✏️ What was your biggest surprise as a writer in 2023? Mine was who turned out to be my most loyal readers. It was usually a surprising source, and people I thought would read consistently actually did not. Not that I judge, it was just my surprise.
✏️ What was your biggest surprise as a writer in 2023? Mine was who turned out to be my most loyal readers. It was usually a surprising source, and people I thought would read consistently actually did not. Not that I judge, it was just my surprise.
I'm celebrating my one year of launching my Substack today (!)
When I first started writing last December, I didn't think I'd have a lot to write about. As I started prioritizing writing in my life, I've been surprised just *how much* I have to write about
It feels as if I'd turned on the faucet and the ideas flow far more freely than I could've imagined. I used to think that I had to wait for my muse to appear – now I go seek my muse through writing 1000 words every morning stream of conscious, walks, audio memos
I have a document called "All the Bullshit." It's where I often start writing first, with zero filter and no expectation. Just stream of consciousness to "prime the pump," as they say! Later, when I look back through it, a lot of my poems were typed there first and ideas I've gone back to retrieve. It's a fun practice!
Did it help calm your mind on days when you are not writing? I realized about 10 years ago that I sort of HAVE to blog, or else my general thoughts/opinions about things become very loud in my head.
it very much does! the act of writing 1000 words after I meditate in the morning feels like an emotional plumbing of sorts where I'll get all my thoughts out of my head – clear my mind & set my energy before I go about my day
Congratulations! Your experience is so encouraging and inspiring for me to figure out how to launch my first Substack . . . I keep wanting to find "the recipe" for the logistics of how to publish one that won't look too amateurish . . . I'm committing to begin one no matter what by January 1, 2024 . . . I'd probably have gotten "the gumption" way before this if I'd known about these Office hours before a couple of weeks ago. I look forward to discovering how your writing has been helping you "become more yourself"
Hi Tom and welcome. I would reiterate what Tara says below and also don't worry about what your substack 'looks' like. We are here for the writing, not the branding. (I do love me a good brand/logo), but that's not the point of Substack. You can always tart it up later once you get the hang of posting regularly. Also, when I first came on here as a newbie earlier this year, when I saw someone's Substack that was too slick and fancy, I stopped reading. I felt they were building themselves up as a brand with pretty pictures and it didn't seem there was much substance. So, go be you and your writing, posts and yes your Substack 'look' will morph and change as you go. Best of luck to you.
Thank you, Kim. It has been what my substack 'looks' like that has been the major obstacle for me committing to begin to 'publish' . . . . Now after finding the tutorial A Beginner's Guide to Substack: How to use Substack https://youtu.be/r8He_liq3sY?si=H1OHk5UW2UzD-_AG . . . I'm confident I can go forward without 'worrying' (aka 'overthinking) the design - 'how it looks' and 'how I look' (I plan to do some video talking . . . maybe a happy birthday video on my birthday like Patti Smith did last years on 'her' birthday, which is also 'my' birthday . . . although not the same birthyear . . . ) Here's her video Test 2 https://open.substack.com/pub/pattismith/p/test-2?r=7eqgs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you, @cissyhu (is that the correct way to mention you with an @?) and I infer from your title "the Year of Doing the Damn Thing", I infer that you ou know "it" is not 'luck', Life is Effort, doing your best at Always Becoming Cissy every day of this new year takes 'Cissy Effort' . . . not 'magic' or 'luck' and me doing my best at doing 'The Life of Tom' takes 'Tom Effort' every day . . ..
Thank you for your good wishes.
And . . . I 'get,' or rather think I get the spirit of your title. Am I accurate to translate "the Damn Thing" to mean "doing your best at the life of Cissy"? If I am accurate, I respectfully suggest referring to you and to your doing your best at what you're wanting to do your best at, is not a very kind or caring or probably helpful way to Always Becoming Cissy. Does that make sense?
Thank you, again, for bringing me back here to Dec. 21st Writer's Office hours to be again inspired by your success at Substack from starting a year ago without thinking you had a lot to write about . . . and finding that I'd publicly announced in response that "I'm committing to begin one no matter what by January 1, 2024". .... Opps . . . . Another lesson for me about The Skill of Committing . . . one of my continuing life learning lessons about the self-skill of committing . . . I was wrong. By January 1st I had stopped committing to that TimeGoal. I haven't stopped committing to learning about Substack and caring for how to share The Life of Tom on Substack.
