What's a topic you really care about that you wish more people were writing about on Substack? Already writing about a topic someone mentions? Let them know!
Appreciate the feedback. We have another team working on reader experience. Writer-to-writer discovery has shown to be valuable to writers and the interaction happening on this thread is living proof.
I completely agree! A better way to browse all writers, instead of "top" writers and posts would be very welcome.
I tried a search for art (which granted is a short word) and got pointed towards top newsletters that had absolutely nothing to do with art, other than having a word in their description that contained those three letters in order, e.g. "partisan" or "smarter." I search for humor, which is a tag I've used on one of my newsletters, and it is nowhere to be seen in the 17 newsletters listed, most of whom are big name people. What is the point of that tag if I'll never show up in the list?
This is something that has been bothering me for a while. I love writing here and sharing my goofy ramblings, but would like a better path towards being discovered. We don't know what's here already if only the big names show up in the searches.
Thanks Ellie for starting this thread and providing an opportunity to share our thoughts.
I wonder if a chronological newsfeed would be useful? When Google+ was still a thing they featured a chronological feed (at first) and it was a wonderful way to meet new people. I’m still friends with many individuals whom I first encountered because I saw some random post they made while I was checking that feed.
I imagine a Substack feed would be the title of the article and maybe the first paragraph or a description of the topic it covers. Maybe an image? Hundreds of these articles posted and discoverable by anyone. Just one post after another. No memes or jokes— unless that was the entire article.
It’s an interesting idea, but I think it probably adds several challenges as well.
I think it'd fall prey to the same phenomenon as G+ and Twitter: eventually the traffic is too fast and too numerous for a reader to lock onto anything. At some point you have to begin to parse phrases or rank preferences to suggest more likely results in response to a query.
That's possible, but is that the case right now? If not, they could default to chronological until it needs to be addressed... if there's value in that approach.
Another option would be something like Pinterest or those sites where you have to choose various topics that interest you before they begin to show you content. Assuming that people are faithfully categorizing their newsletters that approach might even be better.
You know what. Actually. I lack or "miss" being surprised and discover new things. I fear being in an echo-chamber where everything that I get provided through all of the platforms out there is curated based on my prior viewing or what I "think" I want. We turned off our TVs and went to Twitter, Reddit, Medium, or YouTube because we were bored by watching content we weren't interested in. But I fear that we went full circle and now only get a narrow selection of content. So gee I don't know. As funny as it sounds - I'd like to be surprised and actually be able to get (the reverse?) or (blank spots / the empty space?) of my preferences? Because I don't know what I don't know. But sorry for this answer to be too #meta. I just think that in general because of too much curation we now lack getting the unexpected. But on the other hand - yeah, I get this - first and foremost platforms need to provide what people say they'd be interested in. In a world where you know that you'll get what you like, you'll open your app/browser/emails knowing that you'll get "your content". It would be interesting to get proposed the exact opposite alongside your actual preference or different viewpoints. But meh... who knows... I'm just an idiot. So I guess a wide-range of topics, but I know, I know - focus and resources and all that.
Another perspective: the thing you’d most love to see someone start a substack about might also be the thing that another reader can stumble upon and be surprised by. Many of the topics mentioned in this thread are subjects I hadn’t even considered, but are now things I’d be delighted to come across.
The idea of surfacing different perspectives on similar topics is an interesting one and something we’ve been talking about internally. Not a lot of platforms get discovery right, and I’m excited for us to tackle this challenge from a product-perspective soon.
I've been in & out of a bunch of social networking platform product development initiatives - they seem to go down similar rabbit-holes. (is this a social network btw? well there are people talking & connections and all that)
Discovery is tricky in my mind when it comes (from a perspective of a startup) to have it functional, but not to trigger addictive behavior in your users. There is the whole thing about ethical design, but I guess the industry is just scratching the surface on that. I guess the holy grail in smart platforms that would encompass ethical design would be one that would give you just the right amount of content to make you happy, excited/fulfilled, but wouldn't trigger something in you to go down a rabbit hole to seek out "almost the same" thing, just 1000x over. Someone might argue - how would you compete with platforms that do the opposite. I'm still naive enough to think that there's space for software that can have healthy growth but won't pass you too much information-triggered dopamine hits.
What is not addictive behavior, but an example of my preference and habit - each day when I open up my browser I go to questionablecontent.net & dilbert.com - I've been doing that for the last ten years. It's the stories. I also open up my common news-paper-gone-digital site. On the other hand, when I just simply can't do any more bureaucracy, taxes, or whatnot I gaze into the Twitter/Reddit sphere. I guess substack could be that 'questionablecontent/dilbert' "your little bit of doze of content daily" platform rather than Twitter Tequilla-shots.
You put into words something I've been trying to write about! I keep reading about how algorithms keep us in political echo chambers, but they also keep us in personal echo chambers.
Maybe. I don't know. There was something good about those old-school lists of things that were in categories - though that was only possible with little content and no platform now can do that. I guess I think I'm lacking the whole picture, but that probably isn't possible to get anymore.
How about something more like "Channels" or "Networks" of old. I remember the old "Link chains" and such where you could maybe create curated groupings of "We like these guys maybe you will too" type thing?
Yeah - though if channels/networks are specific to a topic then you might end up with the same things again. Maybe. To go full-circle I guess yes - we might be lacking "selectors" or "curators" whom themselves wouldn't be authors, but would be creating "magazine-style-selections" themselves. Hopefully, this doesn't sound too much like the old ways. I sort of thinking that it's similar to why podcasting & similar mediums took off again - because there's so much content out there we might need again some personalities to sort through the content now that we're in a situation where there's enough content. Not saying curation as in moderation of what's allowed and whatnot, but people who could create/prepare a non-algo selection of content. Something like "bio/organic" internet :D For instance, I like receiving the Hacker Newsletter - as I understand it that's also curated by hand too and gives me more value than just going on to social media and getting "the feed".
This is actually exactly what I've been trying to do. I do so from the perspective of Stoic Observations, but at a fundamental level, I have been trying to wean people away from politics and the news cycle. When I think about my own writing, I'm trying to do something like Mark Twain and something like Charles Dickens (among others, like Ambrose Bierce) and I think we all miss something about individual writers who take on life, rather than become expert journalists at something. So I actually do write about discovery, knowing from principle that a failure to engage in discovery is poison in an open society. People are telling me that I'm like nothing else out there and kind of uncategorizeable. That's good for writers but bad for search engines - it's also difficult in social media for a host of technical and conceptual reasons. I talk about the theory I have (coming ups with theories, rather than quoting university studies is one thing I do all the time) here in this post - close to the subject of our democracy being incapable of surprising us. https://mdcbowen.substack.com/p/degrees-of-dissent
Did you ever notice how movies that incorporate broadcast news narration voices are almost never good? Even the surprises are predictable.
