Why you should calm down about YouTubers writing books.

[@KnightsOfBellamy]

whenever you say "i could make a whole another video on that" i start nodding with excitement it's a pavlovian response at this point

[@emeline_4]

Yes haha! When Leena said "I could make a whole another video about what "Done" means", I just thought "Umh, yes please!" ^^

[@annafre1789]

Haha

[@lydias2911]

"One person's opportunity is not another person's loss." YES

[@leenanorms]

WRITE IT ON THE WALLS, CARVE IT IN THE FLOOR, SPRAY PAINT IT ON THE CEILINGS, WRITE IT ON MY GRAVE 🧡

[@melaniemurphyofficial]

Say it all louder! 👏🏻🙌🏻 I earn more money per brand deal (one or two days of work) than I do per book advance (one or two years of work)...it’s a passion, and it helps my publisher to have more guaranteed income that they can spend on unknowns! Loved this video, and still completely fucking fangirling over the fact that you’re enjoying my First Novel Effort! 💚

[@hannahwitton]

AAAH thanks for the mention Leena

[@leenanorms]

😘😘😘

[@iseeseas]

I’m 100% down for a video about literary tropes and what “Done” means!

[@caitlinquinn79]

Seconded!!

[@soph964]

thrided. WE WANT IT LEENA ❤️

[@eannagordon2209]

It makes perfect sense to me that, since youtubers are typically creative people, a small percentage of them will be writers and want to publish books. Be nicer to KZbin authors, they just want to put out word babies into the world. Keep shouting out these truths Leena, you're amazing 🤘

[@leenanorms]

Amen amen amen 🙏

[@RoisinsReading]

Yes to Libraries! I'm a library assistant and we need you all! Buy books but also please become a library member and use the library. It's free for you and money for us win win win

[@BeautifullyReckles]

Love the sass. This was super interesting. Until the Zoella thing happened, I didn't realize that fiction books were also ghostwritten. I had only heard of it in the context of celebrity memoirs.

[@CharlesHeathcote]

This is such a brilliant topic to discuss. When ever someone says, 'they're only in it for the money' - despite you're excellent points about how little they can make - I can't help but wonder why it's such a bad thing if they are only in it for the money. Life can be expensive and if someone gets offered the chance to subsidise their income in a new way, then I don't understand the issue. I write and release my own books, and whilst it's my name on the cover there are a ton of folk who help be get the book ready for publication - mostly for editing purposes, but I've a photographer friend who takes photos of each book and makes them look pretty for publicity. I say this to emphasise that every creative person on the planet has help in some way. We're not all hidden away in dusty attics hammering away at our laptops for six months before descending somewhat pale and dishevelled into the streets to proclaim we have achieved. I oftentimes feel as though there's some sort of jealousy from certain folk, as though they sit there and think, 'Well I didn't get that opportunity so I'll deride the person who does,' and it's just like: simmer down, Susan, look deeper and recognise that what another person does, has nothing to do with you. I have many thoughts that I feel I can't formulate into a coherent response, but my main line of thinking is this: that literature is a great thing and if a KZbinr is given an opportunity to release a book, no matter the intent behind giving them the book deal, our only job is to congratulate them on their opportunity, and if we wish to support them, support them. (Which I kind of think you already said in this video.)

[@eyeswideshut92]

As someone with no knowledge of the publishing industry this was really really interesting and has changed how I see KZbinr books and general mass market books. Thank you!

[@julietanardin6631]

I love your last point about books helping reach people that don’t generally read to go and read something, even if it isn’t the greatest book ever, a lot of them will catch the reading bug.

[@leenanorms]

Yeah exactly! The first books I read were NOT masterpieces, but they bit me and now I am a life long addict

[@chloerixson4812]

Love this!! I had no idea money gets made when books are checked out of libraries, please can you explain some more? The idea of that fills me with joy because libraries are awesome 😊

[@m0nkeycrazy]

+

[@sxs311]

please make that video on what "done" really means! I love your videos Leena, they're so informative and they honestly light up my life, just... THANK YOU ❤️

[@leenanorms]

‘DISMANTLING ‘DONE’: a manifesto’ coming right up

[@leenanorms]

‘DISMANTLING ‘DONE’: a manifesto’ coming right up

[@BlueDilemma]

Not sure if it’s something you have knowledge on but it would be great to hear some advice on what we as individuals can do to support reading causes - libraries, getting young people into reading etc. Or any other book related important issues you might think are worth sharing? This was a really great video. Thanks for sharing! :)

[@caitlinquinn79]

Seconded! Yes please!

