Last month was the start of a new schedule for Aytch 3. Essentially, I cut production in half. Videos every other week, posts here once a month, and progress notes (a Patreon thing) every other week. Since I only have one tier on Patreon currently subscribed to, I don’t have to worry about the benefits for higher tiers yet. I have the pieces in place, and I’m currently considering the frequency of those – though I kept that schedule lighter on purpose, because it does require input from other people. So I think that’s going to stay the same. (If you want to know more, check out my Patreon. You can subscribe at one of 3 tiers, each with increasing benefits.)
The new schedule is one month old, and it’s already a relief. I have learned that the posting schedule I want requires several people. I at least need help on the production side to handle the original schedule (weekly videos, 2 website posts, 4 progress notes). At least a video editor, and possibly some help with the recording process. I will need research and writing assistance to get the production schedule I want (videos twice a week, up to 4 website posts, and 2 progress notes). The amount of work that goes into each script, however short, is still a lot and no one will be able to have that many ideas and get them to the finished state in time.
Until that time, though, it’s still just me. There are some From the Classroom videos coming up – mostly because it’s syllabus writing time, so I’m thinking about it! There are a few videos in the works that require me to go back into my library and figure out which book each bit of information comes from. Sometimes I can find it right away, other times it takes a few hours of digging. I’d like to get more analytical videos up on the channel sooner rather than later, so that’s my focus next week, along with writing my syllabus.
I’m glad I reduced the schedule and that I’ve turned this into a blog of musings rather than content. I need to recognize my personal limits and also that hustle culture can really mess with a person’s mind. I need time off, I need to be away from the computer, I need to switch off regularly or I don’t do my best work.
For now, I’m trying stick to a post every month on the 5th (or close to), with videos every other week and progress notes on the in between weeks. A new video, part of the series From the Archives, went live on August 3.
The next 2 videos are part of the From the Classroom series, posting August 17 and 31. This gives me enough time to properly finish the videos on queer folks in the military as well as the government’s treatment of them, up to and after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I know the World War II portion pretty well, and the mid-century somewhat, so I’m boning up on that and learning about the repeal of DADT to finish it out.
I also have a few more videos in the works for the From the Archives series – recruiting materials right now, since that’s what I’m working on.
And I have a few more videos in the From the Bookshelf series. I feel like that one is going to get a lot of play in the next several months – I’m currently doing a lot of secondary reading and this is a good way to get my thoughts on a new book organized.
That’s the plan, anyway. There’s the upcoming semester to deal with, and its corresponding teaching, grading, and video production needs. There’s also a planned research trip – FINALLY. I started planning this trip over a year ago – I initially thought it would happen in February 2021. HA. Such optimism! But here we are, better late than never. The goal is to have Aytch 3 content and course content ready to go before I leave. Unfortunately, if I can’t get it all done, Aytch 3 will have to wait. The classes will have to come first.
It’s a lot, but I feel confident I’ll get there.