THE BOOKTUBE TRAP

[@THE_SOVEREIGN1]

This was so refreshing. Honestly, I'd rather engage in a channel that is authentic and unique. I've become wary of these "mainstream" channels that all seem to either be competing or promoting an agenda. Keep doing what you do goddess, you're definitely on the right path.

[@PurposefulPursuits]

I’m so glad you decided to put this video up. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen the entire time you were talking. To answer the question of the booktube trap I will say as a very small booktuber I have felt the pressure to post all the time because I felt like no one would notice me otherwise. I took a break. Now I’m posting once or twice a week and I’m fully enjoying exactly where my channel is. I get so much peace and joy from filming that I work hard everyday every video to just focus on doing this because I love it and it’s an outlet from my hectic graduate school life.

[@polyreader]

Such an excellent topic, Sarai. I'm really new so I'm glad to hear this early on, it's given me so much clarity! x

[@gililevy3541]

I'm just starting 4 years laters and your video means the world to me

[@splitreads]

Yes Sarai!!! I think one thing that resonated with me was the "I should finish something because I put it as currently reading on Goodreads"... A year and a half ago I felt bad about "failing" TBRs because it felt sort of like a promise to ppl that watched my vids that thoughts on those books were coming, but I've also stopped giving a shit about that and just doing my thing. My nonfiction Nov tbr went out the window the second half of the month and literally no one is going to ask me why I didn't read such and such book lol. It's all self-imposed like you said. Thanks for the honesty and I am really happy you came back to booktube and that we've become friendly!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

This makes me happy, because as a viewer of your channel I can honestly tell you I will be just as excited to hear about the books you read this month that you never mentioned lol

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

So true! And if a subscriber WERE to say something, then they can get their own channel, no? ;)

[@Raven-rv9ge]

Sarai Talks Books hun it's your channel and also what u want to read or do should come first, I see channels who put up TBR's with a disclaimer saying I will try to get to all these but no promise, to me I think what the hell you need a disclaimer for reading now. Hun even if u read one book a month that's good because as long as you enjoyed it that way counts. Remember this channels for you, one day u can look back and ur not going to remember all the subscribers but your look back saying look I made a booktube channel I shared my hobby and passion and had the confidence to step out . Sorry for my rant I hope it's OK ☺😊

[@jennadianne]

Hey. Thank you for this video. As I start to get back into booktube I wish I never quit. Like you said, we put these standards on ourselves and then it becomes less fun. So true. That is exactly what happened to me.

[@evelynslibrary5712]

An amazing video! I've been thinking like this lately and one of my goals for 2018 was to read books that I think I'll like and not just because they are popular. And doing that this year I see that I do like other things more than what I used to read because of booktube/bookstagram.

[@PunkyDory80]

This is a great video! I'm so sorry that you were feeling that way. I'm glad that you have found the way to be true to your reading life. I have to say, that the pressure spills over into the viewers' reading habits also (at least it did for me). I'm not a KZbinr, but when I watch the videos and I see people reading 10+ books a month, it makes me feel like I'm not reading enough. I love watching the videos, and getting great suggestions; however, it's changed the way I've read. Last year, I started approaching my reading again in a more organic way. I'm trying not to fall into that trap again. Keep not giving a shit!! When you read what you want, you put unique content out into the world. You show the viewers books we may never have seen...and you'll be happier :) Again, I love this video!

[@ThatsWhatSheRead]

Love you for this! You do you! People watch you for you and your personality! I stopped trying to read what most of Booktube is reading this year. I've been reading a lot of genre books and it's been fun. Definitely say make videos you are excited about!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

And it's fun to watch you talk about those! I want to watch more videos where the books being talked about are new to me :D

[@buzzselous3757]

What you say is eminently sensible, rational, and mature. Bravo! This is how to have a booktube channel.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you!

[@ClaireReadsBooks]

This is so great! Honestly, I think that advice - "don't compare" - is so good for Booktube and for life in general. I know I can sometimes fall into comparing and worrying about numbers and what other people think, but I have found that just trying to trust my gut and ignore outside pressures is what makes me feel happiest and most fulfilled. Thanks so much for sharing this :)

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

I think that's probably why I enjoy your channel so much!