[@elizabethjane6037]

I bloody loved this video! I totally agree with you on your points. Especially this idea that KZbinrs shouldn’t publish because they aren’t a PhD literature grad. There are great and good books from people of all backgrounds and I think it’s just so irritating snobby for people to shun writers if they aren’t seen as having the right credentials. Also agree strongly with what you said on the Zoella ghost writer ‘scandal’. That was the press desperately trying to bring down someone who was successful in a way they didn’t have control in and in a way they didn’t like. Any piece of extensive writing is a collaborative process always. This shouldn’t be shocking to us all. Fab video as always Leena, bloody love you and your content x

[@lalaloz92]

I’m just about to start a job in publishing so this was incredibly helpful. Your videos are forever insightful and refreshing no matter what you talk about ❤️

[@leenanorms]

Aw congrats! I hope you like our weird bookish family / industry, we’re all quite nice really xxx

[@TheMadKrivo]

It's so nice to see a video on this topic that's from someone who knows about the industry. There's a lot of channels who only make videos calling out youtubers about subjects like this, and think a lot of the time it comes from a place of anger rather than knowledge about the publishing industry - it feels really refreshing to see another perspective on this!

[@locketgirl8500]

Leena, you need to watch a show on Netflix called Romance is a Bonus Book, it’s a Korean show about publishing and a book publishing company (as well as being a love story). It has a couple of flaws in terms of feminism butttt it made me want to learn so much about book publishing, it’s great. Might have to watch a couple of episodes to get into it but highly recommend!xx

[@theroseshawol]

locketgirl8500 I got!! So incredibly attached to this drama!!!

[@GraceHebditch]

I realised the extent of ghost writing when - shan’t name names but - I worked at a publisher and the editors and audio team were nervous about the author reading the audiobook because it was too late to make edits to the text and the reading was the first time this author had read the book

[@ellieberry]

YES! Can't agree with all of this more than I do. Thank you for you sass and dedication 💪

[@shutupcharli483]

This is an absolutely fascinating video, thank you so much for clearing this up!!

[@WaistHighView]

I don't have much to add, I just really appreciated absorbing all of this information! It's a fascinating world, and your insight is so valuable.

[@wietskejanse5951]

Absolutely ADORED this video, Leena. Thank you so much for putting in the effort to make this exquisite piece of (free) content! Also, I'd very much like to see an in-depth video on what's been "done" in books before :) I've loved your channel for years and it only continues to be absolutely fantastic so hats off to you! ^^ xxx

[@clochettestarz]

I love your passion and seemingly endless knowledge about all things books. I never felt strongly about KZbinr books one way or another but this was really interesting nonetheless. Excellent video as always! :)

[@hanzib31]

That intro got me good 😂😂 also, i bloody love everything you make. It's nice to see intelligent content that's witty and entertaining too!

[@caitlinquinn79]

Thank you, the information was really valuable here. Much appreciated xXx Can you do a video on how libraries work? And stay open?

[@beckiejbrown]

This was very fascinating, thank you for this! x

[@Elizabeth-po1bv]

Thank you so much for making this video! I learned so much. Also: I did NOT know that thing about children's future's being predicted by whether or not they read.

[@kgmcclintictock4399]

This was so interesting and helped shifted my gut reaction to youtube books

[@leenanorms]

🧡I’m really glad 🧡 thank you for taking the time to comment too, I really appreciate it 🧡

[@lucylovesbooks2606]

Please make a video on what 'done' means, I'd be really interested. I also didn't study English further than GCSE purely because I was scared I was 'bad writer', so hearing your spiel about writing was very welcome.

[@leenanorms]

Aw man that breaks my heart - so much possibility gets cut off in our teens because of the teaching styles and school systems I think. Jacqueline Wilson only started writing at 40, you can do it whenever, and it can be GOOD!

