The YouTuber Book Rant!

 (Image Link)

Hey Guys x

YouTubers writing books has become a thing within the last 2 years, and it's quite a controversial thing!

It's a topic that I've wanted to talk about for a while because I have some quite strong views on it, from both points of view.

I also want to get your opinions on it because it's such an interesting topic!

So, I am not on any particular side with this debate, because I can see both points of view about YouTubers writing books.

I also need to point out that I don't see Carrie Hope Fletcher's book as a 'YouTuber book' - to me, she's an author.

I think YouTubers writing books is great - on the one hand, as a viewer.

These people have a lot of really young viewers, some as young as under 11. Because of this, these books can be the things that get these children to enjoy reading, which - as a bookworm - I think is really important!

And I also think it's a good business. Many celebrities write (or have ghostwritten) autobiographies, so I guess this could be seen as the same thing. Although whether or not you see YouTubers as celebrities is another rant for another day!

For the companies, and the YouTubers themselves, it's a good way to make money. Books can be quite expensive anyway, so by putting a YouTuber's name on it, the price of the book can be driven far higher! And let's not pretend that this isn't about money - YouTubers have to make money, otherwise they wouldn't be able to be full-time YouTubers. But this book industry is definitely a money-making opportunity, which I don't personally see as a bad thing. And I'm not saying that this is the sole purpose of writing a book, but it's definitely a thought!

But on the other hand, I have to think of this from the point of someone who's trying to become a published writer.

It annoys me that someone can write anything, put their name on it, and sell a million copies.

I, and people like me, fellow aspiring writers, work really hard and ponder over every word just to be knocked back a thousand times. And then, when someone does get their dream of being published, they're knocked down the charts by a YouTuber whose book may not be that well written.

I have bought some YouTuber books and have completely fallen in love with them. So I'm not saying that YouTubers shouldn't write books, but that their books make it so much harder on people who want to write books without this platform.

It also seems to me that you can read YouTuber books and completely tell whether they were written to make money or whether their author was passionate about the topic or not. For example, Zoe, Tanya and Louise are all people whose books I've read, and they all seem to be really passionate about what they've written about. But other YouTubers aren't as passionate, and I don't think that they deserve to be best-selling authors.

This is another thing that I want to talk about, being best-selling authors. I think making a YouTuber a best-selling author is redundant when every single YouTuber with a book is a best-selling author just because they're a YouTuber. And that's true, because a lot of them have written autobiographical pieces, which they wouldn't have done without YouTube because no one would have known who they are. Therefore, it's really disheartening when someone is best-selling for who they are rather than what they've written and how well they've written it.

And I know some people argue that YouTuber books aren't that well-written because 'YouTuber's aren't writers' - but I think that point of view is... off. If they aren't writers, don't write books! And if they do want to write books, maybe they should work on honing their craft before popping out the first thing that they write.

Having said this, if I was a YouTuber, I would release a book. However, I'm currently not a YouTuber and my dream is to write a book, so I don't think I count!

I'm not saying that all YouTubers shouldn't write books, or that all YouTuber books are badly written or anything like that! These are just some of my opinions on the controversy surrounding YouTubers writing books.

Thank you for reading

Comment below your opinion on YouTuber books - feel free to be as controversial as you like!

Keep Smiling - Lou xx

Comments

  1. I completely see where you're coming from! Just because they are a YouTuber, doesn't mean they are a brilliant writer and I think often people buy the book just because of their favourite YouTuber writing it, even if they think it's not the kind of book they would read or there are so many better books out there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't mind YouTubers writing books. I have brought some of them, such as Carrie's, Zoe's and Dan and Phil's and I love them a lot, and the people who I don't want to read I don't. I understand why people don't like it though, it's not fair that they get to sell so many books just because of who they are, but I just think that if you don't like it- don't read them.
    Elise | i-cant-think-help.blogspot.com
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fair enough, I completely understand your point of view. And I do think that you can't say something bad about a particular YouTuber book unless you've read it xx

      Delete
  3. I completely agree with you. I always thought it was strange that youtubers wrote books but the ones I have read I loved. It is great because it keeps people reading who normally wouldn't but I also want to be an author and seeing someone get there so easily annoys me x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm the same, I love the ones I've read but it still gets annoying! xx

