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Hi Katie, how do you feel about making one of these default to "New first" just to see how the conversation moves? I and others often get here very late, and whilst it's awesome to read the top-rated comments, it can also be difficult to then have to scroll to read a lot.
I know I can click "New first" manually, but it might help other comments get noticed etc if it's on by default one week.
Hi Katie, posting here because there seems to the banner to "start writing" or "get the app" is over my comments section. That is an issue I consistently have, and have reached out on instagram about. The banner pops up and restricts a reader from fully engaging/reading on posts. I am a substack member and paid subscriber to some of the blogs I follow, and even when I'm signed in the banner stays put and there's no way to x out of it. I find it frustrating and would love if your designers moved it to another section or gave the option of x'ing out once it's popped up.
Thank you for this session. Am I wrong in thinking actually the Notes do NOT need to be managed. I can let them just float by, like a ticker tape, and use what I need from them?
Great job, Samantha! Congratulations on your milestone!
When I started back in June last year I set my heart on posting twice a week, but soon downsized to just the once, because I found I was putting myself under too much pressure. I know I can manage one post a week - in fact a few months ago I started a collaboration post with another Substacker in which we write to each other on alternate weeks, so I'm now posting around six times a month.
I'm happier with consistency rather than frequency of posting! I like that my subscribers know to expect a post from me every Saturday and every other Wednesday. And that posting frequency isn't too onerous.
Terry and I picked 'British weather' to complain - sorry, write - about, and then just kept going with our correspondence - we've been having a real giggle!
As you know, your letters to each other are one of my favorite reads (that I'm currently behind on!). To the folks up-thread, take the time to read this delightful correspondence! :)
Thank you for your kind words, Rebecca. Yes, I think I'll begin with just once per week so I know I can post consistently without feeling overwhelmed. I love your idea about collaborating with another Substacker. Brilliant! Once I get to know others better, I may try that... Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond!
In order not to feel overwhelmed, I break my short stories into sections and post them once a week. A typical short story will give me 5-6 weeks of grace time before I have to post another one. It gives me time to work on the other one and get it ready and into the queue. Look at my about page and see what I mean. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Are these like teasers Ben? I tried similar approach on Facebook and Twitter .. not much pull. Have tried story sections on Substack. Are your stories long??
I'm thinking of publishing a novel I wrote a while back in serial form (as others have written about). I'm trying to see how much basic information people need so they can read each chapter as a standalone. (In 1-3 parts as needed to keep short). I have published a couple of short chapters from the novel that easily stood alone in lit. mags, but I want to make it more like a [TV] series than a serial Just curious if anyone else is doing something like that. https://davidblistein.substack.com
Yes. There are a couple of good sites that actually break down the mechanics of writing a serial novel. You have to know when to break off and keep the reader interested. I have one, A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL that I wrote last year. I felt it was good enough to put up. Take a look at my "about" page...https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Such a pleasure! I hadn't planned on collaborating until suddenly I was - and actually I love it! If you fancy a giggle at two Brits discussing their humorous take on the world, do check out my latest missive! π€£ https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/60-a-letter-to-terry-10
I add some humor by creating memes...and I also include my daughters german shepard often at the end of the post for no apparent reason, because the dog is smart and super adorable
Yes Robert, yes my pug character is featured in many posts. Considering separate section heading for him to be reintroduced as he was the original inspiration π for starting on Substack
I couldn't resist the chance to do some self-promotion π€£ But seriously, Samantha ought to read yours and then mine in order to maximise her LQ (Laughter Quotient)
Has any run across the rather awkward situation where you have been chatting back and forth with a writer you have subscribed to but they have not subscribed to your publication βΊοΈ Don't know whether this writer realizes or not but it seems odd as this writer clearly likes my publication.
How to center text for example bottoms at the bottom of articles or headings within the article?? Don't find much help through Substack resources. π
I use my Draft resource as my filing cabinet. Anyone know if there is a way to organize drafts so we can place pending or priority draft post at the top rather than having to scroll down each time to find the draft you want to work with??
Please please guys, has anyone got any solutions for when emails redirect into non priority boxes and therefore don't go to Subs at all! This has happened at least 4x now ! Is there any way to get these failed email deliveries into subs email that same day. Have tried all I know but posts remain undelivered. How to prevent this from happening. Prime opportunity for Potential subs gone and credibility out the window
Yes Rebecca, I went back into stats for high #s posts and discovered that in the beginning I simply posted when I was ready and only once at week. But to grow you gotta 'throw everything at the wall' see what sticks and more imp. what resonates. Once ya got your audience along for the ride then you can better gauge frequency Vs consistency
I've tried different schedules, and what I've found works for me is having three regular slots, these being a Start the week post every Monday, a 5 minute tip post every Tuesday, a letter to Rebecca Holden every other Wednesday, and an Experiments in Style post every Sunday, plus other posts when the mood takes me. But I suffer from writers' flood, the opposite of w's block, so I'm not a good example. However, having one or two definite slots works really well in my experience.
I find I'm comfortable posting twice a week, Monday and Wednesday. I'm throwing in a paid sub chat on Friday, and a podcast episode every two weeks so I have plenty of time and space to record it.
That's my current plan now that I'm launching paid, but we'll see how it goes. I have the time to make this work, with a few Medium articles a week as well. So far so good, but we'll have to see!
Yes Sam, I just launched my first paid publication βΊοΈ #s are slow but glad I took the plunge. The publication is written entirely in French and I plan to translate previous articles written for 'Simple As That' publication to gauge profitability. I always wondered if I should have gone paid from the start. Nothing says stamp of approval like subs paying for the privilege to read your work
I am now making sure I stick to a once in two weeks longer form post, and seeing if I can add some extra stuff in between. My goal right now is to offer consistent quality, grow my subscriber base, and if I get enough support to branch out and offer more content and more variation, for instance with shorter posts. For now, I have to be realistic in that I can't do this full-time because I also have to work another job as well. But it gets me really excited and motivated to work towards doing this on a more permanent basis. Fingers crossed!
Congrats! Isn't it so exciting to see new subscribers? I am sticking to a 1x a week schedule, but really, it depends on your schedule and workload. I subscribe to some substacks that publish 2x a month.
Seeing new subscribers is amazeballs! Especially not knowing where they're coming from, as in, they aren't coming from another writer's recommendation or your own sharing of your posts, but just through the network, coming across your writing by sheer chance. It's an awesome feeling!
And what do you think the perfect mix is? When I first started, I think I was putting out too much. Now I'm down to one FREE and one PAID a week. I'm not feeling as overwhelmed as I was when I first started. But is 2x/month enough?
I would like to write less frequently, but am concerned that given my age I might shuffle off this mortal coil before the world has benefitted from my erudite prose. I read the other day that getting older increases the chance that you will die. Who knew?
Terry, I don't know if age (riffing on your joke btw not serious) is making you forget but you had said you'd check out my Grenfell post. Gentle reminder but I won't pressure you :)
No I hadn't. I printed it off and it's sitting in a stack of printouts I'm going to read. I'm sorry it's taken me ages to not read it but I promise I will soon
No rush and really no pressure. I only asked because I think you would have smart and thoughtful feedback. I'm impressed that you printed it! I'd always tell people in their 20s that worked with me to print stuff and they thought it was odd till they tried it and realized it made them miss fewer things.
That sounds like a good mix. I only publish 2x a month. I don't know if it's good enough but I had to settle for that with everything else going on. Perhaps more necessity than choice.
Yes Reno, have been meaning to get back to your stacks. Glad to hear I am not far behind since you are posting 2x a month. Finding the time π This whole process can feel like an octopus at times
Mostly 2 sometimes 3. Agree finding time is tough depending on life. My posts aren't going anywhere. Sometimes I wonder if it's better to write more posts and make them shorter.
To me, that sounds like a lot but as long as you're not overwhelmed. As a reader, I'm finding the 2x a month posts don't turn me off at all. I almost like that they don't send me stuff on a weekly basis, but maybe that's bc I subscribe to way too many Substacks right now, haha.
Oo, I love that. Iβve also thought about turning my memoir into a novel βbased on a true storyβ - maybe Iβll do that for my brothers story. π
Thanks for sharing. I'm trying to publish 1x a week too. I wonder if there is an optimal length or number of words that makes a substack post worth reading. I know it may depend on your individual audience. But I wonder how people generally read on substack. Are they coming in with the intent to read a longish piece or are they coming in to browse and consume more content while they are on here. Thoughts?
Maybe both? The posts that get the most traction are ones that are about how I improve my writing, as well as the more "shocking" snippets I plan on using in my memoir. As a reader, I find the pieces that are in the 500-800 word range feel really consumable, even though my Substacks are much longer. Not sure if that helps you, lol.
It does! As a new Substack writer, I have been struggling finding the sweet spot in terms of editing to a digestible length. If 500-800 words has worked for you with your audience, I'm sure I can learn from that. Brevity has never been my friend while writing haha so this will be a challenge.
I've been wondering the same thing about the sweet spot for length. So far, I've been trying to target issues that can be read in ~5 minutes or less based on my own behavior as a reader.
Congrats on 100! Give yourself time to play with different schedules and see what feels right for you. You could decide to do once a week for a while, or twice a month -- whatever will be a schedule where you can come up with good essays without straining. Or at least that's what I'm doing. I've been on here a little over six months and I'm still figuring out how I want to structure it.
Thank you so much, Julie! I have been thinking about scheduling (one that I can accomplish without straining, as you say). I've been on since October 2022, but only writing here since November 2022. I felt so intimidated at first, but everyone has been very kind to me.
And I do think you can play around. Or maybe that's just me -- as soon as someone tells me I have to do something on a certain day, I don't want to do it. You can do it however feels right to you. Sometimes I post two essays a month, sometimes I post one a week. If I have ideas for them, I'll share them. Sometimes. Sometimes I'll save it so I can work on off-Substack writing.
Yes Julie, I wrote an article on that very theme and how I learned to listen to my internal clock or cues. Depending on what's crowding your life and available of choices can make the 'centering in' or 'internal tuning in' rather difficult
De, this is the majority of what I'm figuring out right now with my work. How to follow my own intuition vs. do what everyone else is doing or what the internet seems to be saying I should be doing.
Yes Samantha, scheduling is imp. And I did follow it to the point. Have since posted a few minutes or so past scheduled hours. But the editing process can trip you up as time as needed to walk away from your work 'get out of your head' before you do the final edit for publishing. This and the "monatone' method is best practice I have found to produce a polished product
That's amazing Samantha, congrats! 100 is still a very big feat, imagine 100 people in a room ready to read your work? Pretty neat. I think that if you have a schedule already, stick to it. People like having a sense of scheduling to their reading, I think. And then at least you know there are people waiting at a certain date and time for your work. Hope that makes sense.
Thank you, Natalie. Your encouragement helps more than you know, and it makes total sense. I'm eager to check out you Substack -- it's on the list for new reads this afternoon!
Hey! Iβve also just passed the dreaded 100, and I publish biweekly. At this time this is the only schedule I can comfortably and consistently keep to, but itβs resulted in great quality work, and if the growth is slow, so be it. I donβt need quickness, I need substance.
Thank you for the congratulations. I think, yes, I'll start with once a week regular publishing and add to it as necessary/warranted. That's great advice because I see so many much bigger Substack authors who post daily, or at the least 5 days a week. I would love to do that, but currently I just can't swing it.
I'm finding that Notes is helping me start to get my name out there a little bit. I'm still a fair distance from 100, but I did get my first paid sub, so I'm feeling pretty good!
Gives me a kick in the backside to work on the extra content I'll be giving paid subscribers, heh.
It took me awhile as well. I think it depends on a lot of different factors. Iβm excited to check out your SS later this afternoon. Putting you on the list!
Great work! It's a nice feeling to hit those milestones. I publish newsletters twice a week plus one podcast episode. This is NOT the right way to do it, I just know it's the amount I can (just about!) manage consistently. It's better to deliver what you tell your audience you're going to deliver than overpromise. I couldn't possibly publish every day so I don't try to!
2. Publish consistently and stick to a schedule (I publish biweekly)
3. Read and comment on other writers' posts.
4. Connected to 3: Reach out! I've had 3 writers whose work I love recommend my blog to their subscribers, just because they liked my writing! But they only found my blog because I commented on their posts.
Those are great tips. I just hit 80 subscribes and so 100 feels within reach. I know that Notes will probably help me but so far, interacting with other writers has been the best part of Substack for me.
I mailed my first newsletter to my entire contact list in gmail - and got all my early subscribers there. You know, people like Aunt Barb and some paid too, which kinda feels like a little more pressure than just strangers but it helps my morale some and keeps me motivated. Reached 235 since Feb so I guess I'm doing ok. The friends and family part came easy, it's the ones from this platform that are so hard won.
Well done! I think being consistent, keeping it manageable and having days you work towards is best - I find this allows me to work on newsletters with focus
Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, the last thing I want to do is overextend myself. Do you plan article topics in advance? If so, how far in advance?
I plan in advance, for example my writing prompts for May are already scheduled. But ... I have realised that being over organised has had a detrimental impact on my in the moment creativity so have committed to being less organised and more organic - it's a big ask for me as I'm going against several decades of inner programming!!!! :-)
Yes you want to be able to flow. I try to plan, but mainly I aim to give myself time and a word count, and two or three options, then work from there, less pressure and more enjoyment.
100 is still a great milestone, and not easy to get! Other people have said the same thing here, but it bears repeating: publish at a pace you can maintain. Consistency and quality are better than quantity from my limited experience.
I see a lot of people are loving Notes. For me, I have to be honest that it just feels like more noise, more work, more distraction. I write Scroll Sanity, a newsletter about staying sane in a digital world, and part of what I love about Substack is the commitment to high quality writing and high quality engagement. Notes feels like a departure from this commitment to me. I don't want to feel like I have to post short-form snippets to keep people engaged. I want me long-form newsletter posts to hold their own... This may be an unpopular viewpoint, but like I said, I try to keep my digital presence as contained as possible - meaning, very little engagement on social media platforms - so that I can focus instead on the high quality stuff.. If you want to check out my newsletter, here's the link. https://carmellaguiol.substack.com/ My latest post is about learning that I have ADHD and how this affects my relationship to social media & smartphones.
I've found that I have to relentlessly curate and limit my media diet. I only allow myself to read one social media platform and three media outlets as standard - and that's done a huge amount of my peace of mind. The older I get, the more I realize that FOMO is a myth - instead, find what excites, inspires, or comforts you, and stick to that.
As I look at it Paul, age and memory not always what's going on. Good and new information pushes out old and hopefully bad information. If you're doing what inspires that's the good stuff. Nothing really gets lost just 'refiled' Body and mind know what is best
Oh, Carmella, I was feeling the same way. I am not sure I can devote the time to another social media platform - - even with all the positive things people are saying about it. My jam is time management, so these issues are very important to me! https://pmlab.substack.com/
Glad to see my thoughts reflected! I don't even use the Substack app, my phone is a dumb smartphone and I don't do apps, but I did let my readers know about it when it first got introduced. I use the Notes app in my phone and it's more than enough for all my notes needs, including my writing. My readers can reach me via email and they do. I have more than enough tools for my tiny corner of the internet: time spent offline (https://mehretbiruk.substack.com/)
I used parental control settings to remove browsing and app downloads. I'm not on social media and all the apps on my phone are practical, with the only entertainment apps I have being the Sudoku app. My most used app on my phone is now Messages and I average 2.5 hours a day on my smartphone!!! My most cherished accomplishment in this digital age.
I agree with you, Carmella. I'm distressed by features like Notes and Chat. After reading Deep Work, Indistractible, Digital Minimalism, and The Shallows (which I'm close to finishing), I finally realized why I could no longer think as deeply or pay attention as well as I used to when I was a kid. My mind has been distracted and diffused (to borrow a phrase from Paul Simon) by computers and the internet for the last 25 years, and I'm only just now reclaiming my ability to focus and concentrate.
I got active on Substack because it seemed like a platform where writers could be writers focused on quality and craft rather than the hamster wheel of modern internet marketing. Seeing the transformation into a noisy social media clone is making me wonder if I should back off and get a hosted Ghost site instead.
I subscribed to your newsletter because it seems like we're on the same page with this. :) Interested in hearing how you feel your focus and attention has changed now that you have a better understanding of how your brain works and your cognitive needs.
After reading many of these comments yesterday, I did a bunch of freewriting about my thoughts around Notes and I honestly started to feel very emotional and upset. I am just plan DRAINED by all the expectations of engagement and digital interaction. Distracted is definitely part of it, but also just feels like my brain is hijacked so much of the time. and i am honestly pissed at substack for following the trend and making this another place on the internet where i need to be extremely cautious and guarded about my attention and energy,...
I echo your sentiment. I'd like a way to turn off Notes notifications (and if there is one, someone please point me to it!) to de-clutter my notification feed.
I don't know if you've read The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, but it's an eye-opening look into why our brains feel like pudding in the modern info-saturated environment. We need to be intentional about where we direct our attention and put boundaries up around our tech time, or our ability to focus will dwindle.
I haven't read the Shallows but I am familiar with Nicholas Carr's work and I completely agree with you that we need to be intentional, about our attention & boundaries. I also plan on making a deep dive into substack settings to turn off notifications for notes, but I'm pissed that once again the onus is on the user to put up the boundaries and limitations. why can't these platforms be more thoughtful about how they develop their features & business model??
I got on Substack for the exact same reasons - it was a low key way to be on social media without losing my sanity. Now I feel duped into believing this was a different kind of space & community. I feel like Chat and Notes is all being launched in the name of "community" and I think Substack was already very rich in community and connection - deeper, meatier kind of connection, not the one-off engagement that happens in the deep scroll.
Do you think that will be possible? I have actively tried to stay away from Chat and Notes, but somehow have already been sucked in. Don't know how it happens but with all the notifications and emails, etc, I think it will be hard to stay off of these features.
It may be. I'm trying to open my mind about "Notes" as I do need more subs. But I need more paid subs who are invested in what I'm doing. I'm tired of decades of working for free :) I'd be more easily won over if it was for paid folks only... I must admit.
Good point. Iβve also been wondering how Notes will turn out. And how I can preserve my sanity regardless, because social media gets my obsessive mind obsessing. I subscribed to your Substack, look forward to learning more.
thank you! i have had to make peace with the fact that I can't be on all the platforms or engage with them 1000% because i have to preserve my sanity - my time - my energy!
Yes, thank you for sharing that! It's one of the founding principles of my newsletter- as creatives I think we're so often trying to pour from an empty cup and I want to create a space where people can re-fill their well in community. Grateful for Substack and everyone here!
Iβm also feeling overwhelmed and like so far itβs just more noise. But I acknowledge thatβs just my perspective and my nervous systemβs response. I do engage on other platforms so perhaps itβs time to scale back a bit and not stress about jumping on the notes bandwagon. I struggle to read all of the newsletters Iβm subscribed to, so starting there and letting Notes just be a thing in the background I can engage with when I want to will be my strategy for now. I am grateful itβs been useful for so many so far!
i love the distinction about your nervous system's response. i was recently diagnosed with adhd and i'm realizing how much my neuro situation affects the way that i intake stimulation. i need to honor that and more accommodations for myself and my mental health.
I think so much of learning how to treat ourselves with kindness/compassion is just understanding our capacity, soothing our brain, and giving ourselves permission to rest. All things I'm trying to work on with a heap of grace :)
I'm with you. I understand the need for "go-getters." They are what is driving Substack and SS needs to drive ahead because it is a business. I'm happy to have a place to write, and to discover other writers.
The whole reason I started substack was because I needed to get off social media. The pull is so strong for me, possibly because I also have been diagnosed with ADHD recently. Once I start (usually at night βto relaxβ) itβs very hard to get off.
So I donβt have the substack ap and have been curious about notes, because I am wanting to get away from mindless scrolling
if you want to get away from mindless scrolling, i would prob stay away from the notes function because i'm pretty sure it'll just be more of the same. look into Cal Newport's work- you can;'t just take something out of your life. you need to replace it with high quality stuff like hobbies and other relationships.
I definitely see your point, Carmella. So far, Notes looks like a much healthier version of Twitter. I might only really use Notes to promote new posts, or highlight upcoming pieces or podcasts. It's just another tool to use. You don't have to be a slave to it. At least that's how I'm looking at it.
We don't have to be a slave to it... But now I know that when I log onto Substack I will have to be as vigilant as I am when I'm on FB or Twitter -- extremely careful about not letting me sap my energy and attention (not only when I'm actively on the site but also afterwards as well, because you know the effects linger).
