Introducing... The Book Wanderer!

I'm busting out all of the pinspirational mantras today.

Great people do things before they are ready.

The magic happens outside your comfort zone.

The world does not award perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.

It will get easier.

It's not about perfect, it's about effort. 

There's power in looking silly and not caring that you do.

It's not the critic who counts. It's not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled. Credit belongs to the man who really was in the arena.

You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.

Let me repeat that last one.

YOU CAN ONLY GROW IF YOU ARE WILLING TO FEEL AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW.

On that note, I'd like to share my newest endeavor—The Book Wanderer, a Youtube channel devoted to all things literary and bookish. It's something I had put on my list of goals for 2014 and have been planning for a long time. Over the past few months I've worked on it here and there, learning a bit about editing, filming the opening/title sequence, and buying a microphone to compensate for some lousy in-camera audio.

But, repeatedly, I would put off filming an actual video. You know, of my face. On camera. Where I would have to talk and sound eloquent and look pretty and polished with shiny smooth hair and poreless skin (I've clearly been watching too many beauty gurus). And strangers would WATCH this video of my face. I am someone who doesn't even like her own birthday because I hate being the center of attention that much. Video may seem like an odd match for someone like that, but there was still something pulling me to at least try—most likely it was the Booktube community itself, which seemed like a fun place full of people as equally obsessed with books and reading as myself. And it's just not very satisfying to constantly be lurking in these online communities rather than participating.

It's impossible for me to be entirely criticism-free about this first video. I know I'm not as comfortable as I'd like to be, especially in the first half. I cringe when I feel like I'm coming across as spacey or awkward (oh why did I say the word boobies within the first minute?). I see how I tend to speak slowly at times because I'm trying to be deliberate with my words—and somehow I still repeat myself. And can we talk about how badly my Coke bottle glasses distort my face?!

Even with all of those thoughts, I'm posting my first Youtube video here on my blog. *Cue the nerves.* My normal M.O. would be to not share any videos until I get to the point where I feel proud of them, but that could be forever and kind of defies the point of getting outside my comfort zone/doing things before I'm ready/etc.

This is just the first step, hopefully of many.
I have time to figure out what makes my hair look less frizzy on camera
(and if I don't, I'm not going to be run off the internet). 
It will get easier.
I will get more comfortable and less awkward
(or at least become more comfortable with my awkwardness, because it's honestly probably not going to go away).
I will continue to try.



I would be so happy to have your support in this new project. If you would like to subscribe to my Youtube channel, you can do so here. I won't be posting every video here on the blog, so if you'd like to stay up to date, your best bet is to subscribe. As I mention in the video, I have a ton of ideas for this new channel—Booktube standards like tags, book reviews, discussions, and the occasional haul, but also some (hopefully) unique and creative content as well. Maybe even a travel vlog or two with my upcoming European trip.

Thank you for taking the time to read, and to watch :)

I'm off to go hide under the covers for the rest of the day okaybye.