Hi, I loved what you said and I feel the same. I am super shy about promoting my own newsletter, especially in this way, and because I am quite new to it. But I started my newsletter "Three Minds" exactly with the intention to break those filter bubbles we are always in. I struggle a lot with that idea that we always "have to find our niche" to write a successful newsletter (or any other things) but the truth is I am interested in so many different things, and I love to discover new ideas, thoughts, pushing the limits of "how people expect things to be done", so I thought maybe you could be interested to have a look. My goal is to share interdisciplinary writing, books, art, articles, music, everything that I am curious about and writing that opens my mind or gives me a different perspective on something. Instead of having one focus or topic. And reading your comment made me very happy right now because it makes me feel there are actually people who are interested in a broader newsletter and it motivated me a lot to keep going. Thank you for that :)
Wow, yes to that! It would be a bit like venturing into a new city without a guide book but just your own eyes and ears to guide you. Every corner you turn being a random encounter, where you learn about their cultures and history. The beauty of the experience being, you had no preliminary knowledge or prejudices to obfuscate your real-time view..... or something like that!
Yeah. Taking that city analogy - a few years back the internet felt like a street with small cafes and bars, but now it feels like a collection of squares filled with protests and it's less mixed up, but rather became more blocky. It might just be us - our preferences that drove this development.
I think you are right Milan, every action we take will influence the Algorithm, which is like some sinister deity that nobody particularly worships, rather we feed it and it becomes more powerful. Ultimately it's consuming us, mentally at least. Slavery has often been talked about this year, maybe we are in a sense, the slaves of our own carelessness?
Maybe I am just talking utter nonsense and haven't expressed that quite right but I am troubled by the modern world more and more.
The lens I’m inviting people to look through is surprising (e.g. why living a whole year without generating a single trash can worth of garbage is an EASY thing to do) and the topics will be all over the map.
Before starting my newsletter, my biggest self-discussion was "do I focus on a singular topic, or do I share my thoughts on a wide variety of topics because that is how I consume content?" I chose the latter, so hopefully it works!
About: Welcome to Curious Expeditions! I am constantly seeking different perspectives to disconfirm my beliefs and want to share with you my thoughts on the content I create and consume. My goal is to help you look around corners, explore new ideas, and inspire you to dive deep on your own expedition.
Ooh. Was just talking about this on Sunday with a new friend. We were also talking about feeling different than others in our families and early friend groups. Often the new friends we make as adults tend to happen IRL (shows, work, parties, weekends away), while the dating thing is so firmly digital. The friends seem to become part of one's life, while the sheer volume of people we might interact with online for dating don't (as much).
Ive done some writing on healing from past relationships and relationship skills learned from different teachers, therapists, etc and my experiences and others I've worked with. I haven't done it much on my Substack but I've been planning on it. I'd love to collaborate. I'm no longer dating i found a healthy long-term relationship in my early 30s but it's something I'm passionate about because I feel these skills arent really taught or even shared in our culture as much as they should be. Kind of an exploration of healthy relationships from the perspective of relationship failures and dating mishaps.
Yes, your POV is very aligned with something like the School of Life (https://www.theschooloflife.com/), and the whole set of competencies that we learn about through experience (or by folly) vs. instruction is fascinating. Finding a life partner is something that some people stumble into, "I wasn't even looking to meet anyone and they just came into my life." I am definitely interested in collaborating on something that uses storytelling to explore all of this.
I totally hear that. Figuring out how to approach dating (and writing about being single) in fresh, non-grim, non-whiny ways is challenging. Over the past year, I have drafted a few essays that game me a chance to work through something (which I don't actually think would be useful for others to read). But, as with other writing activities, once we break through that initial rough personal stuff, there might be some universally interesting and useful insights to uncover. I could see a series that looks at how a variety of people think about dating as a life feature vs. a bug.
How about relating this topic to the other suggested topic of how to make deep friends? Something about communication, fluid relationships that are built on resonance, and romantic entanglements if they occur. All together.
Hi Annie. True, relationships take on different characteristics over time and under evolving conditions. Including these scenarios among the interviews is a good idea and inevitable. I think that the challenge with any of this is going to be to get people to tell the stories of what they learned and how they have grown vs. just having people recount "dating stories."
I wonder if this can be combined. Dating stories + what that person has learned + humor? I also thought about creating an online dating publication, because I had tried every single app and online dating community out there and I ended up meeting my husband on Tinder.
Hi Jemia. Yay for meeting your husband on Tinder. ;) Humor is a must! I think that the lessons learned may come out for different people at different stages. I am thinking about people talking about their lives and how dating is fitting into it, vs solely asking them to talk about only dating. This way, there is a whole picture of the person, and the dating part gets put into perspective.
I appreciate what you're doing with Adventure Snack ... thanks for the fun! My Substack is almost entirely flash fiction, with a few longer pieces mixed in https://hughwesley.substack.com/
I look forward to seeing how fiction might grow and evolve in this space.
That reminds me of the old days of AMAZING, and Analogue. Hmm... a webcomic basically but as a story.... you've peaked my interest and I might just have to do that. Thanks Ben.
Me, too. What a wonderful idea - to write a book in installments, on a deadline, which - if people start to interact with the story - would keep me focused on getting the next section out.
Thanks for the links. I'm more interested in these subjects explored from the perspective of members of the public or journalists who seek out and interpret public records, and share best practices for getting information out of recalcitrant agencies.
The people who haven't access to the internet. (There are billions of them).
The newsletter can cover their stories, as told by them, suggesting solutions to bring more people to the web, covering the news and studies about creating affordable and more humanly internet services.
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
... and in sports. Broadcasters =never= say, "Wow what a lucky shot!" As if it's skill every time. NOT! Point out key plays, that tip the game one way or the other, that are sheer luck and nothing more.
Paul. Yes I think that’s a lovely part of it. I believe there’s no-one who has managed anything without luck playing a part. Many do talk of this being so, others sometimes have rather more of a creative idea - in retrospect - as to how they figured out the best moves and decisions. There are ingenious, genius and hard-earned, clever discoveries which deserve credit; the element of luck in no way diminishes an achievement.
I'd like to see more hard professional content on Substack. I really love Surjan Singh's Engineering Self-Study at https://surjan.substack.com/ , and I'd love to see more hard-tech, in-the-weeds content about what people do for a living, and how they do it.
How to navigate Substack. I would like to make my site more fluid and interactive. I would like to rewrite my welcome page. Other stuff I might be wanting to do, but Substack is not that user-friendly. I'd like somebody who know his or her way around to show the rest of us.
