Problems with the Writing Community (Authortube) | RESPONSE to Shaelinwrites

[@ShaelinWrites]

I am SO glad the writing community is becoming more open to these discussions so the whole community can become healthier for everyone, and hearing your insight as someone who is traditionally published is so valuable.

[@AlexaDonne]

Thank you so much Shaelin! I loved your video so much, and thank you for kicking off this conversation. It was one I didn't even realize we needed to have.

[@haakin2262]

My two favourites TALKING TOGETHER! It feels like watching my favourite tv shows doing a crossover! Like Korean Drama meets Barry. 🎶 all is ❤️

[@VocaloidThalia]

@@haakin2262 Top 10 anime crossovers

[@ericajobethemultiplycoach5247]

Yes! Good editors/critics are NOT always good writers. This is okay. I'm so glad you addressed that.

[@Katytastic]

LOVE THIS VIDEO. so many interesting and important topics brought up! as a writer who found a place on booktube before authortube was really a thing, it's been so fascinating to watch the development of the community as kind of an outsider. and especially with recent youtube changes and the growth of the community, it'll be real interesting to see how things progress! but i think open discussions like this will really help facilitate growth and shape it into an even more amazing community :)

[@AlexaDonne]

Yeah I feel like things went from zero to sixty very recently? (and in that sense I feel like I contributed b/c I joined at this perfect moment and now it's like BOOM) And yeah I think changes on YT have definitely contributed as well--a whole other topic I didn't get into b/c HOW META was how "clickbait" helps with growth, but then does that encourage "controversial" content? It's another thing we need to talk about (booktube too).

[@user-re4kc9on6f]

Katy your channel was the first writing channel I ever watched or subscribed to! I trust you because you are so enthusiastic and you’re real and hella relatable. 🖤🖤🖤👍🏻☕️

[@PhoebeWritesFiction]

Another issue that I think needs discussion is creators being disingenuous not only about their own products (whether that's a novel or writing course or editing services) but also about the products of other members in their clique. I'm a huge fan of creatives supporting and uplifting each other. I love it. And this is a social media site - channels grow through networking and mutual support. BUT I see some products sold by authortubers that are blatantly underdeveloped and overpriced... and when I see the other members of the clique pile on to help sell those products, I feel a little queasy. That's why I'm glad this conversation has started really, just so viewers and creators alike can be more aware and, hopefully, conscientious.

[@lizzychrome7630]

Yeah, it sometimes feels so artificial and repetitive, it's like some people are just programmed to promote those books, like they're drones in a cyborg army or something.

[@JulianGreystoke]

The good news is, at least with the author tubers I watch, it seems like the trend is leaning more towards honesty and sharing struggles. I think that's a good thing anyway.

[@emmmabooks]

i don't watch a ton of authortube but hearing your thoughts on current issues in the community was so interesting :)

[@gingerreadslainey]

YES. I do think there are a lot of things in Authortube that need to be addressed or have a conversation about because as the community grows they're not going to go away and could get worse. I like that more of us are starting to talk about it. I mean the writing community IS great, but there never are discussions. Guess I'm too used to coming from Booktube where there is always a big discussion on something every other month. But pretending everything is fine and dandy over here in Authortube is a little naive.

[@AlexaDonne]

Yes, that's precisely how I feel! There are plenty of issues in the non-KZbin writer community so of course we'd have similar or our own dynamics emerging here. Sticking our heads in the sand and pretending isn't going to help anyone. I, for one, prefer open dialogue.

[@carolsikes5069]

That's interesting, because the first Kim Chance video I saw on You Tube was one she made a couple of years ago when her book was being sent out to publishers and turned down and she started crying on the video. I literally watched other videos of hers because I found that openness so refreshing and true to life.

[@EmilyNGA]

All the comments in your videos are so well written. Writers are the best commenters! 😄

[@ArnellaHobler]

It's been really interesting to hear you and Shaelin talk about these issues! Honesty/transparancy is so important, but at the same time there are things that you should keep to yourself. As a fledgling authortuber I'm finding it difficult to see where the line is sometimes. The harsh reality is that the people watching can get the impression that you're a "bad writer" just because you're honest about where you struggle during your writing process, which is undoubtedly sad. I personally love it when I find authortubers who can share their struggles and personal thoughts, that just makes them more relatable and likable in my opinion. Big thumbs up!

[@maddychurchhouse4556]

This is SUCH a good response video. You approach all the issues the other girls brought with nuance and empathy. Instead of randomly throwing shade you actually explore the complexities on both sides of different arguments, and the tough realities of the decisions content makers have in terms of what they want their channel to be like, and how to balance honesty with privacy, creativity with following successful formulas, pure pleasure with hard marketing, and how these are all legitimate paths. In terms of honesty and genuineness, this video is a winner for me...it's one of the most down to earth I've seen! I think it's my fave you've ever done! x

[@AlexaDonne]

Aww, thank you so much!!! That's so good to hear :)

[@meganharris6188]

Girl! I love your channel! Never change I remember the first authortube self published book I read and I was just SHOCKED at how bad it was. I mean...oh boy. But it's even worse when they try to sell a writing class or editing service (like you said it makes me uncomfortable). Anyways, I've learned so much from you!

[@lizzychrome7630]

I too am a former fan of that person. Have you seen her books' FakeSpot results? Sooner or later, enough tea will spill that the cyborg queen will short-circuit.

[@soniamandarino9068]

You're the only author I watch, not because I don't like anyone else but I am learning everything I want right here. So I appreciate every topic, thank you!

[@cheesecakelasagna]

You should check out other's view from time to time; makes you more well-rounded and open-minded. Just remember: keep what you like, lose what you don't.

[@soniamandarino9068]

I have since then watched others, that's good advice 🙂

[@Cottage-Reader]

CheesecakeLasagna Hi Cheesecake, do you have any recommendations? The ones I like are still in their beginning stages, I like watching our lady Alexa here bc for one she's experienced and is also transparent in her videos of what to expect on the "other side." Please share others that u like to watch along with Alexa. 😊

[@bloogoo]

Salute to you admitting that you've also contributed to some of these.