I get that it's another "tool", another place to promote and amplify our voices etc. But I don't see it as promoting what I thought was the real purpose of Substack... I already promote my stuff on Twitter and Instagram and TikTok. It just feels like I'm in a fun house full of mirrors and I'm quickly losing my mind with all the likes and re-posts etc
I don't use social media, haven't for years, but I think Notes can be more than that. Once the initial flood of posts calms a little,writers can go there for support and a chat with other writers who feel their ups and downs. Being specific is very good for notes, it encourages people who want to share in a common passion or goal
That's what I love about these weekly writer office hours! This has been a great place for me to come and chat with other writers. And yet, it's contained and not the hellhole of an infinite scroll...
I've been struggling a little with Notes too, since I was never a Twitter user in the first place & generally avoid social media. This would probably be an unpopular opinion but I wouldn't mind seeing something like a post limit per day on Notes. This would encourage more high-quality content related to your own newsletter and make it a little less social media-y. Just my own two cents!
It's an interesting idea but I highly doubt Substack would impose any sort of limits. Once again, the onus will be on each of us to set our own personal limitations in order to preserve our own sanity and mental health. And tbh I'm just TIRED of having to do that on every site I frequent. I thought Substack was a safe space where I didn't have to be so guarded, but with these new features, I will have to have the same vigilance that I have on FB and Insta. I hope it doesn't take on that same tenor of just overwhelm, frankly.
Totally agreed with you. I have the same issue when it comes to TikToks/IG shorts/YouTube reels/what have you (they're all the same). They're so ubiquitous and so hard to avoid.
Celebrating the 1,000 subscriber milestone today. Thanks to Substack and crew for all of the internal promotion through the network. It really does make more of a difference than all other social media combined, at least in my case!
Congrats!!! I'm slowly but surely getting there and I can't wait for that feeling. I remember hitting 100, then 500, it's nice to reach these milestones.
I'm not sure how it works, exactly, but you can tell where your new subscribers come from, and many of mine come from the Substack Network. I suppose this is through searchable features or other internal means?
Slow and steady -- it really is a marathon, not a sprint. And I'm still in the very early stages of building paid subscriptions, so I have a long way to go :)
Excited to chat about Notes! As a new writer on the platform (just published my 4th piece today) I'm excited to connect with other writers, and I think Notes is a great first step toward turning Substack into a hub for in-depth discussions.
One thing that I'd love to hear feedback on is using newsletters for long-form reporting. Newsletters by definition are often used to share thoughts and ideas, and then point the reader elsewhere to read more in-depth. At least that's how it usually goes.
I've started my newsletter specifically to write long-form articles on offbeat and interesting topics that I think deserve more attention. So, rather than saying "hey, i like this, here's my thoughts, go read what this other person wrote, too" I do my own reporting right in the newsletter, sometimes 1,000-1,500 words my previous newsletter actually hit the word limit for emails so I had to trim it).
So far I've reported on things like how "free tablet" programs in prisons are exploitative, the impact of AI on freelance designers, and just today I published a piece on how a woman from Kansas started a fake "tumbleweed farm" that turned into a real business. Offbeat, impactful, and sometimes fun stories are my bread and butter.
Is this something that anyone else has had success with? Is there a benefit to writing summaries of the stuff I'm reporting on, and then publishing the full article elsewhere? Personally I'd rather get the full story upfront in my email/Substack app, but that's just me. I'm still quite new to the site so any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Hi! I am also loving notes. It reminds me of the good old times of Instagram, where people actually read the blurbs below the picture. This is just the same but the picture stays quietly at the bottom of the words.
Also a new writer here! LOVING notes :) It's like non-toxic twitter and I think a great way to grow on here by connecting with other writers, asking questions etc.
My newsletter is based on a podcast (Developing Leadership) so one way I've found of using notes is to take quotes from the podcast and post them there!
Thanks for this idea. Iβve been scrolling notes and just stymied on what Iβd add! π This seems so basic but also great to hear/share snippets of others words.
This is really important for me as well. For better or for worse, my natural storytelling style is to provide heavy background, paint a picture for my audience and explore a topic/idea *deeply*.
I often wonder if Iβm a dinosaur in todayβs world of quick takes and short-form, so always nice to hear that other βGreat Elongatorsβ also exist!!
Absolutely the same. Really new here and I am sure quick pieces work for a dedicated readership already in the know about your key areas, but somewhere the assumption that my (very few) readers will automatically know the core issues of what I am writing about is a little audacious.
I appreciate it when writers set the scene for me. There is so much to be learned from the backstory, the nuances of the story, even before you get to what actually happened.
Go Naveed, nothing wrong with long posts if it's good. Think books! If the piece takes it's own shape . . . but it should be pared down, lean and muscular I think, rather than flabby.
Hey Mike - I also write long-form articles (previously on my own website and Medium) and I am thinking of transitioning some of that content to Substack - I'm a huge believer in breaking down complex topics so they're easy to understand, which often necessitates quite a few words! I'd certainly be interested in any successes you've had in this area.
I've had a good response so far I think. I mean I'm only 4 or 5 articles deep so it's hard to say so far but there seems to be an audience for it. I also come from Medium as well as a career in journalism.
I'd be very interested to hear how that progresses. I'm from a freelance writing / project management / technology platform myself, and regularly do long-form posts for clients aimed at other businesses. The trick for me will be making my content engaging enough for individuals to read through to the end!
I've been using them mainly to talk about the writing that I'm working on, topic ideas, and just general chit-chat. It's been a bit of a challenge to find others, since I have a relatively small following here, but I've been enjoying it all the same :)
Got it. As always one has to worry about the almighty algorithm lol. I just went over to the Notes discussion thread and posted a challenge to the Substack algorithm team, to help democratize the boosting system :)
I'm toying with the idea of doing longer-form reporting as a jumping-off point for my own reflections. I did so a few years ago with this piece about the Bemis Center's fall show ( https://www.ruins.blog/p/empathy-at-the-bemis-a-gallery-review ); In the next weeks I will be going to UNO's student art exhibition, and a conference about art and community; I plan on reporting on them in my blog.
I also do quite a few long form articles and often go over the email limit (sending it that way anyway). However, recently Iβve also been experimenting with breaking up what I had planned as a single post into a series, which is working well for me. Of course, then the 3-5 βmini postsβ do become linger as well! But it gives me flexibility in the way I handle a subject. I would go with what feels right for the piece youβre working on.
You could write summaries. Someone suggested to me that could translate my stuff into Spanish -- anything to expand the audience, or rather, reach the people who want to be our readers.
Love Substack Notes. Thanks for this. Now struggling to do that, do this, and write my longform posts! Aieee. I'll figure it out. The posts are the point, after all.
I'm enjoying Notes as well so far. I find I can do my long posts and between them, without annoying my subscribers with too many emails, I can dabble in Notes.
New writer here π. I love how Notes make it easier than ever to connect with other writers, discover newsletters, and support each other. It makes the community feel tighter than ever. Joining Substack was one of the best decisions I made last month.
Also! I'm celebrating my 5th post this week! Anybody else hit any milestones recently?
Welcome Macy - congrats on your 5th post. I just read your post "How a 20-Minute Google Search Changed My Life" and have saved it for future reference. If I ever take the leap to abandon the 9 to 5 life, I'll be sure to use your post as a reference!
Aww, thank you Natalie! I'm encouraged to hear you found it helpful. I'm releasing a more in-depth comparison of the 5 work exchange platforms mentioned in that post next Monday, so feel free to check it out, if you'd like. Best of luck to you as well!
Yeah! I just passed 100 subscribers. My goal for this year is 500, and then, at some point, 1000. I've had a great experience with Notes, and I plan to explore it more fully in the coming days. Congrats on your 5th post!
Love that you have a clear goal, Andrei! How did you decide on the 500 number? I'm trying to decide if I should set a subscriber goal for the end of this year, but I'm worried about aiming too high and disappointing myself π .
Hey Macy! I don't know how I decided, but I suppose I focused on the bigger goal of 1000 and 500 just feels approachable enough as a mid-term goal, on my way to reaching 1000. And about aiming too high, I wouldn't worry about that. Even if you don't reach your exact goal this year, you'll definitely get close, as close as you're able to, if you let your mind have a clear number as a focus. It's like that anecdote with the archer in Machiavelli's The Prince: you aim higher than the point you wish to shoot, because the arrow travels in an arc; it doesn't follow a direct trajectory. Hope you reach your goals, and don't be afraid to shoot for the stars! You might just reach the moon.
Well, for one thing, to stick to my schedule and keep improving as a writer. For another, to make more connections with popular writers whom I can learn from and who can share my writing.
Awww, thank you for your thoughtful response, Andrei! You're right. There's no danger in aiming too high. Also I like your Machiavelli reference. Read that book for my political theory class 3 years ago (one of my fav classes) & found it super intriguing. I'll be checking out your content soon. :)
That's great Macy! I was calling Notes Instagram but it's really like Twitter. I said it was like how ChatGPT is like Alexa or Siri on steroids! I actually said it's like Alexa's really smart cousin who is on the spectrum with Asperger's--a fucking genius! Anyway, the more you can post, the better. Just be consistent. That's my 2 cents.
Iβve been on Substack for a while now, and I mostly love it. The recommendations feature has gotten me hundreds of subscribers from other writers, and Iβm slowly growing my audience through consistent publishing. But Iβm worried about the direction Substack is going.
I fell in love with this place precisely because it wasnβt social media. Now itβs becoming social media. I donβt like Chat, and I really donβt like Notes. I donβt know if Iβm in the minority here, but I feel like these things are a departure from Substackβs original mission.
I donβt have a question, but I wanted to make sure my voice was heard on this topic. Please donβt try to make this next Twitter. Just be Substack.
My best advice is to take what you need and leave the rest. I fell in love with Substack because it wasn't like the other platforms. I couldn't even start a newsletter, although I had the idea, until I was introduced to Substack and the simplicity of the platform was exactly what I needed to finally start my newsletter. Substack being Substack and nothing else inspired me then and I haven't changed anything since. I don't even have the app, and honestly it makes no difference. My newsletter is growing steadily and above all I adore my readers and having the space to share my weekly musings.
Heard. FWIW, you as the writer are in control. You don't have to participate in either of these spaces if you don't want to!
From our side, our aim is to build a "full stack" for independent writers to run their businesses. We see this as the publishing tools, but also as tools to cultivate your subscriber community (Chat) and to grow your publication (Notes). We want to do all of that rooted in subscriptions, not engagement like social media.
This is a good reminder to those of us who may feel like Yardena that just because Substack is building out a full tech stack doesn't mean we have to adopt all of it. In this vein, maybe Chat or Notes is like Podcasts - built in functionality if it works for your use case but optional otherwise. Thanks for helping me to reframe this.
I agree with you Bryce. Sometimes I feel pressure that I should make Chat work, or spend time with Notes, but it's all ultimately about what I want to do and what my readers would appreciate.
Hello all, and happy Office Hours! Here's a little bit of encouragement from one small newsletter to all of you:
As a gardener, one thing you would think I'd have learned by now is patience. But every year I struggle with the amount of time it takes to wait. To wait for the weather to improve. To wait for the perennials to come back. To wait for the seeds I planted to sprout. There's so much waiting in any kind of cultivation! But by the end of the season, I look back and it felt like it all went by SO FAST. With a basket full of harvest, I'm always glad I waited.
It might be impossible to believe in a world that moves so quickly and prizes virality, but when you're growing a community of readers it's going to take time. Everything worth doing is worth being patient and faithful for! If what you want is quality, then learning to wait well and build trust will serve you best. Don't despair! What's growing is often happening invisibly, so keep moving forward!
Most importantly: keep going, keep writing, and DON'T GIVE UP! πΏ
I so agree with this. I told myself going in, I'm here for the long haul. I have the advantage of being newly retired, so I have a lot of time to screw around. I don't have to pressure myself into thinking that my subscribers aren't growing as fast as I thought they would. I'm going up on a year in June, and with only 135 subscribers, I have to remind myself it took some writers 2-3 years before they started to see results. I'm looking to wait for the next 10-20 years. After all, this is my new career. Take a look at what I've done so far... https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
You are so spot on. In this world of instant gratification we often forget that things take time. You must keep writing as often as possible. I was the general manager of the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles for 7 years and I saw how long it took for comedians to build a following and develop their talent. Years! Just keep at it and don't pay attention to the bullshit. Just pay attention to your craft which is the content, the writing.
Love this! Reading it made even feel that sense of calmness and peacefulness that comes with nature. Totally loving the metaphor and encouragement as for us writing and growing a community here. Thank you for this beautiful share! You should totally share this on Notes. π
Hey folks, so sorry for the repost! I tried to restack my original comment, then deleted it, and realized that deleting it as a Note DELETES IT EVERYWHERE! π³ I'm so sorry to those whose comments are gone. They were very sweet and I appreciate them all! πΏ
Thanks, Josh! It did give me a prompt when I pressed delete but I just assumed it was a confirmation. If I had read more carefully it probably would have told me what was going to happen. My critical reading skills failed me. π Ah well, lesson learned!
I need to copy and paste this for my mother. My essay, "Who Makes Those Kidnapper Hoods?" had her in stitches but then she quickly turned serious and said, "Why didn't that go viral? You should have 100,000 followers..."
Love the encouragement! I'm just getting started and attempting a daily post for 30 days to develop a writing practice. I will see how things evolve from there.
One thing I've already noticed is that I don't sweat what I post on Notes nearly as much as I do on my Substack. The stakes are lower, and that frees me up to try things. Anyone else feel the same way?
Interesting. I still don't quite understand Notes ... why do you feel the stakes are lower with Notes? Are they going out to all of your subscribers. How do they help you try new things?
It's a platform to share thoughts quickly and to a public audience. It gives you a way to communicate to whoever's on Substack, not just your subscribers. But because the feed moves quickly, there's a temporary element to those thoughts. Their relevance is short-lived, so you don't have to worry as much about how each Note will affect your other output.
I'm so close to reaching 100 subscribers. Is it true that once you reach that number that Substack promotes your publication more in "Discover" and other places?
Hey Israel! Congrats on your new milestone. Idk if 100 is a magic number (almost there myself!) but I have seen stats from some of the bigger creators, and it seems that they get a TON more new subscribers from the Substack algo compared to us little guys. I guess it's like a snowball effect. The bigger you get, the easier you grow.
I wish I knew the answer, nut I'm just a mere mortal in the Substack universe. I have noticed that my publication does not appear when you search for fiction, even though other who have been here less time than me do.
I've noticed that, too. But I swear that I read somewhere that once you reach 100 subscribers that you're more likely to be featured. But I, too am a mere mortal.
I've picked up at least 10 new subscribers each week for five weeks in a row now!
More importantly, I'm finding about five new Substack writers each week whose writing means a lot to me.
And best of all, about three writers per week find or I find them and the other's writer really resonates with each other. Mutual, reciprocal. genuine interest in and appreciation of each other's work. Ideal !!
Love this! Any tips for keeping up with reading all the amazing newsletters? I am struggling to keep up and worry my writing will overwhelm others too, lol!
Well, I do limit myself to 60, 70 Substacks. It's not pleasant, but we all make tough choices and stick with the writers whose work resonates with us the most. Nothing wrong with that. Our time is finite.
60-70 is a lot! I think I follow 15 and already find it too much to keep up with (but then again, I am also on a lot of other platforms and want to read books too, lol). Very impressive. Thanks for sharing!
A question for fellow writers who don't have a specific niche? What do you category do you tag your work as? Culture? I write more personal essays and there's no category to fit there. I don't want to be left out of the loop and I'd love to find more writers who write similar to myself. Any advice?
Hey Natalie! I've got the same problem, and I go with Literature, and Culture as the second category. It's difficult, because I never specifically write about any of these two topics, but I do touch upon aspects of both, so I suppose it fits. I'd also love to find a better option.
Haha, yes I specifically say on my about page "You will find no βnicheβ here, but a wide variety of topics that are important for you to know about."
What I did was, I took a look at the different categories to see what kind of posts there were, as well as in the substacks that I share an audience with (accessible through analytics), and based on that chose two categories with the most overlap / potentially interested audience.
Thanks for sharing Robert, that's an excellent way to do it. I'll take a look at doing that tonight - even though I hate to put myself into a box because I never really write about one thing, it's good way for new readers and writers to find my work.
It seems to me that the problem is they don't have enough of the categories. I think when they first started, they thought it was just going to be newsletters, blogs, that sort of thing. But then people discovered they could write fiction stories and people would read them. Hopefully, in time, they'll expand the categories by adding specific genres. Short stories and Serializations are pretty hot topics I think.
Completely agree Ben - the topics that people write about have expanded exponentially, it'll be great to see what else they can add to support smaller writers who don't have niches.
I think a lot of people have this challenge! It might be helpful to consider who you want your audience to be? I've tagged "Art" as a category because I want to attract other artists and creative people in hopes of forming a collaborative community.
I plan on doing artist interviews once a month and have already started sharing my "artist dates" (ala The Artist's Way) but a lot of my essays are personal and cover a wide range of topics such as motherhood, grief, managing anxiety, etc.
First of all THANK YOU NATALIE...I didnβt even know about this. Iβve now tagged my work & I am right there with you. I also feel like I donβt fit into the categories they offer. I just chose Culture and Health and Wellness. It would be amazing if they added a Personal tab.
I tag mine as "literature" and "culture," neither of which feel exactly correct, but I do question how useful the tags actually are in the first place. I feel like most subscribers I gain on Substack find me from comments or recommendations, not [insert place where tags are useful].
You can also just poll your subscribers. It doesn't matter if engagement on a finance Substack was high at 1800 words if you write about salad. The poll is awesome. Just ask!
I have found that one very successful post was about 1500 words. Although, it was also a deep dive into the history and appearance of the garter stitch.
It would make writing such long pieces a bit easier if I split them into two pieces, and had more time for research. That said, I do personally like to read longer format work that thoroughly explores a topic.
Agreed! But I'm talking about newsletters. It's very different to read a long-form article online than it is to get a long-form newsletter in your inbox when you're busy.
Write shorter posts but do it more frequently. Also include visuals. And make the title exciting. We should be able to distinguish your post from something ChatGPT would write. Put in personal stuff and stories from your life. I mean this in general for everyone not to anyone specific. Maybe change the environment where you're writing as well. And listen to music!
I write long stories and break them into smaller blurbs of 2,000 words. My stories are usually on the long side 12,000-18,000 words, so it gives me time to work on other things knowing that the story I'm putting up once a week, is good for 5-6 weeks. I can screw around and not fall behind. Take a look at my about page and see how I break them up. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Me π - all the time and while I usually try to push through it, taking a break it necessary. The worse would be to write content that you love but isn't your best work. I think it's okay to admit that you need a break, share that with your readers, they won't abandon you, promise! Let your mind and creativity re-charge.
I find that writing about what inspires you *right now* is the best way to go. Even if you only jot down a few paragraphs, documenting that "moment of enthusiasm" allows you to go back and recall it.
I bake in one week off per quarter and every time I find myself eager to write something again during the week off. Nobody has gotten mad at me and often I feel readers are more excited when I reappear in their inbox. Absence making the heart grow fonder and all.
If you're publishing more than once per week I'd definitely cut back for a few weeks and give yourself some extra breathing room. I only publish once per week, same day, same time, because I know I can sustain that.
Totally relate to this. Doesn't fare well with everyone's top strategy for gaining subscribers, which is to publish often and consistently. All I can advise is to take your time and trust in the power of quality over quantity.
I struggle too sometimes. Writing my articles takes a lot of time, concentration and energy, and sometimes I feel that it leaves me with not enough left for other things. A couple of times I've been really struggling and have written shorter posts e.g. asking for reader feedback and reflecting on how writing The Turnstone has changed my life. I had a good response with those. https://theturnstone.substack.com/p/the-turnstone-changed-my-life
But also, try finding a little time to do other writing, maybe just free writing about whatever's in your head. Or take a break if you need it - just let your readers know what you plan to do.
Notes is pretty cool but I am seeing some limited engagement thus far, please share some tips. Or better yet, follow my notes. They are some of my favorite quotes that I use in my Substack and a link to the issue they originated from.
Likewise! I've posted a few over the past 24 hours but not entirely sure who (if anyone!) is seeing them, and where the alerts are... Really don't want to be popping up in subscribers email inboxes with these but hope that they are being seen by my growing community. With you in solidarity and hopeful for some insights too!
Iβm also really curious how the algorithm works. I wonder who chooses which Notes I see, as many are from writers Iβm not subscribed to. But so far itβs been fun.
Whether you get engagement or not will probably also be impacted by how committed your readers are to Substack generally. For example, I get lots of feedback by email on my posts, but very few comments or likes on the platform.
Same here, Linda! Especially true for my Soul Speak publication. It's always been fascinating to me. It might be because many of my subscribers came with me from Tiny Letter, so they spent four years not having the option to like or comment. They could only contact me by replying to the newsletter, so that's what they're used to. I also think creating a Substack account and signing in is a barrier to entry for many in my community. Something similar may be true for you since you brought people over from a different platform (if I'm not mistaken). :)
Same Kerri, I brought some long term subscribers with me in my new move to SS. I know many of them are shy to post a comment and donβt really know they can like the post. They are accustomed to emailing me. I hope to grow my community and help them become more engaged.