Totally agree! How on earth doesn’t one navigate around substack? Apart from these thread stories I have no idea?! I have my own little publication but have no clue how to search for other interesting people & Publications here (and tbh haven’t a spent the time either)
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
Our nonprofit that saves and shares Southern California Native American cultures would like to find and connect with others who are sharing Native American traditional knowledge via Substack. Our Elder, for example, shares memories, songs, and stories via our weekly (free) News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center; it's been a great way to reach out, especially during the pandemic. Thanks for asking!
You might be interested in the idea I’m cooking up about making the best choices the easiest choices. I have a few posts left in describing what I mean by “easy” and “best choice.” The rest of what I write about (e.g. getting enough sleep, getting enough love, etc.) will be explored through that easy/best choice lens.
How to snap people out of cognitive dissonance and back into the real world by forcing technocrats to act responsibly vis a vis disinformation on social media platforms.
fiction! I'm writing and using substack to serialize a novel but I'm curious what people want to read, what they are reading and I'd love to read more work out there - fiction writers, can we have a hangout?
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
Might find some inspiration at my project enuff.substack.com where I’m exploring a new definition of “easy” and what it means for something to be the “best choice.” Will be quite full of “life lessons” whether through experience or research-based inquiry. Wow, time to work on that elevator pitch 😅
My newsletter is full of ideas and life lessons from the most interesting people in business and elsewhere. Things like vulnerability, resilience, visual storytelling, the value of education, lessons from sports coaches and more! https://littletidbits.substack.com/
I like to read blogs similar to mine. Focusing on overcoming difficulty and philosophical discussions. My blog is The Philosophers Army and I am in the process of moving all my articles from my website to Substack.
Whether it's about how we plan our cities, how we design our neighborhoods, or how we move around town - there are few black and white solutions. Truth is usually a moving target, somewhere in the greyscale gradient. Crucially the options are not simply black, white, and grey but rather black, white, and an infinite sea of greys in which you can easily lose yourself. That's where the importance of boundaries becomes evident. In most complex systems boundaries are counter-intuitively the key to preserving diversity and guaranteeing resiliency.
Hi Jamie ,that's exactly what I am building, a brand that intends to define profit and purpose using business as a force of good. Building a brand of badass goodness! Love to talk about.
Yes this! I'm hoping to address this in a future edition of my climate action newsletter, because I think fake news & misinformation are far more damaging to social and environmental progress than any of us realise.
death and dying, the afterlife, i.e. does it exist?, how people manage this mystery (deleted this comment at first, then rewrote, I guess lack of confidence in this even presenting this topic :-)
My site, Tales from the Exit Ramp, is about being a geezer, which entails among other things, going to meet your death, also about dealing with the deaths of those you care for. I'm just getting started.
I'm new but I'd like to read about how people are making it financially in this pandemic economy. Plus I know it maybe a bit taboo, but I'd also like to read about the underground economy that is going on.
Language learners need to consume lots of "Graded Reading". This is interesting text that only uses the vocabulary and grammar up to one comprehension level (A1, A2, B1, B2 etc), for practice.
It is surprisingly hard to find many of such texts, but in high demand. I'd love to see witty daily or weekly writing on ANY topic, using this format.
Historical and cultural witchcraft experiences. My newsletter only covers witchcraft and food, and I’d love to read other newsletters with interesting takes as well.
I'd say we're talking about Ethics as I was taught it as a Philosophy major ergo no reference to politicians other than to assess their words and actions.
How Silicon Valley Startups Exploit Creative Talent By Making Platforms To "Help" Them Which Are Actually Just Ways Of Monetising Their Creations Without Paying Them.
I would say this is probably more true of Medium than Substack, but, that statement is probably just splitting hairs. I would say that probably the only work around for that is to have your own domain and website, rather than leasing a field on someone else's farm.
I’m both sorry you feel this way and hugely disagree. Substack started so writers could own the relationship to their work and their fans, and every member of our team works tirelessly to bring more value to writers every day. If anything, exploitation in media is one of the reasons we exist and what we’re so passionately fighting against. If you have any questions about this, I’m more than happy to chat. It’s important to me that all writers (not just the most successful ones) feel safety and belonging here.
Ellie, I've been a professional blogger since the late 90s. I've seen the exact words you just used, used by dozens of content farm startups. You may even believe them, which I guess will make it worse when the business is sold for a big chunk of money that the writers never see a penny of.
I respect your experience, and I'm new to platforms like this. But I do have a question about Substack being a content farm. Writers are not producing content for a centralized publication. They don't have to pay to use it. It's not even like a digest. It's JUST a platform, and that has value that they have a right to charge money for because it aids in discoverability, no? What am I missing about why it's exploitative?
Substack just paid one of its 2020 fellow's $28,000 to blog about pizza dough. 9 fellows got $28,000 to write mostly obscure blogs that have few posts and minimal engagement and followers, including the senior fellow who got $100,000. Substack thought these writers would provide a good return on their investment. It shows how out of touch Substack is with what works and what doesn't. They just blew $325,000 that will never return on the investment.
Since I do history of medicine in my newsletter, I'd love to see a bigger history community here, be it general history, ancient history, maritime history, etc.
I've been planning to launch a social history-based one but keep dithering about the format. I know, I know, I need to Just Do It! (Though I'm UK-based and therefore I suppose there's a danger it won't have wider appeal.)
Well as you say, just get started and if you want to Collaborate with others to widen the appeal and topics I think there are plenty of possible candidates to help. :)
The opportunity (or forced situation ) of personal reflection during the pandemic. What are we doing in front of the laptop screen during this extraordinary time. Is it all restriction or some of the physicall fit older people who are not garrulous to begin with finding exactly what they needed?
We're a people and planet focused business – lots (and more coming) around ethical business and environmental sustainability https://driftime.substack.com/
Environmental concerns, especially the climate emergency and the plastic apocalypse, but also ocean acidification and dead zones, topsoil loss, chemical pollution of rivers, oceans and land, the horrors of CAFO's, etc. The physical reality we live (which makes all life possible) is of critical importance. Without it all other human concerns will be moot because we'll all be gone!
Well I'm into music and I just started a letter where I curate Spotify playlists and drop those once a week. So if anyone knows of other music related letters, hit me up
I'm trying to replicate a facebook group and challenge I used to have years ago and playlists are a big part of it. I've only done one so far but it's so fun and I'd love to find others.
I write music-related things over at https://eccentricorbit.substack.com/. I talk about playlists I've made, albums I like, music videos, movies with strong musical elements... I don't publish on a schedule, but I send something out once or twice a month.
Reconciling your punk youth with your grown up reality?