[@factitiously]

Oh man! First, great video!!! Second, I would LOVE if you would do a video talking about all of the major tropes that writers should avoid and some of the best literary devices that author should embrace, and maybe some other tips for authors based on your experience!!! Exclamation point!!!! :)

[@drawsleepread]

I love that you made this video and I hope this discussion continues and more voices pitch in. It's interesting hearing the perspective of someone who is working within the industry because as readers we're not really aware of how things work from the inside. It seems to be a common thread that youtuber's books in general are not taken seriously or seen as "real books" no matter the genre. And I am referring here to all those who publish books other than humor, coloring books or cook books (nothing wrong with those too). It's like being branded as a KZbinr somehow decreases the value of the idea you might want to share. Even more so if you were someone who's channel features mainly young adult books or doesn't feature any books at all, as if the only way to be a reader is to show everyone that you in fact have shelves of books but they're just out of the camera shot. Even though books get published in SO many different genres and categories, the idea that a book should be "literary" in any sense seems to be something that is hard to shake off and that's absurd of course. So many people are trying to break that stereotype of elitism and who gets to write and what stories get to be shared but I guess it takes a while to completely eradicate that. I will always be happy and celebrate whatever books anyone reads or however they choose to start their reading path! Reading is great. One book gets you to the next. One genre makes you curious about another. And that's a bloody fantastic thing!

[@Elsie1588]

This was very interesting. Thanks.

[@leenanorms]

Aw thank you

[@dorottyaborka6424]

You're so pretty with this makeup, love the video, please make more like this🧡

[@leenanorms]

Aw thank you ♥️will do!

[@DragonDancer]

Thank you for this perspective! I realized lately how many KZbin books I own... The top ones I can think of are Francesca Ramsey's and Ash Hardell's.

[@leenanorms]

I’ve read Ash’s but would love to read Francescas ! There are some good ‘uns out there I agree!

[@EmmaCarpenterIllustration]

I love what you said about one person’s opportunity not taking away an opportunity from somebody else. I think this is really important to remember if you (ie me, we, everybody) ever feel jealous of of someone else’s success and get into that comparison trap. Always more room for more creativity in the world. 📚 🎨 💃

[@AlwaysEatingDeath]

I'm glad you talked about money, cause that was something I never really got about writers. Just in terms of what an advance was and then how much they got for the actual books sold, this clears it up more

[@bookishshenanigans4769]

I feel educated, thank you. Also, I have bought Lex's book and I'm excited for it!

[@katharineannie]

I minored in creative writing at university (my major was English literature) and honestly, I agree that writing can't be taught. What is gained from studying creative writing is being forced to write within time constraints and writing outside of your comfort zone. Also with that comes becoming more well-receiving of criticism as most of the study takes place within a workshop environment, where you have to share your work with your classmates and receive feedback from them and a tutor. The study of creative writing does not make you a great writer. What it does is give you space to develop those skills. However, it isn't mandatory for a writer to have studied creative writing by any means, as everything I've mentioned can be developed through other means outside of the classroom. Studying creative writing is especially good if you lack the self-discipline to work on your craft though (or like me, are too restrained by your own perfectionism and self-expectations that you don't write at all). In regard to why people don't like youtuber books, I feel like one reason from the perspective of those attempting to get published is that we are often told that if we want to get published, we need to build a platform. I don't think this is true at all, but it would be nice if people at universities/some literary agents/some representatives from publishers could stop propagating this myth, as some writers either can't or don't want to spend time building a platform for themselves on social media. I am aware that this is by no means everyone saying these things, however, it isn't helping anyone when they do.

[@leenanorms]

Completely agree on both parts! Some of the best writers are total reclusives and that’s what works for them and helps them make great art. It’s definitely not true you need an audience, you just need an incredible book, enough time to write and perfect it, and (the more ‘chance’ bit) to find an agent, an editor and a publishing house that understand how good your book is and it’s potential. Not every good writer finds that, but a huge twitter following can’t save a badly written book and visa versa, a small twitter following won’t stop an incredible book from becoming a best seller.

[@quietfi123]

Love this video. This message needs to spread as there is a lack of awareness out there and salty writers who think opportunities are being taken away from them which is clearly not the case! The likes of Zoella help publishers to take risks on unknown writers.

