THere are some great questions to ask yourself here, but there's one missing. One thing I learned writing for work in the public service is to ask yourself the question "how does this make my readers feel?" and "what do you want your readers to feel?". That might seem like a strange question for a bureaucrat, but it's actually so important. I lot of people in my area - technical experts - stuffed their writing with words that they felt made them look smarter, but confused their readers - effectively making them feel stupid. So I set myself the goal that anyone reading my writing would feel smart. This has carried through to my Substack. I've asked one of the people who reviews my articles before publication to tell me if there's any sentence that she has to read twice - because you don't feel smart if you have to re-read something to understand it.
Hey, Melanie, that's so smart! To be helpful and empathetic to your reader. Heartfelt thanks from all of us! There's one more question to ask ourselves, though,,, May I suggest? What does it make my reader do?
Jenny, I am 84 and love Substack. I occasionally write under my real name, Sandy Savin. More frequently, I add my thoughts in comments to other writers' submissions. But I am also a newcomer to Substack and find some of it difficult. Often, when I'm in the middle of a comment, it suddenly disappears with my having no clue as to how or why it vanishes. Like you, I'd love some help for those of us who did not grow up in the digital age.
I read six Sub stacks a day, but subscribe to around 20.
But I frequently delete posts, due to subject overlap--so I read 6-10 a day. (Yes, I'm retired.)
Comments do get read, but not a lot. It is really sweet to learn an "aha!" from in the comments, and even sweeter to have helped someone else have an "aha!"
I hope you will continue to comment, and I believe it is important to, sometimes.
There is just one Sub stack that I am almost religious about reading everyone's comments, and responding to, until about the 800 comments level.
I like that you double space, and that also ensures that you'll be read--along with not writing a dissertation:)
Well that isn’t much good then. But it's worth asking or watching vids. I'm no wizz and have been writing something & its alm9st post ready & then poof. Gone.
It's happened a few times and a few not all have reappeared. Not always. Grandkids would be handy if you have any. ?
Helping kids is great fun. The learning has an interactive positive effect on both the one helped & the helper. I've been tutoring Learners whose 2nd language is English & it's always an enriching exchange. Glad to hear you're helping a youngster.
I try to remember to do that in Notes (iPhone), but sometimes can't find where I wanted to Substack it !
As well, I often copy my comment to Notes, and the URL to the original Substack post. Many articles are well worth keeping, especially since Substack is somewhat replacing MSM for me.
I hear ya. I was gonna suggest copy/pasting the particular substack you plan to reply to. Sounds like u figured that out. Yaye. I noticed my incoming msgs today look normal & when I click to read it *it's blank. ? Wtf. It got normal for a bit & now back to blank yikes. Tbc. Have a pleasant Sunday..
That's handy I'd think. I have a 'temp folder' & I'll c/p the substack link/post there & then add my reply there & c/p it back to the link I'd saved .helps somewhat especially when you're not getting back right away, you don’t have to find it again. Yaye me..!!!
It’s helps to be amused sometimes and take a break from navel-gazing. If we’re constantly griping about what we cannot do, the fun dries up and we’re left with a shriveled orange and no juice!
I hear yah on that one. Almost any single thing I'm doing i have to do in baby steps. If frustration kicks in I have to switch out to a different task. Best to catch it before the ugh zone too. Has to be fun preferably.
Ah, that is so sweet of you. Try this: put your finger just b4 what you want to c/p ie copy paste and apply little pressure drag it across what u want to c/p. You will notice a pop up that lets you pick the action you want like 'copy'. When you want to see it you just put the little bit of pressure on the acreen where you want it. Then you click its best friend called 'paste' & kabam
Kabam there it is. Fiddle with it on something you can play with till you feel
I'm not sure if there's a word count maximum per post here? 'Somewhere' I've noticed a # below what you're writing in red & that just shows 'x' # of too many letters. If that's the case, back it up and continue the rest in a new post. 1 of 2 or 1 of 5 or what's needed. Asking substack might help. For all I know stuff like that is covered in one of their videos?
That's a good idea Jenny. I know they have some vids on 'how to's'. If you try a few of those it might help. Or ask Substack help desk. Ask people here can get you some answers. Most folks don't mind at all.
