Are you new to Substack? This Office Hours thread is a place to ask your questions about getting started. Leave a comment and let us know how we can help. Plus, explore who else is getting started on Substack.
Hey writers! We had a great conversation here last week as part of Office Hours and will continue the conversation here for new writers this week.
We invite you to read through the thread and absorb the insights fellow writers shared. If you're new to Substack in the last three months and didn't introduce yourself last week, reply to this comment and say hello.
Hi everyone! My names Denize and my substack through another lens covers cultural criticisms, explorations of the self, examinations of interpersonal relationship, and now interviews of various creatives where we deep dive their work!
Iβve been loving the interview format lately and how it allows people to peel back their layers, especially when I interview other creatives to ask them about their creative process. It reminds me that our lives influence our art so much, and itβs worth connecting the dots to see what led an artist to a specific point in their evolution.
Do you have a favorite interview youβve read? Share it with me!
Hereβs an interview I did with my friend Fernando Ponce who is an LA-based filmmaker and photographer. Cheers!
Agree! Keep going with the interview format! I've also just been generally loving interviewing people for my essays and posts each week. Peels back the layers for everyone.
Hi Denize, I just began to read one of your interviews last week. Yes, definitely keep going with the interview format. It's really working for you from my standpoint!
I hope to one day! Ive been interviewing my local artists and creatives in CA and my good friends who are creatives. I want to home in on my interviewing skills with familiar faces first before I venture out too far :)
"It reminds me that our lives influence our art so much, and itβs worth connecting the dots to see what led an artist to a specific point in their evolution."
I agree, this is really interesting, and something I've been thinking about a lot recently, too. (It's even what my very first post, yesterday, was about: https://quantepast.substack.com/p/about ) What are any of us but the product of the various places (culturally and otherwise) that we've come from? and maybe those are ultimately what give us anything interesting to say in the first place, anything that would be interesting for others to read.
Re your interview with Ponce: This is good writing!
This aspect of how he described his evolving thinking about his own work struck me:
"So, it was figuring out how I could lean into the documenting style while also being able to make a living out of it."
"The biggest thing now is creating with intentionβchipping it down and filming with a structured, cohesive end goal in mind."
What I hear him saying is that he was figuring out how to both (1) do what he loved and wanted to do, create what he wanted to create, while also (2) being organized and disciplined enough about it to create something that others would want to consume--and, ideally, pay him for.
And really, isn't that what a lot of us (all of us?) here on Substack are doing, too?
Iβve found that the editing and condensing is the most difficult part -- letting their words shine through while also concising it for clarity. Definitely a big lift!
Hi, I'm June and my Substack covers two areas - a section on memoirs of 47 years of nursing and then a section on writing, books, gardening and generally my creative life. It's called June's writing and you can find it here https://junegirvin.substack.com. I'm retired and finally have time to write - if I don't do it now, I never will. I'm finding Substack welcoming and inspiring.
Hi June, I love that you've divided your Substack into sections of interest from your life. That gives me ideas on being more creative and expansive as I work to set up my Substack. I'm a writer who is currently working on a memoir and I'm also a poet. You've given me food for thought in thinking about how I might want to share my writing. Thank you!
That's awesome! My aunt was also a nurse for maybe as long as you and is now retired and dedicates a lot of her artwork to the patients she took care of over the years. A lot of it is actually kind of dark (dying patients, sickness), but also so beautiful and inspiring. Kudos to you. :)
That sounds amazing June. Am also a nurse but after the pandemic I have decided to go into writing (itβs a dream I have had since my teenage years). Will follow your Substack. Love to read about nursing! Will probably write more about I myself one day
A Bonjour from France, I am late to the party it seems, but as they say here, c'est la vie! I started my Substack some three weeks ago and made my third post (one every Monday). I write about my writing journey, working on my first novel (dystopian SF, 35k words in) and share my thoughts on the creative process and transmedia influence, esp. from games, having worked in the Game Industry for nearly two decades. I am hoping to connect with fellow writers, and (beta) readers here! So, hop on over and avoid the eyeball kick from the whistling dog trying to sell you a Jar of Tang!
Bonjour Alexander, I too am a fiction writer substacking it here in France. I'm also looking for connect with other writers here. I'll check your newsletter out. A bientot!
Thank you, Garrett. You're my first. : ) I'm new here but am looking forward to this. Kicking around social media for a decade now, I think I might have finally found my place.
I love a bit of dystopian SF. I was working with Syd Mead the Futurist who did a lot of the artwork for movies such as Blade Runner, Tron, Minority Report etc. He sadly passed away the end of 2019.
It was such an honour to get to know him, albeit mostly over the telephone and not in person as his health was in decline. I was working on bringing an exhibition of his work to Hong Kong where I lived. Perfect backdrop! But alas, things got messy in Hong Kong and I returned to the UK. I am still in touch with his partner who manages his collection. I love that you love his work too. I'll check out your Substack.
Sounds great, Alexander. I'm working on a couple of novels and Substack is keeping me focused on writing. It's been quite a boon for me. Also writing sci-fi and fantasy. I'm subscribing now.
Just getting started on a serial. I've got a kind of YA fantasy thing on there now but looking forward to loading up on a lot of (hopefully good) fiction.
"nerd", "filmmaker", "sci-fi, fantasy and horror"--is your pen name (Trask) a reference to the villain from the dystopian future X-men movie _Days of Future Past_?
Just starting my first serialized short story so I'm excited to read yours and others' take on the genre. For me it's (mostly) about practicing my craft. Thanks so much for the sub!
I will put up a flash fiction piece next Monday, as a change to the theoretical pieces. I could serialize some of my shorts, but they are currently submitted to magazines, collecting rejection slips! It's great to see how others write, I agree.
My continuing plan is to write 5-6 minute chapters or issues. I'm not on a regular schedule yet though so that needs to be addressed. I figure asking 6 minutes or so from people is more than plenty. Folks are busy.
Excellent! I wager there are more hiding in the shadows here! :) 30 years wow! awesome. A propos first novel. I set myself a daily target of 1k words. Didn't make it so far today, but the night is still young!
I was eyeing NaNoWriMo every year but told myself I am too busy each time. No more! Awesome 43k! Kudos. As for the year... I set myself a deadline for the end of May for a first draft. Because first drafts... need a lot more love!
Love Nano. My only complaint is that I got lost in the chats at times and then couldn't refer back. Is Grant Faulkner on substack? I am very interested in camp. How about you?
Wow, Alexander - that Jar of Tang is eye popping! I look forward to reading further and have subscribed. Sending you good mojo as you continue to work on your novel - from one writer to another :)
Hi Garret, it's great that you share this. I am contemplating different approaches for now. I have flash fiction pieces I want to include and make them Substack exclusive. Maybe progress updates for the novel, too, but I feel I want to finish it first and focus on sharing my journey experience here. Will check yours out! Happy writing, indeed.
Garret's novel, at least the first several pages, is fantastic by the way. Intense, descriptive, emotive. So much to take in and he negotiates it very well.
I started my Substack (skylarsinger.substack.com) about 2 months ago. I call it βAcquired Tastes,β a weekly newsletter about film that explores traditional notions of taste in a way that appreciates both the highbrow and lowbrow parts of the cinematic landscape.
As an aspiring critic and nascent writer, I am eager to meet fellow writers, discover and appreciate your work, and discuss film if you feel so inclined!
Is there anyone else that is writing about film/television/ or the entertainment industry?
Hi Matt! I've just read your piece on what makes a good Star Wars movie and it was fantastic! I've subscribed and look forward to reading more of your work!
I have background in theatre and film and have written various articles on the movies and music. One piece I wrote under section 'Beauty Imagined' deals the concepts of imagination in film creation and production
I also started my Substack about two months ago, called "B's Hive." I write primarily about reading, but I am wanting to expand conversations to focus on literature in a broader context that includes anything we can "read," including film. I'd love to collaborate with you and learn more about your approach to film criticism! I've subscribed to your Substack and look forward to getting to know you more.
Hi Bri! I've subscribed and will definitely be consulting your spring cleaning tips -- I need all the help I can get in that area! I love your idea, I certainly consider watching, analyzing and interpreting a film a form of reading a text and would be interested in a potential collaboration! I look forward to corresponding in the future!
Thank you so much, Scott. I hope my lists provide and you an enjoyable viewing experience! I've subscribed and I look forward to receiving your newsletter!
Just joined Substack yesterday. In general, I enjoy reading other people's thoughts on and engagement with movies so much that I read more movie reviews than I watch actual movies. (Is that weird?)
I love reading and writing about film, too! Every month I reflect on my favorite reads, watches, and listens, and I'm always looking for movie recommendations. What kinds of movies are you really into right now?
Here's my Substack if you're interested in seeing more of my takes on film :)
Hi Denise, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I really enjoyed your interview with Fernando Ponce and have subscribed. I look forward to receiving you future publications!
Hello there substack artists and writers! Just wanted to say how amazing it is to be on this amazing platform, seeing a lot of your work, and to participate in such a revolution.
If you'd like, you can view my work here. In 2022, I wrote a poem or something short every day. In 2023, I am publishing those works along with art and commentary. Love to see you over there if you have time.
During Lent of 2020 I wrote 40 haikus (Haikus for Lent) with a photo and a short story related to the haiku on my Facebook account. That generated good interest from my Facebook friends and I ended up continuing the series with Haikus for these times, Haikus for different times and Haikus for another time.
I found that the short poem, photo and story was a nice way to present a new topic or idea and I have incorporated that approach in my paying job as an Agile coach in the software world.
Just subscribed to your newsletter and looking forward to reading your work.
Glad to have you. Are your haikus on substack? I'd love to read them. That's one of my favorite forms. Been playing with a modified version this month...
They aren't yet on Substack, but they will be soon. It will be an easy way to get things out there, but I'll probably do a little retouching on some of them. In a weird the haikus became a form of a journal for me.
are you on IG? there's an instagram account I follow that posts short poems. It didn't seem like the right format for image-heavy instagram but with short poetry it does!
The IG algorithm is ποΈ, which is why I said itβs a time capsule π Unless youβre making tik tok-like reels your reach is virtually nil, even to your followers sometimes. The slow death of the appβ¦
Hi everyone! I started my Substack about three weeks ago now, and Iβm really enjoying the rhythm of writing on a weekly basis.
Iβm writing about issues affecting modern parents from a dadβs perspective - take a look if youβre interested! New issues are every Friday at 5pm BST.
Really looking forward to picking up some tips here today!
Congratulations! I've been writing since December and have found writing incredibly rewarding. I also write about raising kids...specifically in the United States. Iβm interested in thinking critically about how we're "Raising Americans" and how we can do better.
One tip: Try to avoid checking your stats too much. :)
That tip is fantastic advice...which I struggle mightily with every day. When you're just getting started its such ingrained human nature, maybe? Maybe we can learn to 'raise Americans' to stop doing this so much and just enjoy/learn from the process.
Yes!! Other stacks about parenting. I retired after 20 years in public education. I taught English and Reading, and then I transitioned to Special Education. I learned most parents & kids needed to know that I care, that I could and would help, and that I was there to do more good than harm. So I started my newsletter to help demystify some of harder aspects of parenting and education. And when I was in the classroom our Class Dad's were <chefs kiss> the best allies an educator could also for!! Best wishes!!
Here here. I'm afraid I feel into that trap last night. Woke up this morning realizing I was in the trap! Dang it.
I'm from Canada and am so curious as to what it's like 'raising american' children these days in your country. With the latest school shootings and the divisiveness I am wondering how parents navigate that so the children can be critical thinkers and not just following one side or another. I look forward to reading more.
Yes, we are certainly facing some unique challenges here. I hear nothing but great things about Canada -- so thankful to have such wonderful neighbors! Best of luck with your Substack. I'll have to check it out.
This is such a great idea. I also love the name. I've just subscribed as I want to share this with my son's who are also navigating raising young people. My days of that are over, but I am loving the grandparent part of life.
I'm also new to writing about parenting, sharing things from the perspective of a mum questioning everything and trying to enjoy the crazy journey of raising three tiny humans.
Hey all, I started Substack last week! I currently work within the Construction Industry. Following my experiences and the creation of my industry network (GirlsUnderConstruction) I write articles to help enlighten and guide young people (especially women), parents & anyone with an interest in the industry! Iβve written for many publications but have moved to Substack so I can further provide clear/relatable insight into career areas, regulations & topics across the Construction Industry. This is all something I lacked when journeying down my career hence why Iβm providing it through my platform!
Launched my first 2 publication series with posts starting next week :)β¬οΈ
Hey this is great, I have been a house painter for 60 years. I sure have learned a lot, I am so glad you are helping others get started. Hire a painter, get it done right.
So glad you're doing this, Barbara! I love that you're providing insight into careers in the construction industry. You're filling a niche that is wide open, which makes you a true innovator.
This is such a wonderful idea. I just subscribed. I'm an interior designer and have always thought about the idea of craftsmanship, but as a woman in the U.S there aren't really a lot of examples of women working in this field.
Hey Substack family! I'm a creative writer that shares romance, creative writing, and poetry. I'm so excited to take my life long love of writing here to Substack and to learn from and watch us all grow! Thanks for being here with me.
Hello! π I write The Heart Dialogues, a newsletter for the millions of people in the world born with heart defects. It's been rewarding to start building a community here, and I hope to continue to grow!
Hey everyone! I started my substack a couple of months ago and am loving the writing process! My newsletter is an exploration of how it feels to live between worlds and across cultures, and writing about different facets of life and identity from a multicultural perspective. I'd love to connect to others who might be interested in similar topics as well, if there are any of you out there! cheers :)
Hi everyone, we write Adventures in Leadership Land (https://leadershipland.substack.com). We grew tired of self-help books and training programs that promised success and happiness, so we started our own publication to focus on *avoiding failure and misery.* Not only are we taking the leadership road less traveled, we don't have to compete with the bigger incumbents out there. We'd love to partner with other leadership/management Substacks to create win-wins.
P.S: Office hours take place during the workday (when we practice what we preach) so we'll be back later to participate :)
Hi sounds really interesting and a very welcome take on leadership. I write Lead with Intention, a journey to redefine modern leadership (βcause a lot of it sucks) and collectively, make better leaders. Iβd love to take a look at your stack and vice versa to see if there might be any opportunities to do something together? Find me here (narrativepurpose.substack.com) Louise
I could not agree more! I just subscribed to your substack, it looks interesting and has a different slant than mine although I do write about leadership too...
Hi, it sounds very good! I too find today's leadership training and the likes disappointing and not so pragmatic despite all the promises made...
I write https://thereyoulead.substack.com if you want to take a look. I will take a look at yours as well. Isn't leadership a great topic in fairness? I just love the subject so much! It's both difficult and easy all at once π
Hey Nadia, I'm not sure how to contact you, so I'm replying here. Your "About" page has two big "Image Not Found" rectangles. We encountered this issue about two weeks ago and complained about it in the Product thread (after-hours). If you edit and replace the images, it should resolve the issue.
We noticed that captions and alt-text tend to stay, but the image itself vanishes.
Hi Everyone - I started my substack Nominal News ( https://nominalnews.substack.com/)- where I go over what economics has to say on a variety of topics (such as gift giving; how partner preferences impact career outcomes; by gender; what is driving current inflation; what are the impacts of some recent economic policies are). I feel that economics, and specifically economic research, which is very broad and insightful, does not often make it to mainstream news outlets or even social media. I want to bring this research, which I was exposed to a lot during my PhD times to a wider audience!
Hi! I'm Sam W, and I write World-Weary Writer. My newsletter goes out twice a week, and covers various forms of political activism around the world. I write about activist causes, human rights, and how to get involved and make a difference.
I also sprinkle in good news every few weeks, highlighting victories and triumphs for my readers to celebrate so we don't lose morale. The newsletter is totally free!
I'd be glad to have you around, Joyce! I leave the comment sections open, too, and I love reading my subscriber's perspectives. I find the 'only paid subscribers can comment' block so damn annoying, even if I see why some people do it!
Hey all ! I started my substack about a month ago and just officially launched this week ! I write Pull out your own Hair, a newsletter about hair across culture and throughout history. Hair is as personal as it is political. We look at hair as material, style, texture, how it drives economies and the beauty industry, and how it exists at almost every scale from cosmic to microscopic. I'm an art historian, so hair in art is a major theme as well. I'm interested in how hair navigates its multiple identities as DNA-specific and dust-generic. It's something we all have in common, and yet one's own hair is so personal.
I've been operating an art collective called HAIR CLUB for nine years. We've lectured at major museums and taught courses in international universities. It's exciting to launch this substack as a hub for both the ideas that we collaboratively generate and the people who want to keep track of this ongoing conversation.
I attend these writer office hours every week and always discover new people and substacks to subscribe to--what a great resource and community. I hope you'll check us out and subscribe! I'd love to hear your own hair stories.
Hello all. I'm new to Substack, but so far have really enjoyed being here. I needed the extra kick of motivation to keep writing (and reading) consistently.
As for me, I'm a lifelong gamer several books of fiction published and, very soon (June 12th) my first non-fiction book (which is about my favorite video game ever). Read about the book at my Substack here: https://calebjross.substack.com/.
Other than most recently writing about my upcoming book, I tend to write humorous content that reminders readers that it's okay to love video games.
As a hobbyist indie game developer and video game obsessive, I have also produced hundreds of visual essays, editorials, and comedy videos on YouTube and has co-hosted many video game podcasts with the goal of evangelizing for the video game medium, a medium that has changed his life.
Hello! I started my Substack, Readable Moments Book Club (https://readablemomentsbc.substack.com/) in January. I've loved reading children's books (even as an adult!) since I was a kid and I'm so excited to share with parents and caregivers children's books that can help them navigate tricky subjects or specific topics. Really like this platform a lot--very easy to get up and running. Would love to partner with other writers in some capacity!
OMG. I am having a HUGE fan girl moment right now. I cannot believe you are THE Elizabeth Winthrop (forgive me, it didnβt even occur to me that you are one and the same). I STILL have my (now battered) copy of The Castle In The Attic. That is the first book I read that introduced me to the fantasy genre. Thank you for the incredible work you do!!!
Sri, I think I wrote you back but it didn't show up here:) I'm blushing at your praise...you'll be amused to hear that I'm wrapping up a revision of a prequel to THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC, about 37 years after the first book in the series was published. Never too late.
Wow! Just subscribed as well. I am a parent and former teacher, and I write about culture, education, and parenting in the United States...and how we can do better.
I just joined substack! I am hoping to write a children's book someday! I just subscribed to your substack, and I am looking forward to learning more about writing and publishing from your page.
Iβm curious to check out your Substack. I have dyslexia and even after all these years, continue to be surprised how many of my βquirksβ are the byproduct of it! From my creative way of pronouncing words to the way I even view the world!
Love to see another kids lit lover! Iβm a parent and child therapist who just started a Substack of short kids stories with social and emotional themes (Mosswood Tales) and I love hearing about other kids books to add to my familyβs reading list. Best of luck!
This sounds great, Sri! I'm an English teacher so it's always great to have resources to point parents/carers towards that will help them choose books. π
Very cool Sri! I've been considering a project where I write, design and print a custom children's book from scratch using AI tools. Would that be interesting to your audience?
This is great! My kids are older now (okay 6 and 8 π )and I've recently wished I'd started documenting the really great books to share. I'm so glad you're doing this! I'll check out your work. Good luck!
Hello, I just started my Substack related to creativity and science. https://pmlab.substack.com/. I am also a children's author. Haven't had the guts to hit publish on the first Stack, though.
Do it! Haha I get it -- just subscribed to yours as I also just started my Substack exploring the intersection of curiosity, creativity and sustainability... (https://goodfootprints.substack.com) sounds like there could be an overlap in interest! Cheers on taking the first step!
Sure! I write mostly non-fiction STEM books as Victoria Christensen, but I also have some fun picture books (A Tiny Brown Monkey on the Big Blue Earth and A Little Round Panda on the Big Blue Earth) and chapter books (the Curious McCarthy series) under my pen name, Tory Christie (www.torychristie.com). Thanks for asking!
I wrote a little story about Mother Nature and a ceremonial farewell to Winter. Readers loved the imagery and characters. I also wrote a snowflake lullaby which was well received. I have a great fondness and respect for childhood and children and to have been in their joyful company has been one of the great pleasures
Sri, this sounds fantastic. I have two small children and one on the way and they both seem to share my love for stories so far. Going to subscribe now x
Hi. Ha. Well, I write other people's memoirs so I think that's easier than our own. The podcast first season is my book, MANic - Musings and Ramblings About Love and the Second Season is the understanding and healing I'm undergoing from the learnings I experienced after writing the book and living the experiences.
