Since the early 2010s, YouTube has hosted a flourishing literary community full of readers and authors alike. For many indie and traditionally published writers, the platform has proved an invaluable medium for marketing their books, communicating with their audience, and developing their author brand. But achieving popularity on YouTube is by no means an easy feat. Growing your channel requires time, energy, dedication, and vision — plus a whole lot of patience. There’s no shortcut to YouTube success, but there are tried and true tactics for generating a strong following, and we’re here to share them with you!
Today, we’ll explore everything you need to know about creating a robust author YouTube channel. This article will discuss:
- The Types of Author Content on YouTube
- Tips for Growing Your Audience
- Examples of Successful Author YouTube Channels
The Types of Author Content on YouTube
Your YouTube channel is a golden opportunity to display your individual character and style. Through your videos, readers can get to know the real you — beyond the smiling face and three-sentence bio in the back matter of your books.
When it comes to cultivating your unique YouTube content, the possibilities are endless. From writing vlogs to book announcements and giveaways, each content type provides ample room for personalization and creativity. Here are just a handful of the many kinds of videos you’ll find authors posting on YouTube.
Writing Vlogs
Writing vlogs are casual and intimate videos that give readers a peek behind the curtain of an author’s writing routine. Some vlogs even veer into lifestyle content, allowing viewers to get to know the author better.
In this example, Shaelin Bishop of ShaelinWrites documents the process of working on their latest fantasy project while traveling in Vietnam and Indonesia. The vlog includes everything from writing updates to scenic views to mouthwatering food shots!
Writing Advice
Writing advice videos offer tips and tricks for honing your craft. They can touch on anything and everything writing-related, including (but not limited to) crafting engaging characters, plotting a novel, mastering showing versus telling, cutting down on filler, and so much more. They often take the form of “how-tos,” instructing writers on executing certain skills.
In this example, Tim Hickson of Hello Future Me demonstrates how to write compelling, realistic dialogue using examples from bestsellers like Ned Vizzini’s It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire, and George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones.
Publishing Tips
Publishing tip videos provide helpful advice on navigating every step of the self-publishing or traditional publishing journey. Popular topics include how to find a literary agent, book marketing for indie authors, and what to look for in an editor or cover designer.
In this example, Chris Fox details the process of self-publishing his book, Destroyer, on Amazon. He thoroughly explains his methodology and provides valuable tips on ensuring readers find your work.
Book Announcements and Updates
Book announcements and updates are for sharing exciting news with subscribers, often to promote an upcoming book release. They can cover anything from general life updates to panel appearances, pre-order announcements, book tour dates, and more.
In this example, Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn announces the release of her latest horror novella, Catacomb. She gives viewers an enticing synopsis of the story and lets them know where to purchase their copy.
Cover Reveals
Cover reveals generate hype for an upcoming book release by sharing the book’s cover art. Writers may also take this opportunity to discuss what the book is about and when/where it will be available to preorder or purchase.
In this example, Christine Riccio of polandbananasBOOKs showcases the cover for her third novel, Attached at the Hip, and gives viewers a sneak peek at the plot. She also answers some fan-submitted questions about the book!
Question and Answer Sessions
Question and answer sessions (also known as Q&As) allow creators to engage with their audience by answering questions submitted by subscribers. This kind of video is valuable because it ensures viewers are getting what they’re looking for out of your channel: answers to their pressing writing and publishing queries. You can also use Q&As to establish your authority and expertise on a subject, showing viewers why they should tune in to your videos.
In this example, K.M. Weiland answers a subscriber-submitted question about how to turn an outline into a real story. She offers insights into her brainstorming process and shares resources for further learning.
Book Trailers
Book trailers generate interest for an upcoming book release by sharing a sneak peek at the plot and characters. This is your chance to highlight the story’s juiciest lines and plot points, as well as the tropes that will get readers invested.
In this example, Mandi Lynn of Stone Ridge Books gives her subscribers an aesthetic preview of her YA romance novel, Meet Me at the Summit. This book trailer introduces the story’s love interests and hints at some of its angstier story beats!
Giveaways
Giveaways are another way to cultivate excitement about your book release and foster community engagement. They’re also a fantastic way to promote your other marketing channels (such as a newsletter or social media profile) by requiring viewers to subscribe or follow to enter the giveaway.
