hear you echo some of that sentiment as well. the question of "what am I contributing to" is incredibly valuable and I hope more writer/content creators hear it!
Wow. I'm so thankful for this video, it just completley took the anxiety out of audience building. Focusing on what I really want rather than some vision of what "success" looks like is such simple yet wise advise.
YOU'RE BACK! So good to see you on my screen again
You have almost perfectly described the concept of Journey Before Destination and I applaud you for it
YEEESSSS the best writing RUclipsr is back!! Can't wait to watch this 📚
Omg it's so great you're back! Yes please don't delete your channel, the videos help so much!
Hey man, it's so nice having you back!!
Welcome back. Very well spoken video. I think this advice applies equally to nearly any other content creation as well. I found myself nodding along to certain parts, particularly about the gravity of the analytics steering you in a certain direction. Data is fantastic, but it's also a two-edged sword. You can't use data for your benefit without also being a subject to it. You can't unsee the bad once you have peeked behind the curtain. You're armed, for better or worse, with more info to use to curtail your efforts going forward.
Thank you! Great point about not being able to "unsee once you have peeked behind the curtain." I have no plans to abandon analytics entirely, but it's difficult not to have the data in the back of your mind while working on future projects.
Just found this channel, excited to see where it goes. Make the content you would want to see, just dont burn yourself out while doing it. The views will come in due time.
Literally found this channel last week and was gutted it was dead, you were brilliant. I hope you’re back for good because you deserve a lot of success on this platform 😁😁
I think people need to be more cognizant of your point that everything people create and contribute to on the internet moves the whole culture further in that direction. We all need to take more responsibility for what we’re creating and consuming because it is a shit show out there! Thoughtful channels like yours are so valuable. So happy to see a new video from you - I for one will be looking forward to whatever you come out with next!
Welcome back. Was just clearing out my followers and came across your channel and decided to keep it because I loved your content so much but in the back of my mind I wondered if you'd ever come back. Less than 24 hours later and you've updated again! Imagine that! :D
I’m so excited to see you back on RUclips. Hope you stick around. Take care of yourself!
So glad you're back! I found you during your absence as I was starting my Creative Writing program, and was sad that you weren't posting more.
This video is so... so important. Thank you, really. Made me think a lot. ❤
Hey man I’m in law school and have been struggling with the why of investing hard work. I’m looking to writing as a creative outlet to produce something meaningful. I appreciate your comments on the goal of producing content: ephemeral goalpost versus rewarding process. While I have heard this before, it is great to hear it regarding this particular topic. Love your videos and I believe you’re filling a niche with great potential to snowball.
Good to have you back man, you were missed.
Been checking your channel every now and then to see if you would come back. And you came back with a banger! Glad I found your channel a few months ago.
I was wondering where you went. Glad to see you back at it again and hope you're doing well!
Wow. Absolutely incredible. This video is so niche I love it. Journey before destination, my friend.
Surreal. I just found you a couple weeks ago and decided to subscribe because I wanted to look through your catalog. Now you're back, and providing more content.
Thanks!
I am so glad you are back. This video resonates with me so much. I haven't even started my youtube channel yet and I already feel that I would have no idea what to say since its been said so many times before on other channels. Your videos are inspiring. They make me think. So thanks!
Thank you for posting this video! I clicked on not knowing what to expect and got hit with a HUGE pivotal part of why I get burn out. How you described this was so incredibly relatable. It’s really hard grappling with playing the game, enjoying myself, and just wanting to write.
I only stumbled across your channel about half an hour ago, have only watched two other vids besides this - which I'm about to change as soon as I'm done writing this -, and I'm already so genuinely happy that you're back (and just in time for my discovery lmao). Great insights, great distillation of an insanely complex (and subjective) topic, sincerely great advice, and entertainingly eloquent. Can't wait to hear more from you on whatever curious topic you feel like discussing next!
thought-provoking and needed discussion for any creative & creator!
as a small business owner, I have definitely spent years feeling as though I was a victim of the algorithm & chasing growth of an audience for my business.
but I’m also a mother and it is incredibly hard to meet the expectations to keep up with it all in this season of life, and I’m the only one setting these expectations for myself.
we have to be extremely realistic about the phases of life we are in, and what we want out of our goals. tempering our expectations towards how much we can accomplish and achieve to chip away at our goals without burnout.
as you said, setting goals that will bring us sustainable joy rather than one day of celebration!
where I have landed is the same as you - redefining my goals, intentions, priorities, & expectations, as well as re-centering myself in the love for my crafts and the importance of balance.
