YouTube Profile Series: Tiernan from The Book Tuber (#2)

Each week this month, I am putting the spotlight on one of my favorite YouTubers who will answer 8 questions created from the word, YouTuber. This week’s spotlight is on Tiernan from The Book Tuber. Check it out right below his latest video!

Your best year as a YouTuber?
My best year as a YouTuber would definitely be 2012 (and the end of 2011). That’s when I really got my booktubing channel started. In 2012, I became friends with a lot of really great people and connected a lot more with my viewers. I also got more subscribers in 2012 than I have my entire YouTubing career. When I started in 2010, I got maybe about 100 subscribers in a year on my first channel. When I started doing this, it worked out a lot better. I also got the opportunity to meet one of my viewers last year, which was a really cool experience.

One of the greatest lessons you’ve learned from other YouTubers?
Be original. Do YOUR thing. I’ve learned not to model myself after people that I admire as much as I used to. When I started this channel, I would base the way I did my videos on the way certain other people did because I was afraid to branch out and try my own thing. I’ve learned that trying to be someone else will only get you recognized as a copycat. People will like you for you, not for your attempts at modeling yourself after others.

Underrated: What’s the one video you wish had more views or brought more of a discussion?
A lot of times when I’m making a video I can tell if it will get 600 views or 5,000. People tend to like book-related videos that aren’t always reviews, like my How Authors Write or How to Read a Rick Riordan Book. They also like book hauls, for some reason. People always want to know what books you’re buying.

Sometimes I wish my reviews that have spoilers in them would generate more of a discussion. Most of my reviews are spoiler-free, but sometimes I like to discuss, and I always give warning. Depending on the popularity of the book, the amount of likes and comments change because of that. It doesn’t bother me, though. I honestly don’t book vlog for a view count. I like to get my opinion out there. I like seeing comments that say “you described exactly what I felt about this book.” If a few people like my video, I’m happy.

Time you doubted a video idea and shouldn’t have OR a time you doubted a video idea and are happy you didn’t do it.
I’m going to bring up these two videos again. How Authors Write and How to Read a Rick Riordan Book. For both of these, it took a lot of considering whether or not I wanted to upload it or not. I initially thought people would think that they were dumb, probably because it was outside of my comfort zone. I can’t always tell what people will enjoy or find funny, and that always worries me for some reason. I’m glad I took those chances!

Using one word, describe why How Authors Write is the video you are most proud of.
Thought. I went through my bookshelf and tried to get into the minds of my favorite authors and exaggerate their thought processes in a sarcastic way. I’ve made a few non book-related videos that I’m quite proud of, too. Slushie War, Old Man on Halloween, Sh!t Old People Say. I have an old man character that I do sometimes.

Be Yourself Tag: What are 3 books that taught you the most about yourself?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, my favorite book. Reading that at the beginning of my freshman year could not have been more helpful, and it opened my eyes in such a great way.

Looking for Alaska. What a beautiful book. Not a lot of books take such an emotional toll on me. I couldn’t really say what it changed in me.

The Harry Potter series. I would not be reading today if it weren’t for those books. They were always there when I was a loser in elementary/middle school and I can’t wait to reread them again.

Expand: If you were expanding your brand which route would you go, TV or radio/podcast and why?
Well, my goal is to work with TV and movies. I want to write, direct, and act. So I suppose I would choose TV.

Road Show: If you went on tour for a live YouTube event, who would be your musical opening act?
Gosh, I don’t know. I don’t have one specific band that I’m in love with or obsessed with like most people do. I like broadway music. I like Mayday Parade. Their songs remind me of books I read a lot. Yeah, okay. Mayday Parade.

Thank you so much Tiernan for participating in Hollywood the Write Way‘s, “YouTube Profile Series!” If you are a YouTuber and are interested in participating, I would love to extend this spotlight through the summer. You can email me at melodysimpson(at)hollywoodthewriteway(dot)com.

YouTube Profile Series Line Up
May 1 – Alyssa from AC Reads
May 8 – Tiernan from The Book Tuber
May 15 – Raeleen from Padfootandprongs07
May 22 – Kristina from Kristina Horner
May 29 – Heather from Bookables
September 4 – Andrea from Books and Brew
September 25 – Jesse from Jesse the Reader
October 3 – Catriona from Little Book Owl