I would read this too! Been thinking a lot about punk rock politics
Basically I want a digital, mature zine to pair with my pabst blue ribbon and skateboard
yessssssss!!! Miss zines so much
I highly recommend checking out Ian Cohen's newsletter, Something On (iancohen.substack.com/). I also write about alternative music in all its myriad shapes and forms over at: thepitchofdiscontent.substack.com/welcome.
Going to check this out! thanks for the recommendation
Thanks! Signed up
I like this. I grew up a punk rocker and still don't feel like a typical "adult."
Right? Do you write? Care to exchange newsletters?
Sure. I write a variety of short fiction. On here I'm at growlaxies.substack.com
Cool! I'm at 3verything3lse.substack.com 3verything3lse.substack.com/
I'm kind of jamming in this space, in sort of a creative nonfiction way.
A serialized series about trying to hold a job down in the crumbling journalism industry while making poor life decisions in dirty venues.
https://bdcharlie.substack.com/p/b-d-charlie-dispatch-the-art-of-dying
Might be up your alley.
why bother with reality?
I can relate except it i was more of a hippie type.
"I've been wanting to move to a disused farm since before it was cool"? :)
Paul Bowers at Brutal South touches on this sometimes!
👍
Maybe people are already writing about it and we don't know.
I think there's room for improvement in the search and community experience.
Absolutely. This is partially the intention of this thread. Good ol' fashioned non-algorithmic discovery. ;)
Non algorithmic discovery is fine, but it would have been a lot better if this was sent to all readers instead of just writers ;)
Appreciate the feedback. We have another team working on reader experience. Writer-to-writer discovery has shown to be valuable to writers and the interaction happening on this thread is living proof.
I agree with David's comment although I know that is not quite what the question was asking about. Any news about that to come?
Lots of exciting community updates coming soon. Stay tuned. :)
I agree :)
I completely agree! A better way to browse all writers, instead of "top" writers and posts would be very welcome.
I tried a search for art (which granted is a short word) and got pointed towards top newsletters that had absolutely nothing to do with art, other than having a word in their description that contained those three letters in order, e.g. "partisan" or "smarter." I search for humor, which is a tag I've used on one of my newsletters, and it is nowhere to be seen in the 17 newsletters listed, most of whom are big name people. What is the point of that tag if I'll never show up in the list?
This is something that has been bothering me for a while. I love writing here and sharing my goofy ramblings, but would like a better path towards being discovered. We don't know what's here already if only the big names show up in the searches.
Thanks Ellie for starting this thread and providing an opportunity to share our thoughts.
I wonder if a chronological newsfeed would be useful? When Google+ was still a thing they featured a chronological feed (at first) and it was a wonderful way to meet new people. I’m still friends with many individuals whom I first encountered because I saw some random post they made while I was checking that feed.
I imagine a Substack feed would be the title of the article and maybe the first paragraph or a description of the topic it covers. Maybe an image? Hundreds of these articles posted and discoverable by anyone. Just one post after another. No memes or jokes— unless that was the entire article.
It’s an interesting idea, but I think it probably adds several challenges as well.
I think it'd fall prey to the same phenomenon as G+ and Twitter: eventually the traffic is too fast and too numerous for a reader to lock onto anything. At some point you have to begin to parse phrases or rank preferences to suggest more likely results in response to a query.
That's possible, but is that the case right now? If not, they could default to chronological until it needs to be addressed... if there's value in that approach.
Another option would be something like Pinterest or those sites where you have to choose various topics that interest you before they begin to show you content. Assuming that people are faithfully categorizing their newsletters that approach might even be better.
Indeed. I replied this on another thread, a writer's link was being redirected to a 'discovery' search and pulling zero results.
Autism & non-neurotypical individuals, especially adults
Yes, yes! Would read this and have contemplated writing about it myself having only been diagnosed as neurodiverse (ADHD) in my mid 30's.
You know what. Actually. I lack or "miss" being surprised and discover new things. I fear being in an echo-chamber where everything that I get provided through all of the platforms out there is curated based on my prior viewing or what I "think" I want. We turned off our TVs and went to Twitter, Reddit, Medium, or YouTube because we were bored by watching content we weren't interested in. But I fear that we went full circle and now only get a narrow selection of content. So gee I don't know. As funny as it sounds - I'd like to be surprised and actually be able to get (the reverse?) or (blank spots / the empty space?) of my preferences? Because I don't know what I don't know. But sorry for this answer to be too #meta. I just think that in general because of too much curation we now lack getting the unexpected. But on the other hand - yeah, I get this - first and foremost platforms need to provide what people say they'd be interested in. In a world where you know that you'll get what you like, you'll open your app/browser/emails knowing that you'll get "your content". It would be interesting to get proposed the exact opposite alongside your actual preference or different viewpoints. But meh... who knows... I'm just an idiot. So I guess a wide-range of topics, but I know, I know - focus and resources and all that.
This resonates with me.
Another perspective: the thing you’d most love to see someone start a substack about might also be the thing that another reader can stumble upon and be surprised by. Many of the topics mentioned in this thread are subjects I hadn’t even considered, but are now things I’d be delighted to come across.
The idea of surfacing different perspectives on similar topics is an interesting one and something we’ve been talking about internally. Not a lot of platforms get discovery right, and I’m excited for us to tackle this challenge from a product-perspective soon.
Sounds good that you guys are looking into it.
I've been in & out of a bunch of social networking platform product development initiatives - they seem to go down similar rabbit-holes. (is this a social network btw? well there are people talking & connections and all that)
Discovery is tricky in my mind when it comes (from a perspective of a startup) to have it functional, but not to trigger addictive behavior in your users. There is the whole thing about ethical design, but I guess the industry is just scratching the surface on that. I guess the holy grail in smart platforms that would encompass ethical design would be one that would give you just the right amount of content to make you happy, excited/fulfilled, but wouldn't trigger something in you to go down a rabbit hole to seek out "almost the same" thing, just 1000x over. Someone might argue - how would you compete with platforms that do the opposite. I'm still naive enough to think that there's space for software that can have healthy growth but won't pass you too much information-triggered dopamine hits.
What is not addictive behavior, but an example of my preference and habit - each day when I open up my browser I go to questionablecontent.net & dilbert.com - I've been doing that for the last ten years. It's the stories. I also open up my common news-paper-gone-digital site. On the other hand, when I just simply can't do any more bureaucracy, taxes, or whatnot I gaze into the Twitter/Reddit sphere. I guess substack could be that 'questionablecontent/dilbert' "your little bit of doze of content daily" platform rather than Twitter Tequilla-shots.
You put into words something I've been trying to write about! I keep reading about how algorithms keep us in political echo chambers, but they also keep us in personal echo chambers.