[@ClaireReadsBooks]

The feeling is mutual! 🤗

[@GirlAboutLibrary]

Invisible pressures and standards - totally feel this. I can't film very often, which is super tough! I want to participate and post, and this standard of I need to be posting such and such number of days a week is this constraint I've put on myself and I get frustrated when I'm sick and can't follow through. Those self imposed pressures take a fun thing and make it a stressor. I am always so impressed by how much stronger and more committed those that come back from a break are, and having that as an obvious option is definitely something I see for myself in the new year.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Exactly, it stops being fun and starts being more like a chore, and that's not what booktube is supposed to be. And at the end of the day, what is the end game to having a schedule, having a giveaway, a read-a-long, etc? Is it because you want to have fun or because you feel it will bring you more numbers? That's the discussion I want to have with myself and with others on here, I think that perspective will help us all in the long run :)

[@miamoreno7751]

I absolutely agree with you. I honestly make videos just because I like talking about books and I don’t have many people in my “real” life who enjoy reading as much as I do. However, there have been times when I’ve stressed about the type of videos I make and how much I read in a month. I have also gotten discouraged by the low amount of views my videos get, temporarily forgetting that I didn’t start my channel for views. This video is a great reminder to stop and rethink what the original goal of creating a booktube channel was, and make any necessary adjustment in order to truly enjoy what we do. Thank you for sharing your thoughts :) I enjoy watching your videos and I look forward to your next upload. Until then, happy reading!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Mia! I'm glad you've found this encouraging, I want Booktube to be something we do for fun, because we love it, because I think that will translate into better content which is always good :D

[@miamoreno7751]

Sarai Talks Books definitely! Like you said that’s why most of us started making booktube videos; to share our love for books, make new friendships and meet new people with similar interests, but most importantly to have fun while doing it :D

[@EffusionsOfWit]

I feel so similarly to you!! Everything you said was one of the first reasons why I stopped consistently making videos. I felt like I was reading just to have something to say, but because I was forcing myself to read, I didn't feel like what I had to say was worth saying. I had a bunch of personal/health things going on, too, so it was just one big mess! This year, I didn't set a Goodreads Reading Challenge, and I'm really glad. I think I have already read more than I did last year! And I've picked books that I know I will enjoy, including re-reads that I really wanted to get to. I have always felt like Booktube creates pressure, even if that pressure is indirect/ultimately self-inflicted. It is hard to remind yourself that everyone reads differently, and that's okay! I have really wanted to make videos lately, and this video has been really inspiring... I will definitely try to read more for fun and for myself. Great video!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Awesome! I went through the same thing, and it really made me want to back away from the community. I think next year my reading goals will be vastly different, it will be fun to see what we come up with now that we've taken up ~the challenge~ :D

[@Raven-rv9ge]

Yes I do agree with you I have seen allot that u have said happen, yet for me I am only coming on booktube with my first video on Monday to do as a hobby to share with people. I say as long as you enjoy reading and u enjoy putting up videos that's what counts, because this is your channel not the subscribers it's yours. When I start I would be happen with only people who would enjoy to see the info I would like to share about what I read and want to be friends. But I do like to support other booktubers put not only support them but in time became friends I highly enjoy watching your video

[@KirstyWardBooks]

Oh totally! I’ve hit this a few times while I’ve had my channel. Most recently was a couple of months ago when I felt so down about never reading what I wanted to read, always prioritising books I would hear other people talk about. I lost all my motivation to film videos too, so I didn’t. I took an unannounced month off, during which I barely read. I took the time to have a Netflix binge and to also plan out what I wanted to do with my channel. In that time I devised a new way to pick what I read, and a new schedule that would give me more leeway. I then slowly started easing myself back in, only filming when I felt like filming and instead just using the time to find my love of reading again. Since then I’ve really got my love for reading back, and with that I’m starting to get my filming motivation back. It’s silly how we all put so much pressure on ourselves. I’ve also decided that I want to set my Goodreads goal very low next year, possibly to just one book. I don’t want to feel pressured to read to a certain pace, like you said, none of this is a race. I don’t want to dodge longer books just to hit my goal. This was a fantastic video, and I hope it really makes people think about themselves and what they want.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Kirsty, I had the same experience! I took a break and then when I came back I kind of returned slowly, and I found a love of reading again. I'm also going to have a low Goodreads goal next year, even though my goal for this year wasn't that high (I think it's at 40 books?) but next year I'll probably bring it down to 25.

