Book, Camera, Action!
An awkward journey
By nature, I am an introvert. Not the dramatic, tortured-artist kind, but more the quietly-invisible sort. The one who, at a crowded gathering, instinctively merges into the wall like an awkward, decorative potted plant. Especially when surrounded by people I do not know well. Silent, ornamental, and completely unnecessary.
Now, take this introvert, marinate him in a generous helping of camera shyness, and you have the perfect recipe for a disaster waiting to be streamed. I am the person who gets self-conscious even catching my own reflection in a screen—half expecting it to start judging me before I can judge it. That slight, disconcerted wave when someone says, "Your camera’s on." As if I just spotted my own ghost and it winked at me.
Yet, here we are, in an age where promoting a book involves not just writing it but selling the idea of yourself along with it. Which, for me, means emoting in front of a camera. It is a sight to behold, let me tell you. Not in a ‘wow, what a natural performer’ way. More in a ‘is that person okay? Do they need medical attention?’ way.
But duty calls. I have shot a few videos—yes, those earnest attempts at charisma are floating around out there, on Instagram, on YouTube. Somewhere, a distant cousin is probably watching them and wondering if I have joined a mime troupe. To everyone’s credit (and perhaps, out of sheer politeness), no one has commented adversely. Either that or they are still trying to figure out how to unmute the videos.
All said and done, it has been a fun, if slightly cringe-inducing, learning experience. I have newfound respect for those who seem to beam naturally in front of a lens—those who can smile, talk, and breathe in one seamless motion without breaking into a cold sweat. It is a kind of magic I aspire to, even as I remain, firmly, the potted plant.
At the end of it all, I am not sure what audiences will find more entertaining—the videos or the book. But here is the thing: while the videos may get a laugh or two, it is the book that carries the real substance. Every chapter, every essay, every messy and beautiful reflection. It is all there, waiting to connect with you in a way no camera ever could.
If the videos make you smile, I hope the book makes you stay. I hope it invites you in, wraps you up in its stories, and leaves you feeling a little more seen, a little more understood, and, hopefully, a little more entertained.
When the dust settles, the book remains the hero here. It is the thing I poured my heart into. And it is a far better version of me than the person who cannot quite figure out where to look on camera.
So here is to the book—awkward videos aside. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did writing it.
PS: Audio summary generated by Google NotebookLM