[@WriterMarkusRegius]

I completely agree, especially about the openness and transparency. When I started my channel, I wanted to give writing advice, but I realized after a while that there was no point in trying to do that before I had convinced people that I have experience and credentials for giving such advice. So I looked at Authortube and saw that what I wanted to see that wasn't there was more transparency, more of the "downsides", people admitting that writing is hard, and showing their struggles. Because seeing everyone so positive and only talking about progress made me feel like I was the only one who had these struggles. I know it's not true, so now I'm trying to be as open as possible about both the ups and downs of my writing, to show people that it's okay to struggle. Might not have been entirely what you meant, but it's something I wish there was more of :)

[@aboycalledfish]

I think maybe all of this stems from the fact that it's called "Authortube" and not "Writertube" because authorhood automatically has the consumer aspect to it, and I think most people would feel more comfortable if the emphasis was more on a passion for writing than selling books? Edit: Brandon Sanderson is my idol mostly from the fact that he is constantly validating the fact that you can just write for personal fulfillment and you're not a failure for not being able to publish anything.

[@debl3063]

I like hearing what different writers think about the same topic.

[@RebeccaKSampson]

I appreciate your thoughtful response Alexa. That's one of the things I enjoy about your channel, you are always very thorough. I don't 100% align with everything that has been said across these videos, but I do agree that these conversations are needed and I valued hearing what you had to say. Thanks!

[@stephaniekbrownell8464]

Alexa, I love this. Specifically, your point about teaching--as an off-line teacher, I know that even "experts" still fall prey to some of the same traps we teach folks to avoid. I loved Shaelin and Jenna's videos as well because I just think it's incredibly important to have these discussions and to have them publicly so newer folks like me can join in. Some things I'd like to see (and maybe I'll do a video on this myself, but...): more transparency, more diversity, and more varied approaches to the craft of writing. But of course I too am still going to consume those classic how to videos whether for new points of view or because it's nice to be reminded of these things every once in a while. Anyway, keep it up!

[@k.n.fitzwater]

Who here is drinking coffee for this tea? *raises hand* Anywho, I love this video and as a newbie writer(tryingtobecomeanauthor)youtuber, I think these are valid points to discuss. I think the people who can help "break" this "mold" will be people like me, the newcomers. All of you put out such great discussion points and topics that get us thinking. But it's easy to see the patterns generated as an outsider and formulate video topics that can be different. That's not saying older channels can't change the direction of their videos, but I think that it's just easier for people not in the thick of things to see the new 'solution'. I, too, started out on KZbin as a way to reach out to new potential book readers. Now, I feel that Instagram, KZbin, and etc. are ways we social network with our peers. Granted, we may try to be more educational in our support, but I think that people interested in these videos are striving for similar goals (such as getting our stories out there as it can be read). An aspiring writer can become a fellow published author in a couple of years and may "outgrow" some video content. So, yes, I believe some transparency will be great. So, yeah, I know this is such a huge comment in such a relatively short amount of time, but I want to help break the ice.

[@Nayukuo]

I wish we were at the point as a community where we could openly discuss and name names of channels that have been involved in dodgy practices, because all this silence feels like tacit approval. There's one particular authortube I've seen (and more that I haven't, I'm sure), and while I didn't always agree with her perspective, her content was very engaging to watch. In the past several months, she's starting plugging "writing coaching" worth thousands of dollars, and it's left me sick to my stomach. Unless you're a professional with a very impressive degree - or Margret Atwood - there is no universe in which you should be charging so so so much. I don't begrudge people who want to make a business out of their passion, but I think when you overcharge, with no qualifications, and plug it to your audience (most of whom are not in a financial position to throw away money on something as indulgent and ultimately pointless as a "writing class") then you're walking a very very thin line. I think it's predatory. I really do. To set yourself up as some kind of messiah within your field and then tell people "you too can be like me for the small price of two months rent!!!" is simply.... beyond words.

[@lizzychrome7630]

That "writing coaching," costing thousands of bucks, that's not Jenna Moreci is it?

[@Nayukuo]

@@lizzychrome7630 Actually for a change its not, hahaha. It's another big self published channel tho

[@lizzychrome7630]

@@Nayukuo Well that's a relief at least...

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Rikki Allesandra the amount of books someone writes should not be an issue she writes fast she is not saying because you are not like her that makes you a failure Kristen has never said bad about anyone

[@readutation]

Hi, April! I'm so terribly sorry if I upset you. Believe it or not, it wasn't my intention to upset anyone. And now that I think about it, namedropping was a stupid thing to do. I'll delete that, so I won't be able to upset anyone anymore. That being said, I feel like I need to explain some things I've said. You see, I totally understand that authors can write multiple books a year. It's not an impossible thing to do. Ian Rankin does it, so does Victoria Schwab. Hell, I can even write a novel in a month (not that I'd recommend it, but that's just me). Quality is another matter; the point is, it's possible to write fast. And it's also okay to write slow. Everyone has their own writing process, and that's something we all should respect. However, I have to admit that it becomes suspicious when an author produces multiple books and a lot of the reviews say that the books are mediocre at best, bad at worst (entertainment varies from one person to another, but multiple people saying that there are a lot of grammar errors, characters are one-dimensional, etc.? Well, it does raise some eyebrows), and THEN that said author launches a writing program that costs almost $2000 (some are even more than that!). I understand that she just wants to make a career out of writing; we all DO. But the thing is, that's too high a price. And I should know because I have a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, and my Creative Writing professors don't charge that much - and these are people who have bachelor's and master's in Creative Writing (some might even have a PhD, though it isn't really popular in the CW crowd). And even if there are Creative Writing professors who charge just as much (such as in other universities), it makes sense because they have a background, and they're teaching in a university (we all know college and graduate schools are expensive AF; the problematic price of education is another topic for another day). Writing is something that everyone can do - that's true - but training to TEACH people writing is a different matter altogether. It's like any other field, really: all of us can be knowledgeable about diseases because we can research them ourselves, but we will trust only those people who have a background in medicine to train us because they have a background - they're LICENSED. It's just the way it is. Once again, I'm sorry if I've upset you. I know she's a wonderful person. But her writing program - particularly the price - is really suspicious. She can still do the program if she wants to - she has that right - but almost $2000 is too much. When you realize that you can get another program for a cheaper price - or that you can get the same information, the same writing advice for FREE in the Internet - it IS way too much. If you love her, that's great! But I still stand by what I said that her programs are way too overpriced and that people should take them with a grain of salt. That's MY personal opinion, and I'm sorry if I upset the first time I voiced it, but I stand by it. Sorry for the long reply. I hope all is well despite our contradicting opinions.😊

[@aqueen13]

It is actually refreshing to hear stories of how other authors are struggling... in a weird way it helps me feel a little better about my struggles with writing, editing, or deadlines. It is the struggle that makes you real and authentic. At the same time I totally get why more authors don’t share much of the struggle. I love your videos... thank you!