In this example, Brandon Sanderson incentivizes viewers to sign up for his newsletter with a giveaway of two mini figurines inspired by his Stormlight Archive series!
Audiobook Readings
Audiobook readings tease the audiobook version of your story rather than the physical copy. They’re a chance to entice readers who may be unfamiliar with audiobooks to give yours a try or to create general interest for your story in whatever format.
In this example, Abbie Emmons teases the first two chapters of the self-narrated audiobook for her novel, Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever. To enhance the holiday mood, she includes footage of a cozy fireplace in the background while she reads!
Book Unboxings
Book unboxings are an exciting moment for both the author and the viewer. The author gets the joy of seeing the culmination of their work. Meanwhile, the viewer gets the satisfaction of watching the author’s journey come to a head after months — or, more likely, years — of dedication to a project they documented the process of creating. It’s an opportunity for communal celebration and a way to promote the book leading up to its debut.
In this example, Jenna Moreci records her reaction to unboxing the hardcover proof of her first nonfiction venture, Shut Up and Write the Book. She shares the exciting moment with her subscribers, letting viewers in on the trials of producing a physical book.
Process Breakdowns
Process breakdowns are reflective, discussion-based videos that walk viewers through writing and publishing a book. Rather than capturing behind-the-scenes moments as they happen like in a vlog, authors record these videos after the book is published. Although they vary in length and content, all process breakdowns serve as a way to reflect and share insights on a book’s creation.
In this example, Alexa Donne details every step in the process of creating her second thriller, Pretty Dead Queens, including how she came up with the idea for the story, how she used her editor’s feedback to rework her manuscript, and how the pandemic affected the experience of writing this novel.
Writing Sprints
Writing sprints are live writing sessions in which the host encourages viewers to write alongside them for the live stream’s duration. They’re meant to inspire mutual productivity while also being an amazing chance to bond and converse with your audience in real-time.
In this example, Vivien Reis chats with live viewers and encourages them to write or work with her. At the end of each 15-25 minute sprint, she regroups with the audience and asks them to share what they accomplished!
Tips for Growing Your Audience
Despite the value it offers authors, YouTube is one of the hardest platforms to grow on. Planning, filming, and editing long-form videos takes a lot of work, especially if you’re doing it all on your own. And when you’re just starting out, it can take a while to find your footing and grow your audience. If that all sounds intimidating, don’t worry! Here are some surefire tips for expanding your YouTube following.
Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to achieving any goal, as authors know well. Without developing a stable writing regimen, you’ll never complete your manuscript. The same goes for creating content on YouTube. Without sticking to a regular posting schedule, you’ll never fulfill the subscriber goals you aim to meet.
Viewers appreciate reliability, explaining why almost all successful YouTubers adhere to a strict content schedule. More than just a routine, this schedule is a pact you make with your audience: their viewership in exchange for your timeliness. So whether you intend to post weekly, biweekly, or monthly, make sure to follow through on your promise. Otherwise, your subscribers will get tired of waiting around for videos that never come.
Find Your Niche
The literary YouTube community is a wide umbrella, and as with anything, your content likely won’t interest everyone. Hence, it’s fruitless to focus on making generic, broadly appealing videos. Instead, the path to creating a devoted following lies in finding viewers who resonate with your specific interests and areas of expertise.
Ask yourself: What can I offer that other creators can’t? The answer will help you pinpoint where you can add value to the community. Maybe there’s a neglected demographic you can cater to, or perhaps your skillset gives you an underrepresented set of knowledge. Whatever sets you apart from your peers, use it to your advantage. If you can fill a hole in the community, viewers will come.
Be Authentic
People subscribe to creators who deliver valuable content, but that’s only part of the equation for attracting viewers on YouTube. Personality is another critical component of the appeal. If your content is educational but boring, no one will tune it. Guaranteed, someone else can deliver the same message as you but in a more engaging way.
For any video idea you come up with, someone’s bound to have done it already. But it’s how you execute the concept that matters more than anything else. Sure, the idea’s been done before. But could you do it differently? By putting your distinct spin on things, you’re demonstrating why your content is worth watching. Thus, don’t be afraid to show your viewers who you are. Your personality is what will keep them coming back at the end of the day.