Thank you for dignifying me (and all of us) with the language you use. It’s not often I pause a video to take notes, but “what kind of day would you like to live” is now sticky-tabbed to my mirror.
Was just coming back to rewatch your save the cat video as I did find it useful. I found your channel on my suggested page two weeks ago(?), glad you didn’t delete it!
So glad to see you're back! Wonderful video as always.
I can relate to a lot of things you've described in the video, and I think it's extremely easy nowadays for content creators to get caught in a maelstrom of analytics and algorithm tricks without even realizing. But taking a step back to rethink your message and goals is equally difficult, brave and intelligent, so congrats for that.
Also, a couple of things that have helped me to cope with anxiety and burnout are (a) trying to live in the present and to actively enjoy the process, and (b) set clear short term achievable goals.
Happy to have you back!! Just discovered your videos a month or two ago and was kind of bummed you weren’t making more. I subscribed just in case and I’m happy I did because this video is immediately valuable for what I’m going through. One thing I’ve realized is it’s not up to the artist to decide the value of their art. I’ve consumed art that was objectively “bad” that was incredibly impactful for me. Not that your videos fall into that category lol. But putting your art out with that clear intention you talk about and then letting the audience decide if it’s useful or not can help take the pressure off and help you focus on why/how you’re producing the art itself.
Welcome back omg!! This is so great to see I didn't think it'd happen lol
I'm very happy you're back, Yarn! I appreciated your older videos.
You made some good points in this video I'm going to think about!
I look forward to seeing more videos from you! :)
As a writer, who's goal is to live off the passion of the stories I am writing, I loathe the thought of gaining a following by any other means. I don't easily placate to the rules of the platforms given to us. If I have to adjust myself, those who follow won't know me, but it's not about me. It shouldn't, it's about my writing. I don't even know the names of some of the authors of books I love. It's art vs artist. As long as I'm not killing people, people shouldn't care about what I as a person am, more that my writing does what I set it to do. I do not want to filter myself just to post about my life or journey in a way I really don't think others need to see?
I'm torn. Sharing passion is the human experience, but if your passion is going to be your job, then there's a line I feel you shouldn't cross. There's too much of everyones lives on these sites and if I have to combat that just for the shot of ppl reading my work, then perhaps my work can't speak for itself? I want it to be GOOD, I don't want numbers to say it's good just because thousands buy it on the premise that it is I who wrote it.
I want it to reach the right people. I want the complexities and nuance to speak for itself. I want my love for what I'm doing to seep through the page. If I have to go online and express it any other way, am I failing?
This is so tricky, as I knew this was wanted when I was 5. I grew up learning the industry without the internet. I have not adapted well to the change. Writing is a lonely process and I like it that way. I don't have it in me to be a content creator like that. That wasn't a part of the writers description lol
Dude what an awesome watch! Great writing, great speaking, insightful points.
Wow, a year from your last video. Glad you're back! And with such an insightful video. I feel I've fallen into the clickbait titles and such. Though my next two videos (which I had planned in this succession from before starting the youtube channel) will be more of my purest ones (I've thought about how they aren't gonna get the most views, but I'm just excited to make them, so I shrug the thought off!). I just wanted to get video editing down before I did them lol. That and I haven't told anyone I've written two books yet, though it is coming in two videos from now. I appreciate this video for sure. Even though my YT channel was just born out of me wanting to try something while in-between book ideas, I do want to keep it as pure to myself as possible. Thanks for your videos and intentional contributions to this platform!!
I just watched your first video which is delivered as good or better than many seasoned RUclipsrs. Valuable writing information. You have a clear and succinct style of communicating information, a great voice & tone for audio, - with just the right amount of friendliness and humor. What you need now is simply to post consistently and be patient. I think if you master that you will find your channel will grow to a level that meets your expectations. Looking forward to your next video on writing.
Glad to see you back!