Hi, Katie and fellow newbies. I started my sassy little substack this month/the first week of March. Having such a great time and already connecting with some wonderful writers.
Hi, Mike. I write about seeking out happy, or your brand of it. Life is hard, we should find a way to have a good time with it (without being toxically positive, which grosses me out).
FFS, that would be a book not a "good" (though, I would like to think it is). I can't even put that off to my dyslexia. I can put it off to being at work and trying to look like I'm working. Sigh.
Just how sassy do ya get? Sandra My stuff is a little less sassy these past months but variety is alive and well in the work and sassy is never far off the page π
I started it less than a month ago at https://writersomnibus.substack.com and the best thing that has happened my writing is already less self-conscious! It's made me more accountable and I am super excited about showing up.
That's one of the things I've loved about Substack! I've been writing for a long time, but the ease of writing / sharing here has done the same for me - it's SO motivating and encouraging!
I'm only five weeks in but agree with you on both counts. I wondered how I'd find the motivation to write every week but my growing number of subscribers makes me feel I owe them good content, which is a wonderful thing. I tried to write my more 'personal' posts first and that really helped me get over feeling self-conscious. Can't wait to check out your substack. x
Iβve also been pleasantly surprised by how intrinsically motivating it is to publish. And the amount of clarity it brings to my thoughts on a subject.
Yes - I agree with Laura....writing certainly helps me clarify my thinking as well. I'm an "It's Elementary" subscriber. It's fabulous, and you should certainly check it out!!
Hi everyone! I moved my old Wordpress blog over to Substack earlier this month and have a bunch of new content planned! I mostly review books, but Iβm working my way through the MCU and old episodes of Veronica Mars at the moment! Canβt wait to find some new sites to follow!
Hi Amanda, I think this is an excellent idea. I think the key here is to consistently post good content as well. I am looking at my old blog post from years ago, to re-write and make relevant for substack with photos..
Yes Amanda, I update all the time ever since I started using my draft section as a filing cabinet. I recently added a bunch of music links once I learned how
What a great idea, thanks for sharing the concept of using the draft section as a filing cabinet. I will do that as well. I wrote a list of things I want to write about, and now I know where it will go.
You're most welcome Brenda. Glad to be of service I discovered this technique when there was construction crew outside my office window and I had to use my phone to work on article pieces. This is similar to the Substack duplicate draft feature, but be careful of using duplicate drafts and always publish on a new page not on the duplicate draft page
This is such a good idea. Have been wondering what to do with my blog and it feels sad to let it all disapear, this feels like a nice way to pay homage to it instead of it just swiming around somewhere in the internet space without getting my attention. Thank you!
Hi Amanda. I am in the process of transferring my Blogger site to substack. It's a bit of a task and I'm learning as I go. My blog is essays, but I write fiction so am happy to see you review things. I will check it out.
Hi Amanda, I too am transferring my old blogs from one site to another, revising and preparing to share. I didn't want to lose all my work when I changed domains from my website. It's great to see how much my writing has improved since I started the process.
You can export your posts from Wordpress and import them into Substack - itβs pretty easy, actually! A lot of my graphics didnβt come with, so Iβve had to manually go through and update some things, but the content migration wasnβt bad at all! Carve out some time for updating - thatβs my only real tip!
Hi Stephanie! I used to do a lot of reviews from publishers and the like, and now I mostly mood read. But it doesnβt take a whole lot for me to review something - if Iβm interested, Iβll read it and review it!
I moved mine over too, but I've sort of just left them hanging there. Not quite sure what to do with them. I'm loving the 'talk' you can get on Substack and the range of other writers is amazing. I'm already publishing here, just trying hard to make it 'different' from my old blog! Any tips gratefully received!
This is a great question. I had been reading on Substack for a while and loved the app and the email/newsletter format, along with the opportunity to set up a paywall at some point in the future. Those were the major factors I considered, and Iβve loved Substack since I moved over!
I know someone who works with an AI that regularly does practical jokes. It also pouts. Sorry, it 'processes information' for long periods and refuses to communicate. He is definitely not pouting.
That's when you know you're dealing with a person.
Well today I posted about a new drug called Sitquitium that helps prevent people from sitting. Because, according to the experts, "sitting is the new smoking".
LOL. Caught me off guard. As I was reading your response, I was wondering if βsittingβ was a typo or at least an autocorrect or some accident of grammar. Well played sir/madam.
Sounds very cool & subscribed :) I'm writing about wildflowers at the moment (County Flora), but in my other life, I'm a researcher (remote sensing and ecology) and lecturer (spatial analysis). Today's lecture moved more towards the data science side of things as we wrap up the term. Focus was on data mining and machine learning, students get super excited about ai (plus they're all using chatgpt).
Hi Charlie, I would love to connect with you and see what you are doing. I am a retired MFTI / Professor. I have a daughter who is a Doctor in AZ. She is encouraging me to use AI for some of my research regarding the mental health world and the books I have been writing to help lay people to see a glimpse into the lives of those suffering around them. I desire to have all the research/ references in the back of the book. Your thoughts?
At a high level, the AI tools right know are great at content generation, but not always the best with factual accuracy. It's a real force multiplier, but you have to be the expert in the loop keeping an eye and checking its output.
Yes that's precisely the issue... do we want "content" or do we want quality writing? I've worn just about all of the hats a writer can wear, from journalist to PR professional to published literary author to tech writer and marketer. I know what the answer is for me.
Hi Brenda, I'd be cautious with using AI to do research. The chat bots are infamous for creating fake titles, listing all sorts of inaccuracies, and in general not producing factual or truthful content. It has already started to create havoc in the research world.
Hi! Iβm Mary Grace and I started my Substack newsletter, Choosy, earlier this year. Itβs a lifestyle newsletter about homes, design, and how people live. The theme of the newsletter is the merits of being picky, and how we make choices that impact our lives. Sometimes that means lighthearted topics like choosing house plants or paint colors, and other times it means personal essays about how to spend time wisely and the challenge of choosing when life has seemingly endless options.
Iβm a professional copywriter as well as caregiver of a dyslexic child. Special education navigation is an intense unseen job and caregivers need support and community. ISOLATION is so so bad. If you care for a child that has been struggling at school or have been navigating special education for years, Iβd love to have you to join my community β> https://dyslexianowwhat.substack.com/
Thank you so much! I found myself answering the same questions over and overβ¦. I thought βsomeone should aggregate resourcesββ¦ turns out thatβs me πββοΈ
Thank you so much. Substack is where I post caregiver perspective for caregivers (in a way that advocates/clinicians etc. cannot do based on their role) and am slowly incorporating items from Dyslexianowwhat.com in bite size post chunks.
I subscribe and am a dyslexia teacher. I though my substack would be about my teaching experience but it quickly morphed into launching caregiver support in my community for all parents.
Hi! I've just started my first blog, the Stubborn Optimist (https://stubbornoptimist.substack.com/ ). Only a few posts to date but we'll be posting on accountability (of companies and governments) in an age of the climate crisis. My goal is to investigate and help people understand how those with power are responding to the biggest challenge of our time: the climate crisis. I'm a former UN consultant retraining myself as a journalist/writer. Any stories I should cover let me know! Also I think Substack is such a great platform! Learning a lot!
Hi Tom! Really awesome theme for your Substack- some of my favorite journalists cover corporate/gov accountability. I write weekly climate news on my stack, The Doomer Dispatch. Itβs funny, Iβm also a consultant training themselves in journalism! (Though certainly not for the UN, haha) would love to connect and share tips on climate writing!
That would be great Joey- I've just subscribed to you. I'll mostly be covering the UK (where I am based but have an eye on international moves too). Would be great to connect somehow and share tips too - happy to connect via insta or twitter too!
I started my substack about 7 months ago, but it's only in the last month that I've decided to write more consistently, and with the purpose to eventually generate income from it.
I'm BSK. In a previous life, I worked as an Engineer in Toronto. Now, I live in Karachi, Pakistan, and educate street children. My substack narrates stories from my own life.
I like my writing, but I do have a hard time getting readers. And I believe no story becomes a story unless there are people to listen to it. So that part is definitely frustrating. And any tips or guidance for reaching new readers is appreciated!
Hey Katie! I'm Barbara Genova, I just started publishing here, I come from a bunch of indie literary journals and some magazine work, and the most interesting thing to know about what I do would be, I rebooted my entire professional life under a pen name in '21.
Friends, In January, I started a weekly substack, The Sentinel, (https://senthilv.substack.com). It goes out on Fridays.
For a first gen kid, surprised to find myself as a faculty at an Ivy league, this is been a great outlet both to explore writing interests across "two cultures - science and humanities", and share my mistakes and lessons. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Sounds interesting & subscribed. I'm also first gen, at the PhD stage currently, and straddling multiple disciplines (ecology, remote sensing, environmental policy).
I started writing on this format as a way to hold myself accountable for the back of the book indexing business that I was trying to grow. The death of my mom earlier this year had me re-evaluate, well, EVERYTHING and I'm now writing about freelancing work and life in general.
I've also made the executive decision to chase my life long pipe dream of becoming a writer.
Yes Birgitte, love U2 haven't had occasion to include them yet in my articles but soon will I'm sure based on song lyrics alone I have recently gone back and embedded music videos in the material
Congratulations Kim! Writing is a dream job... and yet, and yet... given what's happening now with AI a lot of us have concerns. Since you are a working writer, I would love your input for a survey I'm running on the impact of AI on those of us making a living as writers. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
I did! my Substack is SecondRateCities.com. It combines my love for running, bars, and overlooked cities into a long-form, non-conventional travel blog. The premise is short trips to any cities and towns that are not typical travel destinations and exploring them through, you guessed it, running and bar hopping. I think it gives a more honest feel of place than simply listing out "must-dos and sees" and uncovers lots of gems.
With that in mind, I would love to find more travel and culture Subs to follow, holler if you have one!
Hi Katie! I started my Substack, Track 5 (Karen's Version), as a personal blog chronicling my journey in heartbreak and healing. https://awhellnawkaren.substack.com
Hey Substack writers! Office hours is a great resource for all writers on the platform, especially if youβre new. Though simple in many ways, Substack can certainly feel complex sometimes. The Office Hours thread can feel chaotic and overwhelming; my advice is to just casually scroll and take in what you can. The FAQ page on the platform is also very helpful, and Substack staff are often good at responding to questions.
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
Right?! I need to take more chances with my writing. I'm already at the stage of my life where I give no fucks about what people think of me. I need to develope that for what I write.
The pen guides the way and as for outside opinions they are not going anywhere so as long as you are in the company of friends and folks who are gist for your inspiration, if you know what I mean π this is your canvas
Hi, Michael, yesterday I was wondering whether 1 post per week would be better. Do you really find that more is better? Wish I could run an experiment to find the sweet spot.
Our data team has found that once a week is a good benchmark. The format doesn't matter as much, it can be a short post. or a long post. Here's some inspiration for different post types: https://on.substack.com/p/types-of-posts-on-substack
Found phone will do what desktop doesn't for example, Settings for site publication where you can see list of writers and toggle off pledge . Will try this non email approach
This has been a challenge area for me. Currently I feel able to write a quality post (not perfect, but good enough) once every two weeks. I'm not sure how to even get to weekly. My typically word count is 800-900 words. Maybe I need to bring that down.
It's slow and small, but yes I do see growth. With just a little more consistency (and a tiny bit of sharing on Reddit and social media) I'm sure I could increase growth considerably.
Tricky to say for sure, of course. Depends on 1. How many posts you're throwing out each week. 2. The type of content you're producing.
So if you're doing news commentary three, four times per week: I'd suggest maybe like 300-500 words each time. But if you're doing careful analysis once a week, or personal in-depth essays, etc, I'd think more like 1-2 times per week and longer, maybe 1,500-2,000 word or so per piece.
There's no hard and fast rule on any of this. Part of it is just testing the waters. Experiment. What's the major risk? I've lost five, eight subscribers at a time here and there for posting too often or too controversially or too long, etc, but I gain new ones quickly after.
Rain Thank for sharing. I read some of you posts and they are good! Im on the other end of spectrum. Im not kidding I have so many ideas and things i want to share I have to journal them and hold them back. What I could suggest is if you have topics in your mind go out 2 and 4 weeks and save them as your future newsletter posts. Find a picture that supports your headline and save it too. Then keep going back and polishing the apple and as you get closer to publish date you should have filled in the quality content.
Thanks Paul! Polishing the apple... I really like that metaphor and funny thing is, that's pretty much how I attack the ideas I do have right now. Although of course, I am only doing that for one article at a time. Need to think 2-4 weeks out, as you say.
Reading yours and others' comments encourages me to consider systems to held me move from Idea>Draft>Article.
I do 2-3 posts per week but usually only 1-2 for subscribers via email. The other time, sometimes two, I use the big orange SS app button (currently gone now but they say back soon) which I send out with no emails at all. This way I can add more content but not annoy my subscribers with too many posts hitting their inbox.
By the way: Your Stack looks intriguing. Just subscribed :)
Hi. I write fantasy stories. My newsletter is about 5 months old, and I have 31 subscribers. When I've asked a few people how often they want a new story, they said once a week is enough. I can see that a newsletter concerned with news and opinion on current events needs to run with the times. But that's not the case with my work. Still, I'd welcome feedback on this: would you like to get short fiction - or a serialized story - more than once weekly?
I write once a fortnight (I use a sub-title Thought for the Fortnight, because radio 4 on the BBS has a Thought for the Day) and my subscribers are growing amazingly. I started with 25 family and friends in November and now am getting close to 150. Whether that is the frequency or the content is up for discussion, but I prefer to hear from people less frequently
It's a funny thing as to how often one should post. Some feel that once a week is more than enough, while others say 2-3 times a week, and still others put something out once a month. It all depends on what you write. If you are serializing a novel, you can put up 2-300 word pieces on an almost daily routine. You can also post once a week, but make longer posts of 2,000-2,500 words. If you're writing a financial type page, you might want to give yourself more time for research, and, again, depending on length, post once a week, or every ten days. I'm just opening up my paywall. I'm leaving that up in the air as to posting frequency because I only have 4 followers and they're my friends. My regular posts are once a week. If you want to look at everything else I have to offer, jump over the paywall.
Nice!! Different strokes for different folks, for sure. If you have good, consistent content, even if once every two weeks, it can work, as it clearly is for you! There's a stack I like a lot, The Art of Flash Fiction, which seems to be like once a month...but I always check in.
I notice a drop off during the week if I post every day (which was my plan at the start of my writing journey). But received a bit of feedback from an old high school English teacher to maybe dump all my writings from the same week last year into one post, then do some art, then some design. So from 7 posts to 3. I kind of like this. And may try it out in April!
I'd suggest twice a week to start: Right now it's low-risk since you have only 31 subs. (Not a judgment at all, just an observation.) See how people react. It's a delicate balancing act: Too much and people get annoyed; not enough and people sort of forget you're there.
Went to a farmworkers protest last Saturday in Palm Beach as they marched to Nelson Peltz' mansion home (they were protesting Wendy's). Obviously, due to having my new substack site, I took advantage of this opportunity, wrote a great story and took original photographs. Thanks Substack for providing this opportunity to tell stories.
What a great idea! Connecting the dots is the way to grow. I feel, for example, Substack is really helpful in capturing synergy after publishing a book, etc.
Appreciate your comment, "The Office Hours thread can feel chaotic and overwhelming..." I started my post in February. Since that time I've read the Office Hours each week and have asked a question each time. I've yet to get a response.
That's fine. I wonder if there is a way to ask questions directly to Substack support. Just some technical stuff.
I write a fortnightly Substack Newsletter (about whatever captures my imagination) and chose to NOT post frequently. Readers are busy people and they might like hearing from you, but not too frequently. I don't know if anyone else has my outlook, but i do see a lot of people assuming that I want to spend a lot of time with them. Not necessarily the case. Any views?
I also had as a goal to write twice per month when I started my Substack last year. But life happened and it became less. Am putting in more time again and my goal is still the same. I write about my life in Lusaka, Zambia and if people want to see what happens more often they are on my Instagram. So writing twise monthly a little bit more indepth about living here is for me enough. And with every Lusaka Letter the subscribers are growing. But it is an interesting subject and it seems like it has many answers.
Anyone reading on Substack will also be reading other sources, as well as reading other Substacks. A reader will prioritize their paid subscriptions, and then prioritize based on level of interest and time, and a raft of other personal decision making criteria related to areas of interest and the writing itself.
So, it's not necessarily that other people do or don't want to spend a lot of time with a particular writer. There's probably a Goldilocks point for different types of content above or below which the readers - paid or not paid - lose engagement with the writer or the topic or both.
Time and money. There are only a fixed number of hours in a day. If I was a paid subscriber to only 10 Substacks, that would be nearly $1000 a year (AU). And there are far more than 10 that are of interest to me. This compares with, say, the NYTs at $36 a year, or Netflix at $100 a year, or going to the cinema 50 times. Attention isn't the problem.
I post twice a week. Midweek I post nursing memoir, weekend I post about stuff I'm interested in - books, writing, knitting, gardening. I'm just building subscribers and enjoying myself at the moment.
Just subscribed to yours. Nursing memoir got my attention. My mom was a nurse and she's also a memoirist. And of course I write auto-fiction and memoir myself.
Hi Michael. For a blog that focuses on novels, do you still recommend 2-4 posts per week? I've read in other places where fiction writers should post less often, like 2-4 times per month. I'm not debating. I'm just wondering what you think.
Thanks. I'm braver when I'm writing my nursing memoir pieces, but in my other stuff it still feels a bit broadcasty. I love that there are really experienced writers on here who will offer wise words. https://junegirvin.substack.com. Any nurses on here, or retired nurses, I'd love to hear about your stacks.
I'm not a nurse, but I wrote a book about many nurses in hospice care. called Life in a Hospice. It is told through the words of people who work in end-of-life-care. You might find it interesting.
I am, incidentally, also in the UK. The book has been out awhile and has a Foreword from the late Tony Benn. I have also written a book called The Granny who Stands on her Head: Reflections on Growing Older, which in a nutshell is about why I enjoy being old (I am 81). That is my most recent and my most popular book. I chose the same title for my Substack newsletter because i) I was lazy and ii) I wanted something that is eye-catching (and I DO stand on my head) but that also gave me the freedom to write about anything that captures my imagination. It has been growing by leaps and bounds, I am pleased to say.
All good advice. 2-4 times per week though, not possible for me. Anyone having success with one post per week? (I have a full-time job and three side gigs currently; I'm a single mom and I'm pretty spent with all the hustling I need to do to get by...) One post is pushing it - I'm realizing though that I needn't go so long and try to be so thorough and perfect (I spend all week on one post sometimes). I realize attention spans are slim, though I do think that norm is different on Substack. I see some really long posts!!
Thanks for joining us today at Office Hours! It's great to see so many new faces. The Substack team is signing off but we'll be back next week. In the meantime, checkout the resources listed at the top of the post.
Some thoughts and tips for new fiction writers here:
- Don't overwhelm your readers. Fiction requires a different kind of attention, so don't send out so much that your readers don't have time to read it. Don't put yourself in the position of competing for time with everything else in their lives!
- This will vary depending on genre and style, of course, but I go with a loose rule of thumb of about 1,200 words per chapter/instalment. It's long enough to have some real substance, but short enough to be easily read in a single sitting during breakfast / the commute / before bed etc
- Create an index of your stories once you've got a decent number, to make it easier for people to find what they want. Especially the case if you're writing sequential, serialised stories. When I did this, it seemed to increase general readership (https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/how-to-read-tales-from-the-triverse).
- If you're writing a long-form story, or serialising a novel, don't include chapter numbers in the post titles. Over time, it becomes off-putting to new readers, who see a massive number and think of it as homework.
- Use sections for collections of stories, or for serials. Makes it much easier for people to navigate.
- For ongoing serials, consider including a TV-style 'previously on....' short paragraph at the top of each instalment.
- Use custom buttons to create easy previous / next chapter links.
- BookFunnel promos can be an effective way to bring in new fiction readers. Once you've got enough material to create a sample, you can use group promos to attract new readers. Because the sample is of the same material on the newsletter, it keeps churn to a minimum.
- Don't over-commit. If you can't manage 1 story a week, don't promise it! Figure out what you can comfortably deliver without stressing yourself out. A healthy writer = better writing.
Good luck to all of you starting out! There's a wonderful community of fiction writers here. Hopefully I'll get to meet some of you. :)
Thanks buddy! Funny you should mention that because my comment today for new writers also included a link to your Substack. I wish we could have mentions in the comments as well, but I guess they're still working on it π
Love this. Thanks! I'm putting memoir on my stack and already using a separate section for jt, so it''s good to know that's a good idea! I also like the idea of a 'previously'....