Welcome, Tom! :-) Substack's Help pages have lots of great tips if you find yourself scratching your head on the way to your first posts. Just Google Substack Help and anything flummoxing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tara! Trust me, I've tried Substack's help pages more than once or twice, probably at least 10 or more times, and more 'flummoxed' than I had patience for (or confidence in my ability to make sense of the many great tips I'm sure are available) . . . and yet no tutorial-like step-by-step 'hand-holding' or 'trainer wheels' I needed. I was about to rush off with a quick thank you for your kind suggestion. . . . and something about your "Just Google" it got me to pause enough to take your suggestion literally and I "Googled" (actually I use Ecosia now as my search engine: https://www.ecosia.org/) "Substack Help" and the 3rd entry was a few YouTube videos . . . the 1st was "A Beginner's Guide to Substack: How to use substack" https://youtu.be/r8He_liq3sY?si=T-g8nc9H_I1NjsDL . . . and I found the 'tutorial' the 'trainer's wheels' I needed. Thank you, thank you, Tara . . . and I look forward to joining you for some Quiet Reading
Hooray, Tom! I confess that when I look for things only within Substack Help, I don't always find exactly what I need right away. Too many topics are adjacent. But if I back out to a browser and search for it, I almost always see exactly the right instructions. Funny. Glad it worked for you, too. I love Quiet Reading during the winter holidays, so posts are on the way. :-)
Oh my gosh the dream! I feel like I tend to struggle to find things to write about, but maybe I’m also setting arbitrary rules around what I can and can’t post!
Congratulations on a full year here!! Love hearing and seeing it!
thanks, Cierra! I spent a lot of time "shoulding" myself in the past, but I've come to realized that writing with an intent to publish is one big series of experiments for me – that has freed me in many ways :)
So sorry this is late but yes! I'm trying to eliminate "should"s in 2024 cause WHEW has that been debilitating in the past! And thank you, wishing the same for you!
Exactly same here. My friends and family were there at the beginning to support. But now, several years in, they’re not my most loyal readers. It’s been fun seeing who really likes the stuff I’m putting out there.
Mine was that folks who originally paid to subscribe weren't always the most active readers! I think seeing my own evolution was surprising too...I've shifted my focus several times and didn't expect the flood of ideas to change the direction like it has but it's been a fun ride! I also didn't expect the genuine connections I found here through which is honestly why I wanted to share my writing in the first place!
As far as making connections I think being intentional about offering opportunities to collaborate and championing artists has led to a feeling of genuine community. As for the changes in direction- that's been more about following my own level of enthusiasm/excitement for different projects and trying new things to see what resonates. One piece of feedback I got was that someone always hoped my weekly letter would have poetry inside so I decided to start sharing more poetry and launched a series called "Bloom" for paying subs once a week where I read an original poem.
We'll see how it goes, I feel like some things just need time to gain traction and as long as you're enjoying the ride, it's worth it!
I did come to a similar realisation at a point of time. But then also saw some subscribers ask if everything was okay when I hadn't been posting as frequently. Perhaps both kinds of readers exist in the subscriber list.
I had some career craziness this year and sometimes when I wouldn't post for a few weeks I would get texts from people lamenting that I cancelled the project. Which was nice
I encountered so many people who, despite our vastly different lifestyles/backgrounds/locations/etc., shared a lot of the same perspectives and unique interests. I've gained a newfound appreciation for writing as a way to connect, and I love how stories really help us see each other for who we are.
My biggest surprise as a writer was getting my first paid subscriber AND it being a writer and artist I admire! She doesn’t know me and she FOUND me and pays monthly to support my work and it blows my mind that she’s here at all, let alone that she’s paying as well!
Another thing was just how amazing the community is period. I spent a lot of this year resting and healing and gaining my footing after losing my mom and my 8-year caregiving duties, but even so, I’ve gained loyal readers and a community I’ve never had before online!
Same. The hardest think about migrating my writing from Facebook to Substack is I don't get that sweet, sweet hit of dopamine from the likes and comments.
People have said I'm "brave" for sharing my stories on Substack. It honestly doesn't feel brave. Sharing my writing and stories isn't hard for me. Not getting feedback absolutely is.
✏️ What was your biggest surprise as a writer in 2023? Mine was who turned out to be my most loyal readers. It was usually a surprising source, and people I thought would read consistently actually did not. Not that I judge, it was just my surprise.
I'm celebrating my one year of launching my Substack today (!)
When I first started writing last December, I didn't think I'd have a lot to write about. As I started prioritizing writing in my life, I've been surprised just *how much* I have to write about
It feels as if I'd turned on the faucet and the ideas flow far more freely than I could've imagined. I used to think that I had to wait for my muse to appear – now I go seek my muse through writing 1000 words every morning stream of conscious, walks, audio memos
Reminds me of Ed Sheeran's quote about when we first start a creative pursuit, there's a lot of shit water that comes then clean water eventually starts flowing (https://twitter.com/cissyrxhu/status/1732988319917887848)
I have a document called "All the Bullshit." It's where I often start writing first, with zero filter and no expectation. Just stream of consciousness to "prime the pump," as they say! Later, when I look back through it, a lot of my poems were typed there first and ideas I've gone back to retrieve. It's a fun practice!