The kottke of substack
A randomly generated suggestion would be a cool idea?
Maybe. I don't know. There was something good about those old-school lists of things that were in categories - though that was only possible with little content and no platform now can do that. I guess I think I'm lacking the whole picture, but that probably isn't possible to get anymore.
How about something more like "Channels" or "Networks" of old. I remember the old "Link chains" and such where you could maybe create curated groupings of "We like these guys maybe you will too" type thing?
Yeah - though if channels/networks are specific to a topic then you might end up with the same things again. Maybe. To go full-circle I guess yes - we might be lacking "selectors" or "curators" whom themselves wouldn't be authors, but would be creating "magazine-style-selections" themselves. Hopefully, this doesn't sound too much like the old ways. I sort of thinking that it's similar to why podcasting & similar mediums took off again - because there's so much content out there we might need again some personalities to sort through the content now that we're in a situation where there's enough content. Not saying curation as in moderation of what's allowed and whatnot, but people who could create/prepare a non-algo selection of content. Something like "bio/organic" internet :D For instance, I like receiving the Hacker Newsletter - as I understand it that's also curated by hand too and gives me more value than just going on to social media and getting "the feed".
I wonder if we could just make a Substack that linked to other substacks in a Magazine/Newsletter format?
This is actually exactly what I've been trying to do. I do so from the perspective of Stoic Observations, but at a fundamental level, I have been trying to wean people away from politics and the news cycle. When I think about my own writing, I'm trying to do something like Mark Twain and something like Charles Dickens (among others, like Ambrose Bierce) and I think we all miss something about individual writers who take on life, rather than become expert journalists at something. So I actually do write about discovery, knowing from principle that a failure to engage in discovery is poison in an open society. People are telling me that I'm like nothing else out there and kind of uncategorizeable. That's good for writers but bad for search engines - it's also difficult in social media for a host of technical and conceptual reasons. I talk about the theory I have (coming ups with theories, rather than quoting university studies is one thing I do all the time) here in this post - close to the subject of our democracy being incapable of surprising us. https://mdcbowen.substack.com/p/degrees-of-dissent
Did you ever notice how movies that incorporate broadcast news narration voices are almost never good? Even the surprises are predictable.
Hi, I loved what you said and I feel the same. I am super shy about promoting my own newsletter, especially in this way, and because I am quite new to it. But I started my newsletter "Three Minds" exactly with the intention to break those filter bubbles we are always in. I struggle a lot with that idea that we always "have to find our niche" to write a successful newsletter (or any other things) but the truth is I am interested in so many different things, and I love to discover new ideas, thoughts, pushing the limits of "how people expect things to be done", so I thought maybe you could be interested to have a look. My goal is to share interdisciplinary writing, books, art, articles, music, everything that I am curious about and writing that opens my mind or gives me a different perspective on something. Instead of having one focus or topic. And reading your comment made me very happy right now because it makes me feel there are actually people who are interested in a broader newsletter and it motivated me a lot to keep going. Thank you for that :)
Wow, yes to that! It would be a bit like venturing into a new city without a guide book but just your own eyes and ears to guide you. Every corner you turn being a random encounter, where you learn about their cultures and history. The beauty of the experience being, you had no preliminary knowledge or prejudices to obfuscate your real-time view..... or something like that!
Yeah. Taking that city analogy - a few years back the internet felt like a street with small cafes and bars, but now it feels like a collection of squares filled with protests and it's less mixed up, but rather became more blocky. It might just be us - our preferences that drove this development.
I think you are right Milan, every action we take will influence the Algorithm, which is like some sinister deity that nobody particularly worships, rather we feed it and it becomes more powerful. Ultimately it's consuming us, mentally at least. Slavery has often been talked about this year, maybe we are in a sense, the slaves of our own carelessness?
Maybe I am just talking utter nonsense and haven't expressed that quite right but I am troubled by the modern world more and more.
The lens I’m inviting people to look through is surprising (e.g. why living a whole year without generating a single trash can worth of garbage is an EASY thing to do) and the topics will be all over the map.
Before starting my newsletter, my biggest self-discussion was "do I focus on a singular topic, or do I share my thoughts on a wide variety of topics because that is how I consume content?" I chose the latter, so hopefully it works!
About: Welcome to Curious Expeditions! I am constantly seeking different perspectives to disconfirm my beliefs and want to share with you my thoughts on the content I create and consume. My goal is to help you look around corners, explore new ideas, and inspire you to dive deep on your own expedition.
Sample Content:
(1) Fireside Chat with Alexis Ohanian - https://curiousexpeditions.substack.com/p/fireside-chat-with-alexis-ohanian
(2) Business Writing Tips - https://curiousexpeditions.substack.com/p/business-writing-tips
(3) Mamba Mentality - https://curiousexpeditions.substack.com/p/mamba-mentality
Black experiences
Check us out :)
Check me out (mondaylunch.substack.com)
You can't handle the truth! (mdcbowen.substack.com)
Dating in your 30s-40s.
Spinoff idea: making friends in your 30s-40s (like real friends that feel more like family than your actual family).
One of my favorite memes: The real miracle was that Jesus had 12 friends at the age of 30
Ooh. Was just talking about this on Sunday with a new friend. We were also talking about feeling different than others in our families and early friend groups. Often the new friends we make as adults tend to happen IRL (shows, work, parties, weekends away), while the dating thing is so firmly digital. The friends seem to become part of one's life, while the sheer volume of people we might interact with online for dating don't (as much).
Yes...
If you are interested in reading or writing about single life/dating in your 30s-40s, I started a Substack here: https://singlelifers.substack.com/p/coming-soon.
Ive done some writing on healing from past relationships and relationship skills learned from different teachers, therapists, etc and my experiences and others I've worked with. I haven't done it much on my Substack but I've been planning on it. I'd love to collaborate. I'm no longer dating i found a healthy long-term relationship in my early 30s but it's something I'm passionate about because I feel these skills arent really taught or even shared in our culture as much as they should be. Kind of an exploration of healthy relationships from the perspective of relationship failures and dating mishaps.
Yes, your POV is very aligned with something like the School of Life (https://www.theschooloflife.com/), and the whole set of competencies that we learn about through experience (or by folly) vs. instruction is fascinating. Finding a life partner is something that some people stumble into, "I wasn't even looking to meet anyone and they just came into my life." I am definitely interested in collaborating on something that uses storytelling to explore all of this.