I'm new enough around here, just started taking it seriously in January. I love Substack, I love this space to write and I love the opportunities coming my way as a result of it β¨
Hi, Substackers. I started a humor newsletter in December, though to start I populated it from earlier works previously published elsewhere. The most recent post seems to be my most popular so far! Thanks for all the support! https://johnbluff.substack.com
Are you an upcoming writer of fantasy or science fiction on Substack? Do you want to join a like-minded community of speculative authors and be recognized for your work? The Lunar Awards has launched and is getting ready to run its first award season.
If you have questions about writing speculative fiction here on Substack, ask away! There are a large number of us that enjoy the genre and are interested in connecting. Here are a few of my favorites exploring a wide range of speculative sub-genres:
Hmm so interesting! I've written historical fantasy and am now working on my first sci-fi novel. Awesome to discover you! Just subscribed. My substack The Muse does have excerpts of my published literary work. I may serialize the new novel, not sure yet...
That's great, Birgitte, happy to have you! I've had several authors ask about an award for serial fiction, and I'm thinking of doing a future category for best first chapter in a serial. So stay tuned...
Thank you for the list of speculative fiction newsletters, Brian. Going to pursue them all. I subscribed to Lunar Awards as soon as I saw the email, and look forward to reading and connecting with other writers in the genre.
I just took the survey and provided information. You're welcome to contact me. I'm a journalism graduate and self-published, but I'm a software architect by trade so I tend to have a pretty rounded and grounded view when it comes to tech and writing.
Hi, all! I created my Substack more than a year ago, but I just committed myself to doing it regularly. Looking forward to following this community to grow and improve my Substack. I am a national news reporter and I write about rural affairs. https://nicholedobo.substack.com/
Hello Nichole, so nice to meet you. I'm a former journalist (used to write for the Hollywood trades). Given that you are a reporter, I would love your input for a survey I'm running on the impact of AI on those of us making a living as writers. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
Hi Nichole, I'm a parent and former teacher, and I write about culture, education, and parenting in the United States...and how we can do better. I'll definitely have to check out "Schoolhouse". Wonderful you are writing about rural schools! For some reason, they often do not get the attention they deserve.
Good for you. We need more local media and media outlets that focus on rural life. The local media industry is dying. We need more news sources that donβt focus overwhelmingly on national issues.
Hi! New writer here! I started my self-help/astrology blog this week. It accompanies my Chicago-based in-person comedy show Astrobitch! Its an astrology based comedy show where the comics all have the zodiac sign of the month except one. The audience has to guess which on is the odd one out based on their comedy routine!
I've been paying attention to astro since I was in my early 20s. A gradual fascination to the subject and the reactions it causes in ppl. Good for you combining it with comedy. The more we laugh, the more open parts of us become! Let it rip!
Hey everyone, I'm constantly New anywhere I go, so of course I'm New Here. Nice to meet you all.
I write Runaway, a newsletter all about expectations, reality and the inevitable crash. It's gonna be a two-times-a-week deal, one personal essay, one wild culture roundup of sorts.
Iβd you donβt already have a built in audience of followers (like published authors do), what are tangible tips for growing? Especially ones that do not lift too much energy away from the actual writing?
Substack has a feature in its stats called "Audience Insights" where it'll show the publications your current subscribers read the most. I started checking out, subscribing and chiming in on posts in these publications and it was more valuable than I was expecting. My subscriber list has grown, but also I have found some utterly fantastic newsletters that I can't wait to read and then join in the conversation. I'd start there.
I'm trying to make a more intentional effort to comment on newsletters that are similar to mine (would be reasonable to assume that the audiences will overlap). It's been helpful for me especially as I don't have much of an existing online presence/social media following!
I would recommend networking with other Substackers. Subscribe, read, and leave thoughtful comments. Once you're "friends" suggest a cross-post. Sign up for social media and use those platforms to promote your writing. I saw someone earlier on one of these threads say he cuts and pastes his entire newsletter on LinkedIn and it generates new subscribers for him. I'm a fan of teasers rather than giving them the whole thing. It's really a matter of consistency. Write consistently (every Monday, or whatever) so your audience can rely on you, and promote consistently. There are lots of apps that can schedule your social posts for you. I know lots of writers who take a few hours Sunday evening to set up their socials for the week.
Thanks, Katie. I'm Howard M. Cohen and I launched two new Substacks in January. The Business Technologist's Journal (biztechjournal.substack.com) is a chance for me to share experiences, insights, and observations from my 40 years of executive experience in the IT industry. What Do You Want (whatdoyouwant.substack.com) explores how intention shapes our lives, suggesting that the most important question to answer begins with "what do you want?"
I'm a NY transplant living in Arizona who first embarked on a freelance writing career 14 years ago and has never looked back.
By the way, the biggest value I find here in Office Hours comes from the people I get to meet who are all cruising in the same boat as me. It's like coming home, and very welcome.
Hi Howard, I enjoy your analogy! We are leaving the safety of the port and heading out into the blue waters. I wonder what we will get to see as we continue our cruise. It's a great idea not to jump ship if the waves swell and rock the boat! On my first cruise, literally, waves came up and were 17 ft. high, keeping us from being able to go in to the port! It was fun on the dance floor I admit.
Many has been the time I've had to lash myself to the mast to avoid being swept overboard. In terms of what we get to see, my thought is that we have to be at the wheel. As the wonderful singer/songwriter Richie Havens once told me, "You are the master of your own ship."
Hi Howard, hats off to you for publishing two Substacks! I'm looking for working writers for a piece I'm writing about generative text AI and its impact on our work and our jobs. Would love your input for a survey I'm running on the topic. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
Set and stick to a rigid schedule. Prepare for it by listing a series of titles you plan to write for each. As much as possible, write several of them and keep them for future on time posting. I think the biggest challenge may be resisting the urge to do more!
One thing I like about committing to a publishing schedule is the (self-imposed) deadline. It really drives me to keep writing. "I love deadlines. Especially the 'whoosh' sound they make when they go by." - Douglas Adams
Elizabeth Swann: "You and I are alike, and there will come a moment when you have a chance to show it. To do the right thing [stick to your Substack deadlines]."
Jack Sparrow: "I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by."
TOMORROW IS MY LAUNCH DAY! Grief, Grit & Grace: A Heroine's Journey of Aging
About the archetypal adventures of a woman's third act of life.
I have a TON of tech questions that the articles aren't answering, and I'd love to get some hand-holding from a real Substack human. Are there any out there?
Speaking of, interface jumping around as per usual less frequently though. Anyway gotta go, but don't worry folks I'll be back to haunt and taut sometime later π De
The most important one: I want to have a mix of free and paid subscribers. So if I push the button that says, "Allow readers to pay to subscribe," does that de facto exclude free subscribers?
Also, I've inserted a graphic in the headers for all my different types of post that is not showing up in the post previews. Is there something else I need to know?
When you hit "Allow readers to pay to subscribe" you get a mix of paid and free subscribers, kind of like the setup on Patreon.
Before you hit publish, there is an option to choose what photo you want to be your cover. It's called "Social Preview." If you have any more questions, feel free to head over to my Substack. It's a community of newbies navigating the Substack platform together.
And then ... if I post questions in the comments on the YouTube videos, will someone be there to read and reply? I just need some real human love, know what I mean?
I am here. I am in deep grief, I lost five family members in this past year. When I lost my daughter a few months ago, then my adopted daughter right after, my faith was shaken to the core. Although I am retired from the mental health field, I am now seeking wisdom how to function as my heart has been shredded and I feel undone. Nevertheless, I was invited by two older women to get on Substack and start publishing whatever I am writing about. I feel like I am all over the map, knowing this is part of the grieving process. I hope we can connect in the future. I will be popping in here as well. CONGRATULATIONS for your diligence and follow through on your launch date.
Oh my goodness Brenda, so much loss. What an enormous rite of passage to have to navigate. I've never experienced the loss of loved ones so close together, but I have lost a relationship, then a job, then a home, etc., all in short order. It's devastating.
There's something in this kind of process about being torn all the way down to hell and then rebuilt all the way up to heaven. The liberation on the other side seems to be in direct proportion to the loss. I have a client who went though the kinds of losses you're experiencing, and she's now in such a place of perennial, causeless joy. I wish that for you too!
FINGERS CROSSED I get this launched tomorrow! The first post will be about pleasure. Stay tuned!
I hope launch went well Marcella. I am setting up my substack now and am still bit away from launching. I love how you speak of the liberation on the other side of loss, in direct proportion. I am feeling it. Although the perennial joy is a daily practice. You will be able to read more about my losses and finds at my substack. I'll keep you in mind to send it to.
Hi Brenda, I am just setting up my first Substack and am reading through the Office Hours to listen for the way forward with it. Your post has me holding my heart and sending you much love. May you find the way forward with courage and care. Wishing you well.
I'm in the third-act too and launching within the next few days. I write about Life, the Self & Spiritual Exploration from a practical point of view. Plenty self examination and entertainment in there too.
Likewise! I won't leave my email here, but if you search on my name, Marcella Friel, you can find me outside of this thread. Would love to have a writing accountability partner. I look forward to reading you as well, Laurie. Best, M.
I read your Substack βAboutβ information and think we have some good things in common. Iβm very interested in establishing a writing accountability partner and would love to connect.
Ooh yeah! Your name sounds familiar. I remember eating a "Mrs. Renfro's Hot Sauce" years ago, don't know if that's your family lineage? In any case, I just free-subscribed, feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to talk about co-writing.
Hi everyone, I'm Laurent. I seem to be one of the newest around here as I launched less than 24 hours ago! Trying to make the best of my time going over the resources and figuring out a game plan here.
My newsletter is called Asymmetrical Collage. I want it to become a place where people go to think about future change and how we can find opportunities to lead more meaningful lives according to our values.
If anyone wants to check it out, I'll start publishing weekly on Tuesdays.
I started a few weeks ago. It feels like I am jumping in the deep end of the pool. I was invited/ challenged to write something and publish it so I could experience the true feeling of being vulnerable as the joy of knowing I have begun facing any fears.
You will find this so freeing. Being vulnerable is a gift. It opens us to the real miracles of life. Yesterday I was afraid of driving in the rain. The minute I got out of my garage and on my way I saw my dead baby brother's birthday on an SCE license plate that came right toward me. I felt him, gone almost 30 years, right beside me in the passenger seat. All along the way I got messages and I felt completely safe and it turned into a fun trip out that accomplished exactly what I really needed in the moment I needed it. Have fun with this!
Wow. Sometimes the messages really do come when they are needed. Thanks for sharing this. I lost my younger brother ten years ago (he was 24) and have begun to explore this in my writing. I will check out your Sub. Peace!
Kudos on being vulnerable. Trying to get there myself. It's no small journey!
It's so much easier to run away from those fears, and be someone the world wants you to be instead of being yourself - your whole self, the polished bits as well as the jagged parts.
Thanks for subscribing. I think life experiences lead us to our realizations. Also, there is a big shift happening now, and those of us in the know, recognize how to use some of the parts of ourselves that we've developed in the dark, perhaps with embarrassment that now can have a voice in the light. I'm sure this doesn't make sense... but the whole 99% perspiration 1% inspiration is one way of looking at it. If you focus on your 1% inspiration the perspiration isn't a slog as much as a curious discovery and excited display!
Just spinning up my new Substack at https://kenburkhalter.substack.com/. Essays at the intersections of life, faith, and purpose. Looking for info on moving to a custom domain.
Hi Ken, I found your post in the multitudes here. "Walking in the Light" I too am walking in the light and just began this journey here. I am creating a new website, (my first time) which seems like an impossibility. Not my strong suit to say the least. I am curious about the custom domain as well.
From the research I've done it sounds like a relatively simple process. I am not a techie though, and simple to one can be a disaster to another. I checked with my personal website host (GoDaddy) and they assured me that if I have the directions, they will walk me through it step by step. So, checking with your domain host may help simplify and add confidence. Good luck with your new gig!
Moving to a private domain does seem straightforward. My questions are about what happens after the move. Do you lose any of Substack's native functionality, and is tech support still available if a glitch occurs at some point?
Just joined. All new to me. I'll be publishing a bi-weekly series of short stories meant to bring a smile to faces and once in a while maybe new perspectives on the craziness of life. The Untold Stories orf Dusty Rhodes has launched on Substack!
Iβm Jason. I write about battling in the goal to better my mental health. I have poems and life stories I have shared with the goal of helping myself throughout therapy, as well as hopefully reaching someone who can use some perspective or a positive note.
Hi Jason, it would be great to connect and share thoughts about our writing. I am on Substack to share learn how to increase my writing skills as well as possibly sharing insights from my experiences in the mental health world, from both sides of my life experiences. After twenty plus years of counseling in one way of the other, I have retired. I am now focusing on my own passion to share insights while enjoying the art of writing to process my own journey.
I wish you nothing but the best in your quest to learn more and share. I have just subscribed to your substance. I invite you to do the same and/or message me privately on twitter to connect more.
Hi. Started "Books I Read This Month" (https://booksireadthismonth.substack.com) on the last day of February. The second volume will be published on March 30. What is the easiest way to search for other Substacks which focus on book reviews? Thanks.
From the Substack reader, you can use search to find publications, posts and people. I encourage you to explore that way to start: https://substack.com/browse
This thread actually started at 10 today! I'm looking forward to seeing some new writers here - In the past I found myself getting lost despite showing up a half an hour early.
I have no questions today, but want to express how frustrated I've been with there being no dashboard function on the app. That combined with the fact that most of my followers don't have the app - it feels pretty useless. I wish it was first tailored towards the Substack creators/writers rather than the consumers. I would much prefer getting subscription notifications and comments there to manage than receiving a hundred emails about it.
Anyway, thanks for having this community and thanks for listening.
Need the writer tools ASAP, particularly as I am visually impaired. posted about my need in todayβs Office Hours comments. Really want to lunch soon!
Thank you for sharing this Kerry! I'm more of an app person too, and discovering I can't see or edit drafts on the app is quite frustrating.
Regards notifications, I think you can select to receive notifications only from your subscribers and comments on the app and not in your email in the settings.
That's a great question! Writers have to us that they have worked with illustrators and it really has helped bring new life to their publications. Erik Hoel is a great example: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-9
He found someone who's style he liked and reached out directly.
Amanda, want to thank you for reaching out to living, human illustrators. I realize generative art AI is now an option, but if you can do it, hiring human artists is so important right now. Same with living human writers. We need to be able to continue to do our work and follow our passions and still make a living.
I'm not an illustrator but I can make digital collages / graphic designs, and would be happy to talk if you're interested. You can see some of my work at my 'stack.
If personal connection with artists is not a priority for you, you can use Midjourney or DALL-E for this purpose. Check out my Substack for other design tools that may help you: https://rushingrobotics.com.
Hey new Substack writers! I hit six months of weekly publishing this month, and after starting with only 15 subscribers I'm on my way to 300. It's been slow and steady, and I couldn't be more excited about the experience. If you're interested in how I have approached writing and growing, I wrote a post called "My Three-Month βStackiversary and Insights for Writers with Under 200 Readers."
The essay includes details regarding my subscriber numbers and goals. Here's a link:
Talent! You have bared your stats and actually made them fun to read. Thanks for this encouraging service to the rest of us who start writing without previous fame.
I am so inspired by you! This is awesome and thank you so much for sharing this essay. (Also a fellow grant writer, but after 20 years and a pandemic I've switched to illustration.) :-D
To all those getting started, I recommend a weekly publishing schedule. I publish on Wednesday mornings, for example. Here is the weekly writing plan I use.
Thursday: Thank God Iβve got a full week till my next post.
Friday: Still got a few days to get started. Iβm fine.
Saturday: The weekends are for relaxing, right?
Sunday: This is officially a day of rest. I couldnβt write even if I wanted to.
Monday: Wait, donβt I have a post to write?
Tuesday: What do you mean Wednesday is tomorrow? How on earth did that happen? Oh this is insane. Iβd better get started.
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning: Does Uber Eats deliver coffee at 3 a.m.?
Wednesday (after posting): Phew. Made it. That was rough. Iβll never let that happen again.
Hello! My substack is mostly about my 30 years as a working musician. The good, the bad, and the pursuit to keep pushing on. https://ofsoundandfury.substack.com/
I have a YouTube channel and find it very hard to make time for both while working a full time job. I try to get organized every week and have a game plan but if it doesn't work out, I don't beat myself up for it. Our work benefits from living, and from taking any time that we may need.
This week is my second birthday celebration posting my newsletter Tumbleweed Words on Substack! Iβm not much of one for self-promotion and love the organic community I am growing over at Tumbleweed Words. But I thought Iβd shoot my shot for once and ask fellow Substackers who subscribe or enjoy my newsletter to take less than a minute and support my newsletter with a Substack recommendationβany support is greatly appreciated! Link available below via my recent post.
Hi writers! I'm a freelance copywriters and designer from Amsterdam. I'm just starting here on the Substack platform with a new project. Still in the planning and draft phase. But looking forward to getting to know the platform and the possibilities :-)
Hi - I just started in March. Writing about wine, food and fun travel/places. Excited to finally get started on something I've wanted to do for awhile.
Hello! I've recently started a Substack (about a month ago) about what is probably a pretty niche topic here: amateur radio experimentation. I imported some subscribers from my blog but I'm looking for ways to get more views and hopefully start to build an interactive community. If you're a ham or even just curious about the tech, I'd love to connect with you.
Hey - loving Substack as a platform and community but still trying to build my subscriber list organically. I obviously want to grow beyond my little social network and find my true audience. Any tips are much appreciated. Secondary to that, a lot of people seem to read but don't subscribe, or subscribe but comment directly to me as opposed to the post. Would love to correctΒ that naturally.Β
Anyway, my Substack is SecondRateCities.com. ItΒ combines my love for running, bars, and overlooked cities into a long-form, non-conventional travel blog.Β The premise is short trips to any cities and towns that are not typical travel destinations and exploring them through, you guessed it, running and bar hopping. I think it gives a more honest feel of place than simply listing out "must-dos and sees" and uncovers lots of gems.
With that in mind, I would love to find more travel and culture Subs to follow, holler if you have one!
What a great travel focus. I love second-rate cities. I also happen to love running and drinking. One of my favourite travel moments was arriving in Napoli (certified second-rate), dropping my bag, going for a run, and drinking too many Negronis at a rest stop to run back from wherever it was I ended up. Do you have a favourite second-rate city?
Hahaha, that sounds amazing. Love a good negroni and I bet they're heaven in Napoli. We might need to travel together ;)
I don't have a fave, but I can say my love for them started when I began traveling to rust belt and midwest cities (Detroit, Milwuakee, Buffalo, etc). I quickly realized how much fun they were and all that I was missing.
Like you, am still trying to grow organically. I've been more focused on developing the habit of writing consistently and clarifying my focus first (only started in January) but would like to start finding my true audience as I go forward.
I don't have any specific tips for you but wanted to say I love your idea of combining three things you love. I am intrigued and want to check it out.
Thanks! Yeah, I wish this topic allowed for more consistency, unfortunately long form + travel means posts are few and far between. But maybe an advantage too since it's not overwhelming inboxes. Who knows.
Yes, converting views into subscribers seems to be my challenge as well. My view numbers aren't bad for just starting out, but it seems to be tough to get them to subscribe for free. I put at least one subscribe button in every post. However, I don't want the reader to feel like I'm clubbing them over the head with it.
I've got a plan: I'm starting off free before I'll eventually allow paid subscriptions. I plan to switch when I reach a few hundred subscribers or a few thousand. It's not easy being someone without a lot of fame, but I gotta say Substack is much better and more professional than Google Blogger and WordPress.
Hi Katie - and everyone! π I started Haver & Sparrow last month - I share writing and photographs of everyday moments from my home in Shetland (a group of tiny islands in the middle of the wild and unforgiving North Sea). My latest letter is 'Consistency and creativity' https://haverandsparrow.substack.com/p/consistency-and-creativity - a topic a lot of us here can relate to, I think! I love to document the little moments and details that might otherwise pass us by. The light moving across a wall, the petals on a wilting flower, the textures on a frosty walkβ¦ I love Substack so far, the community here is great and the conversations are always so interesting! β¨
You might want to write a more specific "handle" sentence / paragraph for your Substack, Bryce. From my perspective, "from my keyboard to your inbox" is way too general for a person to know whether or not they want to check it out.
Hey everyone! I'm working on a piece about the generative AI frenzy and would like to know what you all think. Have you used it? Do you love it, hate it, or not sure yet? Do you want to be interviewed for the piece?