You're right, many of the people have been with me for years, since I was running the Hysterectomy Association in fact. And some, have been with me since my very first newsletter went out in the late 1990's!!!! I keep forgetting that so always good to have a reminder.
Thanks for the reminder Andrew and of course, as Kerri points out below I did bring most of the subscribers with me when I moved from WordPress to Substack so they are used to contacting me by email, and of course they've been with me a very long time too.
It might be the audience themselves Michael. If they are younger then they are more familiar with the scroll and comment features of social media, if they're older they may be more used to replying to emails.
I think it's all about consistency, joining convos and trying different things (as with everything in content lol)
The note that got the highest engagement was one recommending three substacks in my industry and tagging them! Planning to do a bigger one tagging our top ten favorites with some more meat to the bones (what they write about, why we love them, etc.)
I thought so too at first but changed my mind. Think of it like Twitter. I don't post there but imagine just posting an idea instead of a long essay. Like a sentence or 2 about something related to your posts, meaning the overall theme of your posts. That's my 2 cents.
I like that idea. Hopefully, someone on the list will reciprocate. But fiction seems to be such a limited category. Hopefully they'll break it into sub-sections: Romance, Fantasy, Literary, yada, yada, yada. The idea of short stories seems to be just as hard a sell here as they are anywhere else...which always leads one to asking: Is it me? https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
I like how there are now separate threads each week. Would be nice if the community could input the kinds of topics / threads that are made each week, so it can be truly a community-driven discussion.
I think, for Threads, the 'Stack suits just want to present this or that topic, and don't necessarily want to have to "count" tens of thousands of votes, perhaps all wanting differing topics, each week!
I'd like to think Bailey, bless her heart, has better things to do! Plus, we all seem to veer and swerve into different Thursday lanes, anyway, many times sans signaling! We're free to roam on Notes!
I too love the idea of a little more categorization as Office Hours seems like a hugely helpful resource, it's just a bit overwhelming! Perhaps thread / topics dedicated to newbies, new features, growth, etc?
they did that a few weeks ago, actually. that's why I suggested having people vote on it, then the most requested topics could be added during office hours.
Hello fellow Substackers! I've been signed up for Substack office hours for months and this is the first week I've actually been able to make it onto the thread. What a beautiful community it feels like already to see everyone supporting one another. I've been on Substack for maybe about 5-6 months now and although the main topic I write about is healing, I feel like my newsletter is a bit messy and all over a place and not as niche as others. Is this something I should work on changing? I'm a bit indecisive and have so much I want to write about, but it's just a little difficult for me to stick to one obvious thing. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I'm newish too-- 2 months. For me, I'm allowing myself to learn as I go. Although my title is about aging I often include nostalgia, memories and observations. But my key theme is humor.
You're in the right place. Almost half my subscribers have come, directly and indirectly, from connecting with other Substack writers on Office Hours. When I love their writing and they love mine, that's when the real magic happens.
Iβm finding that my time vs reward ratio for interacting with others on Substack is far greater than what Iβm achieving with social media. It has its uses, but convincing people who are already on the platform is working out way better!
Thanks to the Substack team for adding a βrestackβ button to posts...itβs already having an effect on my subscriber base and makes it easy for authors to promote other authors prior to βrecommendingβ them...or instead of this.
Who has used paid advertising to boost their posts? Which platforms worked the best? What techniques were successful? Would love to hear all the details you have to share.
I have used paid adverts on The Sample and Inbox reads. Both seem to work pretty well, not like a giant wave, but okay. With The Sample, you pay only if someone actually subscribes. With Inbox Reads, you pay for a promoted spot regardless of any activity / result.
I experimented with Google AdWords for promoting a writing-related business in the past, and it's very easy for that to get extremely expensive. You need to nail down keywords, search terms, negative search terms, target audiences, and much more t ensure you keep costs under control. Also, conversion rates were not great, even when doing all of that.
Iβve tried boosting posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and got minimal results - really not worth it. The Sample has gotten me a few subscribers, and their paid option isnβt too bad as you only pay if you actually get a subscriber.
Iβm trialling a Google ad at the moment - so far Iβm thinking thatβs not worth it either, but we have to try these things I suppose!
New to Office Hours? Donβt be intimidated. Weβre a supportive community here. It can feel overwhelming; donβt let it. Just take it day by day. This is one of the best writing platforms around. Substack respects our intelligence by not forcing ads on us, and by allowing writers as much control as possible over our own material.
A great way to build a subscriber list is to: 1. Write quality material regularly, 2-4 times per week (plus or minus); 2. Engage with other writers on the platform; 3. always attend and comment in Office Hours; 4. Read and comment on other writersβ stacks. 5. Donβt be afraid to self-promote, but do it as part of the community with other writers in mind. 6. We can all share, comment on and recommend each otherβs work. Plus thereβs crossposting, guest-posting, etc.
*One final suggestion/note: Write honestly. Get real, raw and vulnerable. Pull no punches. Writing is about guts, not safety. π
I usually writer longer content, and if I had more time I would probably post that once a week (as opposed to biweekly which I do now). But I would definitely consider posting other, shorter content throughout the week.
They typically write 1,000 words or so with each post, which I love. I'm not here for longer content unless it is something wildly interesting, which is very, very rare. An editor from a major publishing house in the beginning of this thread said that people don't want to read more than 1,000 words in newsletters (I agree) AND I think there are just as many people who are here for long content. It is mostly about finding your particular audience.
I think I would be most happy with a nice, healthy mix of long and short content. For now, I also need a job to pay the bills, but if I can grow my audience I could branch out and do much more. Not sure if it will happen, but so help me I'm going to keep trying!
I think it depends. You're right. Once a week is great for longer pieces. Shorter bite-sized stories/essays etc, I think 2-3 times is fine. In the end you just have to test the waters.
As long as the shorter form 2-3 times a week posts are high/consistent quality, or maybe about different topics, or something like poems / illustrations, then I think it could work, yes. For longer posts, I think you also have to give your audience some time to read it and take the time to do read it.
"Writing is about guts, not safety" strikes a cord. It takes guts to write and post so the world can see. It takes guts to write emotionally. It takes more to write your emotions and vulnerabilities down for the whole world to see. The internet never forgets, so put your best foot forward!
I want to address @simon k jones's great post on getting paid for our writing. I have a post tomorrow called, "What Is Your Writing Worth?" that will, I hope, unite all of us in going paid. Nearly every media outlet (NY Times, Atlantic, etc.) is paywalling everything but one article per month. The trick is that we all need to do it together. We just need to change the public's perception of what (all of our) writing is worth. People buy the craziest things and think nothing of buying a $6 coffee. People buy air! In canisters! Just as people don't walk into Starbucks and expect free coffee, we have to all charge for our writing so that they don't expect to get it for free either. Substack is the way. Unite! https://serialize.substack.com/
The $6 cup of coffee is so true. I had a reader recently tell me she had to unsubscribe from paid because it was "too expensive." I said, "Pay attention today, I bet you spend $6 today on a bunch of stuff without realizing it. I'm only asking for $6 for the whole month." She came back the following month and subscribed for the year so she "wouldn't have to think about it." It's about shifting their priorities.
Hear you Sarah! I feel very much the same. Some years ago, my own web developer told me over a text message that he has no issue downloading my books for free from one of those pirate websites, because, in his mind, it's a digital piece of literature and art should be "free". I asked him, would you walk into a car dealership and expect to drive off with one of their cars for free? He said, "oh no that would be theft."
You can probably see the expression on my face then, and still to this day. I'm really glad the major publications are finally putting up paywallsβthey should never have opened up their work for free, because it taught the public to consider non tangible goods as something that should be free.
This is also why I never used services like Fiverr. To me it's obscene, the idea of paying such a low amount for someone's creative work. We cannot support these kinds of models. Happy to connect!
I started just a couple of weeks ago on Substack and my goal is to grow slow and steady, aiming to reach 500 followers by the end of June by posting consistently (2x / week) and participating in community threads, notes, and trying to get other relevant newsletters to recommend us :)
If anyone has tips on growing when you're just starting out, i would love to hear them!
I would say...be sure 2x a week is realistic for you, set a schedule for writing vs. promo time, and focus on your content. Oh, and try to avoid looking at your stats too often! :)
500 was such a great milestone! I will add don't get too attached to subscribers number and find other ways to measure success. Nothing is better than a personal email from a reader thanking you for writing, or just that moment when you finish writing the week's newsletter and it's exactly how you want it to look, feel, sound. Good luck and keep writing!
Really enjoying notes so far. It's fun watching people figure out what it's going to do for them.
It's fun figuring out that for myself as well!
I've finally managed to consistently write for the last two weeks under the banner of "perfect is the enemy of the good" and not sending posts out as emails, publishing them only here instead.
Feels good to be productive, even if it's not the best work. Never thought it would but it does!
Hope everyone is having a nice week π spring is truly here!
On balance I think Substack Notes is a positive. I'm glad for the chance to pop off random thoughts on the internet that might one day get me cancelled. Because to get cancelled first you got to be somebody.
My new Substack should have something to offer for anyone bemused by what is happening to the Western civilisation that they used to feel proud of. If wokeness is keeping you awake then Slouching Towards Bethlehem is for you. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/
Hey! Once, I got 15 new subs from a single Office Hours thread. Be active on here, leave comments, and try to engage with other writers whose work you like. Youβll eventually find people who want to recommend your work to others. As a new Substack friend told me, word of mouth is how growth really happens.
100% true. Word of mouth is still the best way to engage and increase your subscriptions. There is no substitute. And yes Office Hours is at GREAT way to engage and get the word out.
Hi, I'd imagine it goes in the same direction but not so big numbers since on this forum there's not too many Italian speakers (hope I got that right).
I joined the office hours chat for the first time two weeks ago and picked up 9 subscribers. Iβm here again today!! The chat and replies are really useful.
Welcome, Anastasia! I lean on business cards! That way you can find/talk with new people who otherwise would never know about Vivid Minds.....at the store, the gym, leaving with your tip at restaurants, and tacking up on S-bucks and Panera bulletin boards.
It's easy for me, as I've got a picture (the one to your left) of me backstage with The Ramones from 1977...that's a convo starter, as is my music-leaning 'Stack (I include my 'Stack web address on the front, plus a QR code on the back). That makes it easy for me to simply ask anyone I want, "What kind of music do you listen to?" No matter their answer, I can pitch my FR&B, and give them a card! Think about it, Anastasia, and good luck!
A good business card is a testament onto itself. It's tricky to succinctly describe who you are, what you do, your general "vibe," and all of the contact information in a clear and legible manner.
That's a good topic to write about. Thanks for the idea!
Just a short blurb is what I put on the card, not unlike what we all have on our "About" pages! I wish I could show you a pic of both sides! Glad I gave you a write-able idea, Magan!
If you feel you've received good service (and before you push the "Publish" button), it's customary to leave your server a link to his fabulous Substack when you thank him for his idea: https://bradkyle.substack.com/ Many thanks and have fun!
One of the things that I have noticed is that a lot of places rely on a QR code, but neglect a tiny url. Not every phone can scan QR codes. Mine included.
I think it helps your visibility to participate in these threads. Also, to leave comments on articles that you enjoy. Plus there's some external methods for promotion that can work pretty well.
Hey Anastasia! I'm figuring that out myself too. So far chatting on notes, engaging with others during office hours, & sharing more on social media this week have really boosted my growth rate. Hope you find an approach that works for you. :)
Hi! I was about to ask some version of this. I started my Substack in January with 2 posts a month but moved to once a week in March. I just reached 50 subscribers yesterday. It felt like a decent number, but reading through the posts here, I see a lot of folks with 100 easy (or maybe some version of grass is greener?)
Some people have large followings on other platforms and can bring them to Substack. However, the main thing is to provide great writing to your readers.
I'm enjoying Notes more than I expected, but it feels like shouting into the void with nobody listening, same as my substack most of the time and social media all of the time. I've had some fun conversations, but my own notes don't seem to be read by anyone. In general there's a frustrating gap between fun ideas I have to interact with readers, and the absence of actual interaction on my substack.
Haven't gotten any of that Notes growth people are talking about. Thing is I didn't even go to Notes looking for that, but seeing people post their charts about gaining tons of subscribers while I don't have a single like on my own note doesn't feel great. Going to try hard to resist those feelings.
On the bright side, I posted a short story at a random time and day instead of following my usual schedule, and it seems to have gone over well. I worked hard on that, so it's nice to feel like people actually noticed it (though I try to be content with my work regardless of public reception).
I can totally relate to this feeling. It's hard as a writer (or any creative person) not to get caught up in the external validation- especially when you pour so much of yourself into it. I try to reframe it by realizing that a lot of what I'm writing is for me, too. It helps me process, practice my writing, amplify my voice and the discipline of writing consistently is also a bonus.
Of course, talking into a void never feels good but don't give up! Being discouraged is normal, especially when you see others' success that from the outside, appears instant or easy. I truly believe if you're being true to yourself and offering your writing/art as a service/gift it will come back ten fold. It's hard to enjoy the journey but I'm trying to tell myself that I'm building a foundation that will sustain future success. You're not alone and we've got this!
I'm in the same boat as you William - I've seen so many people share stats that they' have massive subscriber growth over night with their Notes. As a small writer, this is discouraging and it's hard to see how this can benefit small writers. The big guys already get so much coverage - they're headliners on the explore page and interviewed for Substack Reads, it's frustrating and I too am trying to resist the negative feelings.
Yes -- an excellent point. I recently crossed a nice milestone in subscriber growth, and I'm seeing an uptick in paid subscriptions, which I know is due to the Substack network. But it's really nothing like the bump that the already-big sites get from high-visibility promotion. I wonder if Substack might consider a special section in Substack Reads devoted to sites with fewer than, say, 5,000 subscribers? Or a mentorship program where writers with larger followings amplify those who could use it?
A mentorship program would be so nice. I have to admit that with thousands and thousands of substacks, naturally, it's going to be very difficult to support everybody. But a mentorship or a substack reads dedicated to the small guys (5,000 seems enormous to me! maybe 1,000 and less?)
I just crossed 1,000, so maybe 2,000? :) One thing I have learned is that growth is steady over time. And I really am grateful to Substack for the platform -- hope none of this sounds like sour grapes. But I think that there is a way to think about privilege on Substack: who comes in with an advantage and who might have something valuable to say, but begin at more of a disadvantage. In theory, anyone should be able to grow infinitely on Substack. But there are some barriers.
I wouldn't focus on that. If people are going on about their "massive subscriber growth," then I question the quality of their content. Focus on the writing. Do it consistently. At least several times a week. Do not let the noise get to you!
Iβve been fortunate enough not to see the charts youβre talking about. Theyβd probably get me down too. But I really wouldnβt worry so much about the outcome, as long as you enjoy the process.
Here's a small piece of advice for those who are just starting out with Substack: focus on your growth numbers in percentages rather than absolute numbers of subscribers. It'll be a more rewarding way to track your progress.
Totally missed the start time today - my question is - how does one use the Audio recording feature on Substack and if anyone has, can you give me your tips, advice, suggestions?
Hey, E.L.! I've been using the audio feature since I started 5 weeks ago. :)
I just record using my phone, clean it up a little in iMovie, then upload the mp3 file from my computer to Substack. Nothing fancy (yet) but so far, I've had really, really positive feedback. It's especially appealing to people who prefer listening over reading.
I'd 100% recommend reading it yourself. Your voice is yet another way for people to get to know you as a person and builds trust with your audience.
I also recommend making a written announcement at the start of your posts (mine is usually brief, bolded, and italicized) referencing the audio feature so people are aware that it's there. I've had several people tell me they discovered the audio feature almost 2-3 weeks into subscribing because apparently, the feature is easily missed. It's a nondistinct gray box, so I totally get why lol.
Hope all this helps & feel free to ask more questions. :)
I'm so intimidated by the audio feature, but totally see its usefulness for accessibility & people who just like listening to something while driving or washing the dishes. Glad that people are reporting positive results for you!!
Hi there! We are using the βvoice memosβ feature on an IPhone. If you get hung up on a word or something, you can scroll back to that place and record over. Using βvoice memosβ also makes it very easy to upload from your phone or computer. There is a feature in editing mode called βenhance recordingβ that cuts down on background noise. Pretty low tech but itβs a good way to start out like we are!
I believe thereβs also a way to record via substack directly but we havenβt tried that yet.
Anyone know whether iMovie or voice memos is better and why?
good to know, I have used voice memos before for other recordings, but need to look into the editing mode- have never tried that. I did see the Substack option so might need to try all the features one at a time:)
This is a general note to the Substack team: I know that many have told you how much SS has changed their lives β after two months, I count myself among those many.
I've been a professional writer for 35 years, mainly screenplays, which isn't real writing; no script scribbler would call it that. I've always been considered too much of a maverick to publish, but too worthy of being read to ignore. It's a liminal space that I've grown used to, but it's a frustrating comfort zone, like being stuck in the executive lounge at an airport with your flight delayed indefinitely.
At this point, I'm too smitten with the platform to complain, and so grateful that I can build my own paywall rather than waiting for legacy media to snap out of this vortex of terror and censorship they're stuck in to publish work that is different, but also considered heretical in this awful neo-puritanical moment in Western history, a second Prohibition imposed by a vile Temperance Movement, in which free speech stands in for alcohol. Most alarmingly, they haven't needed to amend the Constitution to impose their bleak, joyless, hateful restrictions.
I've rarely been prouder to be associated with anything than I have the past few days being on the right side of the skirmish between Substack and Elon/Twitter. Keep on trucking'.
Substack is the best and only speakeasy in town. Thank you.
I have two questions: 1) What should my next goal be? and 2) has anyone posted on both their substack and blog? Is this an acceptable strategy for expanding my web presence or will I get dinged by SEO for publishing the same content on substack and a wordpress blog?
Try using the canonical url for your blog to drive the SEO directly to your Substack to avoid the Google penalty for duplicate content. Also, you can change the content between the two slightly to avoid the penalty.
Hi, I'm Karen! I write a blog on my life after a pretty bad breakup. I only have four subscribers but I feel that my content is pretty vulnerable. At the same time, I hope I can gain more traction! Any advice on how to build a base?
ISSUE FOR GENERALIST WRITERS. Three weeks or more ago, I raised a question about the lack of provision in Substack categories for those of us who write on a wide range of topics. There were a lot of supportive comments and someone from Substack (sorry, I completely forgot the name) agreed it was a good question and he would sort it out. But has it been sorted out? And if not, why not? I can't list my newsletter under any one category as none makes sense, but I have grown from 25 to 300 in five months, so people are reading β and more might do so if you had such a category.
The categories a tricky space. If we make them to specific, they can lose their function of discoverability for readersβthere are too many choices and sometimes not enough inventory under each specific category. But keeping them more general, as they are today, some writers feel like they don't fit anymore. We are monitoring trends and will add them as new categories bubble up.
There are more powerful tools on Substack to help you grow than categories, like recommendations.
βWill a search of a single writer's notes be possible in the future?
βWhat about hashtag support?
These are motivated by an interest in using Notes as a sort of Zettelkasten system but with community features enabled, or a public brainstorming session. I'm really enjoying the feel of Notes so far; let's hope it keeps its positive and collegial atmosphere!
I'm especially curious to hear from any fiction writers who have found success at gaining paid subscribers. I've had no problem building a strong readership, but have very low conversion rates. This could be because I'm unwilling to paywall much content. Has anyone found any reader-friendly strategies?
I have a post tomorrow called, "What Is Your Writing Worth?" that will, I hope, unite all of us in going paid. People actually pay for air! In canisters! People sell their virginity online! Nearly every media outlet (NY Times, Atlantic, etc.) is paywalling everything but one article per month. The trick is that we all need to do it together. We just need to change the public's perception of what (all of our) writing is worth. People don't walk into Starbucks and expect free coffee. Substack is the way. Unite! https://serialize.substack.com/
Haha. Good points all around. I recently lowered my yearly rate from $50/year to $35/year and that's definitely helped. A reader a while back made a great point: $50/year is more than a yearly subscription to The New Yorker or Harper's, and those are longtime professional writers.
I'm also a fiction writer--I also write posts covering my experience trying to make it as a fiction writer. I have found it difficult to build a non-paying readership. I'm a bit clueless on marketing my work. I'd love to hear what you've done to find success in this area (other than putting out strong content)
Comment often in helpful ways on other writers' stacks. Engage in threads/comments. Write good stuff and post regularly, ideally 1-3 times per week, depending on length and subject matter.
I've tried both of those without any real success - did you have a committed audience to start with? For me, both of those tactics simply resulted in a) fewer readers and b) fewer comments.