If you are interested in reading or writing about single life/dating in your 30s-40s, I started a Substack here: https://singlelifers.substack.com/p/coming-soon
skmcdonough at gmail
At one point I considered this topic--but it's kind of grim :)
I totally hear that. Figuring out how to approach dating (and writing about being single) in fresh, non-grim, non-whiny ways is challenging. Over the past year, I have drafted a few essays that game me a chance to work through something (which I don't actually think would be useful for others to read). But, as with other writing activities, once we break through that initial rough personal stuff, there might be some universally interesting and useful insights to uncover. I could see a series that looks at how a variety of people think about dating as a life feature vs. a bug.
"...*gave* me a chance.."
Agreed. One interesting angle may be to interview/feature lots of other people's voices to get a sense of more global challenges + bright spots
Exactly. I wouldn't want to read about one person's experience. Let me know if this is something that you would want to work on together.
If you are interested in reading or writing about single life/dating in your 30s-40s, I started a Substack here: https://singlelifers.substack.com/p/coming-soon.
How about relating this topic to the other suggested topic of how to make deep friends? Something about communication, fluid relationships that are built on resonance, and romantic entanglements if they occur. All together.
Hi Annie. True, relationships take on different characteristics over time and under evolving conditions. Including these scenarios among the interviews is a good idea and inevitable. I think that the challenge with any of this is going to be to get people to tell the stories of what they learned and how they have grown vs. just having people recount "dating stories."
I wonder if this can be combined. Dating stories + what that person has learned + humor? I also thought about creating an online dating publication, because I had tried every single app and online dating community out there and I ended up meeting my husband on Tinder.
If you are interested in reading or writing about single life/dating in your 30s-40s, I started a Substack here: https://singlelifers.substack.com/p/coming-soon.
Hi Jemia. Yay for meeting your husband on Tinder. ;) Humor is a must! I think that the lessons learned may come out for different people at different stages. I am thinking about people talking about their lives and how dating is fitting into it, vs solely asking them to talk about only dating. This way, there is a whole picture of the person, and the dating part gets put into perspective.
If you are interested in reading or writing about single life/dating in your 30s-40s, I started a Substack here: https://singlelifers.substack.com/p/coming-soon.
I'd love to see more original fiction on Substack.
I do a bit of this on mine — I've dropped a couple of short stories in for subscribers.
Nice...
really dig Adventure Snack!
I've also joined the Substack Fiction Party -- https://johnvas.substack.com/
Welcome! Looking forward to your updates.
Best of luck!
Very nice to see more stories here. Keep up the good work!
Hey! I share my original fiction at fiction.substack.com
I appreciate what you're doing with Adventure Snack ... thanks for the fun! My Substack is almost entirely flash fiction, with a few longer pieces mixed in https://hughwesley.substack.com/
I look forward to seeing how fiction might grow and evolve in this space.
Thank you! I love flash fiction, and uplifting is a great tone right now.
I recently started up Micro 2 Go where I post original microfiction. https://micro2go.substack.com/
I write on lostmeanderingthoughts.substack.com. One new story or episode every Sunday
Coming up... eventually... :)
More creative experiments. New genres of fiction, comics, multimedia art, maybe role-playing, newsletters by fictional characters, etc.
I might be able to help on this -- check out https://generative.substack.com/
my newsletter is an experiment in memoir + criticism: The Boredom & the Horror & the Glory. https://lucydiamondb.substack.com/
I would call my work a creative experiment, but it might come off as too serious. Just getting started but post number five goes out tomorrow.
I cover computational art sometimes (or the intersection of creativity&technicality) which might be of interests too https://hannahyan.substack.com/
I'm working on it.
Your newsletter... is a tribute to an onlyfans model?
Haha, I guess it is. Just had a look :O
I’d love to read a book in weekly installments. I think it’d be really unique to have someone publish a book that way. Why not substack?
I've been thinking of doing just this Thanks for the push.
There is a publisher that did this last December. For the life of me can’t remember what it was called, but if it comes back to me, I will share!
That reminds me of the old days of AMAZING, and Analogue. Hmm... a webcomic basically but as a story.... you've peaked my interest and I might just have to do that. Thanks Ben.
Apparently what I was remembering happened all the way back in 2016 and was a one-time thing :(
https://penguinrandomhouselibrary.com/2016/10/10/season-of-stories/
I was thinking of doing this in place of writing an essay book.
Me, too. What a wonderful idea - to write a book in installments, on a deadline, which - if people start to interact with the story - would keep me focused on getting the next section out.
Public records and government transparency.
dream on if you live in the UK.
No, in Los Angeles, where we have some hope of a sunshine law being enacted. It's worth fighting for everywhere.
I've fought all my life and keep fighting but this place aint no sunshine state!
Thanks for the links. I'm more interested in these subjects explored from the perspective of members of the public or journalists who seek out and interpret public records, and share best practices for getting information out of recalcitrant agencies.
The people who haven't access to the internet. (There are billions of them).
The newsletter can cover their stories, as told by them, suggesting solutions to bring more people to the web, covering the news and studies about creating affordable and more humanly internet services.
Literature!!
I review books using GIFs. Booksongif.substack.com
I run a poetry Substack. With readings lists, original works, favourite works etc.
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
I send out a new book recommendation every Friday! https://weekendguide.substack.com/
I write on lostmeanderingthoughts.substack.com. One new story or episode every Sunday
I write about books and literature, a lot on Proust, at twofoldtwilight.substack.com
I do that! The Boredom & the Horror & the Glory: https://lucydiamondb.substack.com/
YES!
Luck! The role of luck in life, career and business success. Perhaps I'll write it!
... and in sports. Broadcasters =never= say, "Wow what a lucky shot!" As if it's skill every time. NOT! Point out key plays, that tip the game one way or the other, that are sheer luck and nothing more.
Yes! Important to note there are both. I think it might just be more involving to call both.
oh this is a good one.
Even the sense that someone has the humility to view/express their life through a “luck” lens
Paul. Yes I think that’s a lovely part of it. I believe there’s no-one who has managed anything without luck playing a part. Many do talk of this being so, others sometimes have rather more of a creative idea - in retrospect - as to how they figured out the best moves and decisions. There are ingenious, genius and hard-earned, clever discoveries which deserve credit; the element of luck in no way diminishes an achievement.
I'd like to see more hard professional content on Substack. I really love Surjan Singh's Engineering Self-Study at https://surjan.substack.com/ , and I'd love to see more hard-tech, in-the-weeds content about what people do for a living, and how they do it.
Wow cool, thanks for the shoutout!
How to navigate Substack. I would like to make my site more fluid and interactive. I would like to rewrite my welcome page. Other stuff I might be wanting to do, but Substack is not that user-friendly. I'd like somebody who know his or her way around to show the rest of us.
Totally agree! How on earth doesn’t one navigate around substack? Apart from these thread stories I have no idea?! I have my own little publication but have no clue how to search for other interesting people & Publications here (and tbh haven’t a spent the time either)
https://anthonyfurlong.substack.com/p/strawberry-fields
The dismantling of democracy. Art, architecture, music and literature..
