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Tomorrow I'm releasing episode #001 of SamLearns Writing!
This is a brand spanking new YouTube channel for writers looking to improve their storytelling.
But honestly y'all I barely made it here.
Here's how this all went down:
This is a brand spanking new YouTube channel for writers looking to improve their storytelling.
But honestly y'all I barely made it here.
Here's how this all went down:
It all started with @david_perell 's essay Expression Is Compression.
Two weeks ago I waxed eloquent about it. How it was a primo example of clear communication on a deep subject.
I mentioned MAYBE wanting to do a write-up on it.
Two weeks ago I waxed eloquent about it. How it was a primo example of clear communication on a deep subject.
I mentioned MAYBE wanting to do a write-up on it.
Well, David saw that and thought it would be swell.
Which is great but . . .
I had no channel. No content. Have never done something like this. And, by the way, am supposed to be working on a COMPLETELY different project. https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1300567808246333440
Which is great but . . .
I had no channel. No content. Have never done something like this. And, by the way, am supposed to be working on a COMPLETELY different project. https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1300567808246333440
BUT - this was a sprint worth taking.
Why?
My goal is to become a great writer and owner of my own economic value.
That requires practice. It requires owning my platform.
With those goals, repurposing my practice to create videos people want to watch is 100% a smart move
Why?
My goal is to become a great writer and owner of my own economic value.
That requires practice. It requires owning my platform.
With those goals, repurposing my practice to create videos people want to watch is 100% a smart move
Like I say in the video, this channel is for writers who want to step up their storytelling.
But it is also a way for me to document my own improvement.
And that starts by making content out of copywork.
See definition below: https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1301970585967194113
But it is also a way for me to document my own improvement.
And that starts by making content out of copywork.
See definition below: https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1301970585967194113
So with no experience whatsoever, how'd I do it?
Script:
Risk #1 was making a bloated script. To keep me on track I created an outline with notes on my audience.
I'd refer to this whenever I felt like I was blabbering.
Script:
Risk #1 was making a bloated script. To keep me on track I created an outline with notes on my audience.
I'd refer to this whenever I felt like I was blabbering.
Video:
All credit goes to my very talented wife for getting the job done.
Wednesday we tried framing up a shot. I wasn't really pleased with the outcome.
Felt distant, unengaging, and there was a lot of visual clutter.
All credit goes to my very talented wife for getting the job done.
Wednesday we tried framing up a shot. I wasn't really pleased with the outcome.
Felt distant, unengaging, and there was a lot of visual clutter.
Video II:
But by Thursday we pulled screencaps of similar style videos and had come up with this frame which we really like!
But by Thursday we pulled screencaps of similar style videos and had come up with this frame which we really like!
Sound:
In a past life I'd done audio engineering so the big risk was overthinking this part.
We went AT2020/Motu 4Pre/EQ/Compressor (Logic X)
Overall it sounds good. There's a natural echo I'd like to get rid of but my wife would kill me if I tried to put up broadband traps.
In a past life I'd done audio engineering so the big risk was overthinking this part.
We went AT2020/Motu 4Pre/EQ/Compressor (Logic X)
Overall it sounds good. There's a natural echo I'd like to get rid of but my wife would kill me if I tried to put up broadband traps.
Graphics:
It helped to limit myself to three kinds of graphics - lower thirds, full screens, and feature boxes.
Figma for the graphics.
OBS for the screencaps.
The bummer was realizing at the last moment that I needed a killer YouTube thumbnail! That took some doing!
It helped to limit myself to three kinds of graphics - lower thirds, full screens, and feature boxes.
Figma for the graphics.
OBS for the screencaps.
The bummer was realizing at the last moment that I needed a killer YouTube thumbnail! That took some doing!
Promotion:
Two channels: Twitter and the SamLearns newsletter.
I don't have many Twitter followers but I know what people follow me for: Writing, Jung/Campbell/Myth, Content Creator Solidarity.
So not to get too recursive but I thought this BTS thread might be well received.
Two channels: Twitter and the SamLearns newsletter.
I don't have many Twitter followers but I know what people follow me for: Writing, Jung/Campbell/Myth, Content Creator Solidarity.
So not to get too recursive but I thought this BTS thread might be well received.
Promotion II:
I'm launching the video as part of my weekly newsletter. That's a strategic decision.
If you're interested in the video I'm hoping you see that I have more to offer with the newsletter.
And vice versa.
I'm launching the video as part of my weekly newsletter. That's a strategic decision.
If you're interested in the video I'm hoping you see that I have more to offer with the newsletter.
And vice versa.
Promotion III:
Copywork of successful writers has the potential for massive amplification if they decide to retweet or comment on it.
So it's nice to have a potential growth function built-in.
Copywork of successful writers has the potential for massive amplification if they decide to retweet or comment on it.
So it's nice to have a potential growth function built-in.
Promotion IV:
BUT that's highly dependent on the quality of work and whether the author thinks that it would offer real value to their audience.
I hope it's not uncouth to explicitly state but the point is to show how even your creative can have marketing built-in.
BUT that's highly dependent on the quality of work and whether the author thinks that it would offer real value to their audience.
I hope it's not uncouth to explicitly state but the point is to show how even your creative can have marketing built-in.
Misc:
Bitly for link shortening
Roam for research
Sheets for keeping track of assets
Creative Commons Licensing for images
All-in 16-24 work hours. I imagine it would be significantly less the next time around.
Bitly for link shortening
Roam for research
Sheets for keeping track of assets
Creative Commons Licensing for images
All-in 16-24 work hours. I imagine it would be significantly less the next time around.
Hopefully, this inspires you to create. Now that you've seen what it takes to go from zero to new YouTube channel.
I am so freakin' proud of myself and grateful for all the help.
Thank you for reading and look out for SamLearns Writing—out tomorrow.
I am so freakin' proud of myself and grateful for all the help.
Thank you for reading and look out for SamLearns Writing—out tomorrow.