When you say both you mean paid for early access and also the community angle? So when I paid, the next 3 posts were paywalled and could be paid for individually. So if todayβs post was free the next 3 posts were paywalled. That made it even more enticing to βcatch upβ or stay ahead. There was also a Discord set up for the paid posts so people could chat without spoilers. It made for a smaller, more intimate group so people generally would keep paying to get access to that community.
I wonder if that requires a certain scale to start with. I tried the early access model, but there wasn't enough base interest in my writing at the time (this was early on, so late-2021) to get people to want to pay to get ahead.
I'm struggling with growth too. I think Roulette Weal is pretty high on the fiction paids ( 320 subscribers) but my free subscribers have tripled without much conversion. My general ratio in a week is 1 free, 6 paywall, though if my story touches strongly on addiction I usually don't paywall it.
Ha, I'm staring enviously at your orange tick and contemplating how the word 'struggling' is always relative. :D
But yes, your point about income-per-story is interesting. You have a phenomenally high production rate, so the equation is pretty intense if you're looking at time commitment versus return.
Substack's own materials said that regular publication would drive growth. So the reckless person inside the creative person said " Can't be much more regular than every day ". Once I had people commenting on hom much they enjoyed knowing they would get a new story every day, and then those people brought new subscribers to me, I couldn't let them down. Now , even as I still publish every day, the 950 story archive is well worth the 60 buck annual
That they're all (most?) standalone shorts must really work in your favour, too. That archive looks enticing and exciting, because new arrivals can dip in as much as they want. I'm writing a long-form serial, which I think has the opposite effect: it ends up looking like a lot of homework to catch up.
They're all standalones. I have Rashomoned a few, but worked diligently to make those work as standalones. Obviously more interesting to read both sides, but not necessary.
For your serial, my guess would be to read the first chapter "live"- don't tape a perfect read, just read,correct yourself if needed, maybe do some asides or footnotes or clarifications after. Build a really devoted audience willing to take their knowledge of the characters out into the wild. A street team, for lack of a better word.
Doing an audio version of the opening is a great idea. I've dabbled with doing that for a while, but hadn't thought of doing a very 'raw' version, and making it quite a personal thing, which can act as a bit of a 'hello' at the same time.
Thanks. I committed to daily fiction and I committed to writing the best fiction I could given the publishing schedule. Approaching 1000 stories, so the per story income isn't thrilling, but readers have given me amazingly positive feedback.
Asking more support and help from the subscribers you already have, or future subscribers? I don't have a lot of followers, and I write fiction. I'm a firm believer that if the writing is good, the readers will follow. But I've scaled back on my posts. I post my FREE stuff on Sunday, and my PAID stuff on Wednesday. But is it enough? Is it too much? I guess only time will tell. Oh yeah, here's my about page if you're curious as to what kind of fiction I write. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Yeah, I think I need to find time to produce some one-offs that can be paywalled in some way. I don't really want to paywall my on-running serial at this point.
Recently started as well and am 4 subscribers away from hitting 100. Yay, exciting! I am mostly curious about how do we find Substack READERS? I have been pushing my newsletter to my existing social network and a lot of them are not familiar with Substack. I also make some video content to try and market but realize those audiences may be a mismatch for long form content... Then when I think about finding Substack Readers, aren't a lot of people already inundated with too many newsletters to read (aka me), which means it may be harder to find people willing to pay or want to read your work if they're already an existing substack reader. So many conundrums...
You're in the right place. Almost half my subscribers have come, directly and indirectly, from connecting with other Substack writers on Office Hours. When I love their writing and they love mine, that's when the real magic happens.
That's encouraging to know. I have the same question as the OP ... because, while I have an existing social media, I have a low conversion rate to even the free. (This is my first time here on Office Hours, though, but I've been told it's magical!)
I have 2,100 followers on Twitter and not one of them has followed me to Substack. Don't worry about that. Two different media. People on Twitter like a sentence and a photo. People on Substack like substance.
I just set up an account a couple of days ago. I still have no idea what to write, which direction. Should I keep waiting or should I just start scribbling and post sometime... mmm...sounds very unprofessional. My goal is to have paid subscription and I feel I need to have it together before I post.
Exactly. There's a book called Thinking on Paper that I started a while back, and the authors make the point that writing isn't just for conveying ideas; it's also for generating them. Do you ever do free writing?
It's a great exercise for that. It can also be a good way to discover ideas or uncover thoughts you're not consciously focusing on but that are bouncing around in your head. Some of the essays on my Substack grew out of freewriting sessions that brought back memories I hadn't recalled in years.
Welcome, Jovinna, and congrats on starting your Substack!
I encourage you to just start writing. Don't wait for the perfect idea or the inspiration. Many newsletters I follow consist of personal essays that read like journal entries...and some are more like online journals or diaries like those from the days of Open Diary and LiveJournal.
Sharing your thoughts and stories is a powerful thing. It doesn't have to be professional or perfect. Just write about something that's important to you, that moves you, or that you feel you need to share. It's up to you how much to polish it before you post it. The people who connect with it will come, and you'll get subscribers over time. :)
Thank you so much for your reply. "Sharing thoughts and stories" sound so inviting and less stressful. Thank you for so much for your advice. I feel I have been stuck with this notion "Write what matters and what is valuable to people".
Curiously...they're the same thing. :) We've been so inundated with the idea that we have to find the right audience and the perfect niche before we start any kind of creative project that we're often paralyzed by the mistaken impression that a project isn't worth doing without those two things firmly in place.
I acknowledge that there is some merit to knowing who you want to write for, but it's not the main thing. The main thing is writing because you love it and you're a writer. What's important to you will be important to someone else. And everyone's story has value because every human being is valuable!
Could you add reddit as a social media option to link to? User profiles or even subreddits are another platform for communities, I think itβs better than Facebook at that.
I write mostly, so I can decide what I can and should do.
I often do not know what I think until I write and rewrite.
as I understand your model, the goal is to have the most number of people read what I write and perhaps pay for the privilege. I am not sure that is my goal.
Yes, you definitely do belong! On Substack you can make up the rules for your own blog. Mine goes out free and I have no intention of attracting paid subscribers. You can run it like an old-school wordpress or blogger site if you want . . . post when you feel like you have something worth saying and ignore all the metrics if you feel like it.
Yes, this! Substack is often touted as a "Make Quadzillions of Dollars From Paid Subscriptions!" site, but it can also be a blog. The added bonus is that it's a platform where a bunch of other writers are also blogging (or writing essays, or whatever). There isn't a right or wrong way to do it.
Great question. You can use Substack for your personal writing (if you don't mind others seeing it). Substack is simple and you can grow a list ... or not ... as you desire. I also write to figure out what I'm thinking ... sometimes it's of interest to others ... sometimes not so much. If you're not focused on the numbers, it's just a great place to write and connect with other writers.
You'll find friends who are on similar journeys and just by being in touch help each other. imho, the Red Pill requires friends. Can't live well in a silo!
I think only you can answer this question. Whatβs your goal with writing? Is it building an audience? If so, Substack can help with that. It can also help you meet other writers you can learn from. But if your writing is more akin to journaling, maybe a large audience isnβt what youβre looking for. You posed an interesting question, anyway.
It's a question we should all ask ourselves. Why do we write? Why are we here on Substack? Have we strayed from our roots as writers and been beguiled by the idea of Going Viral and Becoming Internet Famous?
If we have, I think it's time we reexamine our goals and motives.
Try a free sub to this one?.... should have something to offer for anyone bemused by what is happening to the Western civilisation that they used to feel proud of. If wokeness is keeping you awake then Slouching Towards Bethlehem is for you. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/
It seems like there are a lot of threats to writers and other creatives at the moment - ChatGPT and AI writers, lots of competition, etc. The substack I am writing - https://ironcladcreative.substack.com/ - is about understanding and dealing with those threats and making ourselves more resilient.
My question is - is that too narrow a focus? The intent is to build a resource for growing a successful freelance or creative business while understanding what's coming over the horizon and how to deal with it.
Paul, yes indeed. It's not too narrow a focus, it's a critical one and for some existential. It's one of the reasons I started my Substack, and it looks like you did too? Welcome! We should chat (pun intended) a little more. I just wrote a guest post for another Substack for fiction writers in particular: https://mindfullibrarian.substack.com/p/guest-writer-generative-ai-in-fiction.
For full transparency, I was one of the creative writers for Google's Assistant a few years ago, so I had a firsthand look at how some of these models are built.
Birgitte, I'd love to connect - I do have inpout from a lot of other business writers on this (I help to run a large content writing community), but I don't much insight into the more creative side of things. I don't know Substack that well yet, but it would be great to connect in some way to discuss further.
Thanks Howard - I agree, I think that seeing AI as a "threat" or "not a threat" is too binary. Of course, these tools are significantly impacting others in my career (professional content writers) - but there are also ways to adapt - which we must as ChatGPT and other AI tools are here to stay. I think it's finding the space between overreacting, being suitably vigilant, and doing what we can to embrace these tools while protecting our livelihoods.
I would keep it all together. People enjoying your prompts and advice will naturally be interested in your fiction. It's a good way of giving your other posts authority.
This happens to me too. I publish nursing memoir mideeek and more eclectic stuff at eeekends. I build up subscribers but lose a couple on either post. Iβm wondering about a separate stack now too. Theyβre two sections on one stack at the moment.
I'm leaning towards keeping it altogether June. I used to have multiple websites for different audiences and then decided to try Substack as one place and I suppose I just haven't given it the time it needs to see what happens - I'm impatient :-)
I post a new story every day and have been for 31 months. There's no magic wand. You have to occasionally ask your readers through a separate email to invite more of their friends to the party. You have to share free ones on social media and beg. I wish I had an answer for all of us, but after publishing nearly 1000 stories, I don't.
I love this kind of honesty! I help to tun a large freelance writing community, and one of the key things we often stress is "there's no one, best way to do this." Everyone has unique skills, interests, experiences, and approaches - and it's embracing those and experimenting that seems to drive the best results for that individual and their audience.
Really enjoying using Notes so far! What seems to be the optimal method when it comes to using Notes? What's the best approach when it comes to not only growing reach and audience, but also providing value to existing subscribers?
Hey writers! The Substack team is signing off today. We'll be back next week to help answer more questions. In the meantime, we encourage writers to stick around after the hour and continue the conversation together.
Hi Katie, how do you feel about making one of these default to "New first" just to see how the conversation moves? I and others often get here very late, and whilst it's awesome to read the top-rated comments, it can also be difficult to then have to scroll to read a lot.
I know I can click "New first" manually, but it might help other comments get noticed etc if it's on by default one week.
Yes thank you
Cheers. Thanks for the notes!
Kindly check my query as a fresh comment. Thanks!
Hi Katie, posting here because there seems to the banner to "start writing" or "get the app" is over my comments section. That is an issue I consistently have, and have reached out on instagram about. The banner pops up and restricts a reader from fully engaging/reading on posts. I am a substack member and paid subscriber to some of the blogs I follow, and even when I'm signed in the banner stays put and there's no way to x out of it. I find it frustrating and would love if your designers moved it to another section or gave the option of x'ing out once it's popped up.
I do hope my topics were addressed especially the emails fails as this would be reason to bow out.
Thank you for this session. Am I wrong in thinking actually the Notes do NOT need to be managed. I can let them just float by, like a ticker tape, and use what I need from them?
My Substack is still really small, but I DID just reach 100 subscribers. I know thatβs nothing compared to others, but itβs a milestone.
How many times per week should I publish?
Should I stick to a strict platform?
Great job, Samantha! Congratulations on your milestone!
When I started back in June last year I set my heart on posting twice a week, but soon downsized to just the once, because I found I was putting myself under too much pressure. I know I can manage one post a week - in fact a few months ago I started a collaboration post with another Substacker in which we write to each other on alternate weeks, so I'm now posting around six times a month.
I'm happier with consistency rather than frequency of posting! I like that my subscribers know to expect a post from me every Saturday and every other Wednesday. And that posting frequency isn't too onerous.
Well done again on your subscriber tally! π
Absolutely! Consistency is the secret here, all the old timers are saying.
Yes. Regular writing schedule.
Love this collaborative idea!
It really grabbed me, too! When Substack first suggested it the idea was for two writers to get together, to pick a topic and then write three letters each in respect of that. Here's their own post about it: https://on.substack.com/p/collaboration#Β§host-your-own-letter-exchange
Terry and I picked 'British weather' to complain - sorry, write - about, and then just kept going with our correspondence - we've been having a real giggle!
As you know, your letters to each other are one of my favorite reads (that I'm currently behind on!). To the folks up-thread, take the time to read this delightful correspondence! :)
Thanks, Kerri. Yes, Rebecca and I have a good laugh
Thanks, Kerri!
I was soooooo impressed with the latest edition of 'Three Small Smiles' - you have NAILED IT, girl, and absolutely created the impossible!!!!!!!! https://threesmallsmiles.substack.com/p/three-small-smiles-90-days-to-broadway-c56
Love, hugs, and happy dance coming your way, Rebecca! xoxo
Sounds fantastic, I just subscribed to check it out. Thanks for sharing the article for me too.
Oooh, lovely! Thanks, Donna! π
Thank you for your kind words, Rebecca. Yes, I think I'll begin with just once per week so I know I can post consistently without feeling overwhelmed. I love your idea about collaborating with another Substacker. Brilliant! Once I get to know others better, I may try that... Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond!
In order not to feel overwhelmed, I break my short stories into sections and post them once a week. A typical short story will give me 5-6 weeks of grace time before I have to post another one. It gives me time to work on the other one and get it ready and into the queue. Look at my about page and see what I mean. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Meant to say have not tried story sections on Substack Ben. I have written a fair amount of stories. Just published recently
Are these like teasers Ben? I tried similar approach on Facebook and Twitter .. not much pull. Have tried story sections on Substack. Are your stories long??
I'm thinking of publishing a novel I wrote a while back in serial form (as others have written about). I'm trying to see how much basic information people need so they can read each chapter as a standalone. (In 1-3 parts as needed to keep short). I have published a couple of short chapters from the novel that easily stood alone in lit. mags, but I want to make it more like a [TV] series than a serial Just curious if anyone else is doing something like that. https://davidblistein.substack.com
Yes. There are a couple of good sites that actually break down the mechanics of writing a serial novel. You have to know when to break off and keep the reader interested. I have one, A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL that I wrote last year. I felt it was good enough to put up. Take a look at my "about" page...https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Such a pleasure! I hadn't planned on collaborating until suddenly I was - and actually I love it! If you fancy a giggle at two Brits discussing their humorous take on the world, do check out my latest missive! π€£ https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/60-a-letter-to-terry-10
I do humor too. I'm always looking for fellow humorists. I will subscribe.:)
I have funnies' section as well Would like collaborate with a cartoon writers. Aging G. Is always good ground for humility and of course humor π
Would love to collab. How does that work?
I add some humor by creating memes...and I also include my daughters german shepard often at the end of the post for no apparent reason, because the dog is smart and super adorable
Yes Robert, yes my pug character is featured in many posts. Considering separate section heading for him to be reintroduced as he was the original inspiration π for starting on Substack
and my reply: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/letter-to-rebecca-10 π€£
Nice one, Terry! π
I couldn't resist the chance to do some self-promotion π€£ But seriously, Samantha ought to read yours and then mine in order to maximise her LQ (Laughter Quotient)
Has any run across the rather awkward situation where you have been chatting back and forth with a writer you have subscribed to but they have not subscribed to your publication βΊοΈ Don't know whether this writer realizes or not but it seems odd as this writer clearly likes my publication.
How to center text for example bottoms at the bottom of articles or headings within the article?? Don't find much help through Substack resources. π
I'm not sure if you can yet, other than doing the "Pull quote" option, which places it in a quote block.
Might be possible if you paste over from another source, or maybe use a code block, but I haven't tried that.
Thanks so kindly NathanβΊοΈ I will try this.
I use my Draft resource as my filing cabinet. Anyone know if there is a way to organize drafts so we can place pending or priority draft post at the top rather than having to scroll down each time to find the draft you want to work with??
Please please guys, has anyone got any solutions for when emails redirect into non priority boxes and therefore don't go to Subs at all! This has happened at least 4x now ! Is there any way to get these failed email deliveries into subs email that same day. Have tried all I know but posts remain undelivered. How to prevent this from happening. Prime opportunity for Potential subs gone and credibility out the window
Congrats. I'm also up to 100. Trying to figure out how have a steady build.
Trying to figure out any build!
Yes Rebecca, I went back into stats for high #s posts and discovered that in the beginning I simply posted when I was ready and only once at week. But to grow you gotta 'throw everything at the wall' see what sticks and more imp. what resonates. Once ya got your audience along for the ride then you can better gauge frequency Vs consistency
Great answer .my question too. 100 is a lot.
This was helpful, thank you!
try this one maybe: http://grahamcunningham.substack.com/
I subscribed to yours last week cos I liked the post about diversity
I've tried different schedules, and what I've found works for me is having three regular slots, these being a Start the week post every Monday, a 5 minute tip post every Tuesday, a letter to Rebecca Holden every other Wednesday, and an Experiments in Style post every Sunday, plus other posts when the mood takes me. But I suffer from writers' flood, the opposite of w's block, so I'm not a good example. However, having one or two definite slots works really well in my experience.
I find I'm comfortable posting twice a week, Monday and Wednesday. I'm throwing in a paid sub chat on Friday, and a podcast episode every two weeks so I have plenty of time and space to record it.
That's my current plan now that I'm launching paid, but we'll see how it goes. I have the time to make this work, with a few Medium articles a week as well. So far so good, but we'll have to see!
Yes Sam, I just launched my first paid publication βΊοΈ #s are slow but glad I took the plunge. The publication is written entirely in French and I plan to translate previous articles written for 'Simple As That' publication to gauge profitability. I always wondered if I should have gone paid from the start. Nothing says stamp of approval like subs paying for the privilege to read your work
Gosh, a podcast on a regular basis is quite a commitment. Well done
We'll see! The plan is for it to be my raw reactions to news articles, rather than well-researched statements like in my articles.
Unpolished by design. Snark included.
raw reactions are good
I am now making sure I stick to a once in two weeks longer form post, and seeing if I can add some extra stuff in between. My goal right now is to offer consistent quality, grow my subscriber base, and if I get enough support to branch out and offer more content and more variation, for instance with shorter posts. For now, I have to be realistic in that I can't do this full-time because I also have to work another job as well. But it gets me really excited and motivated to work towards doing this on a more permanent basis. Fingers crossed!
Good strategy I think. It's a real balancing act
'Writers' flood', Terry - you do crack me up! π€£ I really enjoy all your posts, btw!
π€£ Thank you, Rebecca. I enjoy all yours too. I'm all in favour of our mutual admiration society, even if we're the only two members π€£
π€£π₯³
Congrats! Isn't it so exciting to see new subscribers? I am sticking to a 1x a week schedule, but really, it depends on your schedule and workload. I subscribe to some substacks that publish 2x a month.
Seeing new subscribers is amazeballs! Especially not knowing where they're coming from, as in, they aren't coming from another writer's recommendation or your own sharing of your posts, but just through the network, coming across your writing by sheer chance. It's an awesome feeling!
It is a pretty amazing feeling.
And what do you think the perfect mix is? When I first started, I think I was putting out too much. Now I'm down to one FREE and one PAID a week. I'm not feeling as overwhelmed as I was when I first started. But is 2x/month enough?
I would like to write less frequently, but am concerned that given my age I might shuffle off this mortal coil before the world has benefitted from my erudite prose. I read the other day that getting older increases the chance that you will die. Who knew?
Terry, I don't know if age (riffing on your joke btw not serious) is making you forget but you had said you'd check out my Grenfell post. Gentle reminder but I won't pressure you :)
Welcome back Reno
Hi De! Thank you. I hope your newsletter is going well. I have been in busy with my construction case which was grueling.
No I hadn't. I printed it off and it's sitting in a stack of printouts I'm going to read. I'm sorry it's taken me ages to not read it but I promise I will soon
No rush and really no pressure. I only asked because I think you would have smart and thoughtful feedback. I'm impressed that you printed it! I'd always tell people in their 20s that worked with me to print stuff and they thought it was odd till they tried it and realized it made them miss fewer things.
Your last line is a riot. Expanding your comment would be a great post.
Thanks. π
π€£
That sounds like a good mix. I only publish 2x a month. I don't know if it's good enough but I had to settle for that with everything else going on. Perhaps more necessity than choice.
Yes Reno, have been meaning to get back to your stacks. Glad to hear I am not far behind since you are posting 2x a month. Finding the time π This whole process can feel like an octopus at times
Mostly 2 sometimes 3. Agree finding time is tough depending on life. My posts aren't going anywhere. Sometimes I wonder if it's better to write more posts and make them shorter.
To me, that sounds like a lot but as long as you're not overwhelmed. As a reader, I'm finding the 2x a month posts don't turn me off at all. I almost like that they don't send me stuff on a weekly basis, but maybe that's bc I subscribe to way too many Substacks right now, haha.
