The Essay Library

The Essay Library is a public Discord server for video essay creators and viewers to discuss the form + craft.

The Essay Library

▸The Essay Library Anthology

An ongoing project where creators make 60-second video essays responding to a given theme or prompt.
All levels of experience are welcome.

The Essay Library Anthology
Volume 1 ▸ "Beginnings" (2021)
Volume 2 ▸ "Time" (2021)
Volume 3 ▸ "Death" (2021)
Volume 4 ▸ "We Asked A Bot To Name 18 Video Essays" (2022)
Volume 5 ▸ "Secrets" (2023)
Volume 6 ▸ "Becoming Someone Else" (2023)
Volume 7 ▸ "Adaptation" (2024)
Volume 8 ▸ "Seasons" (2024)
Volume 9 ▸ "Dreams" (2025)

Accolades:
The Essay Library Anthology Vols. 2 + 3 received a special mention from the curators of "The best video essays of 2021" (Sight and Sound).

Volume 1 | "Beginnings"
Volume 4 | "We Asked A Bot To Name 18 Video Essays"
Volume 7 | "Adaptation"
Volume 2 | "Time"
Volume 5 | "Secrets"
Volume 8 | "Seasons"
Volume 3 | "Death"
Volume 6 | "Becoming Someone Else"
Volume 9 | "Dreams"

The Essay Library

▸Collaborations

We regularly host collaborative projects in The Essay Library ranging from our annual 48 hour Video Jam to media swaps and exquisite corpse-style constructions.

Accolades:
The Exquisite Relay: An Essay Library Co-Construction was praised as a "fascinating experiment in essay structure" in "The best video essays of 2022" (Sight and Sound).

The Essay Library Video Jam
Once a year, we select a random theme and invite video essayists to create something in 48 hours.

The Essay Library Video Jam 2025: Journey

The Essay Library Video Jam 2026: Win or Lose

Tales from the Essay Library
Organized by Will Webb, this series has creators swap media recommendations to determine their subjects.

Tales from the Essay Library ... IN SPACE! (2026)
Movies and television episodes set in space.

Camp Essay Library (2025)
Movies and television episodes set at summer camp.

When Essay Met Library (2023)
Video essays about rom-coms.

Tales from the Essay Library: Horror (2022)
Video essays about horror movies.

Experiments
Weird and fun stuff.

These Video Essays Do Not Exist (2024)

Created for April Fools' Day.
Essayists responded to the prompt "things that don't exist," and interpretations included fan theories, lost media, myths, and pure fiction taking the form of a video essay.

The Exquisite Relay:
An Essay Library Co-Construction (2022)

A videographic twist on the exquisite corpse featuring two video essays made one minute at a time. The first video was assembled forward, the second backward. Each creator had four days to do their part before passing it on to the next person.

See also: The Essay Library Anthology, our ongoing collaboration project making 60-second video essays.

The Essay Library

▸Contact

The quickest way to get in touch with the Essay Library moderation team is by joining the Discord server, but you can also contact us via email.Email info@ this website or fill out the form below.

If you were suspended or banned from our Discord server, do not use this form. Please use appeal.gg instead.

The Essay Library

The Essay Library Anthology Vol. 10

The Essay Library is putting together another collaborative video essay project!Each volume of the Essay Library Anthology is a collection of 60-second micro-essays based on a shared theme word or phrase.For Vol. 10, the theme is Video Essays. Whatever that means is up to you.Anyone can participate in this project, even those who have never made a video essay before. It's also great for seasoned video essayists looking to break up their routine and try something new.This project will be published in two different ways: as a single compilation on The Essay Library YouTube Channel, and as a playlist* of individual videos.Submissions are open now until Monday, September 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT | 12:00 PM EDT | 5:00 PM BSTWhile working on your submission, we encourage you to discuss the project with other participants in the The Essay Library Discord.*New for Vol. 10: The playlist will remain open after the deadline, allowing new video essays to be submitted indefinitely.

TL;DR

Prompt: Video Essays (all interpretations welcome)
Constraint: 60 seconds | 55-65 second range allowed
Deadline: September 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT
Submit here.
Share ideas here (optional).
Join The Essay Library on Discord.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to sign up?
Nope! Just submit your video by the deadline. As long as it follows all the guidelines on this page, it will be included.How do I submit my micro-essay?
Video essays should be submitted here. We'll need three things from you:

  • A .mp4 or .mov file of your video via Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc. Remember to edit the permissions so anyone with the link can access and download it. This goes in the final compilation, so leave out any channel branding.

