Grow: How Melinda Wenner Moyer’s Substack helped sell 25,000 copies of her book
The Grow interview series is designed to share the nuts and bolts of how writers have gone independent and grown their audiences on Substack. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
We invited
, who writes to share insights into selling your book on Substack, making the most of Substack’s recommendations network, and making her newsletter a full-time business.Before starting her Substack, Melinda was an award-winning freelance science journalist of 14 years and had just written a book, How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes (published by Putnam Books in 2021). With the book recently going into its second printing, Melinda’s editor credits her Substack for its success.
Alongside her Substack, Melinda writes for the New York Times, as well as contributing to Scientific American, The Atlantic, and other publications.
What’s your Substack about in one sentence?
I use science to answer timely parenting questions and debunk bad parenting advice.
Who reads your Substack?
Parents—mostly mothers, but some fathers too.
What do you uniquely offer readers?
A lot of parenting advice today is inaccurate and makes parents feel terrible—that they’re doing things wrong or aren’t doing enough. My newsletter is an antidote to that.
I have a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and a master’s in science journalism, so I often start with a challenging parenting question, then I hunt through the research literature for studies that could help answer it. I carefully read them, and occasionally also interview the authors to make sure I understand the nuances. Then I boil down the essentials for my readers and provide guidance based on what the science says.
I often find the advice parents encounter on social media—and the parenting “wisdom” passed down through generations—doesn’t work. It doesn’t make parents’ lives easier and actually makes them harder (and causes parents to feel a lot of shame, too). Many parenting recommendations are based on inaccurate interpretations of the research. Some are rooted in harmful sexist stereotypes. Others are fueled by unnecessary fear. I shed light on which pieces of advice parents can trust and which they should ditch, and I share new themes emerging from the research that could impact parents’ choices and priorities.
What’s your content strategy?
Schedule: I publish three times a week: a free newsletter on Tuesdays, a thread for paid subscribers on Thursdays, and a paid newsletter on Fridays.
Format: Most of my newsletters are essays or a mixture of essays and guidance. Some are tied to current events, like “How do I talk to my kids about the Uvalde massacre?” Others unpack and address new or ongoing controversies in the parenting world over disciplinary strategies or recommendations. I also share science-based guidance to help parents find balance in their lives, support their mental health, and communicate with their partners, and I run Q&As with researchers and thought leaders.
Paid content: I recently launched a new feature: “Parenting Advice Hot-Takes,” in which I share my thoughts on parenting advice that has recently gone viral. This appears behind a paywall at the end of each free newsletter. I was inspired to launch this feature after reading
’s Grow interview, where she explained that she paywalls content in every newsletter.
Read more: How to Talk to Kids About Mass Shootings
Growth by the numbers
Started Substack: December 2020
Turned on paid subscriptions: September 2021
Total subscribers: 12,000
Paid subscribers: 800
Meaningful growth moments
Pre-launch: I had just finished writing my book, How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, and was brainstorming ways to build my audience. I knew that newsletters were an effective way to market and sell books, so starting a Substack seemed like a no-brainer.
Writer recommendation boost: On Instagram, psychologist
discussed and recommended a newsletter I wrote about homework.Another shoutout: Author Ryan Holiday recommended my book and newsletter in his “Reading List” newsletter.
A key ongoing recommendation:
, ’s Substack, began recommending my newsletter.
I had just finished writing my book and was brainstorming ways to build my audience. I knew that newsletters were an effective way to market and sell books, so starting a Substack seemed like a no-brainer.
How did you decide to go full-time writing your Substack?
For the first 18 months, my newsletter was more of a side gig for me both mentally and financially. I invested a lot of time in it, but I didn’t stick to a regular schedule and my posts weren’t always rigorously reported. In August 2022, I decided to make the newsletter a priority, and especially my paid content. I knew of writers who were making a good salary from their Substacks, and I craved more financial stability, given the rapidly dwindling media landscape. I very quickly saw a return on my investment and have since tripled my paid subscriptions. Is My Kid the Asshole? has morphed into “Wow, I’m actually earning some money here” territory.
Why did you choose to go paid?
