If you’re a writer and want a way to learn (or teach!) how to improve writing, BookTube is the place to be. There are many prominent channels in this space, particularly ones that help with the writing craft.
Whether you love social media and want to try something new like BookTube, or simply want to use this platform as a place to learn from writers about character development and plot structure, you can do so.
BookTube is a thriving area of the Internet that if you don’t already know about, you want to. This space provides help for readers, aspiring authors, and authors alike. Plus, it’s a great place to share your own expertise and learn from experts in a way many of us love: video. Here’s what you need to know about BookTube!
BookTube: what’s covered
- Is BookTube still a thing?
- Who is the biggest BookTuber?
- Prominent writers to follow?
- How do I find BookTube?
- Do BookTubers make money?
Is BookTube still a thing?
BookTube is still a thing, as it is a sub-community on YouTube that focuses on everything writing. Due to the extended video nature of YouTube, this is a great place to dive deep into sharing your favorite book genres, talk about your own book, and engage with writers.
There are many benefits to BookTube, including using it as a place to:
- Discuss your favorite authors
- Earn passive income from running ads (or via paid sponsorships)
- Receive free books from specific publishers who want you to talk about them on your channel
- Market your own book to your audience
If you don’t want to have your own channel but you want to support up and coming writers, spend some time on BookTube, finding different channels and writers you like.
Once you find your favorites, consider helping writers out by:
- Talking about their channel to other readers
- Sharing their channel on your social media
- Giving them a like, share, and subscribing
Needless to say, with video being such an accessible way for online users to connect with each other, BookTube has some pretty prominent writers on the platform. In fact, one of the most prominent BookTubers (more on him below), has amassed 1.44 million subscribers to date.
With nearly one and a half million people following a single BookTuber on YouTube, it’s safe to say that yes, it is still, most definitely, a thing.
Who is the biggest BookTuber?
While it’s hard to say who is the biggest BookTuber, Jack Edwards runs a very prominent channel. With nearly 1.5 million subscribers, his book reviews and insights on contemporary literature capture many YouTubers.
He heads up this very specific niché well, and his fan base simply reiterates this. But what about channels that are both prominent and focus on how to improve your writing prowess?
Prominent writers to follow
Below is a list of BookTubers you may want to follow, as they have so much to teach on writing. Whether they dissect themes in storytelling or are their own self-publishing success story and want to share their journey with you, giving them a follow could aid your writing career!
The Creative Penn
The Creative Penn has long been a tremendous resource for writers. Created by Joanna Penn, a well-known name in the publishing space, she shares her gems of knowledge on many different aspects of the writing journey, and includes both fiction and nonfiction.
You will find videos discussing marketing, self-publishing, and how to make a living as a writer. If you want to be a full time fiction or nonfiction author, The Creative Penn could be a great launching pad for the success of your dreams.
With 57 thousand subscribers, The Creative Penn holds its own in this subculture of the YouTube space. Joanna’s writing tips are not ones you want to miss!
Jenna Moreci
Jenna Moreci runs Writing With Jenna Moreci. She is a bestselling author known for her fantasy romance books. Sarcastic and engaging, she shares writing tips with her over 200k subscribers on Wednesdays.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted dose of help mid-week, Jenna’s BookTube channel is for you. Bonus points if you write romanticy! With a quarter of a million people following her channel, you can go check out for yourself why she resonates so deeply.
Alexa Donne
Alexa Donne is a traditionally published YA author who shares her hard-earned insights into the genre of YA, as well as what she has learned from her time in the traditional publishing industry.
While her channel focuses on writing, she also shares interviews with authors as well as book reviews. More than 160 thousand subscribers have signed up to follow her journey.
Tip: While this number may feel intimidating, especially if you are thinking about starting your own channel, remember that every writer starts out with zero subscribers.
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson writes fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers, and shares writing advice. While many social media writers stick to short form video messaging such as YouTube Shorts and TikTok videos, Brandon’s advice is so beloved that his more than hour-long lecture has received more than 2 million views to date.
If you’re willing to settle in and maybe take some notes, Brandon’s BookTube could provide you with hidden insights you didn’t know you needed.
After all, that’s the point of BookTube, right? Sharing helpful insights with other writers for the good of the individual and to build up the writing community? The more help writers receive, the more great books readers can read. That is a double win!
Self Publishing TV
I would be remiss not to mention our CEO and Founder, Chandler Bolt’s, BookTube. Chandler wrote and published his book, Published.: The Proven Path From Blank Page to 10,000 Copies Sold, and shares his expert knowledge, for free, on YouTube.
Self Publishing TV continues to provide aspiring authors with concrete, actionable steps to help writers become authors:
- Do you want to learn how to write a novel? We have a video for that!
- Do you want to see Chandler interview a writing expert? We have a video with Joanna, from The Creative Penn, for you!
- Do you want to learn how to title a book? You guessed it. We have a video for that!
So, if you want to learn how to write and publish a book, and everything in between, head on over to our BookTube. You’ll be glad you did.
How do I find BookTube?
Speaking of, you can find BookTube on YouTube by simply searching the term in the search bar. BookTube is such a beloved space on YouTube that it has 6.7+ million followers. That is no small number. To engage in this community, or even just test it out, is something many writers should at least consider.
If you prefer an even simpler way to find BookTube, you can simply click one of the writers above. You will be automatically redirected to their channel, where you can browse their videos and find which ones best help you reach your goals.
You are also welcome to check out Self Publishing TV, a BookTube channel dedicated entirely to helping you reach your author dreams, as briefly mentioned above.
How do I start my own?
If you want to both share your knowledge of writing and publishing and grow your writing platform, you can start your own channel by creating a YouTube account.
Once you create your account, you can simply record videos on your phone and upload them to your channel. There are close to 7 million followers of BookTube, so you’re bound to gain some form of traction. Don’t forget to post regularly!
Do BookTubers make money?
Yes, you can make money on BookTube through three key ways: ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships. Of course, using BookTube as a side hustle for a secondary income stream will take time, but with dedication and progress in the right direction, the odds are in your favor.
Whether your goal is to make an extra couple hundred dollars a month, or several thousand, keep yourself focused on the why behind your channel. There are many reasons you may want to start your own BookTube account.
How do these reasons bring value to the nearly 7 million followers? Will your account:
- Teach the writing craft in a unique way?
- Provide insight into the self-publishing or traditional publishing industry?
- Share your journey as a way to inspire others?
- Review books for eager readers?
The more you understand why you do what you do, the more on-brand your channel will be, thus making it clear to potential subscribers the value they will receive in following you.
With all of this in mind, how much money can you make from self-publishing? The answer is, it depends, and also, potentially a lot. I know a writer who is a full-time, self-published author making a substantial income simply through selling his own books.
Under the right guidance, this could be you, too! Just remember, making money on BookTube or on your book takes time, but it can be well worth your effort, literally and figuratively.
BookTube: take your next step
Take our free Publishing Path Assessment to discover which road to publication is best for you. Our short quiz can help you launch not just a writing career, but your author dreams as well!