LOVE this practice :) a home for all the bullshit feels poetic!
Did it help calm your mind on days when you are not writing? I realized about 10 years ago that I sort of HAVE to blog, or else my general thoughts/opinions about things become very loud in my head.
it very much does! the act of writing 1000 words after I meditate in the morning feels like an emotional plumbing of sorts where I'll get all my thoughts out of my head – clear my mind & set my energy before I go about my day
Congratulations! Your experience is so encouraging and inspiring for me to figure out how to launch my first Substack . . . I keep wanting to find "the recipe" for the logistics of how to publish one that won't look too amateurish . . . I'm committing to begin one no matter what by January 1, 2024 . . . I'd probably have gotten "the gumption" way before this if I'd known about these Office hours before a couple of weeks ago. I look forward to discovering how your writing has been helping you "become more yourself"
Hi Tom, I echo what my good friends Kim and Tara say here. If you want help I also suggest Paul at Deplatformable
https://pau1.substack.com/p/all-the-articles
as well as Ramona at Writer Everlasting who has a series of articles about Substack for Newbies. Both are super helpful
https://writereverlasting.substack.com/s/substack-for-newbies
Hi Tom and welcome. I would reiterate what Tara says below and also don't worry about what your substack 'looks' like. We are here for the writing, not the branding. (I do love me a good brand/logo), but that's not the point of Substack. You can always tart it up later once you get the hang of posting regularly. Also, when I first came on here as a newbie earlier this year, when I saw someone's Substack that was too slick and fancy, I stopped reading. I felt they were building themselves up as a brand with pretty pictures and it didn't seem there was much substance. So, go be you and your writing, posts and yes your Substack 'look' will morph and change as you go. Best of luck to you.
Thank you, Kim. It has been what my substack 'looks' like that has been the major obstacle for me committing to begin to 'publish' . . . . Now after finding the tutorial A Beginner's Guide to Substack: How to use Substack https://youtu.be/r8He_liq3sY?si=H1OHk5UW2UzD-_AG . . . I'm confident I can go forward without 'worrying' (aka 'overthinking) the design - 'how it looks' and 'how I look' (I plan to do some video talking . . . maybe a happy birthday video on my birthday like Patti Smith did last years on 'her' birthday, which is also 'my' birthday . . . although not the same birthyear . . . ) Here's her video Test 2 https://open.substack.com/pub/pattismith/p/test-2?r=7eqgs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
good luck, Tom! I'm rooting for you :)
sharing some inspiration for the Year of Doing the Damn Thing: https://www.moremyself.xyz/p/2024
this is the year to answer our calls!
Thank you, @cissyhu (is that the correct way to mention you with an @?) and I infer from your title "the Year of Doing the Damn Thing", I infer that you ou know "it" is not 'luck', Life is Effort, doing your best at Always Becoming Cissy every day of this new year takes 'Cissy Effort' . . . not 'magic' or 'luck' and me doing my best at doing 'The Life of Tom' takes 'Tom Effort' every day . . ..
Thank you for your good wishes.
And . . . I 'get,' or rather think I get the spirit of your title. Am I accurate to translate "the Damn Thing" to mean "doing your best at the life of Cissy"? If I am accurate, I respectfully suggest referring to you and to your doing your best at what you're wanting to do your best at, is not a very kind or caring or probably helpful way to Always Becoming Cissy. Does that make sense?
Thank you, again, for bringing me back here to Dec. 21st Writer's Office hours to be again inspired by your success at Substack from starting a year ago without thinking you had a lot to write about . . . and finding that I'd publicly announced in response that "I'm committing to begin one no matter what by January 1, 2024". .... Opps . . . . Another lesson for me about The Skill of Committing . . . one of my continuing life learning lessons about the self-skill of committing . . . I was wrong. By January 1st I had stopped committing to that TimeGoal. I haven't stopped committing to learning about Substack and caring for how to share The Life of Tom on Substack.
