I’ve had a YouTube channel sitting around for years, but I never really gave it much attention. A few book trailers, one attempt at a video essay, and then… not much else. But that’s starting to change.
Thanks to a new rig that can finally handle real video editing, I’ve started dipping my toes into the medium and I’m having more fun with it than I expected.
Trying New Things
The first video I made with the new setup was a musical montage from Wild Wild West Steampunk Con in Tucson. It’s a fast-paced tribute to the creativity and flair of the folks who showed up in costume along with some of the nifty things I spotted around the vendor hall.
Next, I took a swing at something closer to home: a short video version of the book pitches I give at public events. It’s quick, welcoming, and gives viewers a feel for what kinds of stories I write. It features plenty of fan art and even includes a couple of jokes that genuinely made me laugh during editing. It turned out better than I’d hoped, and I think it’s a great intro for anyone new to my work.
Shorts and Side Experiments
While I was gathering footage for the book intro video, I caught a funny little moment in Baldur’s Gate 3. Just for fun, I added some sound effects and text, and posted it as a YouTube Short. A few days later, it had over a thousand views.
Since then, I’ve put together a few game-related Shorts featuring silly moments and in-game hijinks from Baldur’s Gate, and I’ll probably branch out into other titles too. I’m also experimenting with short-form versions of my Griffin Reads book recommendations just to see if I might get more exposure for those through a new medium.
What’s Next
For now, I’m planning to keep things casual—more videos like the ones I’ve already done, and maybe a few new kinds of content too. I’m thinking maybe travelogues from events I do out of town and possibly another attempt at a storytelling video essay or two.
If any of the stuff I’ve mentioned here sounds like your kind of thing, feel free to check out the channel. I’m still finding my footing, but it’s exciting to have a new creative outlet to explore. Happy watching!