AI is the most dangerous trap for Humanity, because most people do not have the awareness to undertsand the conscequences of the their ationa as a collective
Hello Katie and everybody! I started my Substack some 9 months ago, but I consider myself new to the community. Even though have written 44 posts already, I have never got around to interacting with the community of writers here.
I am a teacher of English from Poland serializing my multidimensional and multimedia travel story called 'Other Eyes for Johnny Rocco: Welcome to 3000 Miles on the Road with a Heart Unlocked by a Month of Silence' here: https://novaliterary.substack.com.
It is a story that takes readers behind a curtain of monastic bliss and agony for them to co-experience how it is to be in a very silent, holy and exotic setting for a month, only to be plucked out of the place to go on a journey with 'other eyes' across Thailand, Mainland Malaysia, Singapore, across the Strait of Malacca, and down the islands of Sumatra and Java.
The posts alternate, serializing the main story, as well as promoting the accompanying 'Tales from the Jungle' and 'Postcards from the Road'. There are plenty of graphics from Magda's (my wife) drawing board, there are plenty of photos from my Nikon and there is plenty of World Music (and not only) from YouTube.
However, After 44 posts, my thoughts have started wandering to this doubt territory in my brain that has large blanket words like: βmaybe I need a breakβ, βmaybe itβs not worth the hassleβ or βwho cares about it anywayβ. When I finally get around to writing, it is almost always fun, comes with ease and I always manage to surprise myself with what and how I have written things. Yet, the initial thrill does not last until there is time to write another post.
I suspect more external support would save me from quitting, but my strategy for getting new subscribers is yet to be born.
Your story sounds very interesting. I will check it out. Like you, when I write, I find the process fun, flowing, and functional. The mind monkeys posing questions of defeat exist in my world too. My book has been a journey of years of blocks, including cancer, moving to a different state, selling a business. I try to focus on the enjoymnet I get from writing and continue to hope the rest will come. Your story has great value.
Hi Katie, Stories from the Edge is a newsletter and website sharing light hearted weekly posts sent out from a smoky bothy in the wilds of Scotland. Thanks for the great platform Substack! https://signalscott.substack.com
Hi everyone! I started my blog about two weeks ago and thus far have only gained 14 free subscribers. However, I am hoping to focus on readers who are interested in epic fantasy, from middle-grade until adult. I was wondering how large Substack's current stock of epic fantasy blogs and readers might be.
The newsletter I publish today will be the first that only goes to paid subscribers. And I have a dilemma. Is there a way that I can provide access to individuals who aren't subscribers, for instance sources quoted who I would like to be able to see articles, even though they aren't (yet) subscribers?
You'd need to create a new post and re-send it. You can click on the 3 dots on the post in question and then click on "duplicate to drafts" and resend it.
Hi Richard. This appears to be a glitch which has been fixed. You could use this opportunity to re-email your subscribers and let them know what happened, and it will probably never happen again. I have sent many newsletters through the Substack email system, and this is the first time I have seen this problem. Good luck!
I got the strangest looking email when someone commented on one of my posts today, so maybe it was a general emails-from-Substack issue and not newsletter specific. Hope it's fixed soon!!
Congratulations, you are making progress, although there are a few things to iron out. I do not know where I should go to learn how to make a newsletter. Can you direct me as where to find info. I have only been on Substack for a few weeks.
I followed the same advice I have always given to clients I have blogged for. Release each post on the same day each week. I post The Business Technologist's Journal on Tuesdays and What Do You Want on Fridays. This builds in a discipline to get the content ready to go by the night before. I usually then schedule it for posting early the next morning. Once it's posted I share it to a few dozen groups on Facebook, a few dozen groups on LinkedIn, and a handful of Twitter hashtags.
Yesterday, my son reminded me that I also always encouraged clients to agree to a scheduled list of topics which I would then write in rapid succession and store up for posting in future weeks. This way, if there was ever a delay, I'd still be able to post consistently on time.
From my perspective, the Journal is targeted at my community of colleagues. What Do You Want is far more broadly targeted. Watching both grow comparatively has been incredibly instructional and fascinating.
I'm interested in knowing what approaches other writers have to not overwhelming their subscriber lists with content. I get so excited about writing stuff, but also want to be conscious of not overwhelming everyone's email inboxes and want to be sure I maintain/build my subscriber community and don't scare them off. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas/approaches for how they think about this?
Hi I am trying to get focused to do exactly that. I am a 70 something writer with years of teaching comp and getting published in local papers. There are loads of ideas in my head and my situation invites a whole lot of cultural criticism. But I am struggling to start getting myself serious about capturing my voice. My son is transgender and I care about and want to talk about that. And I am a '70s feminist, so that is going to play a role in my work.
Jan, you might like my substack.Iβm also in my 70βs and a feminist, and I write about how it was back then and is now. Take a look: susanbordo.substack.com.
Began a few weeks ago. Just my own random thoughts about this or that. Not looking for a large audience but the outlet is fun. I am a retired scientist and current editor with time on my hands. Good luck to all newbies.
I started a blog recently β www.flyrun.fun. Itβs about travel and running β and in particular, traveling to run! I like the platform. I wish with free subscriptions there was a feature to make some posts available only to subscribers β so as to encourage people to subscribe for free
Hey writers! We had a great conversation here last week as part of Office Hours and will continue the conversation here for new writers this week.
We invite you to read through the thread and absorb the insights fellow writers shared. If you're new to Substack in the last three months and didn't introduce yourself last week, reply to this comment and say hello.
Hi everyone! My names Denize and my substack through another lens covers cultural criticisms, explorations of the self, examinations of interpersonal relationship, and now interviews of various creatives where we deep dive their work!
Iβve been loving the interview format lately and how it allows people to peel back their layers, especially when I interview other creatives to ask them about their creative process. It reminds me that our lives influence our art so much, and itβs worth connecting the dots to see what led an artist to a specific point in their evolution.
Do you have a favorite interview youβve read? Share it with me!
Hereβs an interview I did with my friend Fernando Ponce who is an LA-based filmmaker and photographer. Cheers!
https://denisemasiel.substack.com/p/the-power-of-stories-with-salvadorian
Denise, I like the guaranteed interaction feel that the interview format offers. Interesting = Hawaii. that was the focus of my newsletter launch!
I think thatβs my main objective when I interview-- how can I best convey this person and their complexities with a few questions and their answers?
Agree! Keep going with the interview format! I've also just been generally loving interviewing people for my essays and posts each week. Peels back the layers for everyone.
Looks interesting, Denise. I just subscribed and will check it out.
I mean, Denize!
Hi Denize, I just began to read one of your interviews last week. Yes, definitely keep going with the interview format. It's really working for you from my standpoint!
Thanks Joyce for the encouragement! Iβm glad you enjoyed it π
Intriguing! Do you interview creatives on Substack? https://billybumbo.substack.com/ at your service!
I hope to one day! Ive been interviewing my local artists and creatives in CA and my good friends who are creatives. I want to home in on my interviewing skills with familiar faces first before I venture out too far :)
Well keep up the good work! You're adding value in a different way to an eclectic, homogenous bunch.
Sounds interesting. Will subscribe.
Followed and already seeing so many interesting posts to read. Generally enjoy reading interviews with authors and writers.
Thanks Jenny! I plan on having more interviews and reviews of creative works :)
"It reminds me that our lives influence our art so much, and itβs worth connecting the dots to see what led an artist to a specific point in their evolution."
I agree, this is really interesting, and something I've been thinking about a lot recently, too. (It's even what my very first post, yesterday, was about: https://quantepast.substack.com/p/about ) What are any of us but the product of the various places (culturally and otherwise) that we've come from? and maybe those are ultimately what give us anything interesting to say in the first place, anything that would be interesting for others to read.
Re your interview with Ponce: This is good writing!
This aspect of how he described his evolving thinking about his own work struck me:
"So, it was figuring out how I could lean into the documenting style while also being able to make a living out of it."
"The biggest thing now is creating with intentionβchipping it down and filming with a structured, cohesive end goal in mind."
What I hear him saying is that he was figuring out how to both (1) do what he loved and wanted to do, create what he wanted to create, while also (2) being organized and disciplined enough about it to create something that others would want to consume--and, ideally, pay him for.
And really, isn't that what a lot of us (all of us?) here on Substack are doing, too?
Iβve found that the editing and condensing is the most difficult part -- letting their words shine through while also concising it for clarity. Definitely a big lift!
Hi, I'm June and my Substack covers two areas - a section on memoirs of 47 years of nursing and then a section on writing, books, gardening and generally my creative life. It's called June's writing and you can find it here https://junegirvin.substack.com. I'm retired and finally have time to write - if I don't do it now, I never will. I'm finding Substack welcoming and inspiring.
Hi June, I love that you've divided your Substack into sections of interest from your life. That gives me ideas on being more creative and expansive as I work to set up my Substack. I'm a writer who is currently working on a memoir and I'm also a poet. You've given me food for thought in thinking about how I might want to share my writing. Thank you!
Gosh, thanks! I'm such a novice, your comment has made my day!
That's awesome! My aunt was also a nurse for maybe as long as you and is now retired and dedicates a lot of her artwork to the patients she took care of over the years. A lot of it is actually kind of dark (dying patients, sickness), but also so beautiful and inspiring. Kudos to you. :)
Thanks!
Love this Iβm a nurse so looking forward to reading yours post. Happy retirement. π€
Thanks so much. Hope you enjoy it!!
Welcome June!
Thanks!
Fellow (former?) nurse. Subscribing!
". . . have time to write -- if I don't do it now, I never will."
So true--definitely what I'm thinking, too, what I was thinking when I joined Substack just yesterday. What all of us here are thinking, maybe.
I guess so! Thanks for subscribing. I hope you enjoy my writing! Feedback always welcomed.
That sounds amazing June. Am also a nurse but after the pandemic I have decided to go into writing (itβs a dream I have had since my teenage years). Will follow your Substack. Love to read about nursing! Will probably write more about I myself one day
Thanks, Jenny! I hope you enjoy it. I usually post nursing memoir midweek and other stuff at the weekend. Please do comment, I always read and reply.
Have subscribed now!
Hurrah! Thank you so much.
A Bonjour from France, I am late to the party it seems, but as they say here, c'est la vie! I started my Substack some three weeks ago and made my third post (one every Monday). I write about my writing journey, working on my first novel (dystopian SF, 35k words in) and share my thoughts on the creative process and transmedia influence, esp. from games, having worked in the Game Industry for nearly two decades. I am hoping to connect with fellow writers, and (beta) readers here! So, hop on over and avoid the eyeball kick from the whistling dog trying to sell you a Jar of Tang!
I think the best part has been discovering community!
I think that's the best aspect of substack
Indeed, it is amazing!
Bonjour Alexander, I too am a fiction writer substacking it here in France. I'm also looking for connect with other writers here. I'll check your newsletter out. A bientot!
Subscribed! Looking forward to reading!
Thanks Matt!
Salut Lisa, a fellow writer in France! Fantastique! Will hop over. A bientot!
Thank you, Garrett. You're my first. : ) I'm new here but am looking forward to this. Kicking around social media for a decade now, I think I might have finally found my place.
That's definitely what I'm looking for! And thanks! Looking forward to reading your stuff.
Bonjour!
Also writing about my writing journey, and life in general. Always fun to follow others during the writing process. Welcome to Substack!
Thanks Jenny! Subbed.
Sounds interesting, Jenny. Subscribing now.
I love a bit of dystopian SF. I was working with Syd Mead the Futurist who did a lot of the artwork for movies such as Blade Runner, Tron, Minority Report etc. He sadly passed away the end of 2019.
Syd Mead is a legend. Such iconic work he did, inspired whole generations. You name titles that are near and dear to my heart. You may like my story!
It was such an honour to get to know him, albeit mostly over the telephone and not in person as his health was in decline. I was working on bringing an exhibition of his work to Hong Kong where I lived. Perfect backdrop! But alas, things got messy in Hong Kong and I returned to the UK. I am still in touch with his partner who manages his collection. I love that you love his work too. I'll check out your Substack.
That's too bad re: HK I can understand, though. Thanks again for dropping by!
Sounds great, Alexander. I'm working on a couple of novels and Substack is keeping me focused on writing. It's been quite a boon for me. Also writing sci-fi and fantasy. I'm subscribing now.
https://scottweinzirl.substack.com/
Fellow sf writer. Subscribed! Looking forward to reading!
Just getting started on a serial. I've got a kind of YA fantasy thing on there now but looking forward to loading up on a lot of (hopefully good) fiction.
Love that. Do you read much serialised fiction on here?
A little bit. But I haven't seen a lot.
This is the first On Substack that I've seen folks really talking about it. I'm jacked to read it.
"nerd", "filmmaker", "sci-fi, fantasy and horror"--is your pen name (Trask) a reference to the villain from the dystopian future X-men movie _Days of Future Past_?
My apologies, Garret. I meant to mention you regarding fiction and serialization. Your novel is really intense and extremely well-written.
Thanks Scott! A fellow SF/F writer! Excellent! Subbed.
Just starting my first serialized short story so I'm excited to read yours and others' take on the genre. For me it's (mostly) about practicing my craft. Thanks so much for the sub!
I will put up a flash fiction piece next Monday, as a change to the theoretical pieces. I could serialize some of my shorts, but they are currently submitted to magazines, collecting rejection slips! It's great to see how others write, I agree.
I completely understand.
My continuing plan is to write 5-6 minute chapters or issues. I'm not on a regular schedule yet though so that needs to be addressed. I figure asking 6 minutes or so from people is more than plenty. Folks are busy.
Hubby has been in the game industry for 30 years here in the US. Will subscribe as besides my stack I am also working on my first novel.
Excellent! I wager there are more hiding in the shadows here! :) 30 years wow! awesome. A propos first novel. I set myself a daily target of 1k words. Didn't make it so far today, but the night is still young!
I did NaNoWriMo last November and made it to 43k words. Yes, the night is still young and so is the year.:)
I was eyeing NaNoWriMo every year but told myself I am too busy each time. No more! Awesome 43k! Kudos. As for the year... I set myself a deadline for the end of May for a first draft. Because first drafts... need a lot more love!
Now that I have a stack rhythm I need to add back the novel work. It's tricky. End of May is exciting. You got this!
Isn't NaNoWriMo the best? I follow Grant Faulkner (director of NaNoWriMo) on his podcast Write-Minded. Are you doing Camp NaNoWriMo next month?
Love Nano. My only complaint is that I got lost in the chats at times and then couldn't refer back. Is Grant Faulkner on substack? I am very interested in camp. How about you?
Always fancied having a pop at this as I write detective fiction too. Well done thatβs such an achievement π
Bienvenue!
Merci, George!
Wow, Alexander - that Jar of Tang is eye popping! I look forward to reading further and have subscribed. Sending you good mojo as you continue to work on your novel - from one writer to another :)
Awesome Joyce, thanks so much! Yes, the Turkey City Lexicon gets a solid recommendation from me, even for non SF writers.
Sounds interesting :)
Interesting like a Jar of Tang! :)
Welcome! Looking forward to reading your stuff. Love to see all the fellow fiction writers on here!
Thanks, Matt! As cheesy as it sounds, I'm really happy to be here. Looking forward also to checking out your stuff.
Welcome, Alexander!
Thanks Mike!
Just subscribed, Alexander. Will check it out.
Hi Garret, it's great that you share this. I am contemplating different approaches for now. I have flash fiction pieces I want to include and make them Substack exclusive. Maybe progress updates for the novel, too, but I feel I want to finish it first and focus on sharing my journey experience here. Will check yours out! Happy writing, indeed.
Garret's novel, at least the first several pages, is fantastic by the way. Intense, descriptive, emotive. So much to take in and he negotiates it very well.
Hey Garrett, this looks really interesting. I didn;t know people were using substack to write serialized fiction.
We definitely are, Emily!
https://scottweinzirl.substack.com/
Thanks! I'll check those out. I'm just starting one: https://tripbazaar.substack.com/p/one
I'm curious to know how often most people post.
Hello fellow Substack writers!
I started my Substack (skylarsinger.substack.com) about 2 months ago. I call it βAcquired Tastes,β a weekly newsletter about film that explores traditional notions of taste in a way that appreciates both the highbrow and lowbrow parts of the cinematic landscape.
As an aspiring critic and nascent writer, I am eager to meet fellow writers, discover and appreciate your work, and discuss film if you feel so inclined!
Is there anyone else that is writing about film/television/ or the entertainment industry?
I look forward to connecting!
Love this! My Substack is kind of a blend of writing fiction and pop culture. Looking forward to checking out your stuff!
Hi Matt! I've just read your piece on what makes a good Star Wars movie and it was fantastic! I've subscribed and look forward to reading more of your work!
Great work Scott, Matt, and Skylar! Looking forward to reading more.
My substack is similar, Matt. I'm just getting started. Yours looks very interesting. I just subscribed.
https://scottweinzirl.substack.com/
I have background in theatre and film and have written various articles on the movies and music. One piece I wrote under section 'Beauty Imagined' deals the concepts of imagination in film creation and production
Loved it, thank you for the recommendation! I've subscribed!
Hi Skylar!
I also started my Substack about two months ago, called "B's Hive." I write primarily about reading, but I am wanting to expand conversations to focus on literature in a broader context that includes anything we can "read," including film. I'd love to collaborate with you and learn more about your approach to film criticism! I've subscribed to your Substack and look forward to getting to know you more.
Hi Bri! I've subscribed and will definitely be consulting your spring cleaning tips -- I need all the help I can get in that area! I love your idea, I certainly consider watching, analyzing and interpreting a film a form of reading a text and would be interested in a potential collaboration! I look forward to corresponding in the future!
Absolutely, Skylar! If you're ever interested, you can email me at bristackle@gmail.com. I'd love to collaborate with you!
Your stack looks like a hoot, Skylar. I'm looking forward to digging through your lists. Just subscribed. Good luck with it.
https://scottweinzirl.substack.com/
Thank you so much, Scott. I hope my lists provide and you an enjoyable viewing experience! I've subscribed and I look forward to receiving your newsletter!
Just joined Substack yesterday. In general, I enjoy reading other people's thoughts on and engagement with movies so much that I read more movie reviews than I watch actual movies. (Is that weird?)
Subscribing!
George,
I love reading and writing about film, too! Every month I reflect on my favorite reads, watches, and listens, and I'm always looking for movie recommendations. What kinds of movies are you really into right now?
Here's my Substack if you're interested in seeing more of my takes on film :)
https://thebhive.substack.com
Ha ha I'm always into reading about whatever genre Steven Graydanus is writing about right now
http://decentfilms.com/articles/avatar2
http://decentfilms.com/articles/groundhogday-30
You?
Sound great, very interesting.
Thank you so much, Kevin!
Brilliant name, love the idea, canβt wait to check it out.
Thank you for your kind words! Your writings about animation are great. I've subscribed and look forward to expanding my animation repertoire!
Nice love the sound of that Skylar
Thank you, Louise!
Sounds interesting Skylar, Iβll check it out! Iβve started to lean into doing reviews of music/albums, but you might find my interview of my friend and LA-based filmmaker and photographer Fernando Ponce. Cheers! https://denisemasiel.substack.com/p/the-power-of-stories-with-salvadorian
Hi Denise, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I really enjoyed your interview with Fernando Ponce and have subscribed. I look forward to receiving you future publications!
Hey Skylar, loved your piece about Showgirls! I subscribed to you as well, excited to see your future film reviews!
Thank you so much, Denise!
I sometimes write about film too!
Looking forward to reading yours.
https://fosterious.substack.com/p/poetry-and-poison
Hello there substack artists and writers! Just wanted to say how amazing it is to be on this amazing platform, seeing a lot of your work, and to participate in such a revolution.
If you'd like, you can view my work here. In 2022, I wrote a poem or something short every day. In 2023, I am publishing those works along with art and commentary. Love to see you over there if you have time.
I know there's too much to read!
https://fosterious.substack.com
During Lent of 2020 I wrote 40 haikus (Haikus for Lent) with a photo and a short story related to the haiku on my Facebook account. That generated good interest from my Facebook friends and I ended up continuing the series with Haikus for these times, Haikus for different times and Haikus for another time.
I found that the short poem, photo and story was a nice way to present a new topic or idea and I have incorporated that approach in my paying job as an Agile coach in the software world.
Just subscribed to your newsletter and looking forward to reading your work.
Glad to have you. Are your haikus on substack? I'd love to read them. That's one of my favorite forms. Been playing with a modified version this month...
They aren't yet on Substack, but they will be soon. It will be an easy way to get things out there, but I'll probably do a little retouching on some of them. In a weird the haikus became a form of a journal for me.