Jenny, I am taking a look at your substack based on this reply! I am slightly younger than you and am contemplating starting my own substack. (By the way, "substack" has been changed each time to "substance" - completely involuntarily! - by a very intrusive autocorrect. Who asked it?!)
So this is how I decided to start my homework. Since I'm not sure if I'm hitting the mark with my current subscribers, I decided to reach out and ask them. It doesn't get to the question of who my readers are, nor does it really address why I write what I write, but if people respond then at least I will have some feedback as I continue to think about what my newsletter is and what it could become.
If anyone wants to "steal" this concept for their own newsletters, that is fine by me. :)
Cindy, that's hilarious! It's like going to a circus, you're sitting there eating a bag of peanuts when suddenly the ringmaster calls out your name-CINDY, The Reluctant Death Defying Mistress of Aerial Bipedalism and the next thing you know you find yourself walking across a tightrope. Good luck, I'd like to read your posts!
For goodness' sake. Our culture now encourages everyone to be "a star," "a model," "an influencer," and now "a writer." It's great to have an alternative to mainstream media, especially now, but not everyone's thoughts are worth reading—or publishing.
for me ... i dislike immensley vehiementally insipid targeted manipulation to target readers to my posts, i try to speak from the harmony between my heart and mind .... no alterior motives except good Gods truth to the best of my abilities, to spread truth goodness and love , so help me good God... no offence intended
I wish there were a way to “reissue” an email for a post. As a publication grows, it would be great to be able to email legacy content that’s “new to you”, for newer signups.
As far as I know, since you are locked out of emailing once you have blasted a post, the only way to send an email again would be to delete and recreate a post, a dangerous and undesirable thing to do, especially regarding already-earned stats. Any thoughts? Thanks.
In the Substack guidance rabbit hole looking for a POV on exactly this. Having doubled year over year, I have so much content that has never seen the light of day for majority of my readers. Unsure how to upcycle it…
THere are some great questions to ask yourself here, but there's one missing. One thing I learned writing for work in the public service is to ask yourself the question "how does this make my readers feel?" and "what do you want your readers to feel?". That might seem like a strange question for a bureaucrat, but it's actually so important. I lot of people in my area - technical experts - stuffed their writing with words that they felt made them look smarter, but confused their readers - effectively making them feel stupid. So I set myself the goal that anyone reading my writing would feel smart. This has carried through to my Substack. I've asked one of the people who reviews my articles before publication to tell me if there's any sentence that she has to read twice - because you don't feel smart if you have to re-read something to understand it.
I work as a copywriter, and so many clients reply to this question with "I want them to feel inspired!" To break it down further, you could ask:
1) What do your readers KNOW (or what do you want them to know) that they didn't know before?
2) What can they DO (or what do you want them to be able to do) that they couldn't before?
3) What do they FEEL (or what do you want them to feel) that they didn't before?
Hope this helps!
Brilliant perspective and affirmation for me that I am on the right track! Phew :)
Excellent points, your #2 is identical with the point I made myself. You must be a great copywriter because you think like a fiction writer!
Ughhhhh
Hey Jenny, you're enjoying your exchanges here.
Hope you had a great summer. !! All the best. ♡☆♡
I thought it was me. I did not know that was the feeling I was feeling - stupid. I have to look back and see if I wrote that way, wow, thanks!
Write what you feel. You don't have to be an academic to do this.
Agree, great point. It's a huge tent so we all fit in.
that's a good point!
This is quite relevant, since most of what I post is poetry.
Hey, Melanie, that's so smart! To be helpful and empathetic to your reader. Heartfelt thanks from all of us! There's one more question to ask ourselves, though,,, May I suggest? What does it make my reader do?
Very helpful reminder… ‘anyone ready g my writing would feel smart’ .. and do-able w a few friendly readers (ex officio editors)
YOUb should write what you feel. FINISH
Savvy comment, Mel.
I am old 75yrs old.
I cannot take in all this.
I will write what I want on my substack page........if people don't like it they don't have to read it.
Some old people in the world are wise and we never had the internet.
How about making an easy format for substack elderly?
