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.
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. :)
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 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.
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!
Ughhhhh
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
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
This is awesome, Jackie! Love to see it
Thank you for this resources and your generosity in sharing!
Thanks for sharing. I'm just getting started and may try this!
I appreciate the re-cap--thank you-s!
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.
Thanks! I can never quite read my own notes, so very helpful
This is really helpful.
Fantastic recap, thank you!
Very helpful questions. And actionable insights. Thanks for threading whole thing out.
thank you Substack
Had to miss it live yesterday and appreciate this recap very much. Thank you and see you next week!
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?
This....this is beautiful...
I just wanna write about how the world is and the world from my view...and the little things I experience as I proceed forward.
I don't want to care about the numbers or how much they bring.....but sadly I have to
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…
Great work here, as usual!
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.
Thanks for these tips. As a beginner I need these pointers :)
I felt upset of not getting into the Grow program, but having access to lectures and notes is almost as good, I guess! Thank you Substack, team :)