Yeah! I treat mine almost like a design process book with poems. I like that idea
Just subscribed, Sean. I love both the poetry and the commentary alongside it; it, too, is poetry of a different kind.
Message me when you start writing. Your title is one of the best I've seen!
Thanks, will do! My first post is Monday, and it will explain the name.
Have a great weekend.
You too!
Thank you so much! Yeah, I'm trying to do something a little different over there. Not sure what to call it.
are you on IG? there's an instagram account I follow that posts short poems. It didn't seem like the right format for image-heavy instagram but with short poetry it does!
I also post my short form poetry on instagram! It holds as a nice time capsule. https://instagram.com/denise.masiel?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Yeah! I use the images from my work here to draw eyes over. But lately, my algorithm seems broken? It's bizarre on instagram.
The IG algorithm is ποΈ, which is why I said itβs a time capsule π Unless youβre making tik tok-like reels your reach is virtually nil, even to your followers sometimes. The slow death of the appβ¦
I second that.
I am over there @fosterious . Hit me up! I do a little of everything. But use it as a marketing channel for my blog, of late.
What are you writing about lately?
Hi everyone! I started my Substack about three weeks ago now, and Iβm really enjoying the rhythm of writing on a weekly basis.
Iβm writing about issues affecting modern parents from a dadβs perspective - take a look if youβre interested! New issues are every Friday at 5pm BST.
Really looking forward to picking up some tips here today!
https://someotherdad.substack.com
Congratulations! I've been writing since December and have found writing incredibly rewarding. I also write about raising kids...specifically in the United States. Iβm interested in thinking critically about how we're "Raising Americans" and how we can do better.
One tip: Try to avoid checking your stats too much. :)
https://raisingamericans.substack.com/
That tip is fantastic advice...which I struggle mightily with every day. When you're just getting started its such ingrained human nature, maybe? Maybe we can learn to 'raise Americans' to stop doing this so much and just enjoy/learn from the process.
Yes!! Other stacks about parenting. I retired after 20 years in public education. I taught English and Reading, and then I transitioned to Special Education. I learned most parents & kids needed to know that I care, that I could and would help, and that I was there to do more good than harm. So I started my newsletter to help demystify some of harder aspects of parenting and education. And when I was in the classroom our Class Dad's were <chefs kiss> the best allies an educator could also for!! Best wishes!!
Hi Antonette.
Here here. I'm afraid I feel into that trap last night. Woke up this morning realizing I was in the trap! Dang it.
I'm from Canada and am so curious as to what it's like 'raising american' children these days in your country. With the latest school shootings and the divisiveness I am wondering how parents navigate that so the children can be critical thinkers and not just following one side or another. I look forward to reading more.
Hi Kim!
Yes, we are certainly facing some unique challenges here. I hear nothing but great things about Canada -- so thankful to have such wonderful neighbors! Best of luck with your Substack. I'll have to check it out.
Thanks! Your work sounds really interesting, I'll definitely check it out!
And I really need to employ that tip a lot more in my life!
This is such a great idea. I also love the name. I've just subscribed as I want to share this with my son's who are also navigating raising young people. My days of that are over, but I am loving the grandparent part of life.
Thanks so much for subscribing! I hope I can be of some help, or at the very least a relatable voice for your sons :)
nice! i cover some parenting topics, overall on hard things we deal with as adults. we need more dad POVs! keep at it :)
Thank you! :)
Sounds interesting! Will definitely take a look!
Very cool! Welcome!
Sounds like a great niche.
I've just subscribed
I'm also new to writing about parenting, sharing things from the perspective of a mum questioning everything and trying to enjoy the crazy journey of raising three tiny humans.
https://beckdelahoy.substack.com/
Hey all, I started Substack last week! I currently work within the Construction Industry. Following my experiences and the creation of my industry network (GirlsUnderConstruction) I write articles to help enlighten and guide young people (especially women), parents & anyone with an interest in the industry! Iβve written for many publications but have moved to Substack so I can further provide clear/relatable insight into career areas, regulations & topics across the Construction Industry. This is all something I lacked when journeying down my career hence why Iβm providing it through my platform!
Launched my first 2 publication series with posts starting next week :)β¬οΈ
https://open.substack.com/pub/barbaraakin?r=20m4af&utm_medium=ios
https://open.substack.com/pub/barbaraakinkunmi?r=20m4af&utm_medium=ios
Hey this is great, I have been a house painter for 60 years. I sure have learned a lot, I am so glad you are helping others get started. Hire a painter, get it done right.
Oh wow! Itβs great seeing someone like yourself doing what youβre doing πͺπ½ βHire a painter, get it done rightβππ½ππ½
So glad you're doing this, Barbara! I love that you're providing insight into careers in the construction industry. You're filling a niche that is wide open, which makes you a true innovator.
Thank you Joyce! ππ½ππ½
Great niche.
Love the Substack handle!
Thank you! ππ½
ππΎ welcome Barbara
Thank you Athinaβ¨
This is such a wonderful idea. I just subscribed. I'm an interior designer and have always thought about the idea of craftsmanship, but as a woman in the U.S there aren't really a lot of examples of women working in this field.
Hey Substack family! I'm a creative writer that shares romance, creative writing, and poetry. I'm so excited to take my life long love of writing here to Substack and to learn from and watch us all grow! Thanks for being here with me.
Hello! π I write The Heart Dialogues, a newsletter for the millions of people in the world born with heart defects. It's been rewarding to start building a community here, and I hope to continue to grow!
Hey everyone! I started my substack a couple of months ago and am loving the writing process! My newsletter is an exploration of how it feels to live between worlds and across cultures, and writing about different facets of life and identity from a multicultural perspective. I'd love to connect to others who might be interested in similar topics as well, if there are any of you out there! cheers :)
I spent the best part of my adult life living in Asia. Coming 'home' to the UK has been a massive culture shock. Long crazy story I'm still writing.
I can imagine! Writing is sometimes the best way to make sense of it all :)
I bet it was definitely a culture shock. π©π©
Iβve often felt like Iβm always straddling different worlds. Will check it out!
I'm a Londoner living in Istanbul so I am sure your writing will resonate. I will check it out!
Hi everyone, we write Adventures in Leadership Land (https://leadershipland.substack.com). We grew tired of self-help books and training programs that promised success and happiness, so we started our own publication to focus on *avoiding failure and misery.* Not only are we taking the leadership road less traveled, we don't have to compete with the bigger incumbents out there. We'd love to partner with other leadership/management Substacks to create win-wins.
P.S: Office hours take place during the workday (when we practice what we preach) so we'll be back later to participate :)
Hi sounds really interesting and a very welcome take on leadership. I write Lead with Intention, a journey to redefine modern leadership (βcause a lot of it sucks) and collectively, make better leaders. Iβd love to take a look at your stack and vice versa to see if there might be any opportunities to do something together? Find me here (narrativepurpose.substack.com) Louise
Nice to meet you! Subscribed. We're recycling an email address from an older, extinct project.
I could not agree more! I just subscribed to your substack, it looks interesting and has a different slant than mine although I do write about leadership too...
Here's mine: https://thereyoulead.substack.com βΊοΈ
Interesting and welcome. May take a look and be interested in collaborating.
Hi, it sounds very good! I too find today's leadership training and the likes disappointing and not so pragmatic despite all the promises made...
I write https://thereyoulead.substack.com if you want to take a look. I will take a look at yours as well. Isn't leadership a great topic in fairness? I just love the subject so much! It's both difficult and easy all at once π
Your landing page looks way better than ours. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? ;)
It works! I'm flattered π Thanks a million! I like the different slant your publication is bringing to the table.
Hey Nadia, I'm not sure how to contact you, so I'm replying here. Your "About" page has two big "Image Not Found" rectangles. We encountered this issue about two weeks ago and complained about it in the Product thread (after-hours). If you edit and replace the images, it should resolve the issue.
We noticed that captions and alt-text tend to stay, but the image itself vanishes.
Hi Everyone - I started my substack Nominal News ( https://nominalnews.substack.com/)- where I go over what economics has to say on a variety of topics (such as gift giving; how partner preferences impact career outcomes; by gender; what is driving current inflation; what are the impacts of some recent economic policies are). I feel that economics, and specifically economic research, which is very broad and insightful, does not often make it to mainstream news outlets or even social media. I want to bring this research, which I was exposed to a lot during my PhD times to a wider audience!
Sounds really interesting :)
Some really interesting topics!
Hi everyone! I started 2 months ago and I'm still going strong! It's nice to see people reading my newsletter increasing overtime.
Agreed, I appreciate every new subscriber :)
Well done for still going strong two months on ππ½ππ½
Love this, such a great idea π
Hi! I'm Sam W, and I write World-Weary Writer. My newsletter goes out twice a week, and covers various forms of political activism around the world. I write about activist causes, human rights, and how to get involved and make a difference.
I also sprinkle in good news every few weeks, highlighting victories and triumphs for my readers to celebrate so we don't lose morale. The newsletter is totally free!
Hi Sam, so glad you're doing this and am interested. I'm about to sign up!
I'd be glad to have you around, Joyce! I leave the comment sections open, too, and I love reading my subscriber's perspectives. I find the 'only paid subscribers can comment' block so damn annoying, even if I see why some people do it!
Hey all ! I started my substack about a month ago and just officially launched this week ! I write Pull out your own Hair, a newsletter about hair across culture and throughout history. Hair is as personal as it is political. We look at hair as material, style, texture, how it drives economies and the beauty industry, and how it exists at almost every scale from cosmic to microscopic. I'm an art historian, so hair in art is a major theme as well. I'm interested in how hair navigates its multiple identities as DNA-specific and dust-generic. It's something we all have in common, and yet one's own hair is so personal.
https://pulloutyourownhair.substack.com/
I've been operating an art collective called HAIR CLUB for nine years. We've lectured at major museums and taught courses in international universities. It's exciting to launch this substack as a hub for both the ideas that we collaboratively generate and the people who want to keep track of this ongoing conversation.
I attend these writer office hours every week and always discover new people and substacks to subscribe to--what a great resource and community. I hope you'll check us out and subscribe! I'd love to hear your own hair stories.
Hello all. I'm new to Substack, but so far have really enjoyed being here. I needed the extra kick of motivation to keep writing (and reading) consistently.
As for me, I'm a lifelong gamer several books of fiction published and, very soon (June 12th) my first non-fiction book (which is about my favorite video game ever). Read about the book at my Substack here: https://calebjross.substack.com/.
Other than most recently writing about my upcoming book, I tend to write humorous content that reminders readers that it's okay to love video games.
As a hobbyist indie game developer and video game obsessive, I have also produced hundreds of visual essays, editorials, and comedy videos on YouTube and has co-hosted many video game podcasts with the goal of evangelizing for the video game medium, a medium that has changed his life.
Hey writers! Who started a Substack in the last three months? Reply to this comment and introduce yourself.
Hello! I started my Substack, Readable Moments Book Club (https://readablemomentsbc.substack.com/) in January. I've loved reading children's books (even as an adult!) since I was a kid and I'm so excited to share with parents and caregivers children's books that can help them navigate tricky subjects or specific topics. Really like this platform a lot--very easy to get up and running. Would love to partner with other writers in some capacity!
This is awesome! Welcome, Sri.
As a children's book writer, I'm delighted to know about your book club.
Oh, I'd love to check out your work!
www.elizabethwinthrop.com. Picture books. Fantasy novels for 8 up. The Castle in the Attic, The Battle for the Castle...
So great you're providing this service for parents and teachers and grandparents and all the rest of us. Just subscribed.
OMG. I am having a HUGE fan girl moment right now. I cannot believe you are THE Elizabeth Winthrop (forgive me, it didnβt even occur to me that you are one and the same). I STILL have my (now battered) copy of The Castle In The Attic. That is the first book I read that introduced me to the fantasy genre. Thank you for the incredible work you do!!!
Sri, I think I wrote you back but it didn't show up here:) I'm blushing at your praise...you'll be amused to hear that I'm wrapping up a revision of a prequel to THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC, about 37 years after the first book in the series was published. Never too late.
Same! So lovely to see this conversation!
I love this!
You replied to me not Elizabeth. Select the proper reply button
Hi Elizabeth,
If you are up to a good reading checkout my book.
It's self published, feel free to share on the socials
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/robertsun
https://www.amazon.com/Regain-your-Power-Spiritual-Freedom-ebook/dp/B0842B83PS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ZFJ91LM7T07J&keywords=regain+your+power+guide&qid=1679592350&sprefix=regain+your+power+guide%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-4
Wow! Just subscribed as well. I am a parent and former teacher, and I write about culture, education, and parenting in the United States...and how we can do better.
https://raisingamericans.substack.com/
Hello!
I just joined substack! I am hoping to write a children's book someday! I just subscribed to your substack, and I am looking forward to learning more about writing and publishing from your page.
From one Elizabeth to another. So glad you will be subscribing and I hope it's helpful.
I would love to collaborate - learning differences affect many children (1 in 5 for dyslexia alone).
Iβm curious to check out your Substack. I have dyslexia and even after all these years, continue to be surprised how many of my βquirksβ are the byproduct of it! From my creative way of pronouncing words to the way I even view the world!
As someone who writes childrenβs magazines, this kind of content is invaluable! Immediate subscribe!
Love to see another kids lit lover! Iβm a parent and child therapist who just started a Substack of short kids stories with social and emotional themes (Mosswood Tales) and I love hearing about other kids books to add to my familyβs reading list. Best of luck!
Very excited to check out your Substack!
This sounds great, Sri! I'm an English teacher so it's always great to have resources to point parents/carers towards that will help them choose books. π
Wow charlene, I would love to know more about your work. I would love to be a children's book writer one day but have no idea how to start.
Very cool Sri! I've been considering a project where I write, design and print a custom children's book from scratch using AI tools. Would that be interesting to your audience?
This is great! My kids are older now (okay 6 and 8 π )and I've recently wished I'd started documenting the really great books to share. I'm so glad you're doing this! I'll check out your work. Good luck!
I love this! I buy books for my grandchildren and appreciate the advice
Thank you! Appreciate any feedback you have :)
Awesome. Can't wait to read!
Hello, I just started my Substack related to creativity and science. https://pmlab.substack.com/. I am also a children's author. Haven't had the guts to hit publish on the first Stack, though.
Welcome, Victoria. I know what you mean about hitting the publish button. Iβve done two and am working on a third post. Jump in. The waterβs warm.
Thanks! I'm making hitting the publish button my goal this week! Just adding some final touches.
Yes- I second Elizabeth- jump on in!
Thanks! I just published my second Stack...I am on a roll! :).
Do it! Haha I get it -- just subscribed to yours as I also just started my Substack exploring the intersection of curiosity, creativity and sustainability... (https://goodfootprints.substack.com) sounds like there could be an overlap in interest! Cheers on taking the first step!
I just subscribed to your stack too! Sounds interesting!
Awesome! Can you share which childrenβs books youβve written?
Sure! I write mostly non-fiction STEM books as Victoria Christensen, but I also have some fun picture books (A Tiny Brown Monkey on the Big Blue Earth and A Little Round Panda on the Big Blue Earth) and chapter books (the Curious McCarthy series) under my pen name, Tory Christie (www.torychristie.com). Thanks for asking!
I wrote a little story about Mother Nature and a ceremonial farewell to Winter. Readers loved the imagery and characters. I also wrote a snowflake lullaby which was well received. I have a great fondness and respect for childhood and children and to have been in their joyful company has been one of the great pleasures
Looking forward to checking your books out!
Sri, this sounds fantastic. I have two small children and one on the way and they both seem to share my love for stories so far. Going to subscribe now x
This is wonderful Sri!
Dawn, thanks so much. A bit overwhelmed at the moment but happy to know of your work..love the title conscious connected parenting.
Hey Dawn, you should check out my Substack, I write about early language and literacy, and starting parenting outreach in my community.
I started a few months back. Iβm a ghostwriter specializing in memoirs but using Substack to serialize my book and launch podcast.
Love the Substack name! Welcome and congrats and good luck!
Thank you. Love that you appreciate the name.
It's awesome!
typaphobe is great too!
Thanks!
That's so cool!
I love that you got stranded in Europe
I love that you're a memoir ghost-writer!
Thanks. I look forward to reading your work
I think I might be a ghost before I ever finish my memoir the way things are going. I'll check it out. What's the podcast going to be about?
Hi. Ha. Well, I write other people's memoirs so I think that's easier than our own. The podcast first season is my book, MANic - Musings and Ramblings About Love and the Second Season is the understanding and healing I'm undergoing from the learnings I experienced after writing the book and living the experiences.
Looks great Stephanie, I just subscribed and look forward to reading your work. A book & podcast launch is super exciting.
Your stack looks good. Just subscribed π
Thank you. I subscribed to yours as well.
I subscribed. Sounds wonderful.
Thank you so much for the support. I just subscribed to your Substack and look forward to exploring.
What a great idea!
Hi, Katie and fellow newbies. I started my sassy little substack this month/the first week of March. Having such a great time and already connecting with some wonderful writers.
That's great. Welcome to the community. What do you write about, Sandra?
Hi, Mike. I write about seeking out happy, or your brand of it. Life is hard, we should find a way to have a good time with it (without being toxically positive, which grosses me out).
I just subscribed as well. Looking forward to it.
Intriguing. Sandra. I just subscribed, will check it out.
Sounds good! Looking forward to connecting with other writers and learning about the platform :-)
It looks like we both started this adventure at about the same time. You are encouraging.
some great writers to be found here :)
Thanks, Brenda. It's really a lovely community with so many smart, talented, funny people. I hope you're having fun with it!
Hi Sandra!! Great name for the Substack
Thanks, Ravi!
Welcome to Substack!
A fantastic name for a Substack, I must say.
Thanks so much, Matt. Have a good and a paused podcast named similarly. Finally getting the handle on that whole "branding" thing. LOL.
FFS, that would be a book not a "good" (though, I would like to think it is). I can't even put that off to my dyslexia. I can put it off to being at work and trying to look like I'm working. Sigh.
π
Oh I love your Substack description, as a fellow live big in a tiny space (and without a car) person!
Congratulations on your 'stack, Jennifer, and sympathies for your stubbed toes! xo
haha! Thank you!!
Love this gal's work and she's a supportive subscriber. A package. A find.:)
You are so kind and same to you!!! xo
Hello & welcome!!
Just how sassy do ya get? Sandra My stuff is a little less sassy these past months but variety is alive and well in the work and sassy is never far off the page π
It all depends on the subject matter, De. xo
I love the title! Going to subscribe. I'm also from the early March crew x
Thanks so much, Jan! Right back atcha!
I started it less than a month ago at https://writersomnibus.substack.com and the best thing that has happened my writing is already less self-conscious! It's made me more accountable and I am super excited about showing up.
That's one of the things I've loved about Substack! I've been writing for a long time, but the ease of writing / sharing here has done the same for me - it's SO motivating and encouraging!
Agree!
Agreed
I wrote a piece last summer on the family cottage. Folks say it was very novelesque. Perhaps you would like to view it
100% this!
Writing my newsletter have made me feel more confident for some reason
Same!
I'm only five weeks in but agree with you on both counts. I wondered how I'd find the motivation to write every week but my growing number of subscribers makes me feel I owe them good content, which is a wonderful thing. I tried to write my more 'personal' posts first and that really helped me get over feeling self-conscious. Can't wait to check out your substack. x
Iβve also been pleasantly surprised by how intrinsically motivating it is to publish. And the amount of clarity it brings to my thoughts on a subject.
Yes - I agree with Laura....writing certainly helps me clarify my thinking as well. I'm an "It's Elementary" subscriber. It's fabulous, and you should certainly check it out!!
Aww thank you so much! Iβve also been really enjoying your Substack! You are addressing some tough issues.
Exactly. Itβs sort of magical isnβt it? And totally distinct from the chaotic struggle of traditional publishing
Iβve found the same. Iβve found it super freeing just writing and publishing stuff without letting my inner voice over edit everything.
Yes- definitely clicked publish on my last one knowing I should have done one more edit, I just didnβt want to get hung up in it.
I feel like the late-bloomer post applies to me.
I think more of us identify with late blooming than we realize.
Nice to know I'm not alone!
fabulous!
Thank you! I enjoyed reading your poetry.
Such a good feeling! <3
Hi everyone! I moved my old Wordpress blog over to Substack earlier this month and have a bunch of new content planned! I mostly review books, but Iβm working my way through the MCU and old episodes of Veronica Mars at the moment! Canβt wait to find some new sites to follow!