[@katehowereads]

Thanks for such an honest discussion! I've definitely struggled with many of these feelings over the past few months this year. I think possibly one thing that might be helping is that I am now willing to take evenings off here and there and not feel guilty about not reading absolutely all the time. I think I'm also planning on setting my goodreads reading challenge next year to one book simply so I can remember what I read specifically that year but not get caught up in how much I'm reading. I hope you're able to find all sorts of ways to make booktube fun again for you!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

I'm with you on the Goodreads challenges! I think next year my challenge will be 25 books, something I did one year and I ended up reading twice as much! It's crazy how much more I am able to accomplish when I don't feel so much pressure :)

[@RebekkaHay]

Well said Sarai. I did not know your channel before this video, but I am glad I found your channel. This is much needed common sense.

[@AmandaQuotidianBooks]

I'm so glad you posted this!! I definitely fell into the trap during my first year on BookTube. I'll take your challenge and really think about how I want to continue my channel into the new year. I've not been having fun filming and editing lately, but I still feel BookTube is a huge part in my reading life. We'll just have to see what I decide to do for 2018 :)

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Yay! I'm glad I did too, I can't wait to see what you come up with for your channel. I think in 2018 I will focus more on "what will be more fun to film?" and go that route :D

[@abeltheepisces]

This video is something I needed to see today. Thx. Just found your channel so I’m going through backlog vids now lol.

[@MorganGayle]

I've felt these pressures as well. I think taking a break from filming helped me realize I needed to redefine my reading that fit my lifestyle and what I have time for. That I also had books I wanted to read before joining this community. Having other to discuss books with is a bonus and not a requirement to enjoy reading.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

I think it's more common than we think, I know I would ask myself if anyone else was in the same boat, and when I talked to some of my other booktube friends I realized this was very common. It helped me feel like I wasn't crazy, and I found it encouraging too :)

[@thisisyrrobotfriend]

I’m glad you posted this, i can definitely relate and this inspires me to come back and do it my way this time. You rule

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

That makes me so happy!

[@RememberedReads]

Great discussion! I definitely think it's easy to get caught up in the overall mood of things (so it might be competitive, but it might even just be following people) and lose track of what you actually want to be doing.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

I agree, I also think that when we start following certain people we deem to be more "successful", we can't help but want to be just as successful as them because they must be doing something right that we aren't? And I think that's where the 'competitive' side comes in, because it stops being about your content, and more about getting as many views/likes/comments/etc. as your 'ideal' which is a downward spiral in my opinion.

[@seonarella]

Even if you only read one book a month your viewers would still watch because it is more about personality. I hope this experience hasn't disheartened you because lots of people love your channel and enjoy your commentary on books x

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you! That is very encouraging :D

[@whatpageareyouon]

This is really insightful to sort of reel back and remember the basis of booktube just simply allowing space to gush over books! For me I'm hoping I can always just remember that I felt as inclusive to booktube already without making videos, so just starting out now with making my own can only add to the experience, no matter if anyone really watches mine or not. Thanks for sharing!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

whatpageareyouon That’s a great perspective to have!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

whatpageareyouon That’s a great perspective to have!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

whatpageareyouon That’s a great perspective to have!

[@adriana410]

One of the best and honest video I've seen on booktube in a long time.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Adrian!

[@InsertLiteraryPunHere]

Yes! I identify with this video so much (late to the party I know). It's crazy how hard it is to stop comparing yourself to other people. I still do, but SO much less than I did even a few months ago. I think 2018 will be a much healthier Booktube year for me

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

That's good to hear, I think recognizing it and working against it helps a ton, here's to 2018 being a more relaxed year for all of us :)

[@shethewriter]

After seeing a million things, I have to say: these pressures and doubts and expectations are what you have to encounter with ANY endeavor in life. It’s not booktube. It’s life.

[@lauramayfair7887]

I think it's easy and very human to put pressure on ourselves. I think the best way out of that is to be mindful about our thought processes and to keep our community fresh by being true to ourselves. I'm 42, well above the average YA Booktuber in years. But I love the genre. No one is telling me you have to be a certain age to contribute to Book Tube, that I wouldn't have valuable things to say, or wouldn't be accepted. But it's easy to fall into that trap. I can totally see whwre you are coming from in this video and I really appreciate your suggestions for overcoming personal reservations and insecurities.