  • A YouTube link to your video on your own channel. Keep it unlisted until the full project is published. This goes in the playlist and can include channel branding. If you do not have your own YouTube channel, see below.

What does "channel branding" mean?
Due to the theme of Vol. 10, we expect some creators to talk about their own channel and creative journey. That's fine."Channel branding" in this case refers to anything that is overly self-promotional. Some examples of channel branding include adding an outro/end-screen with social media links, encouraging viewers to subscribe to your channel, or listing the names of your Patreon supporters.We specifically want to avoid this in the big compilation; if you plan to publish your essay on your own YouTube channel you have full control over its presentation.You can put your name/username in the video if you'd like, but keep in mind that this will already be written on the title card before your video.When is my submission due?
Submissions are due September 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT. The essays will then be edited together and Vol. 10 will be published shortly after.Will I be credited in the compilation on The Essay Library's YouTube channel?
All participants will be credited with a title card before their segment appears in the final compilation AND in the video's description. Each segment will be marked using YouTube's "chapter" feature so that the creator can be easily located.Do I have to make my submission public on my own YouTube channel?
No. You can keep your part unlisted after launch. We just need to be able to make a playlist of everyone’s videos, so please do not set it to private.I don't have a YouTube channel. How do I submit my video to the playlist?
We welcome submissions from non-YouTubers! If you cannot/do not want to make a YouTube account, we can upload your micro-essay to The Essay Library YouTube channel as an unlisted video. You will be able to choose this option when you submit.Your submission still has to follow all the guidelines regarding suitability for YouTube publication. We will reach out if there is an issue.If you typically publish on other websites (Vimeo, Critical Commons, etc.) you may do that here. We can even include links in the description of the YouTube upload. Just wait until the premiere date to make it public.How do I know what topics other people are doing for their submissions?
You can use this spreadsheet to list your name and your intended topic, as well as take a look at what other people are doing for their topics. This is completely optional.We also welcome multiple videos covering the same topic. There is no way to reserve a topic—the spreadsheet is just a tool for coordination and inspiration.

Are there any rules for what I can and cannot include in my micro-essay?

  • Voiceover narration is not required.

  • Essays with sped-up voiceover will not be accepted.

  • All languages are welcome, but please provide English subtitles if your submission is not in English.

  • Your submission should be appropriate for YouTube publication. Please avoid any NSFW images/content that would result in the video being age-restricted.

  • Do your best to avoid Content ID/copyright claims. Demonetization is okay (we don't monetize the Essay Library channel), but if your submission triggers a claim that results in the video being geo-blocked, it will not be accepted.

  • Your submission should stand on its own. It should be produced specifically for this collaboration -- don’t submit a clip from an existing video essay.

  • Your submission should be human-made. The Essay Library Anthology is a celebration of creativity. If you use AI to make your video for you, you’re missing the point.

Can my submission be vertical and/or a YouTube Short?
Yes! You can even do a horizontal submission for the big compilation and a vertical version for your own channel. In the past, we’ve had a mix of formats.How firm is the time limit on my submission?
We would like you to do your best to keep your submission around 60 seconds. We will allow a range of 5 seconds shorter or longer (55-65 seconds).While the body of your essay should remain the same in both versions, you can add channel branding that exceeds 60 seconds for the version on your own YouTube channel. Leave this out of the .mp4/mov submission.What specifications should I make my entry to?
Feel free to create your entry in any dimensions or framerate you desire. The final compilation will be 1080p/60fps, and submissions will be upscaled/downscaled to fit those dimensions. Aspect ratios will be preserved.

For any other questions, join The Essay Library on Discord or email vol10@theessaylibrary.com.

The Essay Library Video Jam: Win or Lose

The Video Jam has now ended. Watch the video essays here.

The Essay Library is hosting another Video Jam to celebrate five years of our community! Participants will have 48 hours to create a video essay inspired by the theme "Win or Lose."The jam will start at 6:00 PM EST on January 16th and run until 6:00 PM EST on January 18th.You must start and submit a video essay within this timeframe. You can work alone or with a partner/team.Join The Essay Library on Discord.Watch the video essays created during last year's video jam: The Essay Library Video Jam 2025 - Journey.