[@ninjaplato7852]

“I’m such a great adult” “That really frosts my cupcakes” I laughed so hard. You’re brilliant; I’m totally subbing.

[@dembonez19]

Late to this, BUT I've come to realize that the reason I like your channel is because you relate everything you say to your experiences as an author. I respect authortubers who own up to their struggles, successes, and imperfections and can say, "Hey, I wish I knew more about this when I came across it. Let me tell you my story." So in that respect, even though I know you do top 10s every once in a while, I don't see you as a carbon copy of everyone else. You have that "best friend" vibe.

[@CassTeaElle]

Great video :) I loved Shaelin's video on this stuff, and I was excited to see yours as well. I'm fairly new to the community and I LOVEEEE this kind of honesty and real talk!! It's one of the reasons I wanted to join AuthorTube in the first place, because of the lack of drama and the way everyone seems to be really chill and real and encouraging. I love it. So proud to be a part of this community

[@janenightreadsandwrites223]

I think the indie trad divide is complicated. Hopefully as more and more authors become hybrid both sides will come together. My experience has been very different than yours. I am a self publisher and people (especially unpublished writers) tend to look down on indies like their stuff isnt any good cause if it was good they would trad publish. It is frustrating to say you are indie because you want to be because people just assume you suck. I def dont think any side should be criticized. We are all creating content for people. And i do hope more and more people in community can unite and eliminate some of the divisions.

[@mzcyberbat]

I think it's because the general public have no idea how narrow the publishing standards/rules are. Being limited with word count, covers and titles and subjects. I fully understand why people self publish. Problem is there is no standard for it. So you do get mediocre stories muddying the waters.

[@janenightreadsandwrites223]

@@mzcyberbat to be fair there are plenty of awful trad books too. The gatekeepers sometimes suck at quality control.

[@booktothebecky]

I love all of your discussion/chatty videos cause you always are so honest about your thoughts. I'm always here for some tea, and enjoyed hearing your perspective on the community. The ultra-positivity thing is the one that bugs me the most personally, just because I find it hard to relate to sometimes. I think when it's paired with a heavily scripted video or the hard sell, I lose the Authortuber and they don't seem like a real person, just a brand. And I get it, so many people are on here for branding and to sell books, but it does sort of make every channel feel the same. Especially since everyone is doing content that is really similar. Also I think we all struggle with our writing sometimes, and it's easy to feel alone in that struggle when people are all rainbows and sunshine and super productive all the time. (BTW, I think you do a great job at keeping things real, it's one of the things I love about your channel!)

[@NataliaLeigh]

Really enjoyed this discussion video. There’s so much to talk about as our community is growing and changing, and I have so many thoughts regarding all the topics you brought up. How do you think our community could come together and start communicating a bit better? Events would be fantastic, of course, and I do hope more of us are able to meet up in the future!

[@CassTeaElle]

I think collaborations of some kind, more events, and more communication would be super awesome. I'm pretty new to the community, but I love how supportive the community is and theres so little drama compared to other corners of the internet. But if course it could always improve!

[@KatybirdsNest]

As an authortube viewer and a writer, I'd love for there to be more people doing live write-ins, and in a collab setting, like Sarah Scharnweber, it's fun to have the conversation between sprints.

[@syndrolvesta6851]

I believe an authortuber has opened a discussion here in hopes to have dialogue with you... Would like to hear your replies to her questions?

[@katieknightley]

I saw their videos already, and enjoyed your views so much! I always love learning more about you, so I'd enjoy extra updates but I totally understand if you want to keep them to yourself :) I hope whatever happened this summer has calmed down and you're less stressed! I love you and your channel/content. Thanks for all you do! :)

[@newnametocome386]

Could you do a video about the lies? Maybe as misconceptions so that you don’t have to call out the liars? Really enjoyed this though. I have been getting into watching authortube videos in the last few months. I enjoy writing vlogs and authors talking about their progress and even process.

[@lizzychrome7630]

I second this.

[@stormlytical6628]

I love this video. Being a new authortuber, dancing that line between being original and trend following can be a challenge. I came from an animation background and used that as my base for bringing my own originality. Even so, I often work to add my own personality to my videos. Especially when it comes to following your own advice. I love seeing this being discussed within the community.

[@LeightonReacts]

The part where you said people are regurgitating writing advice and that people are speaking on topics they aren't experts on, I fully agree with. Actually, I realized that was something I was doing on my channel, so I took a hiatus to figure out what I wanted to do about that. Now that I'm back, I've decided to only talk on topics I actually feel knowledgeable about or things that I'm currently going through with my writing journey. It honestly has led to better content overall. Also, where you said people might need to be more transparent, I agree. That's the foundation I've built my channel on, and I think more authortubers should do so, too. I feel like it helps viewers to realize that, if they're struggling, they aren't alone. They aren't doing anything wrong, and it doesn't mean they're going to fail. Great video all around. I love your content and really respect everything you have to say :)

[@Aria_charlotte87]

My first attempts at getting into the publishing industry were with indie publishers on FB and it was bad. A lot of the writers were unprofessional as were the publishers and there was always a lot of drama. I quit FB and decided to focus on my craft. My goal is now professional traditional publishing. I'm enjoying your videos. They're super insightful and positive!

[@s.t.gibson2853]

This is a super refreshing video. I do want to throw my hat into the ring by saying that I think social media has made creatives believe that they are beholden to their audience to be constantly available and constantly authentic and at the end of the day, that just isn't fair. Creatives are people who deserve privacy and the right to maintain a public "persona" that can be as accessible and authentic or as distant and put-upon at they want. Their books may belong to the public sphere, but their selves done.

[@fadista7063]

You and Shaelin are my favorite authors in the community. Thanks for your continued expertise and knowledge on everything!

[@fralou_sind_kreativ]

A very interesting video. Three days ago I didn't even know Authortube exists. I stumbled upon your video and I think your thoughts are very interesting. I hope these problems you and other Authortubers addressed have been worked on because all in all this way of sharing knowledge about writing and creating novels seems to be a good thing. Wishing you a great summer :D

[@AuthorAllisonAldridge]

I just watched this video and thank you for talking about the divide between self-publishing and traditionally published books. It's not just an issue on authortube but also in real life situations and it gets really awkward when stuff is said or done in real life. I have been really feeling bad about being quote on quote alone in this community because I am a smaller channel and to hear that my thoughts are not invalid.