Listen to Feedback
YouTube offers a variety of tools and features to help creators assess the reception of their content. Take one look at the comment section, and you’ll know exactly how viewers feel about your videos. This, combined with the community tab and YouTube analytics (found in YouTube’s Creator Studio), is an excellent resource for determining your strengths and weaknesses regarding content creation.
Viewers are vocal, and they’ll let you know what they love and what they hate about what you’re doing. Listen to this feedback to learn how you can improve as a creator and what new content avenues you can test out to satisfy your subscribers’ wishes. Beyond that, communicate with your subscribers directly — ask them questions and value their responses. By simply acknowledging how your audience feels, you’ll be one step closer to winning them over.
Be Adaptable
Social media platforms are always changing, so what worked once might not always get you the results you’re looking for. As communities and platforms evolve, creators must progress with them. It’s the only way to stay relevant and achieve career longevity.
Adaptability can look many different ways: Sometimes, it means trying out new features like YouTube Shorts or YouTube Live. In other cases, it might be tweaking the length of your videos to cater to consumers’ changing attention spans or trying out a new form of content to appeal to an untapped demographic. As long as you don’t get stuck in the same patterns of content creation, you’ll be setting yourself up for long-term success, no matter what kind of changes the platform goes through.
Examples of Successful Author YouTube Channels
Plenty of authors have already cracked the code to community building on YouTube. Here are some stellar examples of successful author YouTube channels, from both self-published and traditionally published writers:
- Jenna Moreci, author of The Savior’s Champion: Moreci’s channel delivers no-nonsense writing and publishing tips with a healthy dose of sarcasm!
- Alexa Donne, author of The Ivies: Donne’s channel features everything from writing advice to publishing insights, author interviews, book reviews, drafting vlogs, and more!
- Shaelin Bishop (ShaelinWrites), author of You Know Where Your Body Is Buried: Bishop’s channel is full of book reviews, writing vlogs, and how-tos for authors!
- Tim Hickson (Hello Future Me), author of A Catalogue for the End of Humanity: Hickson’s channel is a treasure trove of advice on worldbuilding, character development, and plotting! If you’re an Avatar: The Last Airbender enthusiast, you’ll appreciate his abundant ATLA-inspired craft lessons.
- K.M. Weiland, author of Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story: Weiland’s channel helps writers accomplish their publishing goals with industry insights, resources, and tips!
- Christine Riccio (polandbananasBOOKS), author of Again, but Better: Riccio’s channel is the perfect example of how to transition from book reader to book writer! It includes book reviews, writing vlogs, and author interviews galore.
- Joanna Penn (The Creative Penn), author of Stone of Fire: Penn’s channel shares inspiration and information about writing business and craft to aid authors in achieving their goals!
- Mandi Lynn (Stone Ridge Books), author of She’s Not Here: Lynn’s channel is a valuable resource for indie writers and entrepreneurs, delivering tons of self-publishing tips and tricks for aspiring authors!
- Chris Fox, author of Tech Mage: Fox’s channel breaks down everything you could ever want to know about book marketing, writing craft, and the business of publishing!
- Vivien Reis, author of The Elysian Prophecy: Reis’s channel assists fellow writers in reaching their publishing dreams through author vlogs, craft and outlining tips, productivity live streams, and more!
- Abbie Emmons, author of 100 Days of Sunlight: Emmons’s channel teaches writers how to master the art of storytelling, be more productive, and self-publish smarter!
- Brandon Sanderson, author of the Mistborn saga: Sanderson’s channel is a mix of behind-the-scenes content, career updates, writing advice, author interviews, and full-length audiobooks!
To turn casual readers into lifelong fans, authors need to find avenues of connection with their audience. YouTube is the ultimate platform for literary community building, allowing writers to showcase their personalities and create a dialogue with their readership through compelling and thoughtful content. Try out the tips above to build a vibrant YouTube audience that will bolster your publishing endeavors!
For more tips on navigating your literary career, check out our blog on How To Create an Author Newsletter!
Check out our Author Services to learn how Bookstr can help promote your book!