      Delete
  4. I have the same view as you on this and definitely agree with everything you said. Especially about the best - selling author point and how it's easier for them to get a book deal than others xxxxx

    Emsworld11.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  5. I completely agree with you. On the one hand it's great that they're encouraging so many young viewers to start reading. However, when it's already difficult to get your name out there as an author I understand why it can be frustrating to see someone almost get handed the opportunity to become a best selling author. And I agree that Carrie truly is an author, you can tell she put ridiculous amounts of effort into her book xxx

    http://izzyk1998.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://izzykreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've put it so well! And yes, Carrie works so hard and she's wanted this for so long! xx

      Delete
  6. As a *fangirl* I have been quick to go out and get the books by my favourite YouTubers. If you include Carrie H Fletcher and John Green, then I've read ten YouTube books. And I can honestly say, that at least 4 of them had mistakes, which just proves that even the publisher didn't care!

    Another thing that annoys me is Zoella's Girl Online. I hated the book and I honestly don't care about ghostwriting. Celebrities do it all the time, it just annoys me she was so secretive about it.

    One World, Too Many Pages

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've noticed mistakes in certain books too! xx

      Delete
  7. I watch youtube and yes I have bough youtuber books, I have Girl Online and Life with A Sprinkle of Glitter and I prefer Louise's a lot more to Zoe's. I think the reason is that Louise's is an autobiography so I am reading about her and her life and her advice which I think is okay because I want to read more about her. However, as Zoe's is an actually story, even though it is a good one, I didn't like it as much. In my opinion it is okay for a celebrity to write an autobiography but not to write a story unless they are an author. Like I said this is just my opinion so please don't take any offence.

    www.blossomofhope.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely understand and agree with what you said! When you like the person him/herself, you're more likely to want to read an autobiographical piece to see more about their life, rather than a fiction novel xx

      Delete
  8. Hey I nominated you to do the lip product tag, look on my blog to see the details and questions xoxo
    Ella
    ellacrabb.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Lou!
    I am so glad someone thinks the same as me! I find that the fact that a very good budding author could be turned down despite all of their efforts, but a youtuber could be picked up within seconds just because of their name and face.
    I think that youtubers should still be able to write books, but they should have their own category and their books shouldnt hinder the hard working want to be authors out there!
    Good luck for writing you book by the way!
    Chloe :)
    thoughtfulclouds.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is without a doubt the best idea I've seen and I think this makes complete sense! They should definitely have their own category! Thank you xx

      Delete
  10. Whoo! this is intesrting ,truthly i'm aslo in the middle with my ophinon on youtuber books. Even do like how this could get kids into reading , i aslo think it makes no sense that labelled as acturl authors.

    i'm not saying that they should not puiblish youtuber books but this disscuison can go onto the point that youtube has lost its meaning cause everyone out for money and everyone less creative. think that kind of ture but at the same time it is not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree, you make a good point! xx

      Delete
  11. Here's my opinion: Personally, I don't agree with youtubers publishing their own books, but I feel that it's gotten to a point where everyone is now jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of publishing a book. And quite often, the results are pretty strange. To give a few examples:
    Dan and Phil's "amazing" book is just a book filled with old pictures, very short texts, and written versions of some of their videos. Joe Sugg releases a graphic novel for which he might have penned the general plotline, but which has been mainly conceived by a team of graphic designers. The pinnacle for me is Caspar Lee's book which he takes all the credit for although it wasn't him who wrote it but his mother.

    I think if you so boldly put your name onto a book and make it its USP, you should have at least put some effort and authenticity into it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree with everything you've said and you make some really good points. Thank you xx

      Delete
  12. we create best clothing to wear for our customers.We make all kinds of clothing accessories for men and women.Just come and see for yourself:book bags manufacturers in UK

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you so much for your comment xx

Popular Posts

One Day | TV Show Review

Where Rainbows End vs. Love, Rosie | Film and Book Review

Se7en | 100 Movies Bucket List

Upgraded | Film Review

My Problem With '8 Simple Rules'