[@LettySharpeWrites]

Wow, the tea is wonderful today! Great video, Alexa! I'm also uncomfortable with some of the money-making aspects of authortube channels, especially when it becomes a huge part of every video a creator puts out. On the whole, I love authortube so much, but it definitely has its issues.

[@jlslipak1483]

I, and this is just me, noticed a divide between the older and younger authors too. I also noticed that women seem to divide and conquer more on here, but realistically it's everywhere starting in school and going on from there. I've been online for what seems like forever and have found it extremely hard to get into the "club." So I stopped trying. I ended efforts for making a channel because it stressed me out so much trying to "fit in," that it just wasn't and isn't worth trying anymore. I now focus on me and my writing. I watch videos for helpful info to keep me up-to-date with the industry and work to make my business grow. Thankfully, "fitting in" hasn't really mattered to me. My books sorta show this ;) I choose my friends and crowds over those popular. Hmm mine are popular but in a different way, a healthier way. :) Happy writing! Love your vids! Thanks for all the hard work you do.

[@blueinktintcreativenetwork9873]

I am new to this entire authortube community. This is such a nice insight. Sometimes I feel we are so caught up with the community we forget finding time to write too. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[@leeandrarickard5509]

I agree when you said that it’s about bringing your own personality, Alexa. I know I could find similar content on KZbin but I like your stuff, so I’m happy for you to make new videos about “old” ideas 😊 keep them coming!

[@caitlinwoods2796]

It's nice to see what people are weary of, since I'm getting ready to kick off my own channel. Helps me see what I shouldn't do. Now if only I knew what I should do. ^^

[@barbaramitobebooks]

Loved this video and how authentically you tried to discuss the points previously brought up by the other videos! As a new Authortuber, I’ve struggled with finding my voice in this community. I knew my “why” for starting the channel (enhancing my platform, helping to inspire others to follow their passions, and let people get to know me since writing is such a solitary pursuit). I’ve made approximately 20ish videos so far, and the majority of them ended up being vlogs because I was so against making the same writing advice videos as what is saturating the community currently. It wasn’t until I realized that I didn’t want to make writing advice videos at all that I finally felt like I might be finding my place on here. I actually just posted a video titled “Why I Won’t Make Writing Advice Videos.” Haha. I told my viewers (the adorable tiny group of them ;p ) that I want to post the real stuff, of me learning my craft and pursuing both traditional and self publishing, and all the ups and downs that will go with it. I’m sure there will be many. It’s nice to know that the more established channels are talking about this now, and that it’s not just that I’m crazy and don’t actually belong on YT! :) Thanks for the great content!

[@jennagibb9723]

Great video! I do think there is a balance when it comes to "being real". You have a right to your privacy, and I think it's important that you take care of yourself. You share your struggles in a positive, constructive way that inspires. While viewers may enjoy hearing about your emotional journey (I do, too!), I think you need to share what feels comfortable for you. I personally love that your videos are polished and professional (yet also personable!). I also look forward to your videos, Alexa. Thanks!

[@ValeVin]

I'm just discovering AuthorTube. What channels would you recommend for traditional? Hybrid? Indi? I watched some of Chris Fox and Joanna Penn because I like that they're transparent about their numbers, income, output, strategies, etc. I always grew up shy about money, so seeing someone open the books at the end of the year always horrifies me a little, but it's also extremely helpful.

[@lizzychrome7630]

I'm so glad someone else knows about the Creative Penn! Most underrated writing channel of all, IMO.

[@heatherfielddesigns]

I really like your videos. Jenna Moreci, Shalynn Writes, Vevien Reise and Chris Fox are the others I'm subscribed to. They may be self-published but they are respectful, like you are. I appreciate all the advice.

[@jackiekwinters]

Okay I am quite intrigued by your expert suggestions. I know your videos keep popping to watch but I always ignored thinking it is one of those authors who only wanna talk about themselves and their writing. But today--A voice inside me said, "Just listen to her." And damn. I am so impressed that you are not one of those. I am so glad. Thank you so much for sharing your views. I don't even know your name but now I am gonna check you out and your books perhaps😍😊😊😊

[@EmilyBourne]

Oh my gosh! I’m so uncomfortable with the authortube “side businesses” !! We need this conversation!!

[@katraylor]

People need side businesses because it's incredibly hard to make money as a writer. Seeking traditional publication means vying for one of a very small number of reliable incomes that give you the luxury of not needing side hustles. For everyone who doesn't get one of those coveted spots, there's going to be a need for traditional incomes.

[@chalkandrubble5702]

@@katraylor so so well put!!

[@AceLockJ]

A little late to the game, but thank you so much for your candor! I find your channel to be very helpful and am very happy to hear your thoughts on the community and the craft. Also, the quote "That does frost my cupcakes"...new favorite.

[@owningmediocricy6487]

I may be just new and naïve, but I haven't seen much of this drama. I have just recently been watching multiple authors give advice, both traditional and self-published and haven't heard any of them say one is better than the other. They merely state what works for them and why. They all have been giving good advice with informative videos that I am learning from, such as yours. I guess youtube is grouping and suggesting your videos to me as more a professional class. If they or others want to offer their knowledge for sale to subscribers or viewers, so be it. Buyer Beware. I do understand your concern and empathy towards new and aspiring writers. That is commendable.

[@23daughters]

Buyer beware is all very well when the buyers are adults, but a lot of the viewers of these authortubers are very young adults and children who are more vulnerable and easily taken advantage of. There's a responsibility of these authortubers to not be sleazy con artists. Not all of them honour it.

[@brirudcreates]

I see you as the Auntie of authortube, thank you so much for this advice! I am just diving into Authortube and I want to be authentic as possible and original as possible. I hope we all can grow more as a community together with less division. We all should be lifting each other up and helping each other. See you around!

[@EMenozzi]

Thanks for this video. I chose to self-publish my first book, not because I think traditional publishing is awful, but because it has Fae in it and Fae are a hard sell in traditional publishing right now, but beta readers and contest readers seemed to like it. Ideally, I'd like to be a hybrid author. I appreciate you addressing the divide between trad and indie and offering respect to both options.

[@vivafelipe]

I'm always so wigless at how similarly we think. Like. I can form an opinion on something in the community, not really know how to articulate it, and then come here and see my exact thoughts articulated back to me. Snatched

[@Thebookishcousin]

I legit thought your cat was a faux tail. Lol. But I completely agree with you with the whole thing about authors selling their classes and etc. It makes me not trust their advice and I’m like “ehhh no. I’ll stick to whatever you got here.” Like, even with their discounts, their classes are still almost 2-400 dollars. Which is fine if I had that money lying around. But I’m not about to do that.

