Starting a proper YouTube channel
has been something that I had been talking about for a few years but it wasn’t
until the end of 2023 that I actually began taking action. I had been speaking
at an event and had made some films as part of the presentation so decided to
publish them as a starting point.
Making films takes time, it is
something that is always said but it is really true. Filming is only a small
part - planning, writing, editing, voiceovers, even the publishing process means that it
is a big investment. My plan was that, by sharing sketchbooks, travel
and drawing tips, I would increase my workshop bookings. I also felt that it in
the longer term it might be a way to earn an income if I managed to reach the
monetisation threshold. I knew it would have to be a long game, two to three
years seemed an amount of time to invest that might recoup rewards.
The great thing about the
platform is the amount of data that you have access so I can measure my
progress. These are my numbers at the time of writing:
Numbers of videos - 31
Number of YouTube subscribers - 4101
Number of views - 98.3K
So, I am doing well but still
have a way to go. I know that I just need to keep on keeping on. The one thing
that I haven’t done so far is appear in front of the camera. I’ve shown the
view of the world through my eyes for vlogs and shown my hands at work but I
have resisted doing a direct to camera piece. I’ve never even done those for
Instagram so it would be quite a jump for me. Why this reticence? What am I
afraid of? Being mocked? By who? My immediate family are hugely supportive so
no one else really matters. But being visible as an older woman and not a
glamourous one, still feels difficult. So that is my next challenge.
I am not interested in talking
about aging itself, I want to focus on drawing. I always say that I have
sketched my way through the menopause. Half jokingly, half true. I suppose I
want to show other people what adding drawing into their lives can do. It can
help to slow you down, have peaceful moments, travel, connect with others with the
same interest, look at the world and really see it.
I have made a list of some of
the women, from a whole range of ages, that I have been looking at and learning
from on the channel and am sharing them below. Just click on their name to be
taken to their channel.
I would love to know your
recommendations too!
The Business Side of YouTube
An Older Perspective
Patricia Brooks -
The Courage Catalyst
Life + Home
Clothes + Style
Artists + Illustrators
Entertainment
