We invited Cody Cook-Parrott, who writes Monday Monday, to share insights on bringing their audience over from Instagram and creating a steady writing practice.
"Write you feel like and write when you don't" is valuable advice. On any platform consistency is key.
As someone that's wrestled with differentiating between paid/free content and a NPR-style model, I *really* appreciate the honesty/real talk regarding paid subscriptions. I think a lot of us have been conditioned to shy away from that.
Getting paid for one's work is a reasonable expectation.
Thanks Marlee! I love the advice to write when you feel like it, AND to write when you don't. Such an important practice for writers but more difficult than it seems!
Also STRONGLY identify with you having offered far too much on Patreon. I was exactly the same. At one stage I had something like 11 tiers, with each tier getting something different. It was impossible to keep up with. Now my newsletter is really streamlined and both paid and free subscribers know exactly what they'll get.
I'm still a relative newbie ( 2 months in! yay!). Thank you for all the helpful advice. I'm an academic, so the idea of getting paid for my writing feels strange. At the same time, I do think writers should get paid for their labor. I'm balancing these contradictory impulses as I try to figure out if I should go paid. Marlee -- your real-talk definitely helped! So, thanks!
First off, all around a very cool model here! What sticks out to me is the steady growth though. Monday Monday has, in one form or another, been around for a while now, and it looks like the growth is pretty consistent. You even took the time to mention that there aren’t any massive jumps and that consistency is key. Consistency has been really hard for me lately so that’s probably why this stuck out and is encouraging to me.
Super helpful, esp write when you want to and when you don't. I know you from Holly and she speaks so highly of you and I'm excited that I'm starting to understand why as a new subscriber. :)
Hi Marlee, I started writing on Substack a year and a half ago. I have a weekly feature each Tuesday. Yes, I write every week, even when I don't feel like it.
I only have a small following and no paid subscribers. I do have an Instagram account with many more followers. How do you convert those followers to Substack? Thank you for any advice you can provide.
I love this question Anne! I am VERY direct with my social media followers. I usually post a screenshot of my Substack and / or an excerpt in the caption and tell my followers to clink the link in bio to read the whole thing! You can see my most recent example here : https://www.instagram.com/p/CkIz_FSuC3V/
I've been a subscriber to Marlee's various newsletter iterations for probably a decade and they never disappoint, but when they moved their writing to Substack, it felt like the best alignment yet. (Maybe because I am Substacker myself, but I don't think so.)
Thanks for the insight, Marlee, and to Substack for continuing the Grow series -- it has been genuinely helpful.
So grateful for this interview and thank you for sharing your advice Marlee!
Easiest takeaway for me: Write when you want to, and write when you don’t want to.
I made a decision to post three times a week with a loose enough theme attached that writing a post doesn't feel like some horrible task but is more incorporated into my writing day.
What does this mean: "I have had to completely unhook from the algorithm because I have never had lower social media engagement." Thanks in advance for a translation!
This means that when I post something to social media and it gets 150 likes (rather than the 500-5000 my posts used to get) I have to trust that the post is reaching exactly who I need to, and that my social media engagement isn't a reflection of my worth as a person or my worth as a business. Basically - I don't let likes on social media dictate my mood :)
"Write you feel like and write when you don't" is valuable advice. On any platform consistency is key.
As someone that's wrestled with differentiating between paid/free content and a NPR-style model, I *really* appreciate the honesty/real talk regarding paid subscriptions. I think a lot of us have been conditioned to shy away from that.
Getting paid for one's work is a reasonable expectation.
Thanks Marlee! I love the advice to write when you feel like it, AND to write when you don't. Such an important practice for writers but more difficult than it seems!
Also STRONGLY identify with you having offered far too much on Patreon. I was exactly the same. At one stage I had something like 11 tiers, with each tier getting something different. It was impossible to keep up with. Now my newsletter is really streamlined and both paid and free subscribers know exactly what they'll get.
yesssss - write when you want to and when you don't :) and love the peace of mind streamlining gifts us
I'm still a relative newbie ( 2 months in! yay!). Thank you for all the helpful advice. I'm an academic, so the idea of getting paid for my writing feels strange. At the same time, I do think writers should get paid for their labor. I'm balancing these contradictory impulses as I try to figure out if I should go paid. Marlee -- your real-talk definitely helped! So, thanks!
I relate to all of this. Just subscribed to you, keep going 🙌🏼
Thank you, Bam! I just subscribed to yours. I definitely wanted to. Good luck with it!!
You’re the best -- thanks
thanks for including me, grateful to share today xoxo
Thank YOU for sharing your story. We're happy that you choose to write on Substack.
This is wild. I only just started on Substack and getting a behind the scenes look at Marlee’s story is incredibly encouraging.
First off, all around a very cool model here! What sticks out to me is the steady growth though. Monday Monday has, in one form or another, been around for a while now, and it looks like the growth is pretty consistent. You even took the time to mention that there aren’t any massive jumps and that consistency is key. Consistency has been really hard for me lately so that’s probably why this stuck out and is encouraging to me.
Super helpful, esp write when you want to and when you don't. I know you from Holly and she speaks so highly of you and I'm excited that I'm starting to understand why as a new subscriber. :)
laurrrrra - holly speaks highly of you back, lots of love xo
Very inspiring! Thank you!
Hi Marlee, I started writing on Substack a year and a half ago. I have a weekly feature each Tuesday. Yes, I write every week, even when I don't feel like it.
I only have a small following and no paid subscribers. I do have an Instagram account with many more followers. How do you convert those followers to Substack? Thank you for any advice you can provide.
I love this question Anne! I am VERY direct with my social media followers. I usually post a screenshot of my Substack and / or an excerpt in the caption and tell my followers to clink the link in bio to read the whole thing! You can see my most recent example here : https://www.instagram.com/p/CkIz_FSuC3V/
Thank you Marlee! I appreciate the suggestion.
I like your methods! Well done.
I've been a subscriber to Marlee's various newsletter iterations for probably a decade and they never disappoint, but when they moved their writing to Substack, it felt like the best alignment yet. (Maybe because I am Substacker myself, but I don't think so.)
Thanks for the insight, Marlee, and to Substack for continuing the Grow series -- it has been genuinely helpful.
Hey sarah- I believe marlee uses they/them pronouns.
Oh, you’re absolutely right. That was a recent change that I’m still getting used to… I’m sorry.
So grateful for this interview and thank you for sharing your advice Marlee!
Easiest takeaway for me: Write when you want to, and write when you don’t want to.
I made a decision to post three times a week with a loose enough theme attached that writing a post doesn't feel like some horrible task but is more incorporated into my writing day.
What does this mean: "I have had to completely unhook from the algorithm because I have never had lower social media engagement." Thanks in advance for a translation!
This means that when I post something to social media and it gets 150 likes (rather than the 500-5000 my posts used to get) I have to trust that the post is reaching exactly who I need to, and that my social media engagement isn't a reflection of my worth as a person or my worth as a business. Basically - I don't let likes on social media dictate my mood :)
sounds very good way to market.. I like the newsletter concept.. Monday Monday is good.. I prefer Thursdays.. :) but good job
What would you say the major reason your subscribers decide to pay is? (Whether you have done a survey or emails or however you talk to them)
Wow this is so juicy! Thank you for the tips!
Yeah!