It’s hard to make a living as a freelance journalist today—and that’s especially true in parenting journalism. Society undervalues parenting in large part because it’s still considered “women’s work” (this is changing, but not quickly enough). As a result, very few parenting-focused publications can pay a living wage. Going paid on Substack offered me the opportunity to keep covering crucial parenting issues while also earning a stable income.
Read more: Why Is Branding So Effing Hard?
You recently tweeted that your publisher credits Substack for continued book sales. Can you tell us more?
A few months ago, my editor, Michelle Howry at Putnam Books, told me that my paperback was going into a second printing. I was thrilled! My book was first published in July 2021, and it continues to sell steadily every week. Michelle credits my Substack for helping to drive continued sales. It’s sold just under 25,000 copies.
My book was first published in July 2021, and it continues to sell steadily every week. My editor credits my Substack for helping to drive continued sales. It’s sold just under 25,000 copies.
What made you decide to offer the book as a founding member–tier perk?
Since I know my subscribers are parents who want more guidance, I thought offering a signed copy of my book to founding members would make perfect sense. Even if they already had a copy, they could give the extra one to friends, which would build my audience even more.
What type of reminders do you have about your book?
In nearly all my free newsletters, I mention my book and link to a page on my website that includes purchase links. There’s usually a photo of the book somewhere in the post too. Every week, I see that readers click the links.
What are your plans for the future of Is My Kid the Asshole?
I’m planning to rename the newsletter in the next few months to more accurately reflect what it does. I no longer solely focus on challenging kid behavior. Much of what I write now challenges parenting norms and expectations, pushes back on bad parenting advice, or offers scripts and frameworks for talking to kids about difficult things. I have also set the goal of at least doubling—and ideally tripling—my paid subscriptions by the end of 2023, so I can dedicate even more time to the newsletter.
What is the sharpest piece of advice you can offer other writers about growing a Substack publication?
Share your newsletter regularly on social media. Support and engage with other Substack writers. Many of them will end up reading and recommending your Substack too.
Also, be a real person on Substack. Don’t be afraid to “break the rules” in terms of what you share or discuss. I’ve learned that my subscribers love when I open up about my personal life and my experiences as a parent. Earlier this winter, I sent out a paid newsletter with a free preview in which I admitted that I didn’t really have a proper newsletter to share because I’d just stabbed myself in the eye with scissors (don’t worry—it healed quickly). I got more comments, texts, and emails from subscribers that day than I ever have. Many said they were grateful to hear that I do stupid things too. When subscribers know you’re a real human being, they connect more closely with you and engage more with your writing.
When subscribers know you’re a real human being, they connect more closely with you and engage more with your writing.
What advice have you received about growing your publication that didn’t prove to be helpful?
I know that the best practice is to put your best content in free newsletters, and I agree with the rationale: the more free subscribers you have, the more your newsletter will get shared. But good paid content really makes a difference. Whenever I publish well-researched paid newsletters and I include free previews, I convert lots of free subscribers to paid.
What surprised you about writing on Substack?
I have been floored by how supportive and generous my subscribers are, both to me and to each other. There are no “mommy wars” breaking out in my subscriber threads—just support, reassurance, and lots of wisdom. It’s been wonderful to see the community grow and thrive.
Here’s an example: In January 2022, a story I wrote for The Atlantic about the impossibility of parenting during the pandemic went viral. I decided then to start hosting “Parent Scream” threads at specific times—open to free subscribers—so that my subscribers could vent about their pandemic situations and experiences. These became extremely popular, and I was blown away by how wonderfully supportive everyone was.
Another thing that has surprised me is that the more I write for Substack, the easier (and faster) the writing gets. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m writing thousands of words a week for my newsletter in addition to the other articles I report and write for mainstream publications.
Who’s another Substack writer you’ve turned to for guidance or inspiration?
. She’s a good friend and neighbor, and we often text about growth strategies. Her newsletter, —which is fabulous, by the way—has grown substantially over the past year, and I’m always watching what she’s doing and how she’s doing it.Takeaways
Support and engage with other Substack writers. When Melinda’s Substack was recommended by key writers in her subject matter, she saw instrumental growth.
Promote your book in each post. Melinda often links to research and data in her book and links again to the book at the bottom of posts, as well as offering a signed copy to founding-tier subscribers.