Keep going, fam 🖤
Really love your content, sir. Hope things are going well and hope to see more of you. Don't be discouraged by what horrible people say on the internet
As I find videos recommended by the algorithms of RUclips that I like, I click on the channel to check if the author is producing new content and check their most recent content to see if it seems consistent with the video I was watching. It is rare to find an update like this one. Kudos!
I subscribed a month ago and then was disappointed you hadn't uploaded cuz it looked like you'd given up on the channel. Glad you're back!
I think you make a great point here. I've seen it moreso on twitter, but I've seen a number of people flanderize themselves, chasing the likes of some viral tweet. Authentically building your content for the sake of the content, rather than the sake of views or ad revenue, I think is the way to go to build lasting value in the form of lasting works and a solid community. View maximization means getting a lot of easy views, means being easy to understand, means catering to the lowest common denomenator and people who aren't really invested.
i’ve been asking myself these questions a lot lately, and i’m trying to shift my content towards answers that satisfy me. definitely food for thought … glad you’re back
damn i am so glad i found this video/channel. thank u for this piece of "creation"
You are backkkkkk!!! Thank god.
You should be creating more videos. I have learned so much from your previos videos.
You're back, yay!!! 🎉🎉🎉
You should always have a North Star, driving force. Just like a good character in a novel!
I'm glad to see you back.
Oh damn, you're back!
Return of the King
Love that there are subtitle. Thanks for that
I cant say much about this video in particular, and I do think that its valid to worry about the quality of what you're putting out etc
I just wanted to say that I found a fair bit of the stuff you've put out at least whats visible right now to be quite helpful. Its not like revolutionised the way I think about stuff, but I will say that aspects are there that I've definitely found helpful. Talking through examples of say save the cat and how that fits into the structure of novels with examples is super useful as a way of broaching the topic of like how plot fits together in stuff
honestly though? I do feel like more resources from more sources written and presented in different ways is just useful? as long as its not presented as "the right way" and rather as "a way" you're putting more good into the world even if it doesn't manage to reach the bar of perfection
You are back!!!
Honestly, I feel like when it comes to creativity, originality is mostly behind the scenes. The tip of the iceberg might look like other icebergs but below the surface they are unique. Luckily those experiencing the creativity have some insight into what's below. I say that to mean that maybe you did go in a direction you didn't like but the videos you made aren't worthless because the part that makes them unique is you and your approach to them. Plot archetypes are used in some of the most unique and original feeling stories but when boiled down to just the archetypes they are the same.
When it comes to creating a successful novel it's rarely about being the most original idea in the world and more about your original spin on something already in the world. So I don't think you should beat yourself up about your older videos for anything other than course correction of where you want to go like you said in this one. I've watched several channels on novel/story writing and you definitely have something to offer.
Also idk if you put them there just for decoration or not but love the TTRPG dice set.
You're back!
Welcome back!
this video is amazing. I completely agree and went down a similar road
When you join social media, you just have to be honest with yourself. Are you truly here just to share your journey for some personal reason? If so, then stop obsessing over views and follower count because that's counterintuitive. You'll end up with a smaller follower count, but those people will still be impacted by your journey. For you, youtube is a hobby so don't forget that. The main aim is to be authentic and have fun.
If you're here to market, then accept that. For you, the main aim is a professional/financial. Don't try to convince yourself you're just here for anything else because you're just going to dilute your own efforts. If you're here to market, start off by choosing a target group. Writers or readers. If you want to sell yourself to writers, just know your platform won't be ideal for selling your novels. But you can sell yourself (ie. your youtube videos will be monetized, you can sell courses, writing nonfiction books, content on patreon, etc). If you want choose to market to readers, then know that "writerly" content can be nice here and there but most readers don't really want "how to" writing videos so figure out what content they do want and stick to that. Pay attention to analytics. Learn about marketing on that platform and stick to a plan.
Either way, when you join any platform, you have to understand it's either a hobby or a side job. Both require time, creative effort, and will have ups and downs of enjoyment. Consistency is key.
This isn't a short-term commitment. So you have to really love what you're doing or talking about.
