Reflections on Twitch
I returned to streaming on Twitch at the beginning of June, which means I've been streaming for about a month.
I'm finally settling on the look and feel that I want for my stream. I went through a couple of PNGtubers before finding a GIFtuber that I feel suits me perfectly. The cutesy PNGtubers weren't really my style, but I love the pixelated retro look of this GIFtuber made by the wonderful QuartzStash, whose work I'm kind of obsessed with.
I don't like the idea of having a brand or an aesthetic, mostly because I have so many different interests and my mind is always flitting from one thing to the next (and also because I'm not trying to sell anything). I'm not going to play the same games all the time, and not all of the games I play will appeal to everyone equally. I just want my stream to be filled with things that make me happy, and hopefully I can spread that happiness to people who stop by.
There will be growing pains as I ease into streaming and learn what works best, and that's normal. I'm a human with flaws and anxieties, not a content machine. I'm doing this to have fun, meet new people, have good conversation, and maybe turn my favorite hobby into a shared community. I'm not doing this to become popular, make money, or seek brand partnerships.
Another thing I've noticed is that I never get nervous before streams anymore, which is completely different from my pre-injury streaming experience. I actually canceled streams a few times because I was too nervous to even begin. 😓 I think I was too focused on trying to appeal to everyone, but now I just want to be myself. I'm creating as much of a me stream as possible this time around!
...and I'm not overthinking it at all, nope.