Show that you’re human. When Melinda shares her personal side, she gets more response than ever. It’s not the main subject of her newsletters, but it’s also something she’s not afraid of doing.
What questions do you have for Melinda that we didn’t ask? Leave them in the comments!
To read more from this series on growing your publication, see our interviews with Leslie Stephens, Becky Malinsky, Tim Casperson, Marlee Grace, Gergely Orosz, Anne Kadet, Category Pirates, BowTiedBull, Justin Gage, Noah Smith, Carissa Potter, Jørgen Veisdal, Anne Byrn, Nishant Jain, Michael Fritzell, Glenn Loury, Erik Hoel, Jessica DeFino, Mike Sowden, Elizabeth Held, Jonathan Nunn, Polina Pompliano, Michael Williams, Judd Legum, and Caroline Chambers.
If you’re inspired Melinda and want to start your own Substack, you can get started here:
I wonder how many successful Substacks are *not* mainstream journalists defecting from newspapers like NYT.
Great question/point. Just to clarify, I have never been on staff at NYT — I just freelance for them.
Thanks, Melinda. I found your advice helpful. It's evident that you're a freelancer from the article.
Thank you for being so generous with your time and guidance Melinda! I can't help but wonder what you might think about an article I wrote on the parenting advice found in popular movies:
Movie Wisdom On Parenting Children
How To Be A Better Parent According To 14 Family Movies
https://moviewise.substack.com/p/movies-on-parenting-children
I wonder if there is anything you would object to, or if it these particular messages have withstood the test of time? Anyway, thank you once again for sharing your wisdom with us!
Melinda, that's not really a meaningful distinction, as you can either way make the NYT claim, and most readers don't know whether you're technically salaried or freelance.
Yes, I totally see your point. When I think of the staffers who left publications to make Substacks I think of people who already had huge followings (Bari Weiss, Casey Newton), and just wanted to clarify that I'm not in that category. But I totally understand your point. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Yep, and congratulations on your success, by the way!
I wonder that as well, Lisa. I haven't started mine yet and I wonder if it's worth it. I don't currently even have publishing credentials.
Wendy, try it for three months and post once a week. See what happens. I haven't been writing on Substack for very long and neglected it for two months, but I think it's worth it. Where’s the harm in writing more often?
That's solid advice, Corey. Thank you.
Whether you gain an audience or not, you’ll most likely become a better writer by having another outlet requiring you to conjure thoughts and words. That was my initial outlook (still is) when joining Substack. I needed something to push me to write more, a theory that hasn't yet came to fruition.
Wendy, it might save you a lot of headache and heartache to start with a writing group of trusted fellows before leaping into publishing your work prematurely. You want people who are encouraging but push you to be better.
I have thought about seeking out a writers' group again. I was in one years ago, but everyone eventually dropped out.
I dont care who wrote an interesting piece.
But if I come across something by a writer i like, yes, I definitely will read that one.
The leaderboards tell this story! https://substack.com/browse
The link isn't working, and I'm not sure what you're pointing to there, as the URL is for the browse window.
There are leaderboards on the right hand side of your screen which you can browse by category. That lists the most successful substacks by category.
Any way we can get a Lifestyle category, or more specifically, gardening? There isn't one that fits the many gardeners on Substack.
I think that's a good idea.
I've mentioned this previously, both on comment threads and via the support email.
Bailey @ Substack: Your link above was somewhat helpful, and somewhat not. I browsed the top 'stacks in a couple of different categories, and that confirmed my problem with your category selection. Some of the successful 'stacks in my topic area have chosen to go with Food & Drink and Culture. I'd chosen Climate/Environment, since that's the motivation behind our work, but we're not debating policy issues.... Still, a lot of other garden 'stacks have chosen that category as well. You'll see the gardening/home/homesteading folks are spread across multiple categories, which must be confusing for readers. I'm trying Food & Drink as primary and Culture as secondary, but I'm not sure that's right, either. It was useful, however, to read a lot of other descriptions, which helped me tweak ours. Thank you! Now if the tech glitches would stop... Last week, I had a slew of them in which one post I'd scheduled for a future date was immediately published instead, and one I set for free was sent only to paid subs.
BTW, those glitches really screwed us up, and the carefully sequenced posts for the giveaway are now totally out of order. BIG FAIL.