[@tatyanaviznyak687]

Girl, I just stumbled upon this video and I looked up what books you published and I can´t believe you wrote a retelling of my FAVOURITE BOOK EVER. Jane Eyre in space sounds amazing I and I'm adding it to my tbr right now

[@AlexaDonne]

I hope you enjoy it! (and if you don't, that's cool haha. Everyone has different hopes/expectations for a retelling of a favorite :D)

[@santanasg8445]

giiirl you're so right! You can be super good at something and not be able to teach/ explain it- and the other way around, you can be not so good at something, and be able to help people with that, teach them or coach them!

[@consistentlychristy2991]

I love that there are responses and discussion coming from shaelin's video. Awesome video

[@paulapoetry]

Awesome response video. You make some great points, including about the divide between self-published and traditionally published authors. This feels unhealthy to me. There are certainly no easy answers, but honest discussions are a good place to start. 😃💖

[@writersramble5004]

I wish there was an easy way to come together as a community! I have a new writing channel with my hubby, and it's been so tough 😭But thank you so much for all your insight! I loved listening to the "tea" being spilled, and I'll be making my own notes on how to navigate the publishing world

[@fallinginfiction]

I agreed with a lot of what you said, and found your take on this topic very interesting. I’ll be honest and say that I originally thought that this video was going to be one filled with drama, and that Shaelin was going to be bashed for the points she made in her video. I am VERY relieved to see that this video didn’t turn out that way, and I appreciate how honest you were all throughout. As someone who also happens to be a writer, I also don’t consider myself an expert on any of these topics. I am glad that you felt inclined to make a response video to both Shaelin and Jenna though, and enjoyed hearing what you had to say.

[@mikeyork9886]

I’ve read your book. I think your qualified too give advice. Your writing as the book goes on was my favorite part . By the end I was ready for the next one. I need a study like Captain Hugo! Lol

[@keoxxy5359]

I personally feel like alot of channels are VERY anti trad publishing and kinda breeze over the fact that it has alot of pros. Plenty of people would find self publishing much harder and more costly than trad publishing. Like no shade to self publishers it's the best option for many, but it's not the ONLY option.

[@haakin2262]

Your tea drinking at 2x speed is the most beautiful and Adorable thing I have ever seen. Content superb as always! Thanks!

[@kevinandrew2]

I really appreciated many of the points you made because as I work on writing my "first" book, I have struggled to figure out what I want my social media presence to be and it was great to hear you talk about it. I'd like to hear more about why you decided to do what you do to build your platform.

[@cms0822]

I think what bothers me the most is when I see self-published authors who are on "author tube" (in this case I will not mention the name) who start "writing programs" or "coaching programs." They charge hundreds and even thousands of dollars for their programs. I think it is disingenuous. I have read many books by these authors and they are poorly written, lack basic character development, and they did not hire an editor, or at least not a very good one. I feel badly for the younger aspiring writers who were talked into "maxing out their credit cards" (No lie, the author-tuber actually suggested this) to purchase her program or go on a "retreat" with someone who doesn't have anything published. I'm personally more likely to purchase books from authors who aren't also trying to swindle money from me. Whether they are on author tube or not, I can spot that from a mile away and I think it's sad. ETA: You have a new follower out of me. :)

[@trevorwestin2545]

Yes! A thousand times, yes! Thank you so much for this. I’m so glad this topic is finally emerging from the AuthorTube community. I want so bad to have a successful channel but I’m actually scared I won’t fit in, especially with the cliques popping up. I’m afraid I don’t have anything valuable to say but I think that’s vastly due to this kind of cookie cutter thing we have going on. I am afraid to talk about my struggles and I have felt like it’s imperative that I am a successful author before I even try to step into the ring. And that’s kind of sad. I do think we need to be more open about the not so shiny aspects of this craft and help people understand that there is no one size fits all way of doing this. We preach diversity in our books but fail to be diverse in our own community. I also want to thank you for talking specifically about springboarding off of the audience for money. I literally watched this trend grow and it scared me seeing how toxic it was. It went from hard-selling books to making $30k+ on content that is already saturating the community around this time of year. It’s terrifying. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This was so wonderful to see and I hope the community continues to respond. Even more, I hope it reacts and reevaluates. Thank you!

[@SewFun]

Favorite line... "That does frost my cupcakes." One thing that I think people sometimes forget. I don't always follow best practices. I know what they are, but sometimes, for various reasons I don't follow them. There is always the 'Know the rules so you can know when to break them." argument, but I think sometimes it's just that we want to give others the best advice we can. We may know not following that advice causes us problems in our own efforts, but for whatever reason we just can't seem to take the leap. So I understand that people may not be following their own advice and that's okay. I too have a problem with spilling things on myself. I swear bibs should be in fashion....

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

I loved this video because it's so true that we need more transparency on authortube. It's also true that we need to talk to each other more. As for cliques oh yeah but glad to hear it talked about!

[@PartridgeQuill]

I feel you on the divides. At the same time, (speaking from my own experience) it can be hard to make connections as a smaller channel. The connections I have made are usually a result of other connections, and they usually result in legitimate friendships. Then again (maybe it's because I'm naive), it feels like there's this pressure to "make connections" and to know everybody, until it feels like The Hunger Games nobility, lest you be afraid of being accused of being cliquish. I feel like I may be rambling, but I find it so difficult as an Authortuber to strike a balance between making connections, being genuine, and avoiding vapid or redundant content. I liked hearing your perspectives, and I enjoy your channel for your personality and eloquence. Also I appreciate the perspective of the traditional publishing industry that you provide. Thank you for the video an for your insights.

[@AbstractAddiction]

I've been thinking of coming into this space and though this video is almost three years old, this seems to be an ongoing trend. I've been following authortubers and booktubers for a while now. I have lots of questions for them but there seems to be a paywall that I simply can't afford in order to interact with them in any meaningful way. I am a content creator in a lot of different spaces but I think more could be done to foster the community. You all do a lot for aspiring authors and we're grateful. It's unfortunate that many of these creators don't have time to interact with their audience more but if someone wants to make a change, they need to start doing things differently.

[@claramora4524]

I’ve been watching your channel and all your videos are really helpful. Just wanted to share some positivity back to you since you’re always a positive force here on the internet. Keep up the good work. Your kindness shows and we all seriously appreciate the hard work that goes into making these thoughtful videos.