Hi Amanda, I think this is an excellent idea. I think the key here is to consistently post good content as well. I am looking at my old blog post from years ago, to re-write and make relevant for substack with photos..
Iβve done a bit of updating on my old stuff as well - I definitely had to carve out some time for that. I feel itβs been worth it so far!
Yes Amanda, I update all the time ever since I started using my draft section as a filing cabinet. I recently added a bunch of music links once I learned how
What a great idea, thanks for sharing the concept of using the draft section as a filing cabinet. I will do that as well. I wrote a list of things I want to write about, and now I know where it will go.
You're most welcome Brenda. Glad to be of service I discovered this technique when there was construction crew outside my office window and I had to use my phone to work on article pieces. This is similar to the Substack duplicate draft feature, but be careful of using duplicate drafts and always publish on a new page not on the duplicate draft page
This is such a good idea. Have been wondering what to do with my blog and it feels sad to let it all disapear, this feels like a nice way to pay homage to it instead of it just swiming around somewhere in the internet space without getting my attention. Thank you!
Hi Amanda. I am in the process of transferring my Blogger site to substack. It's a bit of a task and I'm learning as I go. My blog is essays, but I write fiction so am happy to see you review things. I will check it out.
Iβll check yours out as well! Welcome, and happy blog migrating!
It's a bit of a slog, but gives me a break from the novel I am supposed to be working on.
Hi Amanda, I too am transferring my old blogs from one site to another, revising and preparing to share. I didn't want to lose all my work when I changed domains from my website. It's great to see how much my writing has improved since I started the process.
Love this! Looking forward to checking out your work.
Hi Amanda - any tips on migrating from WordPress? I'm thinking of doping that too...
You can export your posts from Wordpress and import them into Substack - itβs pretty easy, actually! A lot of my graphics didnβt come with, so Iβve had to manually go through and update some things, but the content migration wasnβt bad at all! Carve out some time for updating - thatβs my only real tip!
Thanks!
Welcome, Amanda!
Performing this service for writers is awesome, Amanda!
Congrats on the launch, Amanda.
What does it take to get you to review a book?
Hi Stephanie! I used to do a lot of reviews from publishers and the like, and now I mostly mood read. But it doesnβt take a whole lot for me to review something - if Iβm interested, Iβll read it and review it!
I moved mine over too, but I've sort of just left them hanging there. Not quite sure what to do with them. I'm loving the 'talk' you can get on Substack and the range of other writers is amazing. I'm already publishing here, just trying hard to make it 'different' from my old blog! Any tips gratefully received!
This is a great question. I had been reading on Substack for a while and loved the app and the email/newsletter format, along with the opportunity to set up a paywall at some point in the future. Those were the major factors I considered, and Iβve loved Substack since I moved over!
Hey there! I launched Artificial Ignorance in February: https://www.ignorance.ai/
β
I'm writing about how you can use AI to get more out of your business. I'm a Stanford computer scientist turned entrepreneur and author.
Hi Charlie, I have a new satire/parody news site and recently wrote an article on whether AI will replace comedians. You might enjoy it: https://www.worldwideglobalnews.com/p/can-artificial-intelligence-replace.
Good luck with Artificial Ignorance. Great name!
Great post! One thing that's been really interesting is that the latest AI models can actually understand and explain visual humor. Crazy stuff!
I know someone who works with an AI that regularly does practical jokes. It also pouts. Sorry, it 'processes information' for long periods and refuses to communicate. He is definitely not pouting.
That's when you know you're dealing with a person.
What else do you write about, C.R.?
Well today I posted about a new drug called Sitquitium that helps prevent people from sitting. Because, according to the experts, "sitting is the new smoking".
How about you?
LOL. Caught me off guard. As I was reading your response, I was wondering if βsittingβ was a typo or at least an autocorrect or some accident of grammar. Well played sir/madam.
You're my kind of stacker. I look at aging with a humorous slant.
Sounds very cool & subscribed :) I'm writing about wildflowers at the moment (County Flora), but in my other life, I'm a researcher (remote sensing and ecology) and lecturer (spatial analysis). Today's lecture moved more towards the data science side of things as we wrap up the term. Focus was on data mining and machine learning, students get super excited about ai (plus they're all using chatgpt).
Hi Charlie, I would love to connect with you and see what you are doing. I am a retired MFTI / Professor. I have a daughter who is a Doctor in AZ. She is encouraging me to use AI for some of my research regarding the mental health world and the books I have been writing to help lay people to see a glimpse into the lives of those suffering around them. I desire to have all the research/ references in the back of the book. Your thoughts?
At a high level, the AI tools right know are great at content generation, but not always the best with factual accuracy. It's a real force multiplier, but you have to be the expert in the loop keeping an eye and checking its output.
Yes that's precisely the issue... do we want "content" or do we want quality writing? I've worn just about all of the hats a writer can wear, from journalist to PR professional to published literary author to tech writer and marketer. I know what the answer is for me.
Charlie I'll check out your substack, really love the name. Brilliant :) Mine's just getting started. If you have a few mins I'd love your input on a survey I'm running for an article I'm writing on the impact of AI. Link here > https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
Just filled it out. Hope it helps!
Thanks Charlie :)
Yes the many hats I can relate p'haps that's why I write on such wide range of themes Birgitte. Are you French?
Hi Brenda, I'd be cautious with using AI to do research. The chat bots are infamous for creating fake titles, listing all sorts of inaccuracies, and in general not producing factual or truthful content. It has already started to create havoc in the research world.
100% agree Birgitte. It's really important to know the limitations of AI. ChatGPT, for example, is known to "hallucinate": https://www.ignorance.ai/i/102956535/what-are-the-limitations-of-llms
love the title! going to have to check it out
Interesting, this is a really topical and cool subject to focus on. :)
Sounds interesting. I want to check it out.
Read some of this enjoy a lot if this :)
Hi! Iβm Mary Grace and I started my Substack newsletter, Choosy, earlier this year. Itβs a lifestyle newsletter about homes, design, and how people live. The theme of the newsletter is the merits of being picky, and how we make choices that impact our lives. Sometimes that means lighthearted topics like choosing house plants or paint colors, and other times it means personal essays about how to spend time wisely and the challenge of choosing when life has seemingly endless options.
Find it here: marygracegranados.substack.com
Nice to meet you all!
"Choosy" is such a perfect name for your substack! I'll definitely check it out.
Sounds ace, just subscribed
Love the sound of this! will check it out
Oooh love this. Absolutely subscribing.
Iβm a professional copywriter as well as caregiver of a dyslexic child. Special education navigation is an intense unseen job and caregivers need support and community. ISOLATION is so so bad. If you care for a child that has been struggling at school or have been navigating special education for years, Iβd love to have you to join my community β> https://dyslexianowwhat.substack.com/
Such a beautifully specific community need and support that you're offering Lisa!
Thank you so much! I found myself answering the same questions over and overβ¦. I thought βsomeone should aggregate resourcesββ¦ turns out thatβs me πββοΈ
This is a great idea - I'm an English teacher and work a lot with dyslexic students. Will definitely take a look! π
Thank you so much. Substack is where I post caregiver perspective for caregivers (in a way that advocates/clinicians etc. cannot do based on their role) and am slowly incorporating items from Dyslexianowwhat.com in bite size post chunks.
I subscribe and am a dyslexia teacher. I though my substack would be about my teaching experience but it quickly morphed into launching caregiver support in my community for all parents.
Hi! I've just started my first blog, the Stubborn Optimist (https://stubbornoptimist.substack.com/ ). Only a few posts to date but we'll be posting on accountability (of companies and governments) in an age of the climate crisis. My goal is to investigate and help people understand how those with power are responding to the biggest challenge of our time: the climate crisis. I'm a former UN consultant retraining myself as a journalist/writer. Any stories I should cover let me know! Also I think Substack is such a great platform! Learning a lot!
Hi Tom! Really awesome theme for your Substack- some of my favorite journalists cover corporate/gov accountability. I write weekly climate news on my stack, The Doomer Dispatch. Itβs funny, Iβm also a consultant training themselves in journalism! (Though certainly not for the UN, haha) would love to connect and share tips on climate writing!
That would be great Joey- I've just subscribed to you. I'll mostly be covering the UK (where I am based but have an eye on international moves too). Would be great to connect somehow and share tips too - happy to connect via insta or twitter too!
Iβm looking forward to reading your blog, Tom!
Hey,
I write at https://fromtheglacier.substack.com/
I started my substack about 7 months ago, but it's only in the last month that I've decided to write more consistently, and with the purpose to eventually generate income from it.
I'm BSK. In a previous life, I worked as an Engineer in Toronto. Now, I live in Karachi, Pakistan, and educate street children. My substack narrates stories from my own life.
I like my writing, but I do have a hard time getting readers. And I believe no story becomes a story unless there are people to listen to it. So that part is definitely frustrating. And any tips or guidance for reaching new readers is appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi! Please check out this post for guidance around building a community on Substack: https://on.substack.com/p/start-passion-project
Thanks, I have downloaded the pdf
Perfect, bookmarking it right now. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this! V helpful as I'm looking for this too.
'I like my writing, but I do have a hard time getting readers'. My words exactly!
Hi, BSK. Lovely to meet you.
Hey Katie! I'm Barbara Genova, I just started publishing here, I come from a bunch of indie literary journals and some magazine work, and the most interesting thing to know about what I do would be, I rebooted my entire professional life under a pen name in '21.
Hi Barbara! I would absolutely love your input for a survey I'm running on the impact of AI on those of us making a living as writers. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
DONE!
Friends, In January, I started a weekly substack, The Sentinel, (https://senthilv.substack.com). It goes out on Fridays.
For a first gen kid, surprised to find myself as a faculty at an Ivy league, this is been a great outlet both to explore writing interests across "two cultures - science and humanities", and share my mistakes and lessons. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Sounds interesting & subscribed. I'm also first gen, at the PhD stage currently, and straddling multiple disciplines (ecology, remote sensing, environmental policy).
Just subscribed, Senthil. Will check it out.
Hello! I started my substack βDigital Culture and Beyondβ as a companion to a book Iβm working on. Looking to grow the audience.
Hi!
I started writing on this format as a way to hold myself accountable for the back of the book indexing business that I was trying to grow. The death of my mom earlier this year had me re-evaluate, well, EVERYTHING and I'm now writing about freelancing work and life in general.
I've also made the executive decision to chase my life long pipe dream of becoming a writer.
Hi Kim. I'm a U2 fan too.
Same! U2 is one of the best bands to have EVER graced the world's stages.
Yes Birgitte, love U2 haven't had occasion to include them yet in my articles but soon will I'm sure based on song lyrics alone I have recently gone back and embedded music videos in the material
Congratulations Kim! Writing is a dream job... and yet, and yet... given what's happening now with AI a lot of us have concerns. Since you are a working writer, I would love your input for a survey I'm running on the impact of AI on those of us making a living as writers. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
I did! my Substack is SecondRateCities.com. It combines my love for running, bars, and overlooked cities into a long-form, non-conventional travel blog. The premise is short trips to any cities and towns that are not typical travel destinations and exploring them through, you guessed it, running and bar hopping. I think it gives a more honest feel of place than simply listing out "must-dos and sees" and uncovers lots of gems.
With that in mind, I would love to find more travel and culture Subs to follow, holler if you have one!
Uh oh, the link doesn't seem to be working.
hmmm weird it does for me but you can also go thru my profile or here, https://secondratecities.substack.com/
Hi Katie! I started my Substack, Track 5 (Karen's Version), as a personal blog chronicling my journey in heartbreak and healing. https://awhellnawkaren.substack.com
Hey Substack writers! Office hours is a great resource for all writers on the platform, especially if youβre new. Though simple in many ways, Substack can certainly feel complex sometimes. The Office Hours thread can feel chaotic and overwhelming; my advice is to just casually scroll and take in what you can. The FAQ page on the platform is also very helpful, and Substack staff are often good at responding to questions.
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/
Really love that last line: "Writing is about guts, not safety."
Right?! I need to take more chances with my writing. I'm already at the stage of my life where I give no fucks about what people think of me. I need to develope that for what I write.
The pen guides the way and as for outside opinions they are not going anywhere so as long as you are in the company of friends and folks who are gist for your inspiration, if you know what I mean π this is your canvas
I love this, De. Thanks. And I agree :)
Do it β€οΈπ
Me too!
β€οΈ
Yes!!! π
Great advice, Michael!
Thank you, Katie :)
Woot woot! Thanks π
Hi, Michael, yesterday I was wondering whether 1 post per week would be better. Do you really find that more is better? Wish I could run an experiment to find the sweet spot.
Our data team has found that once a week is a good benchmark. The format doesn't matter as much, it can be a short post. or a long post. Here's some inspiration for different post types: https://on.substack.com/p/types-of-posts-on-substack
This is great!
You know what I do? 1-2 posts per week to emailed subscribers but 1-2 more non-emailed using the phone app big orange post button
Found phone will do what desktop doesn't for example, Settings for site publication where you can see list of writers and toggle off pledge . Will try this non email approach
I didn't know you could to this actually
I don't understand I thought things automatically went to both. I shall have to get back to the settings and immerse myslef in them!
The app big orange button (when it returns) will go to emails or not.
Thanks. I tend to write and post from desktop so maybe am missing some functionality...
This has been a challenge area for me. Currently I feel able to write a quality post (not perfect, but good enough) once every two weeks. I'm not sure how to even get to weekly. My typically word count is 800-900 words. Maybe I need to bring that down.
800-900 isn't too long. I post 1-2 times/week to email subs and my pieces are usually around 2,000 words, plus or minus. Are you seeing growth?
Thanks Michael.
It's slow and small, but yes I do see growth. With just a little more consistency (and a tiny bit of sharing on Reddit and social media) I'm sure I could increase growth considerably.
Reddit really helps boost subscribers actually! It's wild!
2k? Hmm, I was thinking more than 1k might be too long. Interesting.
Tricky to say for sure, of course. Depends on 1. How many posts you're throwing out each week. 2. The type of content you're producing.
So if you're doing news commentary three, four times per week: I'd suggest maybe like 300-500 words each time. But if you're doing careful analysis once a week, or personal in-depth essays, etc, I'd think more like 1-2 times per week and longer, maybe 1,500-2,000 word or so per piece.
There's no hard and fast rule on any of this. Part of it is just testing the waters. Experiment. What's the major risk? I've lost five, eight subscribers at a time here and there for posting too often or too controversially or too long, etc, but I gain new ones quickly after.
All valid points, main limiting factor is time! Daily word count for the main project (still behind for today cause I am on here :)
Rain Thank for sharing. I read some of you posts and they are good! Im on the other end of spectrum. Im not kidding I have so many ideas and things i want to share I have to journal them and hold them back. What I could suggest is if you have topics in your mind go out 2 and 4 weeks and save them as your future newsletter posts. Find a picture that supports your headline and save it too. Then keep going back and polishing the apple and as you get closer to publish date you should have filled in the quality content.
Thanks Paul! Polishing the apple... I really like that metaphor and funny thing is, that's pretty much how I attack the ideas I do have right now. Although of course, I am only doing that for one article at a time. Need to think 2-4 weeks out, as you say.
Reading yours and others' comments encourages me to consider systems to held me move from Idea>Draft>Article.
I do 2-3 posts per week but usually only 1-2 for subscribers via email. The other time, sometimes two, I use the big orange SS app button (currently gone now but they say back soon) which I send out with no emails at all. This way I can add more content but not annoy my subscribers with too many posts hitting their inbox.
By the way: Your Stack looks intriguing. Just subscribed :)
Hi. I write fantasy stories. My newsletter is about 5 months old, and I have 31 subscribers. When I've asked a few people how often they want a new story, they said once a week is enough. I can see that a newsletter concerned with news and opinion on current events needs to run with the times. But that's not the case with my work. Still, I'd welcome feedback on this: would you like to get short fiction - or a serialized story - more than once weekly?
I write once a fortnight (I use a sub-title Thought for the Fortnight, because radio 4 on the BBS has a Thought for the Day) and my subscribers are growing amazingly. I started with 25 family and friends in November and now am getting close to 150. Whether that is the frequency or the content is up for discussion, but I prefer to hear from people less frequently
It's a funny thing as to how often one should post. Some feel that once a week is more than enough, while others say 2-3 times a week, and still others put something out once a month. It all depends on what you write. If you are serializing a novel, you can put up 2-300 word pieces on an almost daily routine. You can also post once a week, but make longer posts of 2,000-2,500 words. If you're writing a financial type page, you might want to give yourself more time for research, and, again, depending on length, post once a week, or every ten days. I'm just opening up my paywall. I'm leaving that up in the air as to posting frequency because I only have 4 followers and they're my friends. My regular posts are once a week. If you want to look at everything else I have to offer, jump over the paywall.
True. Depends on length, style, audience, topic, etc
Nice!! Different strokes for different folks, for sure. If you have good, consistent content, even if once every two weeks, it can work, as it clearly is for you! There's a stack I like a lot, The Art of Flash Fiction, which seems to be like once a month...but I always check in.
I notice a drop off during the week if I post every day (which was my plan at the start of my writing journey). But received a bit of feedback from an old high school English teacher to maybe dump all my writings from the same week last year into one post, then do some art, then some design. So from 7 posts to 3. I kind of like this. And may try it out in April!
Awesome π
1-2 times a week in my opinion is ideal, but try the non-email phone app Substack post option
I'd suggest twice a week to start: Right now it's low-risk since you have only 31 subs. (Not a judgment at all, just an observation.) See how people react. It's a delicate balancing act: Too much and people get annoyed; not enough and people sort of forget you're there.
Good luck!
Love it.
Went to a farmworkers protest last Saturday in Palm Beach as they marched to Nelson Peltz' mansion home (they were protesting Wendy's). Obviously, due to having my new substack site, I took advantage of this opportunity, wrote a great story and took original photographs. Thanks Substack for providing this opportunity to tell stories.
What a great idea! Connecting the dots is the way to grow. I feel, for example, Substack is really helpful in capturing synergy after publishing a book, etc.
Your work is great, Lara! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for checking out, Sean! I so appreciate.
Awesome!
Appreciate your comment, "The Office Hours thread can feel chaotic and overwhelming..." I started my post in February. Since that time I've read the Office Hours each week and have asked a question each time. I've yet to get a response.
That's fine. I wonder if there is a way to ask questions directly to Substack support. Just some technical stuff.
-Allyne
Write to support@substack.com with your questions.
Yeah: They're often overwhelmed handling so many writers with questions, I think.
Thank you for taking time to write and post this... It helped so much.
Glad to hear this!
Thank you, Michael!
You're very welcome :)
Hi Michael! Nice to meet you.
Good tips. Thanks Michael!
Just subscribed to your stack; looks good :)
Ditto :)
I write a fortnightly Substack Newsletter (about whatever captures my imagination) and chose to NOT post frequently. Readers are busy people and they might like hearing from you, but not too frequently. I don't know if anyone else has my outlook, but i do see a lot of people assuming that I want to spend a lot of time with them. Not necessarily the case. Any views?
I also had as a goal to write twice per month when I started my Substack last year. But life happened and it became less. Am putting in more time again and my goal is still the same. I write about my life in Lusaka, Zambia and if people want to see what happens more often they are on my Instagram. So writing twise monthly a little bit more indepth about living here is for me enough. And with every Lusaka Letter the subscribers are growing. But it is an interesting subject and it seems like it has many answers.
Wow: Sounds fascinating. Love the idea of less often but more in-depth.
We will see. I guess when I have more time to put into it I might also write more and that might also work. Am open to go with the flow
Anyone reading on Substack will also be reading other sources, as well as reading other Substacks. A reader will prioritize their paid subscriptions, and then prioritize based on level of interest and time, and a raft of other personal decision making criteria related to areas of interest and the writing itself.
So, it's not necessarily that other people do or don't want to spend a lot of time with a particular writer. There's probably a Goldilocks point for different types of content above or below which the readers - paid or not paid - lose engagement with the writer or the topic or both.
Valid points. Attention economy, right?
Time and money. There are only a fixed number of hours in a day. If I was a paid subscriber to only 10 Substacks, that would be nearly $1000 a year (AU). And there are far more than 10 that are of interest to me. This compares with, say, the NYTs at $36 a year, or Netflix at $100 a year, or going to the cinema 50 times. Attention isn't the problem.
I post twice a week. Midweek I post nursing memoir, weekend I post about stuff I'm interested in - books, writing, knitting, gardening. I'm just building subscribers and enjoying myself at the moment.
Just subscribed to yours. Nursing memoir got my attention. My mom was a nurse and she's also a memoirist. And of course I write auto-fiction and memoir myself.
Oh wow! Thanks! I shall return the interest. I'm still at the point where I can't quite believe anyone other than mates might be interested!
