943 Comments

Do you run an online community where writes regularly connect? As we wind down Office Hours, we want to point writers to these spaces.

Some examples we are inspired by:

Fictionistas - A collaborative community for fiction writers on Substack. https://fictionistas.substack.com/

Runners - Raziq Rauf hosts a monthly call for running writers.

https://lu.ma/runstack

Food & Drink - Leigh Olson and Dianne Jacob host a monthly call for food & drink writers.

https://lu.ma/5shqoevj

Sparkle on Substack* - Claire Venus offers a space to help you stay creative on Substack.

https://sparkleon.substack.com/

Substack Writers at Work* - Sarah Fay offers guidance for building a business on Substack.

https://www.writersatwork.net/

Note: * Indicates a paid community.

What other communities have been meaningful to you?

Expand full comment

I looking to join (or start!) a community focused on grief, loss, death - and the complexities of life in the "after." I have a new substack (https://forcedjoyproject.substack.com/) where I write about my experiences as a cancer survivor, a young widow, and a caregiver to my father (all before the age of 40!), and I run a business that focuses on grief support and stories. I'm an advocate for having the hard conversations, normalizing the grief experience, and helping make our society a little bit more grief literate. I'd love to connect with others who write about similar topics.

Expand full comment

Love your phrase "grief literate." Though this isn't my expertise, it will be a great service. So much unprocessed / unacknowledged grief in the world.

Expand full comment

DEAR WRITING - A gentle supportive space for restorative writing. Explore connections between felt self and page, private and public, shoulds and wants. Get unstuck. Tell your story. We would love to meet you.

https://sophienicholls.substack.com/p/your-space-for-writing-with-a-wellbeing

Expand full comment

I'm looking to connect with queer or LGBTQ+ identifying writers / communities

Expand full comment

I identify. As a child one of my best friends paraded about our neighborhood in his mother's dresses and shoes no matter how teased or "odd" others attempted to make him feel. I was made to feel outside the norm from childhood on, and now write fiction whose characters feel this way.

Expand full comment

SoberStack is for folks writing about addiction and sobriety. There are more than 100 of us and growing! https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/s/soberstack

Expand full comment

I'm looking to connect with writers and creators in the AI/ML space on Substack, especially those at a similar stage or slightly ahead. I'm interested in sharing insights, offering accountability, and learning together. If this resonates with you, let's connect! https://theaiml.substack.com/

Expand full comment

Collective Journalling @ Less Foolish: https://lessfoolish.substack.com

Expand full comment

Gena Bean hosts a regular Mindful Writer Meetup for established meditation practitioners writing about the practice. Since food writers get together around eating, it makes sense for mindfulness writers to gather for practice. Practitioners from any forms of contemplative arts and any location are welcome to our zooms. We have met once on zoom so far, and have another zoom date set for March 19th 6:30pm.

Expand full comment

Hello Linda V, Don @themindfulsociety, and Marcella @griefgritandgrace, This might be a little meta... but I have now launched a substack specifically for people who are interested in the Mindful Writer Meetups. It can be a hub for us to talk about the unique challenges of trying to write about the un-writable. Please subscribe, and I'll see you on zoom 03/19/24 6:30pm EST. https://mindfulwritermeetup.substack.com/ I'm looking forward to meditating with you!

Expand full comment

Once I get my head around how this works I believe I would like to join you Gena. I lead weekly sessions using a combination of Mindfulness, Focusing and the Expressive Arts.

Expand full comment

Keep me in the loop. Just getting started with Substack and a little uncertain about how it all works. Thank you for this.

Expand full comment

Don, that's me too. I didn't even realize until this morning that I had already created a page last fall...I guess when I fumbled my way to following a friend.

Expand full comment

I'm definitely interested! What time zone is 6:30 p.m.?

Expand full comment

@griefgritandgrace

Hello! I'm so glad you are interested in the Mindful Writer Meetup. The next one will be March 19th 6:30pm EST (Boston/NYC Time) I just launched a new substack just for the MWM events https://mindfulwritermeetup.substack.com/ See you soon!