[@Redhellmet]

If you need a ghost writer, who you gonna call?

[@l.obinduka6791]

siobhan curham

[@elizabethmcintosh6722]

re:libraries you can RECOMMEND books at most US libraries if you want them to consider purchasing based on what you want to read!

[@leenanorms]

Yes you can do that in the UK too, I did it as a kid a lot 🧡

[@Maggie.can.hug.every.cat.]

I am a book lover but have been only getting books from the library recently. I haven been feeling a little guilty about it meaning I am buying less books, so hearing that borrowing books from the library actually does help the book industry makes me feel better

[@leenanorms]

Yes - is a lot less than buying it obvs, but authors are compensated. The best thing you can do for an author if you’re a library reader is to review the book online (Amazon, goodreads, Waterstones, ANYWHERE) and if the author has social media tweet them thanking them - you can be the person who ‘produces’ sales for an author even if you don’t buy the book yourself 🧡

[@ginger_snapped_]

PLEASE make a video on tropes and what's been "done" before! Thank you, this was such a great/informative video

[@kater505]

I love you so much. Thank you for continuing to make wonderful content! You are smart, charming, funny, and terrific!

[@leenanorms]

thank you so much

[@nrt523]

I'm finishing a Master's on publishing and editing and just handed in my final project that touched upon this subject, about how these authors need to legitimize themselves in the eyes of the gatekeepers of the literary (in the broadest sense of the word) world. This is such an interesting subject, thanks for this video!

[@zinekatzines]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ (i just really needed to leave these here. SO GOOD LEENA!)

[@ninaincerti]

Wow really refreshing! Would love to hear more about publishing and libraries

[@sibilebrazauskaite7350]

Wonderful video, as always! I liked what you said in the end about the assumption that everything has to be transactional, Peter Coffin recently had a live conversation with AngieSpeaks about race in leftube and they touched upon this also in an interesting way, I recommend you watch it if you like!

[@MariannesStudio]

Phenomenal video. Thank you so much!!! 📚

[@ElleEverhart]

This video was delightful and you are absolutely brilliant. Also please make that done video, I would watch the shit out of that

[@heretoday7x]

This video is so good!!!!! I learnt so much. Universe, more of this please! Thanks Leena

[@daysleeper1989]

It had to be said! I'm glad I'm not alone in this perspective

[@eve3275]

A criticism of a recent booktuber book I've seen is that 'they read and review all these books therefore they must have known how to write one really well'. I don't necessarily agree with this because whilst it definitely helps, I think reviewing books is a very different skill to writing one. I remember the chaos that erupted when youtubers began bringing out books; I think it was around the time where "old" youtube was transitioning into something more mainstream and the books were kind of an emblem of that. I think audiences were having a difficult time absorbing the change (you know - change is scary) I know my teenage self definitely did. Personally I'm a lot more chill now and interested in what people are coming up with - it's definitely a really interesting topic :)

[@karin4436]

I needed to hear this thank u

[@leenanorms]

Xxx

[@ellihunt1641]

really interesting video (totally changed perspective from what i remember about the zoella ghostwriting scandal)

[@BohoBookworm]

Best intro EVER. God I couldn't imagine someone literally not even reading their own novels.... urgh makes me so angry as an author myself. I published my novel in October last year and haven't even made $1000 yet... sometimes I go for over a month without a sale. It's hard.. but I continue writing because it's my passion.

[@heyitsdanielk]

This was funducational 👍 loved it

[@EllenJones]

Whenever you do one of your silly voices, I feel an intense need to have you voice an animated character, maybe a good witch who gives books to lost children in a woodland

[@chelseahahn5763]

This!! I also hate this argument because it's like people assume it's easy to get a big following on KZbin?? Like yes it is democratizing, but (especially in recent years) it's super hard to get a big enough platform to make a difference to publishers! So yes they may not have done the same type of hard work as other authors, but they've still done a ton of hard work

[@charlottea.m.9211]

Thanks for that. You're great. Cheers. :)

[@inessamaria2428]

Always a great content!