I was hoping my readers would think that so I am glad that you shared that with us.
I love memoirs. I just subscribed. I'm working on a novel that's loosely based on my mom experience.
Oo, I love that. Iβve also thought about turning my memoir into a novel βbased on a true storyβ - maybe Iβll do that for my brothers story. π
Thanks for sharing. I'm trying to publish 1x a week too. I wonder if there is an optimal length or number of words that makes a substack post worth reading. I know it may depend on your individual audience. But I wonder how people generally read on substack. Are they coming in with the intent to read a longish piece or are they coming in to browse and consume more content while they are on here. Thoughts?
Maybe both? The posts that get the most traction are ones that are about how I improve my writing, as well as the more "shocking" snippets I plan on using in my memoir. As a reader, I find the pieces that are in the 500-800 word range feel really consumable, even though my Substacks are much longer. Not sure if that helps you, lol.
It does! As a new Substack writer, I have been struggling finding the sweet spot in terms of editing to a digestible length. If 500-800 words has worked for you with your audience, I'm sure I can learn from that. Brevity has never been my friend while writing haha so this will be a challenge.
I've been wondering the same thing about the sweet spot for length. So far, I've been trying to target issues that can be read in ~5 minutes or less based on my own behavior as a reader.
I think the length of your article is going to be determined by the content.
A simple article on a tweet needs to be short and sweet, whereas an article on Climate might draw a more serious reader, and need to be more in-depth.
Congrats on 100! Give yourself time to play with different schedules and see what feels right for you. You could decide to do once a week for a while, or twice a month -- whatever will be a schedule where you can come up with good essays without straining. Or at least that's what I'm doing. I've been on here a little over six months and I'm still figuring out how I want to structure it.
Thank you so much, Julie! I have been thinking about scheduling (one that I can accomplish without straining, as you say). I've been on since October 2022, but only writing here since November 2022. I felt so intimidated at first, but everyone has been very kind to me.
Everyone is very nice!
And I do think you can play around. Or maybe that's just me -- as soon as someone tells me I have to do something on a certain day, I don't want to do it. You can do it however feels right to you. Sometimes I post two essays a month, sometimes I post one a week. If I have ideas for them, I'll share them. Sometimes. Sometimes I'll save it so I can work on off-Substack writing.
Yes Julie, I wrote an article on that very theme and how I learned to listen to my internal clock or cues. Depending on what's crowding your life and available of choices can make the 'centering in' or 'internal tuning in' rather difficult
De, this is the majority of what I'm figuring out right now with my work. How to follow my own intuition vs. do what everyone else is doing or what the internet seems to be saying I should be doing.
Yes Samantha, scheduling is imp. And I did follow it to the point. Have since posted a few minutes or so past scheduled hours. But the editing process can trip you up as time as needed to walk away from your work 'get out of your head' before you do the final edit for publishing. This and the "monatone' method is best practice I have found to produce a polished product
That's amazing Samantha, congrats! 100 is still a very big feat, imagine 100 people in a room ready to read your work? Pretty neat. I think that if you have a schedule already, stick to it. People like having a sense of scheduling to their reading, I think. And then at least you know there are people waiting at a certain date and time for your work. Hope that makes sense.
Thank you, Natalie. Your encouragement helps more than you know, and it makes total sense. I'm eager to check out you Substack -- it's on the list for new reads this afternoon!
Thank you Samantha! x
Congrats I just got 100 unpaid subs myself!
way to go!
Congrats Samantha! I'm one away from 100, so I'm celebrating with you π₯³.
Similar to me Macy...92 away from 100!!
Lolol! Keep going. It's like working out. The more you do it, the easier it'll get.
That's what they said at the gym!
i just subscribed
Thanks Terry
I guess there should be 100 star we get or something! I reached 200 and nearly flew into orbit!
Hey! Iβve also just passed the dreaded 100, and I publish biweekly. At this time this is the only schedule I can comfortably and consistently keep to, but itβs resulted in great quality work, and if the growth is slow, so be it. I donβt need quickness, I need substance.
Congratulations! I publish biweekly too β growth has been slow but steady but this is a schedule I can currently commit too!
Thank yoU!
I subscribed. Looking forward to reading your work and hoping you also write about Romania.
congrats! choose something that you can commit to and be consistent :)
Thank you for the congratulations. I think, yes, I'll start with once a week regular publishing and add to it as necessary/warranted. That's great advice because I see so many much bigger Substack authors who post daily, or at the least 5 days a week. I would love to do that, but currently I just can't swing it.
yes that sounds way too hard to maintain for me at least
Same here! Iβd get NOTHING else done.
This is the correct answer βοΈ! (In case Carmella's comment moves away: https://on.substack.com/p/office-hours-74/comment/14631784)
That's amazing! I still have a long way to go to get there. 100 is a major milestone!
I'm finding that Notes is helping me start to get my name out there a little bit. I'm still a fair distance from 100, but I did get my first paid sub, so I'm feeling pretty good!
Gives me a kick in the backside to work on the extra content I'll be giving paid subscribers, heh.
waytogo Sam!
I haven't checked it out yet, I'll have to look into it!
I say go for it! It's really helping me network and get to know other writers in real time. It's been really nice so far.
well done for first paid sub
It took me awhile as well. I think it depends on a lot of different factors. Iβm excited to check out your SS later this afternoon. Putting you on the list!
Thank you Samantha!
Likewise Sarah π
Great work! It's a nice feeling to hit those milestones. I publish newsletters twice a week plus one podcast episode. This is NOT the right way to do it, I just know it's the amount I can (just about!) manage consistently. It's better to deliver what you tell your audience you're going to deliver than overpromise. I couldn't possibly publish every day so I don't try to!
Podcast too! That's fab. Is it time consuming? I'm imagining hours and hours of editing.
Well-done. Hang in there! xo
I loved your last post, Mary. I'll comment on it later
congratulations on making 100!
After about 6 weeks, I am up to a little over 30.
What strategies have worked for you?
The best strategies, in my experience, are:
1. Never compromise on the quality of your work.
2. Publish consistently and stick to a schedule (I publish biweekly)
3. Read and comment on other writers' posts.
4. Connected to 3: Reach out! I've had 3 writers whose work I love recommend my blog to their subscribers, just because they liked my writing! But they only found my blog because I commented on their posts.
spot on. I just restacked your comment
Those are great tips. I just hit 80 subscribes and so 100 feels within reach. I know that Notes will probably help me but so far, interacting with other writers has been the best part of Substack for me.
Thank you! This is a new world for me.
I mailed my first newsletter to my entire contact list in gmail - and got all my early subscribers there. You know, people like Aunt Barb and some paid too, which kinda feels like a little more pressure than just strangers but it helps my morale some and keeps me motivated. Reached 235 since Feb so I guess I'm doing ok. The friends and family part came easy, it's the ones from this platform that are so hard won.
Well done! I think being consistent, keeping it manageable and having days you work towards is best - I find this allows me to work on newsletters with focus
Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, the last thing I want to do is overextend myself. Do you plan article topics in advance? If so, how far in advance?
I plan in advance, for example my writing prompts for May are already scheduled. But ... I have realised that being over organised has had a detrimental impact on my in the moment creativity so have committed to being less organised and more organic - it's a big ask for me as I'm going against several decades of inner programming!!!! :-)
Yes you want to be able to flow. I try to plan, but mainly I aim to give myself time and a word count, and two or three options, then work from there, less pressure and more enjoyment.
I plan in advance using my bespoke Article Planner (completely free Sheets and Excel versions): https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/article-planner
Recommended 100%! βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ
π€
100 is still a great milestone, and not easy to get! Other people have said the same thing here, but it bears repeating: publish at a pace you can maintain. Consistency and quality are better than quantity from my limited experience.
Congrats, Samantha! I agree with Carmella on being consistent.
I see a lot of people are loving Notes. For me, I have to be honest that it just feels like more noise, more work, more distraction. I write Scroll Sanity, a newsletter about staying sane in a digital world, and part of what I love about Substack is the commitment to high quality writing and high quality engagement. Notes feels like a departure from this commitment to me. I don't want to feel like I have to post short-form snippets to keep people engaged. I want me long-form newsletter posts to hold their own... This may be an unpopular viewpoint, but like I said, I try to keep my digital presence as contained as possible - meaning, very little engagement on social media platforms - so that I can focus instead on the high quality stuff.. If you want to check out my newsletter, here's the link. https://carmellaguiol.substack.com/ My latest post is about learning that I have ADHD and how this affects my relationship to social media & smartphones.
I've found that I have to relentlessly curate and limit my media diet. I only allow myself to read one social media platform and three media outlets as standard - and that's done a huge amount of my peace of mind. The older I get, the more I realize that FOMO is a myth - instead, find what excites, inspires, or comforts you, and stick to that.
As I look at it Paul, age and memory not always what's going on. Good and new information pushes out old and hopefully bad information. If you're doing what inspires that's the good stuff. Nothing really gets lost just 'refiled' Body and mind know what is best
Oh, Carmella, I was feeling the same way. I am not sure I can devote the time to another social media platform - - even with all the positive things people are saying about it. My jam is time management, so these issues are very important to me! https://pmlab.substack.com/
Glad to see my thoughts reflected! I don't even use the Substack app, my phone is a dumb smartphone and I don't do apps, but I did let my readers know about it when it first got introduced. I use the Notes app in my phone and it's more than enough for all my notes needs, including my writing. My readers can reach me via email and they do. I have more than enough tools for my tiny corner of the internet: time spent offline (https://mehretbiruk.substack.com/)
Oo dumb smartphone. Iβm intrigued. Please say more!!!
Dumb Smartphone. Is that like Jumbo Shrimp? (An ode to the departed George Carlin.)
I used parental control settings to remove browsing and app downloads. I'm not on social media and all the apps on my phone are practical, with the only entertainment apps I have being the Sudoku app. My most used app on my phone is now Messages and I average 2.5 hours a day on my smartphone!!! My most cherished accomplishment in this digital age.
I wrote about it in detail here: https://mehretbiruk.com/2021/05/10/smartphone-to-dumb-phone/
Kindred spirit! I've done something similar with my phone and I quit social media 3 years ago. Nice to meet you! :)
I'm smiling 3x!!! Offline is the new luxury <3 Love your newsletter btw
Thank you!! Just subscribed to yours. :)
I want to talk more with you! seems like we have a lot of overlap in terms of our mission :) Where can i find your email address?
Let's! Email me at mehretbiruk@gmail.com
I'm on your side. It's new and sort of interesting and I've posted a couple of notes just for fun, but it seems like a departure from the core.
Seems like everybody is singing the praises, but I guess I don't hit that note too well. Did I make a pun? It was accidental.
I agree with you, Carmella. I'm distressed by features like Notes and Chat. After reading Deep Work, Indistractible, Digital Minimalism, and The Shallows (which I'm close to finishing), I finally realized why I could no longer think as deeply or pay attention as well as I used to when I was a kid. My mind has been distracted and diffused (to borrow a phrase from Paul Simon) by computers and the internet for the last 25 years, and I'm only just now reclaiming my ability to focus and concentrate.
I got active on Substack because it seemed like a platform where writers could be writers focused on quality and craft rather than the hamster wheel of modern internet marketing. Seeing the transformation into a noisy social media clone is making me wonder if I should back off and get a hosted Ghost site instead.
I subscribed to your newsletter because it seems like we're on the same page with this. :) Interested in hearing how you feel your focus and attention has changed now that you have a better understanding of how your brain works and your cognitive needs.
After reading many of these comments yesterday, I did a bunch of freewriting about my thoughts around Notes and I honestly started to feel very emotional and upset. I am just plan DRAINED by all the expectations of engagement and digital interaction. Distracted is definitely part of it, but also just feels like my brain is hijacked so much of the time. and i am honestly pissed at substack for following the trend and making this another place on the internet where i need to be extremely cautious and guarded about my attention and energy,...
I echo your sentiment. I'd like a way to turn off Notes notifications (and if there is one, someone please point me to it!) to de-clutter my notification feed.
I don't know if you've read The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, but it's an eye-opening look into why our brains feel like pudding in the modern info-saturated environment. We need to be intentional about where we direct our attention and put boundaries up around our tech time, or our ability to focus will dwindle.
I haven't read the Shallows but I am familiar with Nicholas Carr's work and I completely agree with you that we need to be intentional, about our attention & boundaries. I also plan on making a deep dive into substack settings to turn off notifications for notes, but I'm pissed that once again the onus is on the user to put up the boundaries and limitations. why can't these platforms be more thoughtful about how they develop their features & business model??
I got on Substack for the exact same reasons - it was a low key way to be on social media without losing my sanity. Now I feel duped into believing this was a different kind of space & community. I feel like Chat and Notes is all being launched in the name of "community" and I think Substack was already very rich in community and connection - deeper, meatier kind of connection, not the one-off engagement that happens in the deep scroll.
Agreed... I'm working to stay with posts and responses only. Otherwise it just feels like it's scattering energy to the wind...
Do you think that will be possible? I have actively tried to stay away from Chat and Notes, but somehow have already been sucked in. Don't know how it happens but with all the notifications and emails, etc, I think it will be hard to stay off of these features.
It may be. I'm trying to open my mind about "Notes" as I do need more subs. But I need more paid subs who are invested in what I'm doing. I'm tired of decades of working for free :) I'd be more easily won over if it was for paid folks only... I must admit.
Good point. Iβve also been wondering how Notes will turn out. And how I can preserve my sanity regardless, because social media gets my obsessive mind obsessing. I subscribed to your Substack, look forward to learning more.
thank you! i have had to make peace with the fact that I can't be on all the platforms or engage with them 1000% because i have to preserve my sanity - my time - my energy!
A phrase I read that always sticks with me: "You must first draw from the well to nourish yourself, so that you have enough to nourish others."
Yes, thank you for sharing that! It's one of the founding principles of my newsletter- as creatives I think we're so often trying to pour from an empty cup and I want to create a space where people can re-fill their well in community. Grateful for Substack and everyone here!
so true!
Iβm also feeling overwhelmed and like so far itβs just more noise. But I acknowledge thatβs just my perspective and my nervous systemβs response. I do engage on other platforms so perhaps itβs time to scale back a bit and not stress about jumping on the notes bandwagon. I struggle to read all of the newsletters Iβm subscribed to, so starting there and letting Notes just be a thing in the background I can engage with when I want to will be my strategy for now. I am grateful itβs been useful for so many so far!
i love the distinction about your nervous system's response. i was recently diagnosed with adhd and i'm realizing how much my neuro situation affects the way that i intake stimulation. i need to honor that and more accommodations for myself and my mental health.
I think so much of learning how to treat ourselves with kindness/compassion is just understanding our capacity, soothing our brain, and giving ourselves permission to rest. All things I'm trying to work on with a heap of grace :)
I'm with you. I understand the need for "go-getters." They are what is driving Substack and SS needs to drive ahead because it is a business. I'm happy to have a place to write, and to discover other writers.
The whole reason I started substack was because I needed to get off social media. The pull is so strong for me, possibly because I also have been diagnosed with ADHD recently. Once I start (usually at night βto relaxβ) itβs very hard to get off.
So I donβt have the substack ap and have been curious about notes, because I am wanting to get away from mindless scrolling
i was also recently diagnosed with adhd! i wrote about it here and about how it affects my relationship smartphones and social media https://carmellaguiol.substack.com/p/discipline-vs-diagnosis
if you want to get away from mindless scrolling, i would prob stay away from the notes function because i'm pretty sure it'll just be more of the same. look into Cal Newport's work- you can;'t just take something out of your life. you need to replace it with high quality stuff like hobbies and other relationships.
I definitely see your point, Carmella. So far, Notes looks like a much healthier version of Twitter. I might only really use Notes to promote new posts, or highlight upcoming pieces or podcasts. It's just another tool to use. You don't have to be a slave to it. At least that's how I'm looking at it.
We don't have to be a slave to it... But now I know that when I log onto Substack I will have to be as vigilant as I am when I'm on FB or Twitter -- extremely careful about not letting me sap my energy and attention (not only when I'm actively on the site but also afterwards as well, because you know the effects linger).
I get that it's another "tool", another place to promote and amplify our voices etc. But I don't see it as promoting what I thought was the real purpose of Substack... I already promote my stuff on Twitter and Instagram and TikTok. It just feels like I'm in a fun house full of mirrors and I'm quickly losing my mind with all the likes and re-posts etc
I hear ya. So far I dig Notes...but I can also imagine it getting a little to close to Twitter Land.
Oh god
Iβm liking it so far but I agree that itβs one more thing to engage with online.
I don't use social media, haven't for years, but I think Notes can be more than that. Once the initial flood of posts calms a little,writers can go there for support and a chat with other writers who feel their ups and downs. Being specific is very good for notes, it encourages people who want to share in a common passion or goal
That's what I love about these weekly writer office hours! This has been a great place for me to come and chat with other writers. And yet, it's contained and not the hellhole of an infinite scroll...
I've been struggling a little with Notes too, since I was never a Twitter user in the first place & generally avoid social media. This would probably be an unpopular opinion but I wouldn't mind seeing something like a post limit per day on Notes. This would encourage more high-quality content related to your own newsletter and make it a little less social media-y. Just my own two cents!
It's an interesting idea but I highly doubt Substack would impose any sort of limits. Once again, the onus will be on each of us to set our own personal limitations in order to preserve our own sanity and mental health. And tbh I'm just TIRED of having to do that on every site I frequent. I thought Substack was a safe space where I didn't have to be so guarded, but with these new features, I will have to have the same vigilance that I have on FB and Insta. I hope it doesn't take on that same tenor of just overwhelm, frankly.
Totally agreed with you. I have the same issue when it comes to TikToks/IG shorts/YouTube reels/what have you (they're all the same). They're so ubiquitous and so hard to avoid.
In the end, quality writing will bring the most amount of subscribers.
I had the same thought. It felt like a lot of channels!
Yes we can choose how we engage with each platform. For me, I donβt think Iβll have the bandwidth to engage with notes, and thatβs ok.
Celebrating the 1,000 subscriber milestone today. Thanks to Substack and crew for all of the internal promotion through the network. It really does make more of a difference than all other social media combined, at least in my case!
Congrats!!! I'm slowly but surely getting there and I can't wait for that feeling. I remember hitting 100, then 500, it's nice to reach these milestones.
Congrats Joshua!!
COngrats!! How did Sub promote internally?
I'm not sure how it works, exactly, but you can tell where your new subscribers come from, and many of mine come from the Substack Network. I suppose this is through searchable features or other internal means?
Congratulations!! Thatβs amazing! We are only in our 3rd week and hoping to make it to 100 soon.
Slow and steady -- it really is a marathon, not a sprint. And I'm still in the very early stages of building paid subscriptions, so I have a long way to go :)
Congrats, Joshua!
Congratulations!
Congrats, Joshua!
Congrats!!
Congratulations! That's a great achievement.
Congrats, Joshua!
Congratulations.
Bravo!
congratulations! This is huge!
Congratulations! That is a heck of a milestone.
Congratulations! I am nearing the thousand mark, too, slowly but surely.
Congrats!
Excited to chat about Notes! As a new writer on the platform (just published my 4th piece today) I'm excited to connect with other writers, and I think Notes is a great first step toward turning Substack into a hub for in-depth discussions.
One thing that I'd love to hear feedback on is using newsletters for long-form reporting. Newsletters by definition are often used to share thoughts and ideas, and then point the reader elsewhere to read more in-depth. At least that's how it usually goes.
I've started my newsletter specifically to write long-form articles on offbeat and interesting topics that I think deserve more attention. So, rather than saying "hey, i like this, here's my thoughts, go read what this other person wrote, too" I do my own reporting right in the newsletter, sometimes 1,000-1,500 words my previous newsletter actually hit the word limit for emails so I had to trim it).
So far I've reported on things like how "free tablet" programs in prisons are exploitative, the impact of AI on freelance designers, and just today I published a piece on how a woman from Kansas started a fake "tumbleweed farm" that turned into a real business. Offbeat, impactful, and sometimes fun stories are my bread and butter.
Is this something that anyone else has had success with? Is there a benefit to writing summaries of the stuff I'm reporting on, and then publishing the full article elsewhere? Personally I'd rather get the full story upfront in my email/Substack app, but that's just me. I'm still quite new to the site so any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Hi! I am also loving notes. It reminds me of the good old times of Instagram, where people actually read the blurbs below the picture. This is just the same but the picture stays quietly at the bottom of the words.
Also a new writer here! LOVING notes :) It's like non-toxic twitter and I think a great way to grow on here by connecting with other writers, asking questions etc.
My newsletter is based on a podcast (Developing Leadership) so one way I've found of using notes is to take quotes from the podcast and post them there!
There it is substack: your marketing meme. Substack Notes: A Non-Toxic Twitter.