Bailey @ Substack: A few other questions: What do you have to do to appear on the Leaderboard? How are you all measuring success? I see 'stacks on there that have only just launched, and I'm not sure why they're on the list.
Hi, Mitchell. Couldn't have said it better myself. I have been making a living as a writer for 30 years, and I'm struggling on Substack. My writing has been for the past 15 years for game-industry clients (I run a successful studio of 5 FT writers w/ benefits, and our words are read by billions of players worldwide), but there's no crossover audience I can pull into the niche nonfiction gardening writing I do here. So I'm sympathetic to noobs because it's like I'm one myself, when it comes to this platform. This experience is reminding me of why I left journalism 15 years ago... if you didn't go to the right schools and aren't part of the cultural elite, it's hard to gain a toehold and make a living in publishing. At least the game industry was much more wide open, and not under that cultural clinch.
That was surprisingly helpful.
I appreciated these tips!! Super helpful advice.
it always seems like the #1 key to success is to "get a wildly famous Substack to recommend you"
easier said than done
Our main focus on this one was to share successful book sale tactics with a Substack, which Melinda has aced
Brava, Melinda! Thanks for all you’ve done for the writer community and sharing these strategies.
Incredible generosity!
Aww, thank you!
I love these kinds of posts-interviews. Love hearing how other creators are building on Substack.
I’ve started a newsletter to help people navigate web3, crypto and personal growth:
https://open.substack.com/pub/growcrypto?r=1r6ngp&utm_medium=ios
So this is really appreciated ❤️❤️
Great interview, love the topic of Melinda’s newsletter. I don’t have children myself but my brother has two and even an auntie needs some tips. It’s good to see a parenting newsletter grow and be financially sustainable. It gives me more hope for fiction.
Just saw that I made a typo: my brother has three children!!
So so helpful and encouraging! Thank you so much.
So happy to see you in the Grow series, Melinda! I’m also a parenting writer, so your tips really resonate. I appreciate the clarity of your newsletter goals, and your mindful and deliberate approach to meeting them. Thank you for sharing so generously.
Thanks for sharing how to grow! Melinda's comments are inspiring. Continued success to all.
I was thinking of adding paid content to my newsletter in the not too distant future, so this is very encouraging to read. And well done, Melinda, on your hard-earned well-deserved success! 💕
This is an important question that I also have, Ali: when to add paid content? Interesting to know that she only closed after nine/ten months
For someone growing a digital writing business from scratch (after walking away from 6-figure salary in Apr. '22) - I really appreciate these kinds of posts-interviews. Love hearing how other creators, writers, authors are building on Substack. :)
"Earlier this winter, I sent out a paid newsletter with a free preview in which I admitted that I didn’t really have a proper newsletter to share because I’d just stabbed myself in the eye with scissors."
Haha, this is awesome!
It sounds like Melinda puts so much thought and care into her reporting and writing, and provides a much needed service for her readers. Not surprising she's done so well. Very inspiring!
This was a great read in particular seeing the steps and stats broken down into detail! It would be awesome the see the same kind of breakdown from a non-established writer, who went fro building a sub-stack audience to getting published.
I would check out the other grown interviews! There’s a wide variety of these and they are linked in the bottom of the post
Thank you!
For someone starting a newsletter like me, seeing the numbers and how the newsletter grew was very interesting. In moments of uncertainty, I will remember Melinda's tips and strategies. Thank you for sharing with us, Melinda.
That was great. Just started out (240 subscribers) and this is really helpful. Especially about the book, cause I'm also an author
Very helpful. Thank you!
This was the most informative and useful interview yet. So many great takeaways. It is a reminder that those who are successful are generous to share their tips and tricks. Thanks to Melinda for a great interview.
Lovely advice ✨ I look forward to applying these growths techniques.
Thank you! This was very helpful!
Interesting information. I started with Substack late last summer and haven't really gotten off the ground so far. I recently decided to run a weekly podcast about news items that don't make it to mainstream but are usually connected. I also have a short story self-published in Amazon, with another one coming soon. My children are all grown and I am content to sit back and let them raise their kids while I try to spoil them whenever I see them. The marketing tricks you mentioned are well worth trying. Thank you for the insight.