[@DanLayton]

I. Cherish. This. Video.

[@judithsingsthings]

Totally understand the nuance of what you're saying at this point in the video but being a better writer can !! be !! taught !! There's a great creative writing course at UEA and the MA keeps producing well known authors (I'm sure there are other great courses but this is my reference point) But of course, having taken that course is in no way a prerequisite for 'deserving to be published', whatever people think that means

[@annaw9687]

I’m completely put off buying any more KZbinr books after reading a lot around 2016 when everyone started doing them. Maybe I just picked the wrong ones but they were literally all complete trash and wouldn’t have been made or bought if the authors weren’t already known 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@annatucci7631]

Also I feel that more often than not someone is a successful KZbinr because they’re skilled communicators/storytellers... like they have demonstrated their ability to be compelling writers/speakers, it’s not like their KZbin career/success is completely unrelated to book writing..

[@xtinkerbellbethx]

Rockstar! 😄 🎸

[@leslieisepic]

Speaking of celebrities with ghost writers... I heard Hilary Duff's YA series was written by a ghost writer. I didn't read them because I'm not a fan of YA Paranormal as a genre and it didn't interest me in the slightest. But it's just what I heard.

[@tokiobabe99]

really need to know what celebrity at 15:10 didn't even read their own book lol

[@erinsmith8074]

Gemma Collins is a classic (not so classy) case of a “celebrity” who didn’t even read let alone write her own “book”

[@hannahv7303]

“But let’s just call them people for a second”

[@virag5627]

Like, if a youtuber writes a book about a topic/story I want to read, I will read it, I'm just so done with these "lifestyle" books... For example I ordered If only, because it sounded interesting, and it sounds like the kind of book I will enjoy, but do I need another survival guide to my tweinties based on someones life in another country, or a twelve -a-dozen soap opera in space? No. These books have to live up to the same standards I have for every book and I personally feel they rarely do. But then again, if I cheked what my average rating is amongst "books written by vegans" I might come to the conclusion that I don't like books by vegans, but "books by youtubers" is a more easily recognized category.

[@chockycake1]

Just out of interest what is the criteria for a book to make the top of the best sellers list? You tuber books seem to top this list very easily. I just can’t see what satisfaction you get from having a ghost writer help you to write a book. I thought it was difficult to get a book published but you tubers seem to have no problem. Out of interest are there any you tuber books you’ve read and would recommend? As you can tell I’m not a fan of you tuber literature 😂 ps I get help with writing a celebrity memoir, but fiction?

[@leenanorms]

The best seller list is a bit nebulous as it’s every week in the UK - so for example if you have a LOT of pre-orders, they go through as sales on the day the book is published, even if the person paid the money months ago. That means that if you do have a large audience or a lot of pre-pub coverage, on pub week you can have a disproportionately high number of sales compared to say, an unknown author who is successful over a long period of time thanks to word of mouth and slower discovery. So they could sell the same amount of books in a year but one would have been a ‘best seller’ in the charts and one wouldn’t have - does that make sense?

[@sabahfatema]

I don't think you can be a good writer without reading a minimal amount tho!!

[@hazleweatherfield682]

Yes. And also being able to comprehend what you are reading. (which is exactly what academia teaches you - to be able to understand how texts are constructed) A lot of KZbinrs seem to post content about marathon reads. I often wonder how much they are taking in, when the objective is just to get through as many books as possible within a time constraint. I'm not sure the argument made in this video really stacks up. The thesis that "some people have innate talent" (which is disputable in itself) doesn't really hold water. Yes, there are accomplished writers who acquired their skill not from attending university, but through writing a lot and learning from their failures. Zoella, however, fits into neither camp - she does not have innate talent, nor has she learnt through practice. She needed a ghost writer to write the 'novel' for her, ergo she did not have the ability to write the text. This is what people are steamed up about. That writers who can write, who have taken the time and effort to learn how to, are not getting deals, while someone who cannot write gets a deal and then gets someone to do the work.

[@laurawestenra]

I need the Book Beaver to be real.

[@leenanorms]

She is real, she lives inside me

[@eleanortrounson7467]

Petition for Leena to acquire a beaver hat and wear it to introduce book videos

[@commonpoppy]

Can you ghostwrite my book