[@monilily]

Well this just confirms why I didn't want to do booktube in the first place LOL. I have such a busy life that I know it would stress me out if I didn't put out videos on a regular basis. Already just within this past year I added over 100 books to my TBR based on booktuber recommendations. It's hard to read those and read my own personal picks. I also can DNF a book pretty easily, and so that would probably bother me if I was doing booktube. And I've been in a book slump pretty much this whole month so that wouldn't help either. Glad you posted this as I am happy just watching the videos of those I'm subscribed to already.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

If you do decide to join Booktube then I hope you ignore all of those invisible pressures and just have fun! It can be a lot of fun when we stop thinking about other people and just do it as a way to share with others :)

[@lauramayfair7887]

What a thoughtful and pragmatic view. I really love how you framed your thoughts here. I'm glad I found your channel. :)

[@BookCravings]

I'm definitely in the same boat. Life is too short! Let's read what we want, when we want and the way we want =)

[@LatinLector]

Loved this video!! I definitely felt the same way. I wasn't happy, so I left. I do miss it sometimes. This video was very encouraging.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

It's very common!

[@thefrancophilereader8943]

Right on! Stop giving a sh*t and read what you want to read, when you want to read it. I love how you said that booktube is a community, not a competition. I made a similar video yesterday :)

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

I'm off to go watch that!

[@SilviaKay]

This was a fantastic video! At the moment I feel the pressure of doing certain staple videos, especially wrapups. I found that I no longer enjoy filming them (although I did at the beginning), and I'm actually going to film a video about this very topic sometime soon. The bottom line is that I decided I won't be making ANY videos I don't feel excited about.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

That's a good guideline to follow :)

[@ViennaWaitsBooks]

So happy you decided to post this! I can relate to so many things and definitely working on not giving a shit LOL xx

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Kristyn! I look forward to seeing you not giving a shit LOL

[@readinglegend1155]

I love this video I do my channel the way I want (mostly about books with other things thrown in) I learned a long time ago I can only read the way I do and whatever I want to put on my channel I do its not about the numbers to me, never has been it is for me a way for me to get heard and talk about the things I want cause in the end thats all that really matters if people watch thats good and if they dont well thats great too........everyone be true to yourself and it'll make you a happier person

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

This was great! Thank you for speaking about this and making this video! x

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Britta!

[@DriftlessReader]

This is such a great video Sarai!! I have so many thoughts. In short, technology and social media cannot sustain happiness. :)

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you! This is so true.

[@emptiedone6989]

And the kings and queens of booktube start being an important piece on the book market and it's all about selling (and sometimes selling super problematic and wrong ideas). Books were meant to free us from the chains of alienation and ignorance, and booktube is becoming a channel of masked editorial people who intend to profit from us. I will never forget when Carve The Mark came out and some super popular booktubers like Jesse the reader, Xtine May and others were saying nothing but good things about the book, totally hyping wrong and problematic ideas and not even mentioning what was wrong or what people noticed was wrong (cause of course there are multiple point of views on every issue), cause if they did the sponsors wouldn't be content and the alienation cicle would be broken. BOOKTUBE BECAME A WEAPON TO INSTIGATE CONSUMMERISM, NOT KNOWLEDGE.

[@rinceyreads]

Great video, Sarai! Totally agree with all of this!

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

Thank you Rincey!

[@eelsay]

This is how Ive felt during this whole year.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

You're not alone :)

[@itsonpage4712]

Great discussion. I have an itty bitty channel so I don't think I've reached the point where I feel like this. I hope that I can maintain my vision of booktube and continue to have fun. I don't think you can maintain a channel wherein you only read and discuss things that you feel pressured into. I think it's great to have popular books that lot's of people discuss but I really enojy finding books and authors I've never heard of.

[@SaraiTalksBooks]

As long as you hold onto that perspective, I think your channel will do great because of it! So many people get burned out on here, and I think it's because we lose focus.

[@rezedorada7315]

i loved the part when you said NOT GIVE A S*HIT AND READ. true story.

[@ZesuChan]

You're great, i love the vid. You have a new susc 👏 I think like you, but it's hard not to worry about views or dislikes.. that's my problem