I found this really helpful and inspiring. I just started my Substack in December and am in the throes of writing my memoir publishing next February, so serendipitous to see this posted. Thank you for sharing Melinda! I look forward to what comes next for you.
What a great story and loved that you shared the timeline and growth numbers. Very helpful. Curious is the % of paid to free is "about average" or if Sustack has this data? Great advise and observations from Melinda. Thx!
Great insight and work 👏🏻
Thank you Substack. Really appreciate this!
Interesting!!!I think 🤔 this platform is amazing with helpful features needed in the whole spheres of life.
This is wonderful! Just started releasing my novel on Substack. Thanks for the valuable tips!
Great story!
I agree with her about being yourself. When I first started my Substack I wasn't sure what I would write about. I had done a lot of fiction writing. But I didn't want to just write fiction and then it hit me. I talk about funny and different things that have happened to me throughtout my life. I didn't think I wanted to get that personal but then it just felt right. And I figured it might help someone who thought they were the only one with the same situation. And suddenly, my writing took off. I don't have the high numbers of subscribers yet but in due time.
I really enjoy reading how other creators produce their content. Melinda was generous in this text. Thanks from Brazil.
Congratulations on the inspiring success. My question is: if your Substack drives all the sales, why even go through a publisher? Couldn't you make more publishing it on your own? I don't understand the new model where authors are expected to market their own books. If the publishers can't support their authors, haven't they become obsolete?
Just to clarify, my Substack certainly hasn't driven *all* my book sales. And I'm very grateful to my publisher. Putnam has done a lot to support and market my book.
Thanks for the response! I'm glad to hear you have a supportive publisher!
Hmm . . . I suppose I should first become "an award-winning freelance science journalist of 14 years", and then read the article.
So openly helpful. I'm so i spired to do more publicly viewable writing! Thank You!
Lately, my eyes have unintentionally fallen on so many great posts and articles regarding selling and marketing books, insight into literary magazines, and the chaos of the publishing world. I feel the universe is trying to tell me something: Time to snap out of my rut and return to fiction. Motivation is brewing. I will soon vehemently unleash my madness through my fingertips.
good work melinda
These tips were super useful, and I loved hearing Melinda’s story! Thank you so much for sharing.
Your down to earth inspiration feels like a professional hug at this minute. Can't wait to read your newsletters. My husband and I are raising grandchildren as parents. We have custody because the parents, who loved them, are sick and unable to take on the responsibilities. This in turn caused the oldest to be delivered with a few issues. After 5 years, people think WE are the problem and it will be refreshing to hear advice without the guilt thrust on us. I love the business advice, (I love a good goal) but am more excited about your mission. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your insights about growing on Substack. I have two questions - 1) I wrote a chapter in two books being sold on Amazon. Can I promote the two book collaboration projects in my Substack posts? My niche is 'women with multiple sclerosis' and will eventually change the focus to teachers/educators with multiple sclerosis. 2) What is the best way to find other writers to follow on Substack?
My book “Men as Friends” is soon to be published by Koehler. It’s a sad and funny memoir about importance of male friendship over the course of my life. Not an anti-feminist polemic or a paean to male superiority. At 85, a retired social work and health researcher and caring for a wife with stage 4 cancer, I don’t have the “chops” or energy to make adequate use of Substack to promote my book which has received wonderful National and international endorsements along with a foreword by Allen Frances, an internationally known psychiatrist and author.
The book is very timely, but I simply don’t have the time. I’d be happy to hire someone savvy, efficient and sensitive to help me do that.
Thanks -
<irwinepstein@icloud.com>
Did you find the most men aren't willing to do the work that getting and keeping friends requires? Why are women more willing to do that than men?
Since we moved to Florida a couple of years ago, my wife used her room working skills to find 75 new "friends" whose names she recalls pretty easily. Most of the people I know here I met through her. I'm very proud of her and she's a party queen, a great networker and seems to find the best restaurants, among other things. :)
We celebrated one of our 50+ anniversaries yesterday. Indeed, we celebrate them every day.
Brilliant tips and insight! Really helpful to see the numbers and growth too!
I don’t really know how writing a blog here migrates to new viewers. Can anybody explain this? I don’t foresee any growth. What am I missing?