[@suzielhammond]

I enjoyed the post and all the responses. We all need to take responsibility for what we are trying to do. Here in the west we are used to the government making sure our water is clean, our houses don't fall down after we buy them and that most of the time we aren't scammed. But on the net it is buyer beware. Checking and cross referencing a person's site or the kind of 'class' they are offering or the kind of 'product' that is being offered is not hard but does take time. Being taken in by PR is too easy in this day and age. Please take care and interact with those who show themselves as trustworthy across a variety of sources.

[@Erdnussbuttertoast]

the biggest problem that I have with people offering "master classes" or whatever they call them is the fact that oftentimes, those people have published literally one book, and it wasn't even that successful - and yet they think they can charge people for bad writing advice.

[@DebbieLukasDesigns]

Keeping it real is the best route, it's hard for KZbinrs but it's hard for writers too, meeting the two can be difficult but being our own version of truth is gold 💗💗💗

[@veronicachristopher9321]

#respect As a writer and lover of words, I agree we all need to communicate. It's about shaking off ego. All I can genuinely say is to anybody writing a story, poem, book, whatever- I wish you so much success! It's tough work and even tougher to put our work out there open to judgment. I find it extremely brave and magical. Don't give up and keep on scribbling! ✌

[@ryanmedina5090]

Thank you for expressing feelings that many of us that are involved in the authortube community are experiencing and feeling. For me, I want to be involved and help other writers become successful. I will do whatever I can do to help and promote their works. I will buy your book and read it. That's what this is all about for me. I just want authortubers not to abuse that trust.

[@KathrynFaye007]

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm in preparations for posting an AuthorTube channel as my agent has suggested I do to connect to my community. I am also planning on traditional publishing so I follow you for your advice. I hope I bring some new things to the table.

[@Zaites]

For me, I was only watching BR channels, and is very good, but they are only focusing on basics and I'm in need of something intermediate to advancend... this is the best english channel I have found after 3 months looking here and there... I feel kindness in this channel and your voice is very flowing (the others authors channels irritate me, I don't really know why, but I think it is the tone used like "I'm the best" this is impreguinated in their voices, that don't feel it in yours) also, you have a very polished english and you say words very clearly, even when you speak so fast I can understand everything (even if I don't know what the word really means, I'm able to write down and serch the translation), have you ever though in giving english classes? I belive you could be a great teacher!

[@phoebewickliffe5145]

I LOVE what you said about the lies about traditional publishing. I'm in the unique position of having a degree in publishing and having worked in publishing, as someone who is working on my first solo novel. I am completely floored by all the negative completely bonkers ideas some self-published authors have about traditional publishing. Both avenues have merit, and it really does depend on what you want to do and what your focus and vision is as an author. But, it also breaks my heart when I see people who have an idea that their book is going to be a brilliant Amazon best seller, when they don't have the expertise or the drive to edit their own work. As someone who really loves the publishing industry, it's sort of devastating to see poorly edited, poorly designed books going out with all the hopes and dreams that it will make the author millions of dollars.

[@thedisappointedoptimist6916]

A lot of people pop into mind on this subject. Specific people on this platform that are some of the biggest, and give great advice, but when their book comes out... It's absolutely garbage. And yet we're supposed to have some kind of loyalty to them just because they're a part of the community? That's dishonest at best. I'm so frustrated with bad writers with big channels that I almost want to see names dropped.

[@lizzychrome7630]

Dropping names is next to useless here, since so many authortubers have the *same* names. It would just create confusion. Just say "that cyborg queen who thinks pumping a YA book full of C-words makes it 'adult,'" or "that kid whose parents published his 'Star wars'/LOTR crossover fanfic for him."

[@TheWordN3rd]

Lol. Starting out with that transparency right at the beginning. I haven't doled out much writing advice on YT yet, but when I do give someone advice I try to preface things that I don't do (I probably do this more on my blog and on Twitter), I'll usually bring it up as "This doesn't work for me/I don't do this, but I've heard other people say it is helpful". I always try to be aware that no one else's brain is wired like mine and so what works for me might not work for them.

[@clickers8049]

God I was really hopi g that there would be people in the comment section calling ppl out specifically, but everyone here is to nice to do that 😂😂 but yeah I’ve been thinking some of the same stuff about authortubers promoting products (not even there own books, which I can more easily understand) that just seem wayyyyyy overpriced. The fact that one authortuber literally sells a pack of five videos and a q&a for like 200 dollars BLOWS my mind-who has the money for that? And I can’t help but feel like the person is trying to manipulate ppl who just feel desperate, which is so not okay

[@trevorwestin2545]

Nerds Are We Last I heard, a “FEW hundred people” had already signed up. If you really want to feel sick, do that math. Even at a discounted price, it’s crazy. Ugh. I hate feeling like I’m contributing to the toxicity even in the comments but man I wish there was more talk about it.

[@SabrinaGiles]

How do you know if your book is best for traditional or self-publishing?

[@kiterafrey]

A number of things go into that choice 1. Do you know a lot about publishing - the backend side of it - and if not are you able, willing, and ready to learn and master that. If you’re not, then self publishing isn’t going to go well for you 2. Market Research - go to all the book selling platforms that offer traditional and self. What is high selling in your genre. What do people talk about in your genre based groups. Genres like romance, new adult (which only exists in self publishing mainly now), & YA written for adults in high genre concepts do well in self publishing. YA standard, Fantasy, & Science Fiction still do best in traditional. Literary is best traditional, but sells more with smaller presses. 3. Are you willing to invest money into your book? Traditional publishers in the USA do not charge authors (if they do they are a SCAM) but with self publishing you need to foot that bill for editing, design, cover design, blurbs, etc. 4. Are you ready to consider a path yet. If you are not done writing and doing majors self edits and critique partner edits, you shouldn’t focus on a path for that piece yet. Each book & authors are unique, this is why some people publish traditionally and self publishing (Hybrid)

[@Gbutler777]

Totally off topic but your skin is so beautiful and you always have such nice makeup. Many times I want to ask which lipstick/shade you’re wearing!! 😊

[@alejmckinley5973]

I didn't even know there was tea to be spilled about authortube, lol. Shows how observant I am.

[@clay_the_author]

So much goes on in this tag. How on earth have a been watching all these authortubers and never known about this tag? Crazy. Thanks for the info on the state of the cultural env. Lurkers like me need these kind of updates!

[@clownsims1600]

I've definitely noticed a bias in favor of self publishing on here. Which makes sense considering that most authortubers seem to be self published (at least in my experience). But I've seen people straight up say things like "if I'm going to have to market myself anyway, I may as well just self publish" and that's just a bad way to make any kind of major career decision.