Jenny, I am 84 and love Substack. I occasionally write under my real name, Sandy Savin. More frequently, I add my thoughts in comments to other writers' submissions. But I am also a newcomer to Substack and find some of it difficult. Often, when I'm in the middle of a comment, it suddenly disappears with my having no clue as to how or why it vanishes. Like you, I'd love some help for those of us who did not grow up in the digital age.
I STILL do not know what I doing really.
Mostly I just write comments in Notes but I don't think anyone reads them!
I find the 'help' on here worth than useless.
Good luck.
I read six Sub stacks a day, but subscribe to around 20.
But I frequently delete posts, due to subject overlap--so I read 6-10 a day. (Yes, I'm retired.)
Comments do get read, but not a lot. It is really sweet to learn an "aha!" from in the comments, and even sweeter to have helped someone else have an "aha!"
I hope you will continue to comment, and I believe it is important to, sometimes.
There is just one Sub stack that I am almost religious about reading everyone's comments, and responding to, until about the 800 comments level.
I like that you double space, and that also ensures that you'll be read--along with not writing a dissertation:)
Well that isn’t much good then. But it's worth asking or watching vids. I'm no wizz and have been writing something & its alm9st post ready & then poof. Gone.
It's happened a few times and a few not all have reappeared. Not always. Grandkids would be handy if you have any. ?
I'm reading this May 3. Hope you're doing well.
Drunk. It's my 77th birthday.
Met a young child who I can help. My friends in the restaurant here are ACE
Helping kids is great fun. The learning has an interactive positive effect on both the one helped & the helper. I've been tutoring Learners whose 2nd language is English & it's always an enriching exchange. Glad to hear you're helping a youngster.
A bit difficult because she is dislexic and my French is not wonderful.
Wow on your birthday & you met this little one you can help and the peeps are ACE
ACE !! All this on your special day. Congratulations.
Well, I just read your comment! As did eight others.
Aha.
Compose your reply elsewhere on your device, edit it, copy paste it to where you want it.
I find that helps. All the best to ya's and ask peeps here too.
I try to remember to do that in Notes (iPhone), but sometimes can't find where I wanted to Substack it !
As well, I often copy my comment to Notes, and the URL to the original Substack post. Many articles are well worth keeping, especially since Substack is somewhat replacing MSM for me.
I hear ya. I was gonna suggest copy/pasting the particular substack you plan to reply to. Sounds like u figured that out. Yaye. I noticed my incoming msgs today look normal & when I click to read it *it's blank. ? Wtf. It got normal for a bit & now back to blank yikes. Tbc. Have a pleasant Sunday..
That's handy I'd think. I have a 'temp folder' & I'll c/p the substack link/post there & then add my reply there & c/p it back to the link I'd saved .helps somewhat especially when you're not getting back right away, you don’t have to find it again. Yaye me..!!!
Forming a group right here might be a really good place to start from.
The same thing I want to do. 3 yrs younger
Have you? Just wondering. ♡☆
It’s helps to be amused sometimes and take a break from navel-gazing. If we’re constantly griping about what we cannot do, the fun dries up and we’re left with a shriveled orange and no juice!
I hear yah on that one. Almost any single thing I'm doing i have to do in baby steps. If frustration kicks in I have to switch out to a different task. Best to catch it before the ugh zone too. Has to be fun preferably.
Making stuff fun is the best way to learn. I hear ya.
Getting upset is just too gross. Baby steps, lots of laffs & delight when you figure even a tiny something out.
Jenny, write like a lover!
I can't do this because like Sandy below after a couple of sentences my words get cut off!
Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, try this:
Compose your reply elsewhere on your device, edit it, copy paste it to where you want it.
I find that helps. All the best to ya's and ask peeps here too.
I am going to admit something to you Lana. Copy/Paste does not compute with me. 4yrs I have struggled with this.
BUT for you I will try again.
Ah, that is so sweet of you. Try this: put your finger just b4 what you want to c/p ie copy paste and apply little pressure drag it across what u want to c/p. You will notice a pop up that lets you pick the action you want like 'copy'. When you want to see it you just put the little bit of pressure on the acreen where you want it. Then you click its best friend called 'paste' & kabam
Kabam there it is. Fiddle with it on something you can play with till you feel
content with your new skill.
Oh Lana.
Do you know how many people have told me this?