Welcome, Tom! :-) Substack's Help pages have lots of great tips if you find yourself scratching your head on the way to your first posts. Just Google Substack Help and anything flummoxing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tara! Trust me, I've tried Substack's help pages more than once or twice, probably at least 10 or more times, and more 'flummoxed' than I had patience for (or confidence in my ability to make sense of the many great tips I'm sure are available) . . . and yet no tutorial-like step-by-step 'hand-holding' or 'trainer wheels' I needed. I was about to rush off with a quick thank you for your kind suggestion. . . . and something about your "Just Google" it got me to pause enough to take your suggestion literally and I "Googled" (actually I use Ecosia now as my search engine: https://www.ecosia.org/) "Substack Help" and the 3rd entry was a few YouTube videos . . . the 1st was "A Beginner's Guide to Substack: How to use substack" https://youtu.be/r8He_liq3sY?si=T-g8nc9H_I1NjsDL . . . and I found the 'tutorial' the 'trainer's wheels' I needed. Thank you, thank you, Tara . . . and I look forward to joining you for some Quiet Reading
Hooray, Tom! I confess that when I look for things only within Substack Help, I don't always find exactly what I need right away. Too many topics are adjacent. But if I back out to a browser and search for it, I almost always see exactly the right instructions. Funny. Glad it worked for you, too. I love Quiet Reading during the winter holidays, so posts are on the way. :-)
YAY 🙌🏽 one year! Love that shit water metaphor 💩 It's so true.
thank you! and yes to shit water, it's helped me get out of my own way 💩
Oh my gosh the dream! I feel like I tend to struggle to find things to write about, but maybe I’m also setting arbitrary rules around what I can and can’t post!
Congratulations on a full year here!! Love hearing and seeing it!
thanks, Cierra! I spent a lot of time "shoulding" myself in the past, but I've come to realized that writing with an intent to publish is one big series of experiments for me – that has freed me in many ways :)
good luck – rooting for you!
So sorry this is late but yes! I'm trying to eliminate "should"s in 2024 cause WHEW has that been debilitating in the past! And thank you, wishing the same for you!
Meeting people with common interests is a surprise that never dims in pleasure.
Yeah and those whose interests are generally pretty far apart but overlap in one specific way!
Amen Sister!❤
sadheer41’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Exactly same here. My friends and family were there at the beginning to support. But now, several years in, they’re not my most loyal readers. It’s been fun seeing who really likes the stuff I’m putting out there.
Yeah me too haha
I am just surprised to have a subscription that works for the first time in my career and testing dozens of options.
That's a pretty awesome surprise tbh!
Mine was that folks who originally paid to subscribe weren't always the most active readers! I think seeing my own evolution was surprising too...I've shifted my focus several times and didn't expect the flood of ideas to change the direction like it has but it's been a fun ride! I also didn't expect the genuine connections I found here through which is honestly why I wanted to share my writing in the first place!
What's a notable shift that might benefit other readers on this thread?
As far as making connections I think being intentional about offering opportunities to collaborate and championing artists has led to a feeling of genuine community. As for the changes in direction- that's been more about following my own level of enthusiasm/excitement for different projects and trying new things to see what resonates. One piece of feedback I got was that someone always hoped my weekly letter would have poetry inside so I decided to start sharing more poetry and launched a series called "Bloom" for paying subs once a week where I read an original poem.
We'll see how it goes, I feel like some things just need time to gain traction and as long as you're enjoying the ride, it's worth it!
Same! I was shocked to see people I never met so engaged...not what I had expected.
I did come to a similar realisation at a point of time. But then also saw some subscribers ask if everything was okay when I hadn't been posting as frequently. Perhaps both kinds of readers exist in the subscriber list.
I had some career craziness this year and sometimes when I wouldn't post for a few weeks I would get texts from people lamenting that I cancelled the project. Which was nice
I was surprised to have a founding member!
Hope for more paid subscribers in the new year. We’ll see.
I encountered so many people who, despite our vastly different lifestyles/backgrounds/locations/etc., shared a lot of the same perspectives and unique interests. I've gained a newfound appreciation for writing as a way to connect, and I love how stories really help us see each other for who we are.
My biggest surprise as a writer was getting my first paid subscriber AND it being a writer and artist I admire! She doesn’t know me and she FOUND me and pays monthly to support my work and it blows my mind that she’s here at all, let alone that she’s paying as well!
Another thing was just how amazing the community is period. I spent a lot of this year resting and healing and gaining my footing after losing my mom and my 8-year caregiving duties, but even so, I’ve gained loyal readers and a community I’ve never had before online!
That's a great story, and a nice reminder about finding silver linings during difficult times.
Thanks so much, Kevin!
Same. My most loyal readers and commenters are so random! My best and closest friends are not as into it.
I try not to get sensitive over it hahaha.
Same. The hardest think about migrating my writing from Facebook to Substack is I don't get that sweet, sweet hit of dopamine from the likes and comments.
People have said I'm "brave" for sharing my stories on Substack. It honestly doesn't feel brave. Sharing my writing and stories isn't hard for me. Not getting feedback absolutely is.