I write a fair amount about art, music, and books. http://luisa.substack.com/
Yes to all of the above!
Forgot to mention Mixed Martial Arts
I write about alternative music in all its myriad shapes and forms over at: thepitchofdiscontent.substack.com/welcome.
I address urban planning, architecture and complex systems :) https://thinkthinkthink.substack.com/
Keep it up, sister.
Thanks, bro :)
Short fiction and literary criticism.
Hey! I share my short fiction at fiction.substack.com
I write on lostmeanderingthoughts.substack.com. One new story or episode every Sunday
I do literary criticism at twofoldtwilight.substack.com
i write a newsletter featuring my (strong) opinions about reading & writing American literature https://lucydiamondb.substack.com/
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
Surviving irreversible climate change in the next decade as mass-crop failures start to occur.
Our nonprofit that saves and shares Southern California Native American cultures would like to find and connect with others who are sharing Native American traditional knowledge via Substack. Our Elder, for example, shares memories, songs, and stories via our weekly (free) News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center; it's been a great way to reach out, especially during the pandemic. Thanks for asking!
I'd love to see more content that's about the absurdity and profundity of mundane human experiences. I already love https://drawinglinks.substack.com/ and would love to see more stuff like that or The Lonely Hour (https://www.thelonelyhour.com/) or On Being (https://onbeing.org/) in short written form.
I personally love https://fariharoisin.substack.com/, and I also attempt to explore this spaghetti-like mass of a subject on my Substack, https://kindredspirits.substack.com/
Hmmm, you might like mine then: https://librarianguish.substack.com
Performance Psychology would be a nice read.
Or something to better your mind.
Any suggestions? :)
You might be interested in the idea I’m cooking up about making the best choices the easiest choices. I have a few posts left in describing what I mean by “easy” and “best choice.” The rest of what I write about (e.g. getting enough sleep, getting enough love, etc.) will be explored through that easy/best choice lens.
How to snap people out of cognitive dissonance and back into the real world by forcing technocrats to act responsibly vis a vis disinformation on social media platforms.
cool man my thoughts exactly
fiction! I'm writing and using substack to serialize a novel but I'm curious what people want to read, what they are reading and I'd love to read more work out there - fiction writers, can we have a hangout?
I share my fiction at fiction.substack.com
And I agree. Someone needs to make a Facebook group or discord for us!
I don't share my fiction in my Substack, but I do focus most issues on the creative process and literary links: https://sorelatable.substack.com/
Also! I love Jami Attenberg's Substack Craft Talk: https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/
I can't recommend Connor Wroe Southard's newsletter, A Lonely Impulse of Delight, enough if you're into literature, writing and fiction (connorwroesouthard.substack.com/).
I write on lostmeanderingthoughts.substack.com. One new story or episode every Sunday
my thoughts coincidentally.
Life Lessons. I guess i am being a bit selfish as this is a favourite topic of mine.
Might find some inspiration at my project enuff.substack.com where I’m exploring a new definition of “easy” and what it means for something to be the “best choice.” Will be quite full of “life lessons” whether through experience or research-based inquiry. Wow, time to work on that elevator pitch 😅
My newsletter is full of ideas and life lessons from the most interesting people in business and elsewhere. Things like vulnerability, resilience, visual storytelling, the value of education, lessons from sports coaches and more! https://littletidbits.substack.com/
I'm writing on lifestyle design & personal development if you like
Some of my content/guests focus on life lessons.
(1) Fireside Chat with Alexis Ohanian - https://curiousexpeditions.substack.com/p/fireside-chat-with-alexis-ohanian
(2) Mamba Mentality - https://curiousexpeditions.substack.com/p/mamba-mentality
what is it you would like me to teach you?
Humility.
Ever do humble master Copperfield
I did not follow that. What is humble master Copperfield?
I like to read blogs similar to mine. Focusing on overcoming difficulty and philosophical discussions. My blog is The Philosophers Army and I am in the process of moving all my articles from my website to Substack.
(Bowen raises his hand.)
Philosophical thinking at the micro level - culture?
https://anthonyfurlong.substack.com/p/strawberry-fields
Science as a process, not ‘the truth’.
I kind of address that here: https://thinkthinkthink.substack.com/p/boundaries-are-critical-to-diversity
Whether it's about how we plan our cities, how we design our neighborhoods, or how we move around town - there are few black and white solutions. Truth is usually a moving target, somewhere in the greyscale gradient. Crucially the options are not simply black, white, and grey but rather black, white, and an infinite sea of greys in which you can easily lose yourself. That's where the importance of boundaries becomes evident. In most complex systems boundaries are counter-intuitively the key to preserving diversity and guaranteeing resiliency.
Thanks for your reply and reference to your article. Very interesting.
SOCIAL IMPACT
sounds like a car crash.
it kinda does! rear end damage, chalk it up, social impact
Yeh I also got whiplash to prove it.
Hi Jamie ,that's exactly what I am building, a brand that intends to define profit and purpose using business as a force of good. Building a brand of badass goodness! Love to talk about.
Media getting away with completely false narratives and suppressing news that doesn’t fit it.
Yes this! I'm hoping to address this in a future edition of my climate action newsletter, because I think fake news & misinformation are far more damaging to social and environmental progress than any of us realise.
death and dying, the afterlife, i.e. does it exist?, how people manage this mystery (deleted this comment at first, then rewrote, I guess lack of confidence in this even presenting this topic :-)
This is a huge topic people need to talk about and also cannot. Would be wonderful to see it become more accessible.
I think a lot of anxiety we see today in the public sphere is influenced by this topic and lacking ways to deal with this fear of the unknown.
My site, Tales from the Exit Ramp, is about being a geezer, which entails among other things, going to meet your death, also about dealing with the deaths of those you care for. I'm just getting started.
I don’t know of a Substack on the subject, but you might enjoy reading https://blog.sevenponds.com/
Fiction!
If anyone wants to visit a dystopian world where the public sector is dead, visit johnvas.substack.com :)
new shorts sent to inbox every friday
I write on lostmeanderingthoughts.substack.com. One new story or episode every Sunday
I'm new but I'd like to read about how people are making it financially in this pandemic economy. Plus I know it maybe a bit taboo, but I'd also like to read about the underground economy that is going on.
Language learners need to consume lots of "Graded Reading". This is interesting text that only uses the vocabulary and grammar up to one comprehension level (A1, A2, B1, B2 etc), for practice.
It is surprisingly hard to find many of such texts, but in high demand. I'd love to see witty daily or weekly writing on ANY topic, using this format.