Expand full comment

I would suggest to all newbies like myself we form a group on which we share tips on what works and what doesn't. From a newbie perspective and true experience, not what more established writers are saying.

Expand full comment

You had a lot of comments on Office Hours last week. We’re picking up where Office Hours left off!

Come to the Substack Writers at Work Office Party Thread every Friday.

Most are free.

https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread

It’s a blast—like this thread but with the opportunity to really connect with other Substack writers, ask questions, and tell people about your Substack.

Join 9000+ Substack writers and get the support you need!

All these threads are still live. Post any time and the person will be notified.

https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread

Expand full comment

That's so great. I have a lot of office hours love to give and I didn't know where to put it. (So much so that I'm haunting old office hours threads here ;)

Expand full comment

Thank you, I'll be there!

Expand full comment

YES! And thank you for asking. I run Projectkin.substack.com, a community for family historians hooked on stories. (Growing fast since moving to Substack, I'll add.) At the upcoming RootsTech.org conference, we'll launch a "Mambers' Corner" with member posts (guest writers) of stories from their family history. 👋 Everyone is welcome!

Expand full comment

Just looked at it, great idea. Also learned by looking at it one can customize the menus and the layout of a publication. I'm new here.

Expand full comment

Oh yes, Adrian, that was a game changer when I realized it too, navigation items can be any link. As I was sorting it all out, I started writing what turned into a three-part series of posts about Substack + Family History: projectkin.substack.com/s/substack-family-history. The last in the series explains how our stack is organized, perhaps you'll find it helpful too.

The key is that any given post can be in one and only one section... BUT a post can have multiple tags, so it could be in different navigation items too, note the /t/ for "tags." For example.... projectkin.substack.com/t/essential-elements

Expand full comment

Thank you, that's a treasure trove of tips for newbies like me. Reading them one by one now.

Expand full comment

Why thank you, I'm happy to help. Your stack looks very interesting indeed. I've just followed with my personal account @barbaratien

Expand full comment

I host "Ask an Editor" twice a month where writers can get feedback on headlines, the first paragraphs of their upcoming essays and other editorial-focused decision making questions.

Here's a recent one that was open to the public: https://theeditingspectrum.substack.com/p/ask-an-editor-is-open-today-and-its

Expand full comment

Could you open just that article to everyone? Subscribing to all these paid threads without seeing their content first is a hurdle.

Expand full comment

I'm looking for productivity and work-life communities, any suggestions would be huge!

Expand full comment

I'm only a few weeks in but I've been incorporating some of this work life conversation into writing about freelance working.

Expand full comment

I post poetry and prompts free to inspire others to write! A paid subscription gives you access to my this is not a writers workshop!

Expand full comment

You need "Fix It Requests." 1) I would like to see if the person who responds to my comment is the person I addressed or an observer. If my responder doesn't also give me a like, I have to slog through up to a thousand comments. 2) Your app needs an edit option so people who recognize their errors can fix them. This is basic for writers.

Expand full comment

Yes! Also, suggestions on how to rewrite a sentence, or what word to replace to make content clearer to readers. I'm new here and I don't see the "collaborative" writing that people talk about.

Expand full comment

Sign up for Grammarly. Search writing tips.

Expand full comment

Yes, but I wanted something within the community, something that may trigger a discussion, not a flat Grammarly use. There is a context here on Substack, I want to learn what that context is.

Expand full comment

Substack's collaborations are of capable writers and artists. Casey Newton had a few writers publishing on one Substack. Writers interview each other for podcasts. Start a writers' workshop group yourself online or at the library. What is Substack's "context"?

Expand full comment

Thanks for these Katie, but is there a community for general "help" on Substack? I always considered this the place to ask questions of how to do something or if I had a problem trying to accomplish something on my Substack. Is there somewhere else to go?

Expand full comment

I second that. Even more general help, like "how do you get off the ground on substack?".

Expand full comment

Yes Adrian. I felt like I could ask for help here and a kind Substacker would oblige. It would be nice to maybe have a weekly, "Your Questions Answered." You could post a question and anyone could answer it. And some Substack tech people could jump on and answer some.