Information

Prompt: "Win or Lose" (all interpretations welcome)How to submit: Upload your video to YouTube (either unlisted or public) and join the collaborative playlist to add your video.Deadline: January 18th, 2026 by 6:00 PM EST.Completion: Just like a game jam, you do not need to submit a 100% finished and polished video essay. The goal of this project is to see what people can do in 48 hours. You’re welcome to continue working on it after the Video Jam has ended.

Join

This video jam is hosted by The Essay Library, a community of video essay creators and viewers. We recommend joining our Discord server if you’d like to participate.There’s a dedicated channel (#video-jam) where participants can share their progress during the jam and connect with other creators.

Anything you contribute to the Video Jam playlist is your own property. By submitting to the playlist, you recognize that footage from your submission may be included in a video on The Essay Library’s YouTube channel. Any such videos will be properly credited and made with the intention of showcasing the work created during the jam. The Essay Library does not claim any ownership of the playlist’s contents, and does not earn any money from its YouTube channel uploads.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Producing your video essay

What pre-existing materials can I use when creating my Video Jam entry?

The creative process is fluid and it’s not always easy to identify the exact origin of an essay idea. We ask that the majority of your creative work—planning, writing, recording, and editing—take place during the 48 hour jam timeframe.

An old conversation with friends? Great inspiration. That half-written script you've been working on? Please save it for another time.

You’re welcome to use assets (your own or online) that would otherwise be difficult to obtain in 48 hours, such as specific gameplay recordings, film/television footage, stock footage, or music libraries.

Note: The goal of the Video Jam is to see what we can make in 48 hours. If you use AI to make your video for you, you’re missing the point.

How long should my video essay be?

There are no requirements for video length, but we strongly encourage participants to plan their submissions with the 48-hour timeframe in mind. For reference, last year’s Video Jam had entries ranging from 2–20 minutes.

Think about your own workflow and what will be achievable for you. We recommend aiming for 5 minutes or less if this is your first time participating.

Do I need a voiceover?

Voiceover narration is not required.

Submitting your video essay

What do I need to do to submit?

Simply upload your video to YouTube and add it to the collaborative playlist. If you’re in the Discord server, you can share a link to your video and let people know you’ve finished.

If you are working as part of a team, only one person needs to upload it. All team members should be properly credited in the video description. You can also use YouTube’s “collaborator” feature to share the upload between multiple channels.

Can I submit more than one video?

There is no limit on the number of videos you can submit in 48 hours.

What if I don’t finish my video essay in 48 hours?

You're welcome to add your unfinished video to the playlist. This is an exercise to see what you can do in 48 hours—we don't expect all participants to produce a complete, polished video essay.

My computer and/or internet is slow and I can’t guarantee that it will be uploaded by the deadline. What should I do?

We will allow uploads after the deadline (within reason) if you are delayed for reasons outside your control. Please join the Discord server and notify us in the #video-jam channel.

Is there an acceptance/rejection process?

All videos that are uploaded to the playlist are automatically part of the Video Jam. Videos will only be removed from the playlist if they are identified as spam or appear to violate any of the guidelines described on this page.

Is there anything I can’t include in my video?

Please familiarize yourself with YouTube’s community guidelines to avoid triggering video removal.

What if I don’t have a YouTube channel?

In other collabs hosted by The Essay Library, we’ve offered to upload videos on participants’ behalf for inclusion in the playlist. However, we cannot offer this during the Video Jam—we’ll be busy working on our own entries.

If you are coming from another platform (Vimeo, Critical Commons) please note that you will need to use your own YouTube account to submit. This does not require having an established channel; you can create a new account for this purpose. If you already have a Google account, you should be able to use that to upload to YouTube.

If you want to prevent the video from appearing on your public channel page, select “unlisted” when you upload.

Publishing your video essay

How will this project be published?

Individual video essays created for the Video Jam can be published as soon as they’re complete. At this time, there are no plans to publish the videos as a compilation on The Essay Library channel.

Last year, a server member edited a highlights reel of all the jam entries, and we hosted a premiere on our channel. We may do something similar to showcase this year’s participants.

Can I publish my video essay submission on other platforms?

You’re free to upload your video on any platform. If possible, please link to this website and/or the YouTube playlist to provide context about the Video Jam project.

Can I keep working on my video essay after the Video Jam ends?

Your video will remain 100% your own property. After the Video Jam is over, you can do whatever you want with it, including making changes or additions. While you cannot add any revisions or extended cuts to the Video Jam playlist, you’re welcome to share it in The Essay Library Discord server.

For all other questions, please join our Discord server and find the #video-jam channel.