4 YouTube Channels Every Homeschool Aspiring Writer Should Know
From Story Craft to Self-Publishing:
Today, I will be reviewing my top four favorite YouTube channels for aspiring writers. These are channels dedicated to the craft of creative writing and offer valuable insights into the mechanics of storytelling. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned professional, there’s always going to be some nuggets of wisdom that can be found in the experience of others.
I often listen to these channels on long drives to help me think more deeply about my writing and pick up new insights. If you are a homeschooling parent whose children are aspiring writers (or an aspiring writer yourself), you might want to check out these channels!
Reedsy
I’m going to start with the low-hanging fruit here. Reedsy is one of the most established and useful writing channels on YouTube. It has been going strong for over a decade, hosting a blend of writers, editors, cover designers, ghostwriters, translators, and marketers, all discussing the craft of writing. Reedsy is a clearinghouse of information about writing, covering all aspects of the craft from the mechanics of storytelling to promotion and sales.
I have gone to Reedsy multiple times over the courseof my career for information and inspiration. Interacting in the comment threads is fun as well. There you’ll find thousands of other authors working through their manuscripts and discussing their own challenges. I would say Reedsy is like the supercenter of writing channels, where there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. With such a broad reach, the videos aren’t particularly deep, but they are sufficient to provide the information you need in a helpful, professional tone.
Writer Brandon McNulty
For a channel that digs much deeper into the mechanics of storytelling, I recommend Writer Brandon McNulty. Brandon is a prolific author whose channel is dedicated to explaining the mechanics of good storytelling. I’ve binge-watched a ton of his videos, and I find them extremely helpful.
Brandon goes into in-depth discussions of fiction writing topics such as dialogue, worldbuilding, stakes, romantic subplots, character arcs, etc., often using examples from cinema to illustrate his points. His discussions are very meaty but accessible, and he breaks his content down into easily digestible lists that make it easier to understand.
I find Brandon a good resource for understanding why certain things “work” in some stories and not others. For example, have you ever watched or read a story with a romantic plot that just didn’t seem to work? Why is that? Why do some characters have “chemistry” and others don’t? Or have you ever noticed that some villains are compelling while others seem one-dimensional? What makes the difference? Brandon dives into these questions from a structural viewpoint, discussing what it is about the writing mechanics that gives rise to a believable romance or a compelling villain. I definitely recommend Brandon if you want to understand why certain things work in storytelling, and others don’t.
The Art of Storytelling
A newer channel I have recently come to appreciate is The Art of Storytelling. The Art of Storytelling is an anonymous channel, but whoever runs it certainly knows his stuff. Like Brandon McNulty, the Art of Storytelling discusses conceptual aspects of writing using cinematic examples. He generally focuses on fantasy and science fiction, with examples frequently drawn from Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or Star Trek.
What I love about this channel is that his discussions are often deep dives into specific episodes or scenes, unpacking them with precision to discuss what makes them compelling. I particularly recommend his videos “The Worst Line of Dialogue Ever Written” and “The Episode that Defined Star Trek TNG” as the most stellar examples of his exposition. These thoughtful discussions go a long way towards helping me reflect on what works and what doesn’t in my own writing, and they also add layers of appreciation for my favorite sci-fi and fantasy franchises. This would be a good channel for anyone who particularly wants to write compelling fantasy or sci-fi.
Self-Publishing With Dale
Many first-time authors cut their teeth in the business through self-publishing rather than going with a traditional publisher. If this is you, you’re going to want to know about Self-Publishing With Dale. Dale Roberts is a prolific writer who has made a name for himself as a master of self-publishing. His knowledge of the field is exhaustive. Dale has self-published on every platform, with every plan, program, and package. He’s experimented with self-promotion and marketing across every conceivable channel. In general, he has poked, probed, and prodded every nook and cranny of the self-publishing world to get optimal results.
If you are interested in self-publishing and want to make sure it is done right—or if you want a straight-forward, no-nonsense review of a self-publishing product or service before committing—then Dale is your guy. Personally, I go back to Dale’s channel whenever Amazon or Ingram Spark rolls out a new self-publishing service, and I want to see what it’s like before I commit.
Dale is an absolute wealth of information. That being said, Dale has been around for a while, and he has tons of videos, many of which are extremely particular in focus. You may need to sort to find the content you are looking for. However, trust me, everything you need to know about self-publishing is in there if you dig around.
Boosting Your Writing
Whether you are a teen who is an aspiring writer, a parent wanting to nurture creative writing in your own children, or a homeschool mom or dad working on your own writing pet project in your spare time, these channels will be helpful resources.
One word of caution. While I have watched videos from all of these channels, each is truly voluminous, and I have not watched everything on each. Therefore, I cannot vouch for all content, especially interviews and live streams. As with anything on the Internet, watch at your own risk. That said, each of these channels has a reputation for solid discussion and wholesome commentary. Nothing I’ve seen on them has been unsuitable for family viewing. But as always, use your own discretion.
Bonus: Voted #1 Homeschool Writing Resource
YouTube is a fantastic place to pick up insight and inspiration. But if you’d also like something more structured — a step-by-step path that intentionally builds skill, discipline, and confidence — it may be time to look at formal instruction.
I encourage you to explore the fiction-writing courses offered through Homeschool Connections’ award-winning writing program, Aquinas Writing Advantage. (Adults can also take recorded courses through Unlimited or Single Access.) AWA offers the largest selection of online fiction-writing courses in the Christian homeschool world, taught by experienced instructors who guide students carefully through the craft of storytelling, from foundational mechanics to revision, polishing, and even publication.
Whether your student loves fantasy, science fiction, short stories, or novel writing, there are courses designed to meet them where they are and help them grow in skill and confidence.
You can browse fiction writing offerings here: Homeschool Creative Writing Courses Online.
For personalized guidance or help choosing the right course, feel free to email customer service at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com. They’ll be happy to help you find the right fit for you or your young author.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Join other homeschooling parents and me in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community to continue the conversation.