[@AlexaDonne]

That's my thinking too! And then honestly publishing can surprise you! I was 100% prepared to do a ton of marketing. I made a marketing plan. I set aside money from my advance. I'd been prepared by horror stories from friends. And then... my publisher surprised the heck out of me by doing 98% of the marketing. The only thing they didn't do was print bookmarks ha. And I'm a debut--I'm not a celebrity or a bestseller. They just believed in the book and decided to make it the lead title for my season. It happens more than people think? (and most authors get something right in the middle-perfectly acceptable marketing and then they have to supplement with social media)

[@HollyIMerriday]

It’s a little weird for me because I actually seek out as much positivity as I can find. I work in healthcare and I spend my entire workday listening to frustrated people getting yanked around by their insurance company. Writing is a hobby for me and I feel ashamed about that at times. I get a lot of “Why don’t you want to publish?” I don’t really know. I just know I enjoy the craft, I enjoy encountering new characters, but the idea of sharing them with other people terrifies me. We’re supposed to be creating flawed characters, because “perfect people are boring”, but what happens when your “flawed” character is deemed “problematic”? What happens when you’re giving your characters problems to solve and complications and the reader just says “Why can’t this character just be happy?” You create a happy character with a strong moral background and people complain because you have a “Mary Sue”. It’s just one Catch-22 after another. 🤷‍♀️

[@MargaretPinard]

Great resource! :) I appreciated hearing your thoughts and conflicted, struggling, waffling--very relatable for this author. ;)

[@paulwilliams2080]

"A traditionally published author." Skewers 90% of authortube within the first 30 seconds :)

[@selenophile410]

Paul Williams ,how ? Me knew hear

[@selenophile410]

Sorry for the homonyms

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

As of today, her book, Brightly Burning is ranked #218,340 in Kindle Store. (Not Impressed). That’s about a sale of ONE book a day and 14 sales per month. Another author by the name of: Ashley Jade wrote a romance novel called Hate Me is ranked at #69. This equates to 1,362 sales PER DAY and 20,425 sales per MONTH. You do the math. SELF PUBLISHED. (Might we be better buying one of her books just for mere study? Might be better than all the info Donne is pushing, maybe?

[@ButterCookie1984]

@@PianoMan-hx3ev Interesting point....I too am put off by the flagging of "traditionally published author", as if that is a signifier that traditionally published work is of higher quality than self-published work.

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

@@ButterCookie1984 Agreed! I’d rather self pub and have some serious sales rather than have a dusty book sitting on a Barnes and Noble bookshelf somewhere.

[@capricioushelen]

(Warning, monster comment ahead haha.) I loved this video, I feel like you had some really great insight! I can definitely see a lot of truth in what you've said and I'm not even hugely involved in authortube myself (yet!) In particular the trad/self-publishing divide - I definitely feel from a lot of what I've watched, there is quite a negative attitude towards traditional publishing in the community, and I feel like, without wanting to be mean, it's just because it's hard. People know that with self-publishing, even if their book does badly, they can still get it out there. I see the appeal of that for sure, it's something I've been very tempted to do lately, but I feel like I owe it to myself to try both, and I wish people in the community wouldn't be so eager to dismiss a very valid form of getting your work out there, just because there aren't any guarantees of publication. I'm hoping (optimistically) to go into hybrid publishing, part self-published part traditional - best of both worlds! I think it would be a good perspective, I don't know if there are any authortubers in that position but I feel that would be so great for the community, seeing people who genuinely have seen things from both sides! So yeah, I'd love to be in the position to talk about that some day, but I'm not at that stage in my publishing journey yet :') Another thing I'd like to talk about is publishing in literary magazines, competitions and so on. Again I'm not hugely immersed in the writing community on KZbin so perhaps people are already making videos on this, but this is something I actually do have experience with and it can be really helpful to new writers to get that kind of smaller publishing experience under their belt! So I'd love to spread the word on that and maybe advise people. Though I'm afraid that since my experience thus far has all been with publishing poetry, maybe people won't be as interested - I feel like poetry has kind of a hard time on KZbin. Again, maybe something I could talk about! I have so many ideas for writing videos haha. Overall I just wanted you to know that I appreciate this video a lot, and I think you had so many valid points :D your content is always spot on and I definitely have taken so much of your advice on board, so thank you for being a part of the community!

[@AlexaDonne]

Thank you! Yes, I'd love to see more hybrid information, and some short story content (ie: lit mags) would be so good too. People ask me about short fiction and I'm just so clueless! I do plan on doing hybrid eventually, but it might be some time. I'm planning on putting up a video to talk more about that strategy, though!

[@capricioushelen]

I'd love to see those videos :D I think I'd personally want to traditionally publish first like you have, as I have heard that bad self-pub sales can impact your chances of publishing traditionally in some cases. But it would be an interesting discussion for sure!

[@AlexaDonne]

Yeah that's exactly why I did it this way! I wanted to debut really well, and I feel I have? I got so lucky with my publisher giving me so much support and getting my name out there. I'm so grateful to them. I've been thinking about hybrid for about 2.5-3 years? I really like how Beth Revis did it, and I also know of a few YA people who trad pub their YA and secretly self-pub adult romance (which is something I would be interested in). Because I like the idea of trad pubbing the books that fit that market, and then self-pubbing works that trad pub is more resistant to, but that your audience would still want to read. The self-pub work becomes bonuses for existing fans, and you can pull in a new audience on that specific platform (since certain types of books do better in self-pub than others).

[@capricioushelen]

Yesss exactly! I first came upon the idea in a writing book by Chuck Wendig and I was super interested. I have an interest in writing New Adult, but it's a genre that I feel doesn't get the same push as YA or Adult fiction, it's always kind of pushed one way or the other, into a bracket it doesn't quite fit? I feel like a lot of the NA stuff comes into its own in self-pub circles but trad pub just doesn't quite know what to do with it. But I would like the assistance of trad pub to help me get that initial push, make my first few books the best they can possibly be and then maybe look into additional options. I was strongly leaning toward self-pub for my poetry but I seem to be doing decently at getting that into magazines and stuff so maybe I can traditionally publish that too. It's so interesting to think about really. Your publishers seem awesome, I'm so glad it's all working out so well for you :D

[@TiyanaMarieWrites]

Boy, Authortube problems seems to be quite the topic lately! I think it'd be interesting to see live discussions about these topics between authors on KZbin, but like you said, it can be difficult arranging something like that with scheduling and whatnot. Probably one of the better ways to make an open discussion possible that's not all one-sided, though. Especially if you knowingly invite co-hosts who tend to have at least somewhat differing perspectives and/or opinions from yourself. I see this happening pretty regularly with authors who discuss different "authorpreneurship" methods and approaches to (self-)publishing, so why not the writing community here? :)

[@kentshawn8986]

Good info, I just started my channel and I do not want to start off by angering the volatile world of introverted writing nerds. These are some dangerous people. it is hard as hell to give writing advice that has not been given before. All we can do is try to make the best videos we can and try to have some fun along the way. Also finding a way to put my two mini writers Angie and James in every video I can.