π
Thanks for this idea. Iβve been scrolling notes and just stymied on what Iβd add! π This seems so basic but also great to hear/share snippets of others words.
This is really important for me as well. For better or for worse, my natural storytelling style is to provide heavy background, paint a picture for my audience and explore a topic/idea *deeply*.
I often wonder if Iβm a dinosaur in todayβs world of quick takes and short-form, so always nice to hear that other βGreat Elongatorsβ also exist!!
I feel ya. I do this too. My most recent piece was 30 minutes long (listened to), and the first 20 minutes are background/backstory/set-up
Absolutely the same. Really new here and I am sure quick pieces work for a dedicated readership already in the know about your key areas, but somewhere the assumption that my (very few) readers will automatically know the core issues of what I am writing about is a little audacious.
I appreciate it when writers set the scene for me. There is so much to be learned from the backstory, the nuances of the story, even before you get to what actually happened.
Go Naveed, nothing wrong with long posts if it's good. Think books! If the piece takes it's own shape . . . but it should be pared down, lean and muscular I think, rather than flabby.
Context is important and the details are sometimes the most interesting part of a story.
Hey Mike - I also write long-form articles (previously on my own website and Medium) and I am thinking of transitioning some of that content to Substack - I'm a huge believer in breaking down complex topics so they're easy to understand, which often necessitates quite a few words! I'd certainly be interested in any successes you've had in this area.
I'm similar. Deep topics take time and proper setup, especially since we're getting less and less of that in the MSM.
I've had a good response so far I think. I mean I'm only 4 or 5 articles deep so it's hard to say so far but there seems to be an audience for it. I also come from Medium as well as a career in journalism.
I'd be very interested to hear how that progresses. I'm from a freelance writing / project management / technology platform myself, and regularly do long-form posts for clients aimed at other businesses. The trick for me will be making my content engaging enough for individuals to read through to the end!
Your Sub looks interesting. Will have a look.
That's very kind of you, thanks!
Welcome Mike! I'm just reading about Notes now myself. How are you using them so far?
I've been using them mainly to talk about the writing that I'm working on, topic ideas, and just general chit-chat. It's been a bit of a challenge to find others, since I have a relatively small following here, but I've been enjoying it all the same :)
Got it. As always one has to worry about the almighty algorithm lol. I just went over to the Notes discussion thread and posted a challenge to the Substack algorithm team, to help democratize the boosting system :)
This is how I've been using it too...dipping a toe into this brave new world!
Dipping a toe too.
same here
I'm toying with the idea of doing longer-form reporting as a jumping-off point for my own reflections. I did so a few years ago with this piece about the Bemis Center's fall show ( https://www.ruins.blog/p/empathy-at-the-bemis-a-gallery-review ); In the next weeks I will be going to UNO's student art exhibition, and a conference about art and community; I plan on reporting on them in my blog.
It depends but there are definitely some long-form essay/journalism writers on Substack. Type 'long form journalism' into the SS search bar.
Welcome, Mike! Yes, Notes seems to be a great addition to the platform. Itβs fun, too!
Hi Mike, and welcome!
I also do quite a few long form articles and often go over the email limit (sending it that way anyway). However, recently Iβve also been experimenting with breaking up what I had planned as a single post into a series, which is working well for me. Of course, then the 3-5 βmini postsβ do become linger as well! But it gives me flexibility in the way I handle a subject. I would go with what feels right for the piece youβre working on.
You could write summaries. Someone suggested to me that could translate my stuff into Spanish -- anything to expand the audience, or rather, reach the people who want to be our readers.
Love Substack Notes. Thanks for this. Now struggling to do that, do this, and write my longform posts! Aieee. I'll figure it out. The posts are the point, after all.
This is how I feel too! The posts are the point, and everything else is just gravy.
a nice way of putting it, Amanda
Annette, but I'll take it. :) Thanks, Terry! :)
oops. so sorry,, Annette
(If you can't short, you can at least exit the position).
Our current market call (based our proven, back-tested forecasting model) is that we're in "The Mother of All Bubbles."
Navigating the challenging (oftentimes
"The posts are the point, after all." π
I'm enjoying Notes as well so far. I find I can do my long posts and between them, without annoying my subscribers with too many emails, I can dabble in Notes.
I tried my first Post today but fear it could get a bit overwhelming and (dare I say) Twittery?
As you say 'the posts are the point'. I think I'll not bother my readers with too much too often.
UK and US History....can I tempt you with a free subscription to my new Slouching Towards Bethlehem with its take on that recent history?
New writer here π. I love how Notes make it easier than ever to connect with other writers, discover newsletters, and support each other. It makes the community feel tighter than ever. Joining Substack was one of the best decisions I made last month.
Also! I'm celebrating my 5th post this week! Anybody else hit any milestones recently?
Welcome Macy - congrats on your 5th post. I just read your post "How a 20-Minute Google Search Changed My Life" and have saved it for future reference. If I ever take the leap to abandon the 9 to 5 life, I'll be sure to use your post as a reference!
Aww, thank you Natalie! I'm encouraged to hear you found it helpful. I'm releasing a more in-depth comparison of the 5 work exchange platforms mentioned in that post next Monday, so feel free to check it out, if you'd like. Best of luck to you as well!
Yeah! I just passed 100 subscribers. My goal for this year is 500, and then, at some point, 1000. I've had a great experience with Notes, and I plan to explore it more fully in the coming days. Congrats on your 5th post!
Love that you have a clear goal, Andrei! How did you decide on the 500 number? I'm trying to decide if I should set a subscriber goal for the end of this year, but I'm worried about aiming too high and disappointing myself π .
Hey Macy! I don't know how I decided, but I suppose I focused on the bigger goal of 1000 and 500 just feels approachable enough as a mid-term goal, on my way to reaching 1000. And about aiming too high, I wouldn't worry about that. Even if you don't reach your exact goal this year, you'll definitely get close, as close as you're able to, if you let your mind have a clear number as a focus. It's like that anecdote with the archer in Machiavelli's The Prince: you aim higher than the point you wish to shoot, because the arrow travels in an arc; it doesn't follow a direct trajectory. Hope you reach your goals, and don't be afraid to shoot for the stars! You might just reach the moon.
What is your plan to reach that many subscribers? I've stagnated at very few, and am not sure why.
Well, for one thing, to stick to my schedule and keep improving as a writer. For another, to make more connections with popular writers whom I can learn from and who can share my writing.
Sticking to the schedule is pretty important. How do you choose which authors to approach?
Awww, thank you for your thoughtful response, Andrei! You're right. There's no danger in aiming too high. Also I like your Machiavelli reference. Read that book for my political theory class 3 years ago (one of my fav classes) & found it super intriguing. I'll be checking out your content soon. :)
Congrats! Please reveal some tips.
That's great Macy! I was calling Notes Instagram but it's really like Twitter. I said it was like how ChatGPT is like Alexa or Siri on steroids! I actually said it's like Alexa's really smart cousin who is on the spectrum with Asperger's--a fucking genius! Anyway, the more you can post, the better. Just be consistent. That's my 2 cents.
Your 2 cents is my dollar :)
And yes, totally agree that Notes is more like Twitter. Interesting analogies though. Gonna be thinking about them this morning hah!
27 posts so far of my fiction. Once a week so I guess that means I've been at it for 27 weeks or so. I have taken a couple of weeks off.
I agree with you that joining Substack is a great decision. All the best!
Excellent fiction btw. I always read unless crazy busy.
Thank you Andrew. Really appreciate your support!
Thank you, Victor!
And wowowo 27 weeks! I admire your tenacity. Looking forward to the day when I can say I've been on here that longπ€
Iβm a little more than a month in and am really liking it here!
Yes! Been searching for a writing community for more than 4 years. Think I've finally found it here on Sub :)
Welcome Macy!
Yeah!!! Woot woot :)
Iβve been on Substack for a while now, and I mostly love it. The recommendations feature has gotten me hundreds of subscribers from other writers, and Iβm slowly growing my audience through consistent publishing. But Iβm worried about the direction Substack is going.
I fell in love with this place precisely because it wasnβt social media. Now itβs becoming social media. I donβt like Chat, and I really donβt like Notes. I donβt know if Iβm in the minority here, but I feel like these things are a departure from Substackβs original mission.
I donβt have a question, but I wanted to make sure my voice was heard on this topic. Please donβt try to make this next Twitter. Just be Substack.
My best advice is to take what you need and leave the rest. I fell in love with Substack because it wasn't like the other platforms. I couldn't even start a newsletter, although I had the idea, until I was introduced to Substack and the simplicity of the platform was exactly what I needed to finally start my newsletter. Substack being Substack and nothing else inspired me then and I haven't changed anything since. I don't even have the app, and honestly it makes no difference. My newsletter is growing steadily and above all I adore my readers and having the space to share my weekly musings.
Couldn't agree more with "take what you need and leave the rest."
Heard. FWIW, you as the writer are in control. You don't have to participate in either of these spaces if you don't want to!
From our side, our aim is to build a "full stack" for independent writers to run their businesses. We see this as the publishing tools, but also as tools to cultivate your subscriber community (Chat) and to grow your publication (Notes). We want to do all of that rooted in subscriptions, not engagement like social media.
This is a good reminder to those of us who may feel like Yardena that just because Substack is building out a full tech stack doesn't mean we have to adopt all of it. In this vein, maybe Chat or Notes is like Podcasts - built in functionality if it works for your use case but optional otherwise. Thanks for helping me to reframe this.
I agree with you Bryce. Sometimes I feel pressure that I should make Chat work, or spend time with Notes, but it's all ultimately about what I want to do and what my readers would appreciate.
Clear idea and nicely made Yardena.
Hello all, and happy Office Hours! Here's a little bit of encouragement from one small newsletter to all of you:
As a gardener, one thing you would think I'd have learned by now is patience. But every year I struggle with the amount of time it takes to wait. To wait for the weather to improve. To wait for the perennials to come back. To wait for the seeds I planted to sprout. There's so much waiting in any kind of cultivation! But by the end of the season, I look back and it felt like it all went by SO FAST. With a basket full of harvest, I'm always glad I waited.
It might be impossible to believe in a world that moves so quickly and prizes virality, but when you're growing a community of readers it's going to take time. Everything worth doing is worth being patient and faithful for! If what you want is quality, then learning to wait well and build trust will serve you best. Don't despair! What's growing is often happening invisibly, so keep moving forward!
Most importantly: keep going, keep writing, and DON'T GIVE UP! πΏ
I so agree with this. I told myself going in, I'm here for the long haul. I have the advantage of being newly retired, so I have a lot of time to screw around. I don't have to pressure myself into thinking that my subscribers aren't growing as fast as I thought they would. I'm going up on a year in June, and with only 135 subscribers, I have to remind myself it took some writers 2-3 years before they started to see results. I'm looking to wait for the next 10-20 years. After all, this is my new career. Take a look at what I've done so far... https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
You are so spot on. In this world of instant gratification we often forget that things take time. You must keep writing as often as possible. I was the general manager of the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles for 7 years and I saw how long it took for comedians to build a following and develop their talent. Years! Just keep at it and don't pay attention to the bullshit. Just pay attention to your craft which is the content, the writing.
Loved this!!! Thank you. βWhat's growing is often happening invisibly, so keep moving forward!β YES!!!!
Love this! Reading it made even feel that sense of calmness and peacefulness that comes with nature. Totally loving the metaphor and encouragement as for us writing and growing a community here. Thank you for this beautiful share! You should totally share this on Notes. π
Hey folks, so sorry for the repost! I tried to restack my original comment, then deleted it, and realized that deleting it as a Note DELETES IT EVERYWHERE! π³ I'm so sorry to those whose comments are gone. They were very sweet and I appreciate them all! πΏ
Thanks, Josh! It did give me a prompt when I pressed delete but I just assumed it was a confirmation. If I had read more carefully it probably would have told me what was going to happen. My critical reading skills failed me. π Ah well, lesson learned!
I need to copy and paste this for my mother. My essay, "Who Makes Those Kidnapper Hoods?" had her in stitches but then she quickly turned serious and said, "Why didn't that go viral? You should have 100,000 followers..."
Me-- "Ma, it doesn't work that way."
Love the encouragement! I'm just getting started and attempting a daily post for 30 days to develop a writing practice. I will see how things evolve from there.
Nicely timed with spring (at least in the northern hemisphere)... Thanks!
On Notes:
One thing I've already noticed is that I don't sweat what I post on Notes nearly as much as I do on my Substack. The stakes are lower, and that frees me up to try things. Anyone else feel the same way?
Agree. Yes. Ditto.
Interesting. I still don't quite understand Notes ... why do you feel the stakes are lower with Notes? Are they going out to all of your subscribers. How do they help you try new things?
It's a platform to share thoughts quickly and to a public audience. It gives you a way to communicate to whoever's on Substack, not just your subscribers. But because the feed moves quickly, there's a temporary element to those thoughts. Their relevance is short-lived, so you don't have to worry as much about how each Note will affect your other output.
I agree there is a lot more freedom with Notes.
I'm so close to reaching 100 subscribers. Is it true that once you reach that number that Substack promotes your publication more in "Discover" and other places?
Thank you!
There is no magic number! It depends on the category you are in (how competitive it is)
Thanks for clarifying, Bailey!
Hey Israel! Congrats on your new milestone. Idk if 100 is a magic number (almost there myself!) but I have seen stats from some of the bigger creators, and it seems that they get a TON more new subscribers from the Substack algo compared to us little guys. I guess it's like a snowball effect. The bigger you get, the easier you grow.
Congrats on almost getting there as well! Yeah, it might. Kind of like at some point you're popular because you're popular.
I wish I knew the answer, nut I'm just a mere mortal in the Substack universe. I have noticed that my publication does not appear when you search for fiction, even though other who have been here less time than me do.
I've noticed that, too. But I swear that I read somewhere that once you reach 100 subscribers that you're more likely to be featured. But I, too am a mere mortal.
Great question! And congrats on getting close to 100!
Thanks so much, Antonette! How is your substack doing?
I've picked up at least 10 new subscribers each week for five weeks in a row now!
More importantly, I'm finding about five new Substack writers each week whose writing means a lot to me.
And best of all, about three writers per week find or I find them and the other's writer really resonates with each other. Mutual, reciprocal. genuine interest in and appreciation of each other's work. Ideal !!
Substack is awesome!
Love this! Any tips for keeping up with reading all the amazing newsletters? I am struggling to keep up and worry my writing will overwhelm others too, lol!
Well, I do limit myself to 60, 70 Substacks. It's not pleasant, but we all make tough choices and stick with the writers whose work resonates with us the most. Nothing wrong with that. Our time is finite.
60-70 is a lot! I think I follow 15 and already find it too much to keep up with (but then again, I am also on a lot of other platforms and want to read books too, lol). Very impressive. Thanks for sharing!
Yes. Hmm. I spend 6 or 7 hours a week reading other writers' Substack posts.
πππ
A question for fellow writers who don't have a specific niche? What do you category do you tag your work as? Culture? I write more personal essays and there's no category to fit there. I don't want to be left out of the loop and I'd love to find more writers who write similar to myself. Any advice?
I use culture and lit. My stuff is an eclectic mix and thatβs about all I could find. Iβd love a βlife writingβ or βmemoirβ category.
Will subscribe. Love personal essays, esp for us "older" folks.
Oh, thank you!
oh those are great categories - life writing is me! i think? π
Could your substack name reflect those interests to help people find you? Living Memoir?
Yes, thatβs a good idea. Iβm going to think about possible titles. Thanks!
Hey Natalie! I've got the same problem, and I go with Literature, and Culture as the second category. It's difficult, because I never specifically write about any of these two topics, but I do touch upon aspects of both, so I suppose it fits. I'd also love to find a better option.
Thanks Andrei - I might do this as well then. Hopefully @Substack will add a personals section one day.
Haha, yes I specifically say on my about page "You will find no βnicheβ here, but a wide variety of topics that are important for you to know about."
What I did was, I took a look at the different categories to see what kind of posts there were, as well as in the substacks that I share an audience with (accessible through analytics), and based on that chose two categories with the most overlap / potentially interested audience.
This is a great suggestion Robert, thanks.
Thanks for sharing Robert, that's an excellent way to do it. I'll take a look at doing that tonight - even though I hate to put myself into a box because I never really write about one thing, it's good way for new readers and writers to find my work.
It seems to me that the problem is they don't have enough of the categories. I think when they first started, they thought it was just going to be newsletters, blogs, that sort of thing. But then people discovered they could write fiction stories and people would read them. Hopefully, in time, they'll expand the categories by adding specific genres. Short stories and Serializations are pretty hot topics I think.
Completely agree Ben - the topics that people write about have expanded exponentially, it'll be great to see what else they can add to support smaller writers who don't have niches.
That is a good suggestion.
I think a lot of people have this challenge! It might be helpful to consider who you want your audience to be? I've tagged "Art" as a category because I want to attract other artists and creative people in hopes of forming a collaborative community.
I plan on doing artist interviews once a month and have already started sharing my "artist dates" (ala The Artist's Way) but a lot of my essays are personal and cover a wide range of topics such as motherhood, grief, managing anxiety, etc.
I hope that helps and know you're not alone!
First of all THANK YOU NATALIE...I didnβt even know about this. Iβve now tagged my work & I am right there with you. I also feel like I donβt fit into the categories they offer. I just chose Culture and Health and Wellness. It would be amazing if they added a Personal tab.
You're welcome! Sometimes I switch back and forth on my categories - haha!
Love this, I might try switching it up too. I hadnβt thought about it.
Great question!
Literature?
I tag mine as "literature" and "culture," neither of which feel exactly correct, but I do question how useful the tags actually are in the first place. I feel like most subscribers I gain on Substack find me from comments or recommendations, not [insert place where tags are useful].
Anyone else struggling with burn out around constantly producing content--even content you love? How do you deal with it?
Write less. No one wants to read more than 1000 words. Promise.
I'd love to see some data from Substack on the length of posts where engagement is highest.
You can also just poll your subscribers. It doesn't matter if engagement on a finance Substack was high at 1800 words if you write about salad. The poll is awesome. Just ask!
Good call, thanks.
I would too!
I have found that one very successful post was about 1500 words. Although, it was also a deep dive into the history and appearance of the garter stitch.
It would make writing such long pieces a bit easier if I split them into two pieces, and had more time for research. That said, I do personally like to read longer format work that thoroughly explores a topic.
I love reading more than 1000 word articles. So "no one" is certainly not true. Some people love long-form.
Agreed! But I'm talking about newsletters. It's very different to read a long-form article online than it is to get a long-form newsletter in your inbox when you're busy.
Thanks for the 'Like' on my new Substack....can I tempt you also to a free subscription?
HAHA received!!!
Second this. Alternatively, break long articles into two smaller parts and publish them as independent pieces.
me: >surprised pikachu face<
Write shorter posts but do it more frequently. Also include visuals. And make the title exciting. We should be able to distinguish your post from something ChatGPT would write. Put in personal stuff and stories from your life. I mean this in general for everyone not to anyone specific. Maybe change the environment where you're writing as well. And listen to music!
My latest post is partly "written" by ChatGPT. It was an experiment, and AI produces content, not writing!
I write long stories and break them into smaller blurbs of 2,000 words. My stories are usually on the long side 12,000-18,000 words, so it gives me time to work on other things knowing that the story I'm putting up once a week, is good for 5-6 weeks. I can screw around and not fall behind. Take a look at my about page and see how I break them up. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
That's a great idea, thanks Ben!
Me π - all the time and while I usually try to push through it, taking a break it necessary. The worse would be to write content that you love but isn't your best work. I think it's okay to admit that you need a break, share that with your readers, they won't abandon you, promise! Let your mind and creativity re-charge.
Thanks! This is a good point. People are compassionate. It's easy to forget.
I find that writing about what inspires you *right now* is the best way to go. Even if you only jot down a few paragraphs, documenting that "moment of enthusiasm" allows you to go back and recall it.
I bake in one week off per quarter and every time I find myself eager to write something again during the week off. Nobody has gotten mad at me and often I feel readers are more excited when I reappear in their inbox. Absence making the heart grow fonder and all.
If you're publishing more than once per week I'd definitely cut back for a few weeks and give yourself some extra breathing room. I only publish once per week, same day, same time, because I know I can sustain that.
Totally relate to this. Doesn't fare well with everyone's top strategy for gaining subscribers, which is to publish often and consistently. All I can advise is to take your time and trust in the power of quality over quantity.
I struggle too sometimes. Writing my articles takes a lot of time, concentration and energy, and sometimes I feel that it leaves me with not enough left for other things. A couple of times I've been really struggling and have written shorter posts e.g. asking for reader feedback and reflecting on how writing The Turnstone has changed my life. I had a good response with those. https://theturnstone.substack.com/p/the-turnstone-changed-my-life
But also, try finding a little time to do other writing, maybe just free writing about whatever's in your head. Or take a break if you need it - just let your readers know what you plan to do.