Maybe it depends. I'm guessing that for certain things, people might like an intensive pace. Maybe I will take a poll.
Good idea. Generally I think if itβs too long people shy away.
Hi Michael. For a blog that focuses on novels, do you still recommend 2-4 posts per week? I've read in other places where fiction writers should post less often, like 2-4 times per month. I'm not debating. I'm just wondering what you think.
Fair question. I just started posting a thriller novel of mine. I am planning to post one chapter per week. Let's see how it goes!
One chapter as in ca. 4k words?
Love the advice that you've gave :)
Thanks! Hope it was helpful.
Thank you for these tips Micheal.
Truly, writing is about guts because most times, you have to be vulnerable.
I find that when we write what affects us the most, our writing finds exactly who needs to read it!
Spot on!
Beautifully said :)
Amen to that!!
Thanks. I'm braver when I'm writing my nursing memoir pieces, but in my other stuff it still feels a bit broadcasty. I love that there are really experienced writers on here who will offer wise words. https://junegirvin.substack.com. Any nurses on here, or retired nurses, I'd love to hear about your stacks.
I'm not a nurse, but I wrote a book about many nurses in hospice care. called Life in a Hospice. It is told through the words of people who work in end-of-life-care. You might find it interesting.
Thanks, I'll look for it.
I am, incidentally, also in the UK. The book has been out awhile and has a Foreword from the late Tony Benn. I have also written a book called The Granny who Stands on her Head: Reflections on Growing Older, which in a nutshell is about why I enjoy being old (I am 81). That is my most recent and my most popular book. I chose the same title for my Substack newsletter because i) I was lazy and ii) I wanted something that is eye-catching (and I DO stand on my head) but that also gave me the freedom to write about anything that captures my imagination. It has been growing by leaps and bounds, I am pleased to say.
Thanks Michael, love your advice. So dear all, take this as an invitation to give honest and raw feedback to my Substack :)
Thank you Michael, great tips
Thanks!!
All good advice. 2-4 times per week though, not possible for me. Anyone having success with one post per week? (I have a full-time job and three side gigs currently; I'm a single mom and I'm pretty spent with all the hustling I need to do to get by...) One post is pushing it - I'm realizing though that I needn't go so long and try to be so thorough and perfect (I spend all week on one post sometimes). I realize attention spans are slim, though I do think that norm is different on Substack. I see some really long posts!!
My advice: Play with it. Experiment. You may lose some subs, gain some, see some flat areas. See what works. That's one of the joys and perks of SS.
Thanks for joining us today at Office Hours! It's great to see so many new faces. The Substack team is signing off but we'll be back next week. In the meantime, checkout the resources listed at the top of the post.
Some thoughts and tips for new fiction writers here:
- Don't overwhelm your readers. Fiction requires a different kind of attention, so don't send out so much that your readers don't have time to read it. Don't put yourself in the position of competing for time with everything else in their lives!
- This will vary depending on genre and style, of course, but I go with a loose rule of thumb of about 1,200 words per chapter/instalment. It's long enough to have some real substance, but short enough to be easily read in a single sitting during breakfast / the commute / before bed etc
- Create an index of your stories once you've got a decent number, to make it easier for people to find what they want. Especially the case if you're writing sequential, serialised stories. When I did this, it seemed to increase general readership (https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/how-to-read-tales-from-the-triverse).
- If you're writing a long-form story, or serialising a novel, don't include chapter numbers in the post titles. Over time, it becomes off-putting to new readers, who see a massive number and think of it as homework.
- Use sections for collections of stories, or for serials. Makes it much easier for people to navigate.
- For ongoing serials, consider including a TV-style 'previously on....' short paragraph at the top of each instalment.
- Use custom buttons to create easy previous / next chapter links.
- BookFunnel promos can be an effective way to bring in new fiction readers. Once you've got enough material to create a sample, you can use group promos to attract new readers. Because the sample is of the same material on the newsletter, it keeps churn to a minimum.
- Join the Fictionistas community, we're lovely: https://fictionistas.substack.com/
- Don't over-commit. If you can't manage 1 story a week, don't promise it! Figure out what you can comfortably deliver without stressing yourself out. A healthy writer = better writing.
Good luck to all of you starting out! There's a wonderful community of fiction writers here. Hopefully I'll get to meet some of you. :)
Such great advice, thanks for sharing Simon!
Awesome tips, Simon -- this is great information for new and established writers here on Substack!
Thanks, Brian! Another tip for fiction writers here would be 'Read Brian's stuff'.
Thanks buddy! Funny you should mention that because my comment today for new writers also included a link to your Substack. I wish we could have mentions in the comments as well, but I guess they're still working on it π
Love this. Thanks! I'm putting memoir on my stack and already using a separate section for jt, so it''s good to know that's a good idea! I also like the idea of a 'previously'....
Nicely done! Good luck with the project.
Thanks for sharing!
Hope it's of some use. :)
Thanks Simon, solid advice here!
Great ideas, Simon! Just joined fictionistas
Hope it goes well!
I'm new enough around here, just started taking it seriously in January. I love Substack, I love this space to write and I love the opportunities coming my way as a result of it β¨
Welcome, Tamzin! Glad you are diving in.
Love how organize Substack is :)
Intriguing "handle" paragraph about Resurface, Tamzin. I just subscribed and will check it out.
Welcome!
Hi, Substackers. I started a humor newsletter in December, though to start I populated it from earlier works previously published elsewhere. The most recent post seems to be my most popular so far! Thanks for all the support! https://johnbluff.substack.com
John, love your stuff. Just subscribed. Mine is also a humor based newsletter about motherhood, life, and all things in between. Started it last week!
This is so good and just subscribed myself π
I subscribed a week ago, John, and look forward to reading all your posts.
Are you an upcoming writer of fantasy or science fiction on Substack? Do you want to join a like-minded community of speculative authors and be recognized for your work? The Lunar Awards has launched and is getting ready to run its first award season.
https://lunarawards.substack.com/p/reimagining-literary-awards-for-science
If you have questions about writing speculative fiction here on Substack, ask away! There are a large number of us that enjoy the genre and are interested in connecting. Here are a few of my favorites exploring a wide range of speculative sub-genres:
https://futurethief.substack.com/ (Me!)
https://billadler.substack.com/
https://alongthehudson.substack.com/
https://clairesshortstories.substack.com/
https://simonkjones.substack.com/
https://thedispatches.substack.com/
https://stockfiction.substack.com/
We look forward to hearing from you!
I write fiction and poetry! :)
Welcome, David! Another community that might also interest you is Fictionistas:
https://fictionistas.substack.com
Hmm so interesting! I've written historical fantasy and am now working on my first sci-fi novel. Awesome to discover you! Just subscribed. My substack The Muse does have excerpts of my published literary work. I may serialize the new novel, not sure yet...
That's great, Birgitte, happy to have you! I've had several authors ask about an award for serial fiction, and I'm thinking of doing a future category for best first chapter in a serial. So stay tuned...
Thank you for the list of speculative fiction newsletters, Brian. Going to pursue them all. I subscribed to Lunar Awards as soon as I saw the email, and look forward to reading and connecting with other writers in the genre.
Thanks, Miriam, I think you'll really enjoy many of the stories those authors publish.
This is fantastic info, Brian. Thanks!!!
Thanks for sharing. Subbed! I am working on my first novel (dystopian SF) and I am looking to connect with fellow writers and beta readers.
Thank you, Alexander, and welcome to the gang!
Also, Brian, since you're a working author... I'm working on an article about generative text AI and its impact on our work and our jobs. Would love your input for a survey I'm running on the topic. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
I just took the survey and provided information. You're welcome to contact me. I'm a journalism graduate and self-published, but I'm a software architect by trade so I tend to have a pretty rounded and grounded view when it comes to tech and writing.
Thanks so much Brian for your thoughtful input. Will be in touch via email once the survey closes :)
Hi, all! I created my Substack more than a year ago, but I just committed myself to doing it regularly. Looking forward to following this community to grow and improve my Substack. I am a national news reporter and I write about rural affairs. https://nicholedobo.substack.com/
Best of luck with it. We (re)started our newsletter in January, focusing on how world affairs and emerging change affects wealth.
Hello Nichole, so nice to meet you. I'm a former journalist (used to write for the Hollywood trades). Given that you are a reporter, I would love your input for a survey I'm running on the impact of AI on those of us making a living as writers. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
Fantastic idea for a survey. Happy to weigh in!
Welcome, Nicole. What do you write about?
I am a national news reporter, and my primary beat is rural affairs. I write about rural schools the most, but I will sprinkle in some other things.
Hi Nichole, I'm a parent and former teacher, and I write about culture, education, and parenting in the United States...and how we can do better. I'll definitely have to check out "Schoolhouse". Wonderful you are writing about rural schools! For some reason, they often do not get the attention they deserve.
https://raisingamericans.substack.com/
Thanks for sharing! I just subscribed. Stay in touch if you have story ideas or want to chat about education.
Cool.
Good for you. We need more local media and media outlets that focus on rural life. The local media industry is dying. We need more news sources that donβt focus overwhelmingly on national issues.
Hi! New writer here! I started my self-help/astrology blog this week. It accompanies my Chicago-based in-person comedy show Astrobitch! Its an astrology based comedy show where the comics all have the zodiac sign of the month except one. The audience has to guess which on is the odd one out based on their comedy routine!
My soon-to-come first post is framed by my daughter exposing me to astrology and my initial resistance. Spoiler alert: I'm ALL on board now.
I hope you will give yourself permission to do this NOW
Thats awesome! I just sent my first article out about how I came to know and love astrology. My mom still thinks its witchcraft tho lmao
I've been paying attention to astro since I was in my early 20s. A gradual fascination to the subject and the reactions it causes in ppl. Good for you combining it with comedy. The more we laugh, the more open parts of us become! Let it rip!
Hi! I'm also in Chicago. What theater?
Color Club in Irving Park!
Where was this show when I lived in Chicago?!? My kind of night out!! Wishing you great success!!
Its a lot of fun! Just subbed you as well! Thanks!
Hey everyone, I'm constantly New anywhere I go, so of course I'm New Here. Nice to meet you all.
I write Runaway, a newsletter all about expectations, reality and the inevitable crash. It's gonna be a two-times-a-week deal, one personal essay, one wild culture roundup of sorts.
This sounds interesting! x
boy, I'm doling the backstory out for a reason :)
Iβd you donβt already have a built in audience of followers (like published authors do), what are tangible tips for growing? Especially ones that do not lift too much energy away from the actual writing?
This is one of my favorite grow interviews about how Elizabeth grew her audience with thoughtful cold emails: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-6
Thank you. - will take a look!
Substack has a feature in its stats called "Audience Insights" where it'll show the publications your current subscribers read the most. I started checking out, subscribing and chiming in on posts in these publications and it was more valuable than I was expecting. My subscriber list has grown, but also I have found some utterly fantastic newsletters that I can't wait to read and then join in the conversation. I'd start there.
Ooh - I did not know about that function. Definitely taking a look. Giving and receiving are what community is all about. <3
Interesting idea. Thanks sharing!
I'm trying to make a more intentional effort to comment on newsletters that are similar to mine (would be reasonable to assume that the audiences will overlap). It's been helpful for me especially as I don't have much of an existing online presence/social media following!
β€οΈ
This post https://substack.com/inbox/post/97615919 has good tips.
I would recommend networking with other Substackers. Subscribe, read, and leave thoughtful comments. Once you're "friends" suggest a cross-post. Sign up for social media and use those platforms to promote your writing. I saw someone earlier on one of these threads say he cuts and pastes his entire newsletter on LinkedIn and it generates new subscribers for him. I'm a fan of teasers rather than giving them the whole thing. It's really a matter of consistency. Write consistently (every Monday, or whatever) so your audience can rely on you, and promote consistently. There are lots of apps that can schedule your social posts for you. I know lots of writers who take a few hours Sunday evening to set up their socials for the week.
Thanks, Katie. I'm Howard M. Cohen and I launched two new Substacks in January. The Business Technologist's Journal (biztechjournal.substack.com) is a chance for me to share experiences, insights, and observations from my 40 years of executive experience in the IT industry. What Do You Want (whatdoyouwant.substack.com) explores how intention shapes our lives, suggesting that the most important question to answer begins with "what do you want?"
I'm a NY transplant living in Arizona who first embarked on a freelance writing career 14 years ago and has never looked back.
By the way, the biggest value I find here in Office Hours comes from the people I get to meet who are all cruising in the same boat as me. It's like coming home, and very welcome.
Written like a writer β€οΈ
Boy, I hope so....
Hi Howard, I enjoy your analogy! We are leaving the safety of the port and heading out into the blue waters. I wonder what we will get to see as we continue our cruise. It's a great idea not to jump ship if the waves swell and rock the boat! On my first cruise, literally, waves came up and were 17 ft. high, keeping us from being able to go in to the port! It was fun on the dance floor I admit.
Many has been the time I've had to lash myself to the mast to avoid being swept overboard. In terms of what we get to see, my thought is that we have to be at the wheel. As the wonderful singer/songwriter Richie Havens once told me, "You are the master of your own ship."
Hi Howard, hats off to you for publishing two Substacks! I'm looking for working writers for a piece I'm writing about generative text AI and its impact on our work and our jobs. Would love your input for a survey I'm running on the topic. Here is the link... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
Both sounds interesting. Looking forward to checking them out.
Love the title 'Wha.. I write on similar themes with humor Howard. Will check this out
Set and stick to a rigid schedule. Prepare for it by listing a series of titles you plan to write for each. As much as possible, write several of them and keep them for future on time posting. I think the biggest challenge may be resisting the urge to do more!
One thing I like about committing to a publishing schedule is the (self-imposed) deadline. It really drives me to keep writing. "I love deadlines. Especially the 'whoosh' sound they make when they go by." - Douglas Adams
That Douglas Adams quote made me chuckle :D
Elizabeth Swann: "You and I are alike, and there will come a moment when you have a chance to show it. To do the right thing [stick to your Substack deadlines]."
Jack Sparrow: "I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by."
LOL.
TOMORROW IS MY LAUNCH DAY! Grief, Grit & Grace: A Heroine's Journey of Aging
About the archetypal adventures of a woman's third act of life.
I have a TON of tech questions that the articles aren't answering, and I'd love to get some hand-holding from a real Substack human. Are there any out there?
Have you checked out our YouTube page? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zneuro_NdVw&list=PLripwV1Ak52nqQpM-GDCCFCfvvqql9sT0
What technical questions are top of mind?
Speaking of, interface jumping around as per usual less frequently though. Anyway gotta go, but don't worry folks I'll be back to haunt and taut sometime later π De
Didn't know about it! Will do.
May I ask a few questions here?
The most important one: I want to have a mix of free and paid subscribers. So if I push the button that says, "Allow readers to pay to subscribe," does that de facto exclude free subscribers?
Also, I've inserted a graphic in the headers for all my different types of post that is not showing up in the post previews. Is there something else I need to know?
When you hit "Allow readers to pay to subscribe" you get a mix of paid and free subscribers, kind of like the setup on Patreon.
Before you hit publish, there is an option to choose what photo you want to be your cover. It's called "Social Preview." If you have any more questions, feel free to head over to my Substack. It's a community of newbies navigating the Substack platform together.
Thanks so much, Sunday! Just joined. I look forward to more. XXOO M.
And then ... if I post questions in the comments on the YouTube videos, will someone be there to read and reply? I just need some real human love, know what I mean?
I am here. I am in deep grief, I lost five family members in this past year. When I lost my daughter a few months ago, then my adopted daughter right after, my faith was shaken to the core. Although I am retired from the mental health field, I am now seeking wisdom how to function as my heart has been shredded and I feel undone. Nevertheless, I was invited by two older women to get on Substack and start publishing whatever I am writing about. I feel like I am all over the map, knowing this is part of the grieving process. I hope we can connect in the future. I will be popping in here as well. CONGRATULATIONS for your diligence and follow through on your launch date.
Oh my goodness Brenda, so much loss. What an enormous rite of passage to have to navigate. I've never experienced the loss of loved ones so close together, but I have lost a relationship, then a job, then a home, etc., all in short order. It's devastating.
There's something in this kind of process about being torn all the way down to hell and then rebuilt all the way up to heaven. The liberation on the other side seems to be in direct proportion to the loss. I have a client who went though the kinds of losses you're experiencing, and she's now in such a place of perennial, causeless joy. I wish that for you too!
FINGERS CROSSED I get this launched tomorrow! The first post will be about pleasure. Stay tuned!
I hope launch went well Marcella. I am setting up my substack now and am still bit away from launching. I love how you speak of the liberation on the other side of loss, in direct proportion. I am feeling it. Although the perennial joy is a daily practice. You will be able to read more about my losses and finds at my substack. I'll keep you in mind to send it to.
Hi Brenda, I am just setting up my first Substack and am reading through the Office Hours to listen for the way forward with it. Your post has me holding my heart and sending you much love. May you find the way forward with courage and care. Wishing you well.
Oh, and PS: Yes by all means write. Your journey will be so helpful to so many, that I know for sure. XXOO
I'm in the third-act too and launching within the next few days. I write about Life, the Self & Spiritual Exploration from a practical point of view. Plenty self examination and entertainment in there too.
I loo forward to reading you.
Likewise! I won't leave my email here, but if you search on my name, Marcella Friel, you can find me outside of this thread. Would love to have a writing accountability partner. I look forward to reading you as well, Laurie. Best, M.
I read your Substack βAboutβ information and think we have some good things in common. Iβm very interested in establishing a writing accountability partner and would love to connect.
Ooh yeah! Your name sounds familiar. I remember eating a "Mrs. Renfro's Hot Sauce" years ago, don't know if that's your family lineage? In any case, I just free-subscribed, feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to talk about co-writing.
Congratulations, Marcella!
Thanks, Antonette! I feel good about it. Two paid subscribers, whoo hoo! Am writing my second post now.
Wow, thank you so much, Ratika! I appreciate the support.
Hi everyone, I'm Laurent. I seem to be one of the newest around here as I launched less than 24 hours ago! Trying to make the best of my time going over the resources and figuring out a game plan here.
My newsletter is called Asymmetrical Collage. I want it to become a place where people go to think about future change and how we can find opportunities to lead more meaningful lives according to our values.
If anyone wants to check it out, I'll start publishing weekly on Tuesdays.
https://asymmetricalcollage.substack.com
Welcome, Laurent. Just subscribed, will check it out.
Welcome! I love your focus and applaud you for already determining your publishing cadence.
A goal without a plan is just a wish
I've subscribed after reading ONE entry. Glad you are here!
I started a few weeks ago. It feels like I am jumping in the deep end of the pool. I was invited/ challenged to write something and publish it so I could experience the true feeling of being vulnerable as the joy of knowing I have begun facing any fears.
You will find this so freeing. Being vulnerable is a gift. It opens us to the real miracles of life. Yesterday I was afraid of driving in the rain. The minute I got out of my garage and on my way I saw my dead baby brother's birthday on an SCE license plate that came right toward me. I felt him, gone almost 30 years, right beside me in the passenger seat. All along the way I got messages and I felt completely safe and it turned into a fun trip out that accomplished exactly what I really needed in the moment I needed it. Have fun with this!
Wow. Sometimes the messages really do come when they are needed. Thanks for sharing this. I lost my younger brother ten years ago (he was 24) and have begun to explore this in my writing. I will check out your Sub. Peace!
Kudos on being vulnerable. Trying to get there myself. It's no small journey!
It's so much easier to run away from those fears, and be someone the world wants you to be instead of being yourself - your whole self, the polished bits as well as the jagged parts.
Thanks for subscribing. I think life experiences lead us to our realizations. Also, there is a big shift happening now, and those of us in the know, recognize how to use some of the parts of ourselves that we've developed in the dark, perhaps with embarrassment that now can have a voice in the light. I'm sure this doesn't make sense... but the whole 99% perspiration 1% inspiration is one way of looking at it. If you focus on your 1% inspiration the perspiration isn't a slog as much as a curious discovery and excited display!
It makes sense to me! Thank you for sharing.
β€οΈπ
Just spinning up my new Substack at https://kenburkhalter.substack.com/. Essays at the intersections of life, faith, and purpose. Looking for info on moving to a custom domain.
Hi Ken, I found your post in the multitudes here. "Walking in the Light" I too am walking in the light and just began this journey here. I am creating a new website, (my first time) which seems like an impossibility. Not my strong suit to say the least. I am curious about the custom domain as well.