Expand full comment

Hi there, You posted on Office Hours last week. We’re picking up where Office Hours left off:

Come to the Substack Writers at Work Office Party Thread every Friday.

Most are free.

https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread

It’s a blast—like this thread but with the opportunity to really connect with other Substack writers, ask questions, and tell people about your Substack.

Join 9000+ Substack writers and get the support you need!

All these threads are still live. Post any time and the person will be notified.

https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread

Expand full comment

Yes, a true forum. So far it has been very difficult to navigate and find things here. Take your reply for example. I got notified about it. But when I clicked on it, I was taken to the initial note of the whole thread, not to your reply. They have a good Content Management System, but the engineering behind the dynamics of the site has puzzled me so far.

Expand full comment

A fix for that someone taught me is you have to be on desktop, and on the home page. Then click the notification and it should either take you right there, or scroll down until you see a highlight of the reply. A little wonky indeed!

Expand full comment

This thread can get confusing quick and I've hard a hard time going back to find info. I clicked on the body of your text and it took me straight to it. It's been trial and error for me.

Expand full comment

Yes, it worked this time for me too. The other thing I observed is that the refreshing of the thread is very sluggish. It could be due to its large number of comments and replies. We are learning ...

Expand full comment

Great question.

Expand full comment

@musingsbymika has a weekly substack accountability corner: https://substack.com/chat/1557332 🤓

Expand full comment

I run a writing community called Wippitch. You can check it out at https://wippitch.com.

Expand full comment

Looks great, why not do one here too? Especially for newer members.

Expand full comment

At the minute, the hosting service I use for Wippitch has more of the functionality I need than Substack does. I love the community here too, looking for ways to connect everything up.

Expand full comment

Count me in.

Expand full comment

I intend to publish satire articles on many subjects and would love to be part of comedy writers. please include me

Expand full comment

I could really use this. Thanks, Niccolo

Expand full comment

I'm just starting out but taking a unique approach based on lessons from learning how to become a photographer. Turns out the mindset and process provides many lessons for pursuing and establishing greater wellbeing.

It has a lot to do with teaching people to look between elements vs looking at / for elements. Photographers practice looking between as a general rule for achieving greater outcomes.

I invite you to check it out.

Expand full comment

I am interested. Currently writing a dark satire novel on substack.

Expand full comment

Hi Nikko, I would like to join the Substack comminity for wellness writers. I am a journalist, registered homeopath and flower essence practitioner.

Expand full comment

I'm a retired cancer physician who writes about health, especially related to food, nutrition, and the environment, drawing on evidence-based science. Great idea to galvanize a community

Expand full comment

Terrific idea, thanks for leading Nikko! My life's work sharing the sleep skills people need to thrive and have the best quality of life has led me here to substack, and I'd love to connect with other wellness writers.

Expand full comment

Hi Nikko! I am a Homeostatic Designer, supporting others to understand emotion as feedback for decision-making and designing a flourishing life. I am interested in your Substack community. Thank you for your initiative. https://substack.com/@devenchristopher?utm_source=profile-page

Expand full comment

HI Nikko am an herbalist I write about foraging wild plants and using them as food and medicine and about using herbs generally. I also do podcasts with other herbalist. My substack is called The Wild World with Heidi Merika. I'd love to join this group

Expand full comment

I would be very interested in joining your group, but only if you think what I have to offer falls in line with your readers' interest. I would not exactly call what I write as wellness, so much as awareness. I write a substack called Navigating a Whackadoodle World. My posts are diverse, and eclectic. Every Sunday, I send out a reminder of that week's guidepost. During the week, I send posts about information I have confirmed and I believe will add value to my readers' lives. I guess the bottom line is this. I am interested in your substack community, but only if what I write is what you are looking for in your wellness community. I invite you to check out my website and articles to see if I am a good fit.

Expand full comment

I am hosting the Writers Corner for the Oregon Chapter of the National Writers Union. Hope you check it out: https://www.nwuoregon.org/writers-corner/

Expand full comment

I'm interested! I own a yoga + reiki studio and am a death doula.

Expand full comment

I am interested. Currently posting a dark satire novel on substack.

Expand full comment

I Would!

Expand full comment