[@DalCecilRuno]

Well.... I don't know how to be flashy and pretty and perfect. I'm ablind writer, imperfections are bound to happen. If my lack of good eyesight and therefore my unwillingness to show my face on camera is "not enough" for this community then, I don't wanna be a part. And I believe this isn't the case, so I started my channel anyway. This doesn't mean I will not make the best effort to create good content, but I don't know how not to be real. Also, I'm a terrible teacher, so I don't do how to videos. I just post my poems. Lol. :D Although I am terrified of traditional publishers and the way they might change stories just so it is more commercial, I still find your videos very insightful, so I watch, no matter if I already decided that I will go the self publishing path, it is still a great insight from you. Thank you for putting up your content.

[@GarrellWoods]

I've been watching your videos all day today and I agree with your opinions because they are well-founded and thought-out. However, I do not agree with the idea that one cannot monetize on their platform. The most valuable and rare commodity in existence is trust and using that to create a living that also creates tools for others to follow suite if they put forth the effort is not unreasonable. You speak about your discomfort but I don't believe you have considered the comfort that money rewards a creative and what art can be born of that comfort. In conclusion, don't hate.

[@WilliamBilsters]

Didn't know Authortube's this scary. I've seen some drama in the booktube community but deym, didn't know it happens in authortube too.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Every community/fandom has this. Best way to combat scary is knowledge/proper awareness.

[@ghostdreamer7272]

May I also say something that might "spill some tea/coffee/whatever"? I started subscribing to a bunch of authortube channels before I realized authortube was a thing, and I noticed a certain pattern but thought there's someone who will surely break the pattern. I'm going to go there... why do authors of color hardly ever appear in my suggested videos? Or referred to, or do an occasional collab with someone else? Is KZbin just hiding them from me? Where are they? Who are they? Also, I have to say, this video reminded me that there aren't a lot of men either. Yes, men have a lot of privilege everywhere else (unfortunately), but it's something else I noticed. I know there must be very talented people of color, and men, on KZbin as well. But why it it so hard to find them in this community? Especially when almost all of you write about diversity in your own characters, I'd have a hard time believing it's a conscious effort on your or anyone else's part. But I think this just should be said as well. Quality videos should, of course, always come over diversity for the sake of diversity... but it's definitely not an either/or choice. I know there must be quality "AuthorTubers" of color, or male (or trans... or any other possible category).

[@AlexaDonne]

Well the bookish community generally has a HUGE diversity problem. Booktube has really had to reckon with it and it's still an issue. Authortube has the same issue in a huge, huge way. There are so few POC in the community/getting recced, etc. I hope that changes. And that does speak to cliques and whatnot--we need to be better about opening ourselves up and welcoming new creators into the space.

[@TamaraWoods]

Because authors of color are largely ignored in this platform in general and in this community specifically. You'll notice that there's not any POC invited into collaborations. I've found other POC by being in the Authortube Facebook group. It's discouraging to say the least. Also, KZbin tends to suggest people whose videos are more popular or trending. So, if the POC isn't being viewed, you probably won't get that rec. Many of us aren't new creators. We've been here.

[@ghostdreamer7272]

Thank you for your responses! I knew this was probably the case, with KZbin only recommending what's trending, and how that's a difficult loop to get out of. It just seems to be another "pink elephant" in the room which should also be acknowledged.

[@calypso_lazuli]

I only had one person of color show up on my feeds a while back (I wish I could have subscribed to her because it was in passing and I can't for the life of me remember her name but the video I saw was of quality and she was hilarious). As far as men.. I would definitely love to see more male authortubes!! I think a big reason why there isn't much content by males has a lot to do with the community/communities being run by females and most males don't want to fall under "labels" (which is actually a dumb reason but it's the way our society runs). The same situation happened when vlogs first became popular, as well as this can be seen in the modeling industry. Male authortubes (at least what I consider to be authortubes) that I'm used to seeing, have a different way of communicating their content. I don't know how else to describe it other than "gender roles" defined by society.

[@stephaniekbrownell8464]

Really good points, Tamara. I've noticed this issue too and tried to seek out different POVs intentionally. Not that I'm personally in a position to influence folks (I'm super new here), but what I'm hearing is that it would be helpful to collab with and/or feature Authortubers of color?

[@livmilesbooks]

Not to spill any fresh tea, but how do you feel about authors only making their ARCS available to readers who have paid subscriptions to their platforms? This topic blew up with the #arcsarefree hashtag and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I understand if you don't want to discuss it though, given the drama surrounding this topic.

[@patrapoutrouli]

THANK YOU for tackling the issue of non professionals gaining money from paid services regarding writing! It had to be said!

[@ASMR_libby]

You've mentioned schmagents before, but something I've seen a lot of have been referred to as "preditors" ie, predatory editors, as in the now-defunct website Preditors & Editors who used to endorse good business and call out phonies. I've seen author platforms with a couple of books under their belts offering paid editing services, but... writing and editing are two different things. Writers don't need a degree in English or Journalism to be a writer, they don't need to have studied the AP or Chicago style manuals or know all the editing tags that appear in traditional redline editing, but an editor should. Those who don't have credentials, who are using their authorship to promote their work as editors may mean well, but they're basically demanding money to be critique partners. This particularly ties into the myth, which I am so grateful you debunked, that an author MUST hire a professional editor in order to query an agent. It's especially disturbing when the people spreading that myth in particular are self-promoted editors without qualifications. It also falls under the trad-vs-indie divide, because a lot of vanity presses and preditors benefit from driving aspiring writers away from trad publishing in order to push their services.

[@TheOnceAndFutureKing]

My favorite channel on Authortube is Terrible Writing Advice, simply because of how different that his channel is compared to all others. Not that I'm criticizing all of the vloggers who make standard videos about what to do and not to do when writing, because I love these videos to, but I just know that I won't get videos like his anywhere else. Also, he's really funny. His book is good too. (this comment is not sponsored)