Most people say their on here as a hobby, then get stuck obsessing over views/follower counts which is a business-marketing mindset, not a hobby mindset. These people aren't being honest to themselves and turn bitter against their chosen-platform because they want to have an "easy going" attitude (aimed at hobbies) when what they are doing is a job. And rarely are jobs all sunshine and roses. They are hard work.
it's not about building an audience, it's about building a community
and he's back !
WELCOME BACK🎉
please come back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for making this video! Even if you did make me lose The Game.
Incoherent and fast paced edi……. Made me chuckle
I don't know if you are paying attention to comments on old posts, so I am posting here. RUclips threw up your previous 'I Let the Internet Critique My Novel' post. It would be nice if you included a link to the unedited chapter (or edited) in question. Then I could see if I agree with the critiques for myself and evaluate whether you have anything to say to me in general. If you still want me to critique it, I can. From the little I saw, how is the stone pathways relevant to the market description if they are completely hidden by a mass of people? I did not see the full description, but I did not see a connection with the character. If it was described through his eyes rather than 3rd person omniscient, it would make more sense. I have not seen enough to understand why his standing in a market instead of a street, for example, is important to the story.
Skin usually does not absorb water so the sweat normally trickles or runs down the skin, not seeps into it. It might evaporate if there is too little to trickle, but from the description, he's plenty sweaty.
From the little I saw in the video, it looks description heavy, but that is perhaps an unjust comment as I saw far too little. I would judge excitement more by how many people asked to read subsequent chapters when they become available. On the other hand, people who are paid in some fashion to critique dissertations also do not do their job in many cases and offer no help to the author. So a lack of interest is endemic to modern society, perhaps because there is just so much out there to read.
In addition, readers might be interested in posting their own first chapters to these sites, although you did a good job of discouraging such an endeavour.
The chapter posted on that video was an old draft of an old manuscript, so I likely won't be sharing it at the moment: so little of my writing is out there that I'm not sure I'd be comfortable having my sole public material being an unedited first draft. Maybe down the road I'll post it, if the demand is there. The goal of the video was to explore the options available for online critique and their pros and cons-I'd probably approach the subject differently if I made it today, but this is the nature of online content and changing views 🤷♂️
Thank you for the feedback and the comment!
You know what they say - Those who can do, those can't critique. I am not sure many people understand how to critique, i.e., what makes writing good. If that is true, then they are in short supply and hard to find and to convince to take on your work. They are not likely found on free apps open to the general public.
Btw, I was thinking about your story, the old one. Your one line paragraph I would have left. But I would have made the marketplace description 1-2 paragraphs long from the protagonist's perspective. This is his home; he does not see a mass of people but all his old friends, by name, and notes what each is doing. This is his cocoon, his womb, where he feels safe and comfortable. Then, he grabs ahold the boy's hand. there is a flash of light and the description turns to third person because he is lost; this is not his world. And you are showing that by your language, not telling it. And the hook is on the first page.@@YarnRay
Too real
HIIIII
I don't know. I kind of disagree with this video because it seems to imply that there is this invisible force (incentives and other mechanisms) that are forcing you down a rabbit hole and that isn't true. People fall down the rabbit hole because they aren't honest about what they want. They say they are here for a personal-reason and but really are here seeking a financial gain. All those incentives are aimed at people who want to make more money on youtube. It's really that simple. If you're using clickbait titles, it's because you want more views, more followers, more money. RUclips wants that too. Because it's a business. And writers need to understand they are a business, too. If writers realized, opening a platform is the same as getting a part time job BUT without guarantee of a steady paycheck, they'd be more realistic about what they are getting into then pretending it's "just for fun" while secretly hoping to reach 1 million followers and using their audience to become a bestseller. Because clearly, one of these is being realistic about what youtube and the other is a lot of self-delusion. Most people I follow who are authors have been here 5-10 years and they have on average 50,000 followers. That is a lot of time invested for pennies. So I hope most people who turn to social media really want to be here. Personally, I'd rather write additional books per year than be on youtube. But that's me. Other writers may want to write and have a bunch of side gigs. I used to be a freelancer like that for over a decade with a ton of side hustles. That can be fun, but what I learned was that when you divide your attention into so many ways, you never really let any one of your endeavors actually grow. 110% of my free time and attention goes to my books. I don't want to give a second of that to opening a social platform.
Welcome back!