Just does not COMPUTE in my head and I am smart!
Will try tomorrow and send you thanks if I manage.
I'm not sure if there's a word count maximum per post here? 'Somewhere' I've noticed a # below what you're writing in red & that just shows 'x' # of too many letters. If that's the case, back it up and continue the rest in a new post. 1 of 2 or 1 of 5 or what's needed. Asking substack might help. For all I know stuff like that is covered in one of their videos?
It's bluesky that has this handy little # count.
That's a good idea Jenny. I know they have some vids on 'how to's'. If you try a few of those it might help. Or ask Substack help desk. Ask people here can get you some answers. Most folks don't mind at all.
Jenny, I am taking a look at your substack based on this reply! I am slightly younger than you and am contemplating starting my own substack. (By the way, "substack" has been changed each time to "substance" - completely involuntarily! - by a very intrusive autocorrect. Who asked it?!)
Do you ever turn autocorrect off? Can be a nice change at times.
To bad you never made a single post???
Why do you have to? Not being a jerk just not sure why one would feel they have to? [°¿°]
So this is how I decided to start my homework. Since I'm not sure if I'm hitting the mark with my current subscribers, I decided to reach out and ask them. It doesn't get to the question of who my readers are, nor does it really address why I write what I write, but if people respond then at least I will have some feedback as I continue to think about what my newsletter is and what it could become.
If anyone wants to "steal" this concept for their own newsletters, that is fine by me. :)
https://storycauldron.substack.com/p/what-would-you-like-to-read
Thanks for sharing. I'm just getting started and may try this!
Thank you for this resources and your generosity in sharing!
Sounds good to me so I'd spend time here somewhat regularly. Me likey. Cheers.
I was a welder and now im attempting this...lots of insight in this piece for someone like me
Tripper. Write what you feel. I always wanted to study welding.
My Substack page is called, "Write Like a Lover!" I'd love to see your contri one day!
I appreciate the re-cap--thank you-s!
Thanks! I can never quite read my own notes, so very helpful
thank you Substack
This is really helpful.
Fantastic recap, thank you!
Very helpful questions. And actionable insights. Thanks for threading whole thing out.
Had to miss it live yesterday and appreciate this recap very much. Thank you and see you next week!
I wasn't here to write only read and somehow I ended up with my own substack that I didn't want 🙃
Cindy, that's hilarious! It's like going to a circus, you're sitting there eating a bag of peanuts when suddenly the ringmaster calls out your name-CINDY, The Reluctant Death Defying Mistress of Aerial Bipedalism and the next thing you know you find yourself walking across a tightrope. Good luck, I'd like to read your posts!
Me too & yours. Apparently you have a great imagination. !!!
That's great. Another good reason why trying new things can be awesome. Congrats.
For goodness' sake. Our culture now encourages everyone to be "a star," "a model," "an influencer," and now "a writer." It's great to have an alternative to mainstream media, especially now, but not everyone's thoughts are worth reading—or publishing.
Jane, I'd just like to say that my Mum and best friend, Ronnie, think my thoughts the most amazing thoughts ever thought.
for me ... i dislike immensley vehiementally insipid targeted manipulation to target readers to my posts, i try to speak from the harmony between my heart and mind .... no alterior motives except good Gods truth to the best of my abilities, to spread truth goodness and love , so help me good God... no offence intended
Sounds practical from over here. !!
I wish there were a way to “reissue” an email for a post. As a publication grows, it would be great to be able to email legacy content that’s “new to you”, for newer signups.
As far as I know, since you are locked out of emailing once you have blasted a post, the only way to send an email again would be to delete and recreate a post, a dangerous and undesirable thing to do, especially regarding already-earned stats. Any thoughts? Thanks.
In the Substack guidance rabbit hole looking for a POV on exactly this. Having doubled year over year, I have so much content that has never seen the light of day for majority of my readers. Unsure how to upcycle it…
Spot-on, @mattklein926339 and @Ricktastrophe
So, composing a piece rn, the personal pronouns of "me" "I" "my" "myself" someone was using became a bit much. heavy sigh...
It was started before the session yesterday, and when re-read, those things discussed became glaringly obvious. Ugh.
Forget this shit...just write.