From the research I've done it sounds like a relatively simple process. I am not a techie though, and simple to one can be a disaster to another. I checked with my personal website host (GoDaddy) and they assured me that if I have the directions, they will walk me through it step by step. So, checking with your domain host may help simplify and add confidence. Good luck with your new gig!
Welcome, Ken!
Sounds interesting, Ken. I'll subscribe and check it out.
1. Will it lose any functionality?
2. Is tech support retained or am I on my own if I move it?
Excellent. Thanks.
Moving to a private domain does seem straightforward. My questions are about what happens after the move. Do you lose any of Substack's native functionality, and is tech support still available if a glitch occurs at some point?
Just joined. All new to me. I'll be publishing a bi-weekly series of short stories meant to bring a smile to faces and once in a while maybe new perspectives on the craziness of life. The Untold Stories orf Dusty Rhodes has launched on Substack!
Welcome to Substack!
I did my first post. What can you tell me about who is able to view that?
Iβm Jason. I write about battling in the goal to better my mental health. I have poems and life stories I have shared with the goal of helping myself throughout therapy, as well as hopefully reaching someone who can use some perspective or a positive note.
Hi Jason, it would be great to connect and share thoughts about our writing. I am on Substack to share learn how to increase my writing skills as well as possibly sharing insights from my experiences in the mental health world, from both sides of my life experiences. After twenty plus years of counseling in one way of the other, I have retired. I am now focusing on my own passion to share insights while enjoying the art of writing to process my own journey.
I wish you nothing but the best in your quest to learn more and share. I have just subscribed to your substance. I invite you to do the same and/or message me privately on twitter to connect more.
Thatβs awesome Jason! My publication focuses on mental health and I would love to connect with you.
Amazing!
Yeah! I just subscribed to your publication and followed you on Twitter.
I love how you arenβt afraid to share your stories and tell your truths.
Thank you! I appreciate the support.
Hi. Started "Books I Read This Month" (https://booksireadthismonth.substack.com) on the last day of February. The second volume will be published on March 30. What is the easiest way to search for other Substacks which focus on book reviews? Thanks.
From the Substack reader, you can use search to find publications, posts and people. I encourage you to explore that way to start: https://substack.com/browse
Thank you, Katie. I'll do that.
I will check out your newsletter
Thank you, Brittany.
Oh nice! Books π
This thread actually started at 10 today! I'm looking forward to seeing some new writers here - In the past I found myself getting lost despite showing up a half an hour early.
I have no questions today, but want to express how frustrated I've been with there being no dashboard function on the app. That combined with the fact that most of my followers don't have the app - it feels pretty useless. I wish it was first tailored towards the Substack creators/writers rather than the consumers. I would much prefer getting subscription notifications and comments there to manage than receiving a hundred emails about it.
Anyway, thanks for having this community and thanks for listening.
Hey Kerry! Today, the Substack app is a reader app but we hope to expand the writer tools available in there one day.
Need the writer tools ASAP, particularly as I am visually impaired. posted about my need in todayβs Office Hours comments. Really want to lunch soon!
Thatβs great! Thanks for letting me know π I look forward to it.
I agree. I made an effort to check in right at 10a and the thread can get overwhelming but grateful for the opportunity to come and connect..
Thank you for sharing this Kerry! I'm more of an app person too, and discovering I can't see or edit drafts on the app is quite frustrating.
Regards notifications, I think you can select to receive notifications only from your subscribers and comments on the app and not in your email in the settings.
Can I receive push notifications for when someone subscribes or comments on my post?
Yeah, you can. I do get notifications on my app.
Yeah, you can. I do get notifications on my app.
Is there any place where I can connect with illustrators who could be hired to create art for Substack pieces I publish?
That's a great question! Writers have to us that they have worked with illustrators and it really has helped bring new life to their publications. Erik Hoel is a great example: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-9
He found someone who's style he liked and reached out directly.
There are so many great illustrators on Substack. You can peruse them here and I encourage you to reachout. https://substack.com/leaderboard/art/all
Thank you Katie, I had no idea this leaderboard existed! How can an artist get on the leaderboard? (Asking for an artist I know who's amazing)
Amanda, want to thank you for reaching out to living, human illustrators. I realize generative art AI is now an option, but if you can do it, hiring human artists is so important right now. Same with living human writers. We need to be able to continue to do our work and follow our passions and still make a living.
Microsoft just launched its Image Creator today. bing.com/create The world is changing so fast for creators.
Thanks for sharing that URL. Just tried it. May leverage in future issues.
Hi there! I'm an illustrator (not open to commissions at the moment) and writer and would love to meet more illustrator substacks!
I'm not an illustrator but I can make digital collages / graphic designs, and would be happy to talk if you're interested. You can see some of my work at my 'stack.
If personal connection with artists is not a priority for you, you can use Midjourney or DALL-E for this purpose. Check out my Substack for other design tools that may help you: https://rushingrobotics.com.
Hey new Substack writers! I hit six months of weekly publishing this month, and after starting with only 15 subscribers I'm on my way to 300. It's been slow and steady, and I couldn't be more excited about the experience. If you're interested in how I have approached writing and growing, I wrote a post called "My Three-Month βStackiversary and Insights for Writers with Under 200 Readers."
The essay includes details regarding my subscriber numbers and goals. Here's a link:
https://jenzug.substack.com/p/three-month-stackiversary-and-insights
This is super helpful as a new substack writer. Thank you so much for being so open to how you've grown your audience!
Hi Jen,
Thank you for the inspiration and for sharing your stats! I
Talent! You have bared your stats and actually made them fun to read. Thanks for this encouraging service to the rest of us who start writing without previous fame.
I am so inspired by you! This is awesome and thank you so much for sharing this essay. (Also a fellow grant writer, but after 20 years and a pandemic I've switched to illustration.) :-D
To all those getting started, I recommend a weekly publishing schedule. I publish on Wednesday mornings, for example. Here is the weekly writing plan I use.
Thursday: Thank God Iβve got a full week till my next post.
Friday: Still got a few days to get started. Iβm fine.
Saturday: The weekends are for relaxing, right?
Sunday: This is officially a day of rest. I couldnβt write even if I wanted to.
Monday: Wait, donβt I have a post to write?
Tuesday: What do you mean Wednesday is tomorrow? How on earth did that happen? Oh this is insane. Iβd better get started.
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning: Does Uber Eats deliver coffee at 3 a.m.?
Wednesday (after posting): Phew. Made it. That was rough. Iβll never let that happen again.
ππ
Hilarious.
Hello! My substack is mostly about my 30 years as a working musician. The good, the bad, and the pursuit to keep pushing on. https://ofsoundandfury.substack.com/
There is such a diversity of subjects here, that is really great.
We all have something to say !!
Diversity is such a plus on Substack
I'm procrastinating about starting my substack because I need to post videos......and because I tend to procrastinate.
Hello Conni, Iβm curious about where you post videos, and for procrastination, donβt be too hard on yourself. You can use it to your advantage.
My latest newsletter is exactly about procrastination. Check it out. https://open.substack.com/pub/sprenko/p/you-can-benefit-from-procrastination?utm_source=direct&r=5w7dq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I also host a Twitter space every Friday (Real Talk) for mental health matters, and tomorrowβs conversation centers around procrastination.
Wishing you all the best Conni!
I have a YouTube channel and find it very hard to make time for both while working a full time job. I try to get organized every week and have a game plan but if it doesn't work out, I don't beat myself up for it. Our work benefits from living, and from taking any time that we may need.
Hello fellow Substackers!
This week is my second birthday celebration posting my newsletter Tumbleweed Words on Substack! Iβm not much of one for self-promotion and love the organic community I am growing over at Tumbleweed Words. But I thought Iβd shoot my shot for once and ask fellow Substackers who subscribe or enjoy my newsletter to take less than a minute and support my newsletter with a Substack recommendationβany support is greatly appreciated! Link available below via my recent post.
https://tumbleweedwords.substack.com/p/its-my-second-birthday-on-substack
P.S. I am her to support you all alsoβhappy to be here today for year three! π
Happy birthday to Tumbleweed Words! Congrats!
β€οΈπ
Hi writers! I'm a freelance copywriters and designer from Amsterdam. I'm just starting here on the Substack platform with a new project. Still in the planning and draft phase. But looking forward to getting to know the platform and the possibilities :-)
Hi - I just started in March. Writing about wine, food and fun travel/places. Excited to finally get started on something I've wanted to do for awhile.
Congratulations on finally starting! Love travel and food so may check it out.
My newsletter is about learning software and data, so if youβre interested in getting into those fields or improving on them check it out :)
https://ivanh.substack.com/
Hello! I've recently started a Substack (about a month ago) about what is probably a pretty niche topic here: amateur radio experimentation. I imported some subscribers from my blog but I'm looking for ways to get more views and hopefully start to build an interactive community. If you're a ham or even just curious about the tech, I'd love to connect with you.
Welcome, Jason!
Thank you! I appreciate the conscious decisions that go into the platform that you're building here. It's so much more substantial than social media.
Hey - loving Substack as a platform and community but still trying to build my subscriber list organically. I obviously want to grow beyond my little social network and find my true audience. Any tips are much appreciated. Secondary to that, a lot of people seem to read but don't subscribe, or subscribe but comment directly to me as opposed to the post. Would love to correctΒ that naturally.Β
Anyway, my Substack is SecondRateCities.com. ItΒ combines my love for running, bars, and overlooked cities into a long-form, non-conventional travel blog.Β The premise is short trips to any cities and towns that are not typical travel destinations and exploring them through, you guessed it, running and bar hopping. I think it gives a more honest feel of place than simply listing out "must-dos and sees" and uncovers lots of gems.
With that in mind, I would love to find more travel and culture Subs to follow, holler if you have one!
Cheers,
Welcome Zach! If you haven't already, checkout the discover tab under culture and travel: https://substack.com/browse/culture
Yep, probably need to browse that again. Thank you, Katie!
What a great travel focus. I love second-rate cities. I also happen to love running and drinking. One of my favourite travel moments was arriving in Napoli (certified second-rate), dropping my bag, going for a run, and drinking too many Negronis at a rest stop to run back from wherever it was I ended up. Do you have a favourite second-rate city?
Hahaha, that sounds amazing. Love a good negroni and I bet they're heaven in Napoli. We might need to travel together ;)
I don't have a fave, but I can say my love for them started when I began traveling to rust belt and midwest cities (Detroit, Milwuakee, Buffalo, etc). I quickly realized how much fun they were and all that I was missing.
Like you, am still trying to grow organically. I've been more focused on developing the habit of writing consistently and clarifying my focus first (only started in January) but would like to start finding my true audience as I go forward.
I don't have any specific tips for you but wanted to say I love your idea of combining three things you love. I am intrigued and want to check it out.
Thanks! Yeah, I wish this topic allowed for more consistency, unfortunately long form + travel means posts are few and far between. But maybe an advantage too since it's not overwhelming inboxes. Who knows.
I enjoyed your first post and Astoria.
This post has a lot of good ideas on how to grow. https://substack.com/inbox/post/97615919
My Substack is about travel with admixture of culture, or rather pop culture, Zach...
Awesome, going to check that out.
Yes, converting views into subscribers seems to be my challenge as well. My view numbers aren't bad for just starting out, but it seems to be tough to get them to subscribe for free. I put at least one subscribe button in every post. However, I don't want the reader to feel like I'm clubbing them over the head with it.
Exactly. But hey, I'l take just one off readers to start too. I'm sure it starts snowballing at some point, it's just a slow start.
What's up everyone?
I've got a plan: I'm starting off free before I'll eventually allow paid subscriptions. I plan to switch when I reach a few hundred subscribers or a few thousand. It's not easy being someone without a lot of fame, but I gotta say Substack is much better and more professional than Google Blogger and WordPress.
Yes π
Hi Katie - and everyone! π I started Haver & Sparrow last month - I share writing and photographs of everyday moments from my home in Shetland (a group of tiny islands in the middle of the wild and unforgiving North Sea). My latest letter is 'Consistency and creativity' https://haverandsparrow.substack.com/p/consistency-and-creativity - a topic a lot of us here can relate to, I think! I love to document the little moments and details that might otherwise pass us by. The light moving across a wall, the petals on a wilting flower, the textures on a frosty walkβ¦ I love Substack so far, the community here is great and the conversations are always so interesting! β¨
π
I started my Substack on December 12th and just reached 100 subscribers two days ago. Never miss Office Hours here. Love it. Onward!
Congratulations on your first 100! I'm still growing to that number but started a month after you. Curious to hear any strategies you employed?
Well, about 45 have come thru Office Hours, directly and indirectly. Networking with other writers here once a week is invaluable.
You might want to write a more specific "handle" sentence / paragraph for your Substack, Bryce. From my perspective, "from my keyboard to your inbox" is way too general for a person to know whether or not they want to check it out.
Fair point and I completely agree. To be honest, it's simply a placeholder. I plan on revising it after my next issue.
Oh, excellent move.
Thanks for subscribing.
Here is the post where I crystalized what I want to focus on: https://brycepayne.substack.com/p/what.
I will be leveraging this to rewrite my one liner and flesh out the About page soon.
Will check it out later today or tomorrow. Thanks, Bryce. Nice to be in touch.
Hello mike how long did it take you to get to 100 subs?
Hi Karim. What is untamed virtue?
Hello, it's about being good at something or doing good, without following the classic model established by history and society .
Cool.
Doing the math, three months and a week.
Yep.
Hey everyone! I'm working on a piece about the generative AI frenzy and would like to know what you all think. Have you used it? Do you love it, hate it, or not sure yet? Do you want to be interviewed for the piece?
I've put together a brief Google form that I'd love for people to respond to β https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gwK6najJ-f4dASvJTf3B44cm5JHY9r8vSDSOLWbEkBs/edit
You might like this one too. The Metaverse to trap souls.
https://centralsun.substack.com/p/your-soul-is-immortal
AI is the most dangerous trap for Humanity, because most people do not have the awareness to undertsand the conscequences of the their ationa as a collective
https://centralsun.substack.com/p/advanced-technologies
https://centralsun.substack.com/p/cousciousness-and-transhumanism
Just subscribed, Birgitte. Very interested in generative AI and writing.
Hello Katie and everybody! I started my Substack some 9 months ago, but I consider myself new to the community. Even though have written 44 posts already, I have never got around to interacting with the community of writers here.
I am a teacher of English from Poland serializing my multidimensional and multimedia travel story called 'Other Eyes for Johnny Rocco: Welcome to 3000 Miles on the Road with a Heart Unlocked by a Month of Silence' here: https://novaliterary.substack.com.
It is a story that takes readers behind a curtain of monastic bliss and agony for them to co-experience how it is to be in a very silent, holy and exotic setting for a month, only to be plucked out of the place to go on a journey with 'other eyes' across Thailand, Mainland Malaysia, Singapore, across the Strait of Malacca, and down the islands of Sumatra and Java.
The posts alternate, serializing the main story, as well as promoting the accompanying 'Tales from the Jungle' and 'Postcards from the Road'. There are plenty of graphics from Magda's (my wife) drawing board, there are plenty of photos from my Nikon and there is plenty of World Music (and not only) from YouTube.
However, After 44 posts, my thoughts have started wandering to this doubt territory in my brain that has large blanket words like: βmaybe I need a breakβ, βmaybe itβs not worth the hassleβ or βwho cares about it anywayβ. When I finally get around to writing, it is almost always fun, comes with ease and I always manage to surprise myself with what and how I have written things. Yet, the initial thrill does not last until there is time to write another post.
I suspect more external support would save me from quitting, but my strategy for getting new subscribers is yet to be born.
1. Is anybody else at this place?
2. Have you been there and recovered?
3. What did you do not to quit writing?
Your story sounds very interesting. I will check it out. Like you, when I write, I find the process fun, flowing, and functional. The mind monkeys posing questions of defeat exist in my world too. My book has been a journey of years of blocks, including cancer, moving to a different state, selling a business. I try to focus on the enjoymnet I get from writing and continue to hope the rest will come. Your story has great value.
Hi Katie, Stories from the Edge is a newsletter and website sharing light hearted weekly posts sent out from a smoky bothy in the wilds of Scotland. Thanks for the great platform Substack! https://signalscott.substack.com
Intriguing. Just subscribed, will check it out.
Hi everyone! I started my blog about two weeks ago and thus far have only gained 14 free subscribers. However, I am hoping to focus on readers who are interested in epic fantasy, from middle-grade until adult. I was wondering how large Substack's current stock of epic fantasy blogs and readers might be.
The Fictionistas might be a good place for you to start. They connect plenty of fiction writers, although not only fantasy.
welcome Jim and happy wording! :)
Thanks, David!
The newsletter I publish today will be the first that only goes to paid subscribers. And I have a dilemma. Is there a way that I can provide access to individuals who aren't subscribers, for instance sources quoted who I would like to be able to see articles, even though they aren't (yet) subscribers?
There are a few options:
1. You can send them a complimentary subscription: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037465612-How-do-I-offer-a-complimentary-subscription-to-a-reader-
2. You can send a free preview to all your free subscribers: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407989020308-How-do-I-publish-a-free-preview-of-a-paid-post-on-Substack-
3. Share the secret draft link: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038433692-How-do-I-share-a-preview-of-my-post-with-others-
Hey everyone, I sent my first proper newsletter via Substack today after testing it for a little while and the formatting was a complete mess π.
Is this a known bug and is there a fix for it on the way?
Itβs been super embarrassing for us so just wanted to double check that this was on your radar?
Hi Richard! I confirm this was a temporary bug that has been fixed. We apologize for the inconvenience!
Ok thanks for clarifying. Is there any way to re-send the same campaign?
You'd need to create a new post and re-send it. You can click on the 3 dots on the post in question and then click on "duplicate to drafts" and resend it.
Hi Richard. This appears to be a glitch which has been fixed. You could use this opportunity to re-email your subscribers and let them know what happened, and it will probably never happen again. I have sent many newsletters through the Substack email system, and this is the first time I have seen this problem. Good luck!
I got the strangest looking email when someone commented on one of my posts today, so maybe it was a general emails-from-Substack issue and not newsletter specific. Hope it's fixed soon!!
Welcome!
Congratulations, you are making progress, although there are a few things to iron out. I do not know where I should go to learn how to make a newsletter. Can you direct me as where to find info. I have only been on Substack for a few weeks.
I followed the same advice I have always given to clients I have blogged for. Release each post on the same day each week. I post The Business Technologist's Journal on Tuesdays and What Do You Want on Fridays. This builds in a discipline to get the content ready to go by the night before. I usually then schedule it for posting early the next morning. Once it's posted I share it to a few dozen groups on Facebook, a few dozen groups on LinkedIn, and a handful of Twitter hashtags.
Yesterday, my son reminded me that I also always encouraged clients to agree to a scheduled list of topics which I would then write in rapid succession and store up for posting in future weeks. This way, if there was ever a delay, I'd still be able to post consistently on time.
From my perspective, the Journal is targeted at my community of colleagues. What Do You Want is far more broadly targeted. Watching both grow comparatively has been incredibly instructional and fascinating.
I'm interested in knowing what approaches other writers have to not overwhelming their subscriber lists with content. I get so excited about writing stuff, but also want to be conscious of not overwhelming everyone's email inboxes and want to be sure I maintain/build my subscriber community and don't scare them off. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas/approaches for how they think about this?
Publish some content using the Substack app (big orange button) and choose not to send to emails; itβll be on your page and random people find it
Hi Anna. Intrigued by your Substack. Just subscribed, will check it out.
thanks!
Hi I am trying to get focused to do exactly that. I am a 70 something writer with years of teaching comp and getting published in local papers. There are loads of ideas in my head and my situation invites a whole lot of cultural criticism. But I am struggling to start getting myself serious about capturing my voice. My son is transgender and I care about and want to talk about that. And I am a '70s feminist, so that is going to play a role in my work.
Jan, you might like my substack.Iβm also in my 70βs and a feminist, and I write about how it was back then and is now. Take a look: susanbordo.substack.com.
How do you quantify the desire for growth and sharing your creativity with the need for everything to remain organic?
Thatβs the eternal Artist Question my friend π
Likely the reason for starvation and elevation alike.
Began a few weeks ago. Just my own random thoughts about this or that. Not looking for a large audience but the outlet is fun. I am a retired scientist and current editor with time on my hands. Good luck to all newbies.
I started a blog recently β www.flyrun.fun. Itβs about travel and running β and in particular, traveling to run! I like the platform. I wish with free subscriptions there was a feature to make some posts available only to subscribers β so as to encourage people to subscribe for free
I started my own substack 3 weeks ago!!!
And hey everyone!!! please like my recent substack post (this will be the biggest support and motivation) π
Congrats, Lewis!
Welcome, Lewis!
Congratulations on starting!!!