Recommendations make a big difference. You can recommend other Substacks, and often through that, they will discover yours and recommend yours back.
If i read something i like, I generally check out other things written by that writer.
If you tap on the little picture at the top of the ‘blog’ it will take you to the writers home page.
From here you can find what the writer has been reading, other writers the writer likes, and (I like this best) other Substack items they have written.
If I think I might benefit somehow from their writing, I usually subscribe as a free subscription.
If i continually benefit, and my budget has room, I’ll switch to a paid subscriber.
Best wishes for your Substack career.
I still think it’d be fantastic too see lesser known Substack writers featured here, say writers who started with zero or twenty subs and now have 500. I think that’d be more helpful to 85% of writers here.
As to this feature: Interesting!! I love the book title and idea about kids. Far too often I see kids acting absurdly; I look at the parents and they couldn’t care less. I then think, Well, here’s Trump 2 in 15-20 years. Parenting requires no education. No primer. Nothing. It’s like opinions on Twitter: Everyone’s an ‘expert.’
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Have you perused our other Grow interviews? We do have quite a few resources from folks who fit this description. See the bottom of the post
Will do!
Great advice. Thank-you.
So someone with access to putting content on the New York Times, The Atlantic and has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in science was able to build a successful Substack? That’s surprising.
A person with access to millions of readers someone else built for decades if not centuries and institutional support never manages to have success.
Ya know, writers are often in a space of “writers in waiting”. I cant tell you how many times my family has heard the name of a book I’m ‘working on’.
Give us some slack--please?
I totally get it. I’m one such person but my issue is with Substack promoting this person as having success on Substack. It’s not due to Substack that she’s successful. She was successful already and used Substack to gain more success.
That’s like saying that a baseball player who worked his whole life, worked out a perfected everything, got to the major leagues, won the World Series by hitting the winning home run and then attributing his success to a baseball bat.
Substack is the baseball bat in this example. The actual success of the baseball player was due to having worked for over a decade. The baseball bat had nothing to do with their success.
Maybe I was a little too harsh in my criticism, but it isn’t the writer that I’m taking issue with. It’s Substack trying to take credit for her success.
I found Melinda’s advice interesting. She found her market. My first book has lagged but being political, as in the title, “Donald’s Vanity Tantrums,” I’ve not had much success. I had visions of sugarplums dancing in my head as I approached 2020. I would do all kinds of personal appearances. I had scoped out Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. Parks Service allows any one to disseminate anything legitimate as long as it’s non-profit. I had intended to get a vendor’s permit at the democratic convention and all I needed was a slow news evening and a 5 minute interview with a CNN host or MSNBC host. Ya like hell, lol. Then Covid arrived and shot down my best laid plans of mice and men. I haven’t given up. Who knows what’s in store for next year. All I wanted was 200,000 sales so I could invest in my animal rescue farm. Lol. Maybe my next book will further the goal: subject Matter: Cats
I asked about the How? Ho do I submit my 108 page 2023 Political Report, "The Coming Nuclear War", to Substack for publication. It is not a feel good book. That Report's intent is to stop that Nuclear War by educating the Citizens in the Cities and Counties of America about the propaganda they are being fed, and provide them with a developed solution on how they can stop that Nuclear War from occurring.
Try perusing a WRITER’s MARKET. Or, if self publishing is ok, Amazon offers an option. I did Three ‘ol Bag’s NORTHWOODS ADVENTURE that way (at no charge!)
Don’t be intimidated. You can contact me for step by step directions. If you want.
Lots of takeaways for a fledgling Substacker like myself. A good reminder that building a subscriber following is really about building your community.
Kind of a disingenuous headline to be honest. With bylines in the New York Times etc., she’s hardly a nobody. I’d prefer to read about how normal people grow their readership rather than people who already have readers. But that’s my stance on it
Thank you for sharing all of these gold nuggets - very helpful. I have three questions for you.
1 - I have written a chapter in two book collaboration projects - would your approach work for this kind of book?
2 - My niche is women with multiple sclerosis and I am not finding any writers in this niche. Do you have a suggestion to help me connect with other writers in this niche?