Notes is pretty cool but I am seeing some limited engagement thus far, please share some tips. Or better yet, follow my notes. They are some of my favorite quotes that I use in my Substack and a link to the issue they originated from.
Likewise! I've posted a few over the past 24 hours but not entirely sure who (if anyone!) is seeing them, and where the alerts are... Really don't want to be popping up in subscribers email inboxes with these but hope that they are being seen by my growing community. With you in solidarity and hopeful for some insights too!
Iβm also really curious how the algorithm works. I wonder who chooses which Notes I see, as many are from writers Iβm not subscribed to. But so far itβs been fun.
Whether you get engagement or not will probably also be impacted by how committed your readers are to Substack generally. For example, I get lots of feedback by email on my posts, but very few comments or likes on the platform.
Same here, Linda! Especially true for my Soul Speak publication. It's always been fascinating to me. It might be because many of my subscribers came with me from Tiny Letter, so they spent four years not having the option to like or comment. They could only contact me by replying to the newsletter, so that's what they're used to. I also think creating a Substack account and signing in is a barrier to entry for many in my community. Something similar may be true for you since you brought people over from a different platform (if I'm not mistaken). :)
Same Kerri, I brought some long term subscribers with me in my new move to SS. I know many of them are shy to post a comment and donβt really know they can like the post. They are accustomed to emailing me. I hope to grow my community and help them become more engaged.
You're right, many of the people have been with me for years, since I was running the Hysterectomy Association in fact. And some, have been with me since my very first newsletter went out in the late 1990's!!!! I keep forgetting that so always good to have a reminder.
For me that's often what friends do, personal friends. Keep at it.
Thanks for the reminder Andrew and of course, as Kerri points out below I did bring most of the subscribers with me when I moved from WordPress to Substack so they are used to contacting me by email, and of course they've been with me a very long time too.
That's interesting. I wonder why that is. It's a funny thing, isn't it? I often get a ton of responses and comments on my posts. But why?
It might be the audience themselves Michael. If they are younger then they are more familiar with the scroll and comment features of social media, if they're older they may be more used to replying to emails.
Hi YouTopian! Have you tried emailing your subscribers and letting them know to try out Notes?
I think it's all about consistency, joining convos and trying different things (as with everything in content lol)
The note that got the highest engagement was one recommending three substacks in my industry and tagging them! Planning to do a bigger one tagging our top ten favorites with some more meat to the bones (what they write about, why we love them, etc.)
Will follow your notes for sure! Good luck!!
ugh, it stresses me out that now there's MORE distraction....
I thought so too at first but changed my mind. Think of it like Twitter. I don't post there but imagine just posting an idea instead of a long essay. Like a sentence or 2 about something related to your posts, meaning the overall theme of your posts. That's my 2 cents.
I like that idea. Hopefully, someone on the list will reciprocate. But fiction seems to be such a limited category. Hopefully they'll break it into sub-sections: Romance, Fantasy, Literary, yada, yada, yada. The idea of short stories seems to be just as hard a sell here as they are anywhere else...which always leads one to asking: Is it me? https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Very true, but as I struggle to get the app to work consistently and prefer my laptop or PC then I may not be the best exemplar for them :-) :-) :-)
Where do I sign in to my own Substack? Do not laugh I am 80 and itβs not an intuitive program!
If you go to https://substack.com/home there should be a "Sign In" button in the top right corner!
Congrats!
Notes is such a good feature, but I would add more features to notes such as the ability to add emojis or have polls.
And hashtags!
Been hearing some asks for polls come in! Will make sure our team knows about the enthusiasm.
I second this! Especially the polls. Being able to get feedback from others on new ideas or strategies would be 10/10 helpful.
Hi there! Loving the changes coming thick and fast lately! Thank you! π In that spirit.... how are themes getting on? I'd love to be able to make my substack visually radically different from another's - there are some great themes out there that only add to the readers experience π€©
Expect an update in the next few weeks :)
I like how there are now separate threads each week. Would be nice if the community could input the kinds of topics / threads that are made each week, so it can be truly a community-driven discussion.
Maybe that's what Notes can now be about and for.
yes, like a big poll that we can all vote in.
I think, for Threads, the 'Stack suits just want to present this or that topic, and don't necessarily want to have to "count" tens of thousands of votes, perhaps all wanting differing topics, each week!
I'd like to think Bailey, bless her heart, has better things to do! Plus, we all seem to veer and swerve into different Thursday lanes, anyway, many times sans signaling! We're free to roam on Notes!
I too love the idea of a little more categorization as Office Hours seems like a hugely helpful resource, it's just a bit overwhelming! Perhaps thread / topics dedicated to newbies, new features, growth, etc?
they did that a few weeks ago, actually. that's why I suggested having people vote on it, then the most requested topics could be added during office hours.
Love this idea!
Hello fellow Substackers! I've been signed up for Substack office hours for months and this is the first week I've actually been able to make it onto the thread. What a beautiful community it feels like already to see everyone supporting one another. I've been on Substack for maybe about 5-6 months now and although the main topic I write about is healing, I feel like my newsletter is a bit messy and all over a place and not as niche as others. Is this something I should work on changing? I'm a bit indecisive and have so much I want to write about, but it's just a little difficult for me to stick to one obvious thing. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I'm newish too-- 2 months. For me, I'm allowing myself to learn as I go. Although my title is about aging I often include nostalgia, memories and observations. But my key theme is humor.
"Allowing myself to learn as I go," thank you for this much needed reminder. And I love how the key theme is humor. YES!
So simple, yet so impactful. Thank you Sofia! This definitely helps.
Hi all! Anyone have any thoughts on building an audience via substack without endless promotion on social media?
You're in the right place. Almost half my subscribers have come, directly and indirectly, from connecting with other Substack writers on Office Hours. When I love their writing and they love mine, that's when the real magic happens.
Yes connecting with other writers!
Bump up your engagement here, it is much easier to get people who are already on substack to follow. (follow me btw lol)
Iβm finding that my time vs reward ratio for interacting with others on Substack is far greater than what Iβm achieving with social media. It has its uses, but convincing people who are already on the platform is working out way better!
Notes is the new Twitter, Notes is the new Twitter, Notes is the new Twitter! π¦
Check out my first Note (and concern on the app), in reply to Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie.
https://substack.com/profile/6147133-livio-marcheschi/note/c-14606716
What do you think?
First comment restack experiment. Note within comment, restacked on Notes π€ͺ
Thanks for being so active in Notes <3
"A dream you dream together is reality.β (Yoko Ono)
I love it! :) Would be good to receive resources on how to get more following on notes!
Thanks to the Substack team for adding a βrestackβ button to posts...itβs already having an effect on my subscriber base and makes it easy for authors to promote other authors prior to βrecommendingβ them...or instead of this.
What does the restack button do? Sorry just seeing these ;)
It's like a retweet.
it posts your comments to Notes the new internal networking service...
Who has used paid advertising to boost their posts? Which platforms worked the best? What techniques were successful? Would love to hear all the details you have to share.
I have used paid adverts on The Sample and Inbox reads. Both seem to work pretty well, not like a giant wave, but okay. With The Sample, you pay only if someone actually subscribes. With Inbox Reads, you pay for a promoted spot regardless of any activity / result.
Great advice, thank you!
I experimented with Google AdWords for promoting a writing-related business in the past, and it's very easy for that to get extremely expensive. You need to nail down keywords, search terms, negative search terms, target audiences, and much more t ensure you keep costs under control. Also, conversion rates were not great, even when doing all of that.
I had the same experience promoting a book. Too tricky.
Thank you for sharing. I was wondering how competitive that might be.
Iβve tried boosting posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and got minimal results - really not worth it. The Sample has gotten me a few subscribers, and their paid option isnβt too bad as you only pay if you actually get a subscriber.
Iβm trialling a Google ad at the moment - so far Iβm thinking thatβs not worth it either, but we have to try these things I suppose!
New to Office Hours? Donβt be intimidated. Weβre a supportive community here. It can feel overwhelming; donβt let it. Just take it day by day. This is one of the best writing platforms around. Substack respects our intelligence by not forcing ads on us, and by allowing writers as much control as possible over our own material.
A great way to build a subscriber list is to: 1. Write quality material regularly, 2-4 times per week (plus or minus); 2. Engage with other writers on the platform; 3. always attend and comment in Office Hours; 4. Read and comment on other writersβ stacks. 5. Donβt be afraid to self-promote, but do it as part of the community with other writers in mind. 6. We can all share, comment on and recommend each otherβs work. Plus thereβs crossposting, guest-posting, etc.
*One final suggestion/note: Write honestly. Get real, raw and vulnerable. Pull no punches. Writing is about guts, not safety. π
Hereβs a helpful link: https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/why-you-should-edit-your-substack
Best of luck!
Michael Mohr
βSincere American Writingβ
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
2-4 times a week seems a bit high to me. Substacks who post more than a couple of times a week usually turn me off, but that's me.
Iβm the opposite. My fav Substacks that I pay to subscribe post 2-4 times a week and I love it.
I usually writer longer content, and if I had more time I would probably post that once a week (as opposed to biweekly which I do now). But I would definitely consider posting other, shorter content throughout the week.
They typically write 1,000 words or so with each post, which I love. I'm not here for longer content unless it is something wildly interesting, which is very, very rare. An editor from a major publishing house in the beginning of this thread said that people don't want to read more than 1,000 words in newsletters (I agree) AND I think there are just as many people who are here for long content. It is mostly about finding your particular audience.
I think I would be most happy with a nice, healthy mix of long and short content. For now, I also need a job to pay the bills, but if I can grow my audience I could branch out and do much more. Not sure if it will happen, but so help me I'm going to keep trying!
I believe in you!!!!
YOU GOT THIS!!!!!
I think it depends. You're right. Once a week is great for longer pieces. Shorter bite-sized stories/essays etc, I think 2-3 times is fine. In the end you just have to test the waters.
As long as the shorter form 2-3 times a week posts are high/consistent quality, or maybe about different topics, or something like poems / illustrations, then I think it could work, yes. For longer posts, I think you also have to give your audience some time to read it and take the time to do read it.
"Writing is about guts, not safety" strikes a cord. It takes guts to write and post so the world can see. It takes guts to write emotionally. It takes more to write your emotions and vulnerabilities down for the whole world to see. The internet never forgets, so put your best foot forward!
I love mutually helpful writer communities - I happen to run one with 120,000 members (on reddit) and it's something that fills me with joy most days!
I want to address @simon k jones's great post on getting paid for our writing. I have a post tomorrow called, "What Is Your Writing Worth?" that will, I hope, unite all of us in going paid. Nearly every media outlet (NY Times, Atlantic, etc.) is paywalling everything but one article per month. The trick is that we all need to do it together. We just need to change the public's perception of what (all of our) writing is worth. People buy the craziest things and think nothing of buying a $6 coffee. People buy air! In canisters! Just as people don't walk into Starbucks and expect free coffee, we have to all charge for our writing so that they don't expect to get it for free either. Substack is the way. Unite! https://serialize.substack.com/
The $6 cup of coffee is so true. I had a reader recently tell me she had to unsubscribe from paid because it was "too expensive." I said, "Pay attention today, I bet you spend $6 today on a bunch of stuff without realizing it. I'm only asking for $6 for the whole month." She came back the following month and subscribed for the year so she "wouldn't have to think about it." It's about shifting their priorities.
I love that!
That's a nice way to look at it.
Hear you Sarah! I feel very much the same. Some years ago, my own web developer told me over a text message that he has no issue downloading my books for free from one of those pirate websites, because, in his mind, it's a digital piece of literature and art should be "free". I asked him, would you walk into a car dealership and expect to drive off with one of their cars for free? He said, "oh no that would be theft."
You can probably see the expression on my face then, and still to this day. I'm really glad the major publications are finally putting up paywallsβthey should never have opened up their work for free, because it taught the public to consider non tangible goods as something that should be free.
This is also why I never used services like Fiverr. To me it's obscene, the idea of paying such a low amount for someone's creative work. We cannot support these kinds of models. Happy to connect!
So true!
As you say Howard, not easy to accomplish but a simple concept. Thank you for the encouragement!
Iβm not a writer, but I read a lot! So glad some of you are posting great content. Iβll be checking in.
Thanks Peggy!
Hi!
I started just a couple of weeks ago on Substack and my goal is to grow slow and steady, aiming to reach 500 followers by the end of June by posting consistently (2x / week) and participating in community threads, notes, and trying to get other relevant newsletters to recommend us :)
If anyone has tips on growing when you're just starting out, i would love to hear them!
I would say...be sure 2x a week is realistic for you, set a schedule for writing vs. promo time, and focus on your content. Oh, and try to avoid looking at your stats too often! :)
I'm also just starting out. Yesterday completed my first month on Substack
500 was such a great milestone! I will add don't get too attached to subscribers number and find other ways to measure success. Nothing is better than a personal email from a reader thanking you for writing, or just that moment when you finish writing the week's newsletter and it's exactly how you want it to look, feel, sound. Good luck and keep writing!
I recommend going through the 6 posts on this page if you're interested in growing! https://substack.com/grow
thank youu!
Hi Substack!
Really enjoying notes so far. It's fun watching people figure out what it's going to do for them.
It's fun figuring out that for myself as well!
I've finally managed to consistently write for the last two weeks under the banner of "perfect is the enemy of the good" and not sending posts out as emails, publishing them only here instead.
Feels good to be productive, even if it's not the best work. Never thought it would but it does!
Hope everyone is having a nice week π spring is truly here!
On balance I think Substack Notes is a positive. I'm glad for the chance to pop off random thoughts on the internet that might one day get me cancelled. Because to get cancelled first you got to be somebody.
My new Substack should have something to offer for anyone bemused by what is happening to the Western civilisation that they used to feel proud of. If wokeness is keeping you awake then Slouching Towards Bethlehem is for you. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/
The internet never forgets. As long as you're personally honest and never apologize you should be fine.
Honesty is the Best Probably
Must be why I haven't been cancelled yet . . .
Hello! Whatβs the best way to promote my Substack? I just started it
Hey! Once, I got 15 new subs from a single Office Hours thread. Be active on here, leave comments, and try to engage with other writers whose work you like. Youβll eventually find people who want to recommend your work to others. As a new Substack friend told me, word of mouth is how growth really happens.
That's great advice Andrei - 15 subscribers, that's insane!
Wow, that's fantastic!
100% true. Word of mouth is still the best way to engage and increase your subscriptions. There is no substitute. And yes Office Hours is at GREAT way to engage and get the word out.
That's quite inspiring. Thanks for sharing your experience, Andrei. It's my 1st time on the OH thread but it certainly won't be my last!
If you want to pick up Subscribers, this is where you're going to get you foot in the door. You always pick up a few every week.
Will do, Ben!
This is super inspiring indeed. Do you think this works also for those who do not write in English?
Hi, I'd imagine it goes in the same direction but not so big numbers since on this forum there's not too many Italian speakers (hope I got that right).
thanks! appreciate your advice!
I joined the office hours chat for the first time two weeks ago and picked up 9 subscribers. Iβm here again today!! The chat and replies are really useful.
Popular, I love it.
Awesome building upon my thoughts, Howard. Thanks for your contribution, and I totally agree with you!
Try out Notes! https://on.substack.com/p/notes
Being active on these threads helps a lot, also making contacts with other writers, especially those that you (might) share interests with.
Welcome, Anastasia! I lean on business cards! That way you can find/talk with new people who otherwise would never know about Vivid Minds.....at the store, the gym, leaving with your tip at restaurants, and tacking up on S-bucks and Panera bulletin boards.
It's easy for me, as I've got a picture (the one to your left) of me backstage with The Ramones from 1977...that's a convo starter, as is my music-leaning 'Stack (I include my 'Stack web address on the front, plus a QR code on the back). That makes it easy for me to simply ask anyone I want, "What kind of music do you listen to?" No matter their answer, I can pitch my FR&B, and give them a card! Think about it, Anastasia, and good luck!
A good business card is a testament onto itself. It's tricky to succinctly describe who you are, what you do, your general "vibe," and all of the contact information in a clear and legible manner.
That's a good topic to write about. Thanks for the idea!
Just a short blurb is what I put on the card, not unlike what we all have on our "About" pages! I wish I could show you a pic of both sides! Glad I gave you a write-able idea, Magan!
If you feel you've received good service (and before you push the "Publish" button), it's customary to leave your server a link to his fabulous Substack when you thank him for his idea: https://bradkyle.substack.com/ Many thanks and have fun!
I like your funny words, music man!
Haha. I'll do my best to remember your request.
One of the things that I have noticed is that a lot of places rely on a QR code, but neglect a tiny url. Not every phone can scan QR codes. Mine included.
On the front of my card is BRADKYLE.SUBSTACK.COM. Welcome, now, to FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, Magan!
Brad, you always have really helpful insights, thank you.
Golly, thanks, RenoQueen! Thank you for noticing, and more importantly, for saying so!
It's true and it should be appreciated.
Clever! Love the old school analog for digital lead gen.
To paraphrase Blue Oyster Cult, "Don't Fear the Paper."
Oh wow that's a great story! Thanks so much for sharing it, Brad!
You got it, Anastasia! Happy to help!
get chatting on the platform, and get on Notes - super cool new feature!
Congratulations on getting started, Anastasia! Here are some resources that might be helpful.
- Substack'sΒ resourceΒ centre: https://substack.com/resources
- Customizing your publication homepage: https://on.substack.com/p/customize
- Launching a media business on Substack: https://on.substack.com/p/start-media-biz
- Turn on your growth engine: https://on.substack.com/p/turn-on-your-growth-engine
I think it helps your visibility to participate in these threads. Also, to leave comments on articles that you enjoy. Plus there's some external methods for promotion that can work pretty well.
Welcome!
Hey Anastasia! I'm figuring that out myself too. So far chatting on notes, engaging with others during office hours, & sharing more on social media this week have really boosted my growth rate. Hope you find an approach that works for you. :)
Thank you for sharing, Macy!
thank you, Macy! This support from the community is inspiring!
Hi! I was about to ask some version of this. I started my Substack in January with 2 posts a month but moved to once a week in March. I just reached 50 subscribers yesterday. It felt like a decent number, but reading through the posts here, I see a lot of folks with 100 easy (or maybe some version of grass is greener?)
Some people have large followings on other platforms and can bring them to Substack. However, the main thing is to provide great writing to your readers.
I'm enjoying Notes more than I expected, but it feels like shouting into the void with nobody listening, same as my substack most of the time and social media all of the time. I've had some fun conversations, but my own notes don't seem to be read by anyone. In general there's a frustrating gap between fun ideas I have to interact with readers, and the absence of actual interaction on my substack.
Haven't gotten any of that Notes growth people are talking about. Thing is I didn't even go to Notes looking for that, but seeing people post their charts about gaining tons of subscribers while I don't have a single like on my own note doesn't feel great. Going to try hard to resist those feelings.
On the bright side, I posted a short story at a random time and day instead of following my usual schedule, and it seems to have gone over well. I worked hard on that, so it's nice to feel like people actually noticed it (though I try to be content with my work regardless of public reception).
I can totally relate to this feeling. It's hard as a writer (or any creative person) not to get caught up in the external validation- especially when you pour so much of yourself into it. I try to reframe it by realizing that a lot of what I'm writing is for me, too. It helps me process, practice my writing, amplify my voice and the discipline of writing consistently is also a bonus.
Of course, talking into a void never feels good but don't give up! Being discouraged is normal, especially when you see others' success that from the outside, appears instant or easy. I truly believe if you're being true to yourself and offering your writing/art as a service/gift it will come back ten fold. It's hard to enjoy the journey but I'm trying to tell myself that I'm building a foundation that will sustain future success. You're not alone and we've got this!
I'm in the same boat as you William - I've seen so many people share stats that they' have massive subscriber growth over night with their Notes. As a small writer, this is discouraging and it's hard to see how this can benefit small writers. The big guys already get so much coverage - they're headliners on the explore page and interviewed for Substack Reads, it's frustrating and I too am trying to resist the negative feelings.
Yes -- an excellent point. I recently crossed a nice milestone in subscriber growth, and I'm seeing an uptick in paid subscriptions, which I know is due to the Substack network. But it's really nothing like the bump that the already-big sites get from high-visibility promotion. I wonder if Substack might consider a special section in Substack Reads devoted to sites with fewer than, say, 5,000 subscribers? Or a mentorship program where writers with larger followings amplify those who could use it?
A mentorship program would be so nice. I have to admit that with thousands and thousands of substacks, naturally, it's going to be very difficult to support everybody. But a mentorship or a substack reads dedicated to the small guys (5,000 seems enormous to me! maybe 1,000 and less?)
I just crossed 1,000, so maybe 2,000? :) One thing I have learned is that growth is steady over time. And I really am grateful to Substack for the platform -- hope none of this sounds like sour grapes. But I think that there is a way to think about privilege on Substack: who comes in with an advantage and who might have something valuable to say, but begin at more of a disadvantage. In theory, anyone should be able to grow infinitely on Substack. But there are some barriers.
I wouldn't focus on that. If people are going on about their "massive subscriber growth," then I question the quality of their content. Focus on the writing. Do it consistently. At least several times a week. Do not let the noise get to you!
Iβve been fortunate enough not to see the charts youβre talking about. Theyβd probably get me down too. But I really wouldnβt worry so much about the outcome, as long as you enjoy the process.
Here's a small piece of advice for those who are just starting out with Substack: focus on your growth numbers in percentages rather than absolute numbers of subscribers. It'll be a more rewarding way to track your progress.
Good way of looking at it - thanks!
This is a great way to look at your progress!
Totally missed the start time today - my question is - how does one use the Audio recording feature on Substack and if anyone has, can you give me your tips, advice, suggestions?
Hey, E.L.! I've been using the audio feature since I started 5 weeks ago. :)
I just record using my phone, clean it up a little in iMovie, then upload the mp3 file from my computer to Substack. Nothing fancy (yet) but so far, I've had really, really positive feedback. It's especially appealing to people who prefer listening over reading.
I'd 100% recommend reading it yourself. Your voice is yet another way for people to get to know you as a person and builds trust with your audience.
I also recommend making a written announcement at the start of your posts (mine is usually brief, bolded, and italicized) referencing the audio feature so people are aware that it's there. I've had several people tell me they discovered the audio feature almost 2-3 weeks into subscribing because apparently, the feature is easily missed. It's a nondistinct gray box, so I totally get why lol.
Hope all this helps & feel free to ask more questions. :)
I'm so intimidated by the audio feature, but totally see its usefulness for accessibility & people who just like listening to something while driving or washing the dishes. Glad that people are reporting positive results for you!!
Hi Macy, thank you so much!! This is good advice. So I have some questions:
Do you record it on iMovie on your phone or your Mac?
Does the recording happen on Substack or on iMovie?
I am very very tech-UNSAVY:) hence my silly questions.
would appreciate your response.
Hi there! We are using the βvoice memosβ feature on an IPhone. If you get hung up on a word or something, you can scroll back to that place and record over. Using βvoice memosβ also makes it very easy to upload from your phone or computer. There is a feature in editing mode called βenhance recordingβ that cuts down on background noise. Pretty low tech but itβs a good way to start out like we are!
I believe thereβs also a way to record via substack directly but we havenβt tried that yet.
Anyone know whether iMovie or voice memos is better and why?
good to know, I have used voice memos before for other recordings, but need to look into the editing mode- have never tried that. I did see the Substack option so might need to try all the features one at a time:)
Oh thanks for sharing this.
This is a general note to the Substack team: I know that many have told you how much SS has changed their lives β after two months, I count myself among those many.
I've been a professional writer for 35 years, mainly screenplays, which isn't real writing; no script scribbler would call it that. I've always been considered too much of a maverick to publish, but too worthy of being read to ignore. It's a liminal space that I've grown used to, but it's a frustrating comfort zone, like being stuck in the executive lounge at an airport with your flight delayed indefinitely.
To paraphrase John Le CarrΓ©, I'm becoming the writer who came in from the cold, albeit as slowly as everything moves in entertainment and literature, mostly thanks to SS. I gave the team a hard time when I started; to be fair, there is room for improvement, and I've tried to be as polite and constructive as possible.
At this point, I'm too smitten with the platform to complain, and so grateful that I can build my own paywall rather than waiting for legacy media to snap out of this vortex of terror and censorship they're stuck in to publish work that is different, but also considered heretical in this awful neo-puritanical moment in Western history, a second Prohibition imposed by a vile Temperance Movement, in which free speech stands in for alcohol. Most alarmingly, they haven't needed to amend the Constitution to impose their bleak, joyless, hateful restrictions.
I've rarely been prouder to be associated with anything than I have the past few days being on the right side of the skirmish between Substack and Elon/Twitter. Keep on trucking'.
Substack is the best and only speakeasy in town. Thank you.
I finally made it to 100 subscribers today! Woo!
I have two questions: 1) What should my next goal be? and 2) has anyone posted on both their substack and blog? Is this an acceptable strategy for expanding my web presence or will I get dinged by SEO for publishing the same content on substack and a wordpress blog?
Substack here for reference: https://soulslikewheels.substack.com/
Thank you!
Congrats!
Congrats, Sara.
Thanks Mike!
Congrats, Sara!
Try using the canonical url for your blog to drive the SEO directly to your Substack to avoid the Google penalty for duplicate content. Also, you can change the content between the two slightly to avoid the penalty.
Hi, I'm Karen! I write a blog on my life after a pretty bad breakup. I only have four subscribers but I feel that my content is pretty vulnerable. At the same time, I hope I can gain more traction! Any advice on how to build a base?
Keep going! Break ups SUCK!!! This post is a good one to read regarding growth: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-4
Thanks so much Bailey. This post is so helpful!
ISSUE FOR GENERALIST WRITERS. Three weeks or more ago, I raised a question about the lack of provision in Substack categories for those of us who write on a wide range of topics. There were a lot of supportive comments and someone from Substack (sorry, I completely forgot the name) agreed it was a good question and he would sort it out. But has it been sorted out? And if not, why not? I can't list my newsletter under any one category as none makes sense, but I have grown from 25 to 300 in five months, so people are reading β and more might do so if you had such a category.
Hey Ann,
The categories a tricky space. If we make them to specific, they can lose their function of discoverability for readersβthere are too many choices and sometimes not enough inventory under each specific category. But keeping them more general, as they are today, some writers feel like they don't fit anymore. We are monitoring trends and will add them as new categories bubble up.
There are more powerful tools on Substack to help you grow than categories, like recommendations.
I have a few questions about Notes:
βWill a search of a single writer's notes be possible in the future?
βWhat about hashtag support?
These are motivated by an interest in using Notes as a sort of Zettelkasten system but with community features enabled, or a public brainstorming session. I'm really enjoying the feel of Notes so far; let's hope it keeps its positive and collegial atmosphere!
How are you using Notes that's different from your posts. I'm still confused about the purpose and strategy of Notes.
I'm thinking of Notes as akin to bouncing ideas off a friend; later I can collate the results into a longer, more thought-out piece.
+1 on hastag support
Cool! Thanks for the update!
I'm especially curious to hear from any fiction writers who have found success at gaining paid subscribers. I've had no problem building a strong readership, but have very low conversion rates. This could be because I'm unwilling to paywall much content. Has anyone found any reader-friendly strategies?
I have a post tomorrow called, "What Is Your Writing Worth?" that will, I hope, unite all of us in going paid. People actually pay for air! In canisters! People sell their virginity online! Nearly every media outlet (NY Times, Atlantic, etc.) is paywalling everything but one article per month. The trick is that we all need to do it together. We just need to change the public's perception of what (all of our) writing is worth. People don't walk into Starbucks and expect free coffee. Substack is the way. Unite! https://serialize.substack.com/
Haha. Good points all around. I recently lowered my yearly rate from $50/year to $35/year and that's definitely helped. A reader a while back made a great point: $50/year is more than a yearly subscription to The New Yorker or Harper's, and those are longtime professional writers.
Thanks for 'Liking' my Slouching Towards Bethlehem (naked Plug) I've just started it so it's free!
Interesting point. I might try that myself. Always hard to know where to draw comparisons in terms of relative value.
I'm also a fiction writer--I also write posts covering my experience trying to make it as a fiction writer. I have found it difficult to build a non-paying readership. I'm a bit clueless on marketing my work. I'd love to hear what you've done to find success in this area (other than putting out strong content)
Comment often in helpful ways on other writers' stacks. Engage in threads/comments. Write good stuff and post regularly, ideally 1-3 times per week, depending on length and subject matter.
Iβve paid for early access! And having communities to discuss in is always a great perk of paid access and keeps people sticking around.
I've tried both of those without any real success - did you have a committed audience to start with? For me, both of those tactics simply resulted in a) fewer readers and b) fewer comments.
When you say both you mean paid for early access and also the community angle? So when I paid, the next 3 posts were paywalled and could be paid for individually. So if todayβs post was free the next 3 posts were paywalled. That made it even more enticing to βcatch upβ or stay ahead. There was also a Discord set up for the paid posts so people could chat without spoilers. It made for a smaller, more intimate group so people generally would keep paying to get access to that community.
I wonder if that requires a certain scale to start with. I tried the early access model, but there wasn't enough base interest in my writing at the time (this was early on, so late-2021) to get people to want to pay to get ahead.
It's a tricky one!
Yep :)
I'm struggling with growth too. I think Roulette Weal is pretty high on the fiction paids ( 320 subscribers) but my free subscribers have tripled without much conversion. My general ratio in a week is 1 free, 6 paywall, though if my story touches strongly on addiction I usually don't paywall it.
Ha, I'm staring enviously at your orange tick and contemplating how the word 'struggling' is always relative. :D
But yes, your point about income-per-story is interesting. You have a phenomenally high production rate, so the equation is pretty intense if you're looking at time commitment versus return.
Substack's own materials said that regular publication would drive growth. So the reckless person inside the creative person said " Can't be much more regular than every day ". Once I had people commenting on hom much they enjoyed knowing they would get a new story every day, and then those people brought new subscribers to me, I couldn't let them down. Now , even as I still publish every day, the 950 story archive is well worth the 60 buck annual
That they're all (most?) standalone shorts must really work in your favour, too. That archive looks enticing and exciting, because new arrivals can dip in as much as they want. I'm writing a long-form serial, which I think has the opposite effect: it ends up looking like a lot of homework to catch up.
I need to write more short stories.
They're all standalones. I have Rashomoned a few, but worked diligently to make those work as standalones. Obviously more interesting to read both sides, but not necessary.
For your serial, my guess would be to read the first chapter "live"- don't tape a perfect read, just read,correct yourself if needed, maybe do some asides or footnotes or clarifications after. Build a really devoted audience willing to take their knowledge of the characters out into the wild. A street team, for lack of a better word.
Doing an audio version of the opening is a great idea. I've dabbled with doing that for a while, but hadn't thought of doing a very 'raw' version, and making it quite a personal thing, which can act as a bit of a 'hello' at the same time.
I shall make it so.
That's an incredible paid rate.
Thanks. I committed to daily fiction and I committed to writing the best fiction I could given the publishing schedule. Approaching 1000 stories, so the per story income isn't thrilling, but readers have given me amazingly positive feedback.
Same, I think being more direct and asking for support helps, i am a little passive that way, and also write fiction.
Asking more support and help from the subscribers you already have, or future subscribers? I don't have a lot of followers, and I write fiction. I'm a firm believer that if the writing is good, the readers will follow. But I've scaled back on my posts. I post my FREE stuff on Sunday, and my PAID stuff on Wednesday. But is it enough? Is it too much? I guess only time will tell. Oh yeah, here's my about page if you're curious as to what kind of fiction I write. https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about
Yeah, I think I need to find time to produce some one-offs that can be paywalled in some way. I don't really want to paywall my on-running serial at this point.
Will check it out!
My thriller novel I'm unfurling is gaining paid subs: https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/the-grim-room-chapters-3-and-4
Recently started as well and am 4 subscribers away from hitting 100. Yay, exciting! I am mostly curious about how do we find Substack READERS? I have been pushing my newsletter to my existing social network and a lot of them are not familiar with Substack. I also make some video content to try and market but realize those audiences may be a mismatch for long form content... Then when I think about finding Substack Readers, aren't a lot of people already inundated with too many newsletters to read (aka me), which means it may be harder to find people willing to pay or want to read your work if they're already an existing substack reader. So many conundrums...
Collaborating with writers via notes and recommendations is a great way to tap into the Substack reader network!
https://on.substack.com/p/recommendations-update
https://on.substack.com/p/notes
You're in the right place. Almost half my subscribers have come, directly and indirectly, from connecting with other Substack writers on Office Hours. When I love their writing and they love mine, that's when the real magic happens.
That's encouraging to know. I have the same question as the OP ... because, while I have an existing social media, I have a low conversion rate to even the free. (This is my first time here on Office Hours, though, but I've been told it's magical!)
I have 2,100 followers on Twitter and not one of them has followed me to Substack. Don't worry about that. Two different media. People on Twitter like a sentence and a photo. People on Substack like substance.
Thanks for 'Liking' my Slouching Towards Bethlehem plug here. Shall we do a mutual free subscription?
Yours sounds intriguing. Sure. Will subscribe and check it out.
I just set up an account a couple of days ago. I still have no idea what to write, which direction. Should I keep waiting or should I just start scribbling and post sometime... mmm...sounds very unprofessional. My goal is to have paid subscription and I feel I need to have it together before I post.
I think one of the lovely things about Substack is that you can unpublish stuff. Perhaps writing will help you define what to write. <3
Yes, this! We don't just write out our ideas...the very act of writing can uncover ideas and help us make connections that turn into new ideas.
Get into the process of writing instead of thinking about it.
Exactly. There's a book called Thinking on Paper that I started a while back, and the authors make the point that writing isn't just for conveying ideas; it's also for generating them. Do you ever do free writing?
I do free write quite a bit. Sometimes that help me to expand my thoughts and ideas.
It's a great exercise for that. It can also be a good way to discover ideas or uncover thoughts you're not consciously focusing on but that are bouncing around in your head. Some of the essays on my Substack grew out of freewriting sessions that brought back memories I hadn't recalled in years.
Welcome, Jovinna, and congrats on starting your Substack!
I encourage you to just start writing. Don't wait for the perfect idea or the inspiration. Many newsletters I follow consist of personal essays that read like journal entries...and some are more like online journals or diaries like those from the days of Open Diary and LiveJournal.
Sharing your thoughts and stories is a powerful thing. It doesn't have to be professional or perfect. Just write about something that's important to you, that moves you, or that you feel you need to share. It's up to you how much to polish it before you post it. The people who connect with it will come, and you'll get subscribers over time. :)
Hi Theresa,
Thank you so much for your reply. "Sharing thoughts and stories" sound so inviting and less stressful. Thank you for so much for your advice. I feel I have been stuck with this notion "Write what matters and what is valuable to people".
Curiously...they're the same thing. :) We've been so inundated with the idea that we have to find the right audience and the perfect niche before we start any kind of creative project that we're often paralyzed by the mistaken impression that a project isn't worth doing without those two things firmly in place.
I acknowledge that there is some merit to knowing who you want to write for, but it's not the main thing. The main thing is writing because you love it and you're a writer. What's important to you will be important to someone else. And everyone's story has value because every human being is valuable!
Thank you. This is exactly what I need to hear. The message goes straight to my heart.
Could you add reddit as a social media option to link to? User profiles or even subreddits are another platform for communities, I think itβs better than Facebook at that.
Just a thought....but if people publish really good work.....I would be happy to read daily.
I'm not suggesting people try to write daily but if it's interesting and entertaining, the more the merrier!
It's great when we find other writers whose work resonates with us.
Indeed. Some writers I'm already addicted to.
I'm not doing daily posts,but five to six times per week. The newsletter is called Rocky Point . Hope you find something there to enjoy!
I am not sure that I should publish on substack.
I write mostly, so I can decide what I can and should do.
I often do not know what I think until I write and rewrite.
as I understand your model, the goal is to have the most number of people read what I write and perhaps pay for the privilege. I am not sure that is my goal.
do I belong here?
Yes, you definitely do belong! On Substack you can make up the rules for your own blog. Mine goes out free and I have no intention of attracting paid subscribers. You can run it like an old-school wordpress or blogger site if you want . . . post when you feel like you have something worth saying and ignore all the metrics if you feel like it.
Yes, this! Substack is often touted as a "Make Quadzillions of Dollars From Paid Subscriptions!" site, but it can also be a blog. The added bonus is that it's a platform where a bunch of other writers are also blogging (or writing essays, or whatever). There isn't a right or wrong way to do it.
Great question. You can use Substack for your personal writing (if you don't mind others seeing it). Substack is simple and you can grow a list ... or not ... as you desire. I also write to figure out what I'm thinking ... sometimes it's of interest to others ... sometimes not so much. If you're not focused on the numbers, it's just a great place to write and connect with other writers.
You'll find friends who are on similar journeys and just by being in touch help each other. imho, the Red Pill requires friends. Can't live well in a silo!
I think only you can answer this question. Whatβs your goal with writing? Is it building an audience? If so, Substack can help with that. It can also help you meet other writers you can learn from. But if your writing is more akin to journaling, maybe a large audience isnβt what youβre looking for. You posed an interesting question, anyway.
It's a question we should all ask ourselves. Why do we write? Why are we here on Substack? Have we strayed from our roots as writers and been beguiled by the idea of Going Viral and Becoming Internet Famous?
If we have, I think it's time we reexamine our goals and motives.
Try a free sub to this one?.... should have something to offer for anyone bemused by what is happening to the Western civilisation that they used to feel proud of. If wokeness is keeping you awake then Slouching Towards Bethlehem is for you. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/
It seems like there are a lot of threats to writers and other creatives at the moment - ChatGPT and AI writers, lots of competition, etc. The substack I am writing - https://ironcladcreative.substack.com/ - is about understanding and dealing with those threats and making ourselves more resilient.
My question is - is that too narrow a focus? The intent is to build a resource for growing a successful freelance or creative business while understanding what's coming over the horizon and how to deal with it.
Paul, yes indeed. It's not too narrow a focus, it's a critical one and for some existential. It's one of the reasons I started my Substack, and it looks like you did too? Welcome! We should chat (pun intended) a little more. I just wrote a guest post for another Substack for fiction writers in particular: https://mindfullibrarian.substack.com/p/guest-writer-generative-ai-in-fiction.
For full transparency, I was one of the creative writers for Google's Assistant a few years ago, so I had a firsthand look at how some of these models are built.
Birgitte, I'd love to connect - I do have inpout from a lot of other business writers on this (I help to run a large content writing community), but I don't much insight into the more creative side of things. I don't know Substack that well yet, but it would be great to connect in some way to discuss further.
Just sent you a Linkedin request :)
Thank you. I needed to hear this
Thanks Howard - I agree, I think that seeing AI as a "threat" or "not a threat" is too binary. Of course, these tools are significantly impacting others in my career (professional content writers) - but there are also ways to adapt - which we must as ChatGPT and other AI tools are here to stay. I think it's finding the space between overreacting, being suitably vigilant, and doing what we can to embrace these tools while protecting our livelihoods.
Hey Substackers, how are you thinking of using the Notes and the Chat feature effectively? Any creative or novel ideas?
On a side note, I am still trying to work on the value proposition for my Substack. Grateful for 150 subscribers :)
Hi. I'd really appreciate thoughts from other writers about splitting my occasional fiction off into a completely different Substack.
At the moment it's a separate section, but it seems to have the unsubscribe effect when I publish say the next chapter of my novel.
What would you do? All thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
Linda
:-) xx
I would keep it all together. People enjoying your prompts and advice will naturally be interested in your fiction. It's a good way of giving your other posts authority.
Mmmm, I hadn't thought of it that way Andrew. Perhaps I'll just give it more time and see what happens. Thanks for the insight.
I would stick with one Substack. Otherwise you may splinter your audience. Growing one is challenging enough! That's my view.
Isn't it just Sabrina :-) and thanks, you and Andrew both make great suggestions I hadn't considered.
This happens to me too. I publish nursing memoir mideeek and more eclectic stuff at eeekends. I build up subscribers but lose a couple on either post. Iβm wondering about a separate stack now too. Theyβre two sections on one stack at the moment.
I'm leaning towards keeping it altogether June. I used to have multiple websites for different audiences and then decided to try Substack as one place and I suppose I just haven't given it the time it needs to see what happens - I'm impatient :-)
As someone who mainly writes fiction, what's something I can do to bring in more readers and earn more subscribers? I do post quite often.
I post a new story every day and have been for 31 months. There's no magic wand. You have to occasionally ask your readers through a separate email to invite more of their friends to the party. You have to share free ones on social media and beg. I wish I had an answer for all of us, but after publishing nearly 1000 stories, I don't.
Thanks so much for your feedback
Good luck. Keep writing stuff you're proud of. At least you have control over that aspect of it.
Yes, thank you. I'm very proud of what I'm creating and the way Substack allows me to keep it all organized is amazing.
I love this kind of honesty! I help to tun a large freelance writing community, and one of the key things we often stress is "there's no one, best way to do this." Everyone has unique skills, interests, experiences, and approaches - and it's embracing those and experimenting that seems to drive the best results for that individual and their audience.
Really enjoying using Notes so far! What seems to be the optimal method when it comes to using Notes? What's the best approach when it comes to not only growing reach and audience, but also providing value to existing subscribers?
I'm digging Notes so far as well :)
"The optimal method when it comes to using Notes"? Whatever works for you. Experiment, observe, try something new, find what works, and lean on that.
Very good Q