3 - Should I broaden my search on substack to autoimmune diseases, chronic disease, invisible symptoms? Or should I go in a different direction?
Patti Bevilacqua
My question: how many subscribers did you (she) have when you decided to turn on paid subscriptions?
Conn's furniture CVS Luigi grads.97.98.99.05.09.12.15.21.27.32.35.37.45.57..78.81.83.. sesame street kid pop. Leturnea director assistant and family.
Thank you for this post 🙏🏻
On the biz side of things - how much does your paid subscription cost? How did you arrive at that number?
How to taken
A very interesting article. Will use these strategies for my next book.
Legal ler a história e os aprendizados da Melinda. Seria bacana vocês também conversarem com criadores aqui do Brasil :)
This was so incredibly inspiring and helpful! I have it starred and saved in my inbox. :) Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, Melinda <3
Great advice in this interview/post! I recently started my Substack and was pleased when one of my subscribers pledged to pay after reading some of my work. Who am I kidding? I was stoked!
I'm not at the point where I'm ready to ask for paid subscribers, however, it did make me feel good and reaffirmed that this is what I'm meant to be doing with my life— this is my vocation. I'm writing a novel, so this will be particularly valuable when I shift into the marketing phase of the process.
Thanks again the author and Melinda for this!
Semper Fidelis,
Aaron
So helpful, especially for those who are in self-publishing. Substack is an awesome marketing tool.
Hi Donald — I have a book coming on in April on the importance of male friendship that you may find enjoyable. It’s called “Men as Friends: From Cicero to Svevo to Cataldo” (Koehler). Look for it on Amazon. Best, Irwin Epstein.
Thank your Linda for your advise; advice I will follow, including dropping you a line if needed. Mark
I took lots of notes! Thank you.
???-How dependable are you finding paid subscribers so far???
As the former co-owner with my wife and publisher of Twins Magazine, The Magazine for New Moms of Multiples, (defunct), I can relate with Melinda's publishing venture. We also had a very active message board, which I moderated. It was great fun watching my wife become one of the most knowledgeable people about twins research and parenting. As editor, she spent 12 years talking to twins researchers and other parenting experts and publishing their articles and little books for young twins and other multiples..
No. We don't have kids. As journalists, we learned you don't have to be in the insurance, banking, metalworking or hospital businesses to become good and leading journalists in those fields.
You have to be a learner and reporter, and you have to earn your credibility as an editorial writer and pundit. When you do this, writing can be very rewarding and a lot of fun.
Good piece, which I've shared with authors and parents I know, including some k-12 and university teachers.
Why wasn't there a Share Button on this post?
Thanks so much for the advice and wisdom here. I can't wait to implement.
Superb
Great insights in this series! It’s always inspiring to hear from people who have made a meaningful impact. I’m also working on growing https://apkwonk.com/ and exploring ways to improve and connect with a wider audience.
This has further inspired me to see how Substack can help us launch our satirical board game about climate change!
A father commenting, yes. I'm at home all day, my wife does all the work. (She also looks after our teenage children). I'm the 'Asshole' here. But learning.
Hey wanna sext or flirt
Absolutely loved this growth issue. Worth reading
Michelle Howry was my editor for my book “The Gatekeeper.” What a lovely person!
Hi Akash— what did you like about it? does it strike a resounding chord? I hope so.
IE
Oh my gosh, yes, I worry about this a lot! There are definitely potential downsides. Many of my subscribers love my current newsletter name. But I have polled them and I am pretty sure (hope???) they'll stick with me even with a name change. I'm also trying to involve them in the process and incorporating their feedback.
Bari Weiss recently renamed her newsletter The Free Press. You might want to chat with her about her experience and review her announcement of the change and how she's promoted the new name. I'm a paid subscriber because she is publishing a great newsletter for skeptical political junkies like me.
Thanks! Great suggestion.
There are pros/cons to naming from a brand identity standpoint. The right name can and will work incredibly hard for you but, as you know, you have a lot of equity in the current one. I develop names as part of m professional work - let me know if you would like to collaborate/ need some outside thinking that’s not as close to your day-to-day world. Also, your dinosaur icon is great conceptually, but doesn’t read nearly as well as the small bug. There is strategy around that too. https://www.writinginyogapants.com/naming-brandidentity