Can you give the rubrics of what this means, A1, A2, etc.?
That’s a great idea! These are gradings used in Europe which I wasn’t aware of until I moved here. Maybe that’s part of the issue - and a gap to fill!
Comebacks, second acts, and life after trauma where there is no soap opera/happy ending. Because the journey continues.
More beautiful prose! I think I can be interested in any topic as long as it's written about gloriously.
you might be interested in my newsletter (i do have a PhD in writing;) https://lucydiamondb.substack.com/
Celebrating real journalists over vapid, fraudulent, propaganda spreading, talking head MSM charlatans.
Define real journalist please. The MSM is not a monolithic entity.
Don't be obtuse please.
I highly recommend checking out the Discontents newsletter crew (discontents.substack.com/).
Books or true stories they wish they would make into a movie
Historical and cultural witchcraft experiences. My newsletter only covers witchcraft and food, and I’d love to read other newsletters with interesting takes as well.
or cal.me a wizard!
call me Macbeth!
personal finance and money management
I currently write one on these topics and call it Financial Literacy Friday! Here's the link if you want to check it out! haydenlowry.substack.com
This is my writing goal!
I actually currently write one called Financial Literacy Friday! Here's the link if you want to check it out! haydenlowry.substack.com
How we CAN teach ethics and morality in our public schools.
We used to. There's a roadmap. https://mdcbowen.substack.com/p/forty-virtues
Are we talking Bill Barr's morality? Donald Trump's ethics? Or are we talking Daniel Dennett's ethics and Sam Harris' morality?
I'd say we're talking about Ethics as I was taught it as a Philosophy major ergo no reference to politicians other than to assess their words and actions.
Generally, orientated to dispassionate ethical schemes... Would be one formuation... taking out "unreasonable" where ever possible... :)
I saw that Poynter story today about the collection of obituaries, and I thought, "I'd love to see that collection in full."
Keyboard shortcuts
Superhuman should start one
How Silicon Valley Startups Exploit Creative Talent By Making Platforms To "Help" Them Which Are Actually Just Ways Of Monetising Their Creations Without Paying Them.
Savagery
Typical hot take from childish writers.
I would say this is probably more true of Medium than Substack, but, that statement is probably just splitting hairs. I would say that probably the only work around for that is to have your own domain and website, rather than leasing a field on someone else's farm.
Is that your take on Substack?
100%
I’m both sorry you feel this way and hugely disagree. Substack started so writers could own the relationship to their work and their fans, and every member of our team works tirelessly to bring more value to writers every day. If anything, exploitation in media is one of the reasons we exist and what we’re so passionately fighting against. If you have any questions about this, I’m more than happy to chat. It’s important to me that all writers (not just the most successful ones) feel safety and belonging here.
Ellie, I've been a professional blogger since the late 90s. I've seen the exact words you just used, used by dozens of content farm startups. You may even believe them, which I guess will make it worse when the business is sold for a big chunk of money that the writers never see a penny of.
I respect your experience, and I'm new to platforms like this. But I do have a question about Substack being a content farm. Writers are not producing content for a centralized publication. They don't have to pay to use it. It's not even like a digest. It's JUST a platform, and that has value that they have a right to charge money for because it aids in discoverability, no? What am I missing about why it's exploitative?
Substack just paid one of its 2020 fellow's $28,000 to blog about pizza dough. 9 fellows got $28,000 to write mostly obscure blogs that have few posts and minimal engagement and followers, including the senior fellow who got $100,000. Substack thought these writers would provide a good return on their investment. It shows how out of touch Substack is with what works and what doesn't. They just blew $325,000 that will never return on the investment.
Where can I read more about this?
So, if someone wants to build their own content business through an email newsletter, what would you recommend in place of Substack?
https://ghost.org/ You control everything and they don’t take your profits
Since I do history of medicine in my newsletter, I'd love to see a bigger history community here, be it general history, ancient history, maritime history, etc.
I've been planning to launch a social history-based one but keep dithering about the format. I know, I know, I need to Just Do It! (Though I'm UK-based and therefore I suppose there's a danger it won't have wider appeal.)
Well as you say, just get started and if you want to Collaborate with others to widen the appeal and topics I think there are plenty of possible candidates to help. :)
Well, I've set the ball rolling now! First newsletter goes out this week: https://www.gethistories.com
100% want this. I have no idea who to even look for on these subjects. A "history" category perhaps?
... the endtimes of the postmodern... something I have been outlining... TBC... :)
Runesoup.com 😉
The opportunity (or forced situation ) of personal reflection during the pandemic. What are we doing in front of the laptop screen during this extraordinary time. Is it all restriction or some of the physicall fit older people who are not garrulous to begin with finding exactly what they needed?
Mysticism, Taoism, comparative religion
Not many comments about sustainability. I am working towards launching one soon. Any takers? Or anyone else doing something along those lines?
Check out www.captainplanet.substack.com
We're a people and planet focused business – lots (and more coming) around ethical business and environmental sustainability https://driftime.substack.com/
I run a climate action and sustainability newsletter! https://thegreenfix.substack.com/welcome
I look forward to exploring it through my “making the best choices the easiest choices lens.”
I try to address sustainability from the perspective of cities. Here's an example :) https://thinkthinkthink.substack.com/p/resilience
Philosophy! Specifically ways to recuperate solidarity through the collective subject in an aggressively individualised and alienated world.
Historic preservation / architecture!
I write on city planning and architecture :) https://thinkthinkthink.substack.com/
Wow that’s awesome. Thanks for sharing! I will definitely check it out. ☺️
Environmental concerns, especially the climate emergency and the plastic apocalypse, but also ocean acidification and dead zones, topsoil loss, chemical pollution of rivers, oceans and land, the horrors of CAFO's, etc. The physical reality we live (which makes all life possible) is of critical importance. Without it all other human concerns will be moot because we'll all be gone!
Check out heated.substack.com for some good climate emergency content
I try to address some of these issues from the perspective of cities. Here's a sample :) https://thinkthinkthink.substack.com/p/resilience
Well I'm into music and I just started a letter where I curate Spotify playlists and drop those once a week. So if anyone knows of other music related letters, hit me up
I'm trying to replicate a facebook group and challenge I used to have years ago and playlists are a big part of it. I've only done one so far but it's so fun and I'd love to find others.
Awesome, I'll check it out. Here is a sneak peek of this week: https://twitter.com/JVal3nti/status/1325946450413576192?s=19
I write music-related things over at https://eccentricorbit.substack.com/. I talk about playlists I've made, albums I like, music videos, movies with strong musical elements... I don't publish on a schedule, but I send something out once or twice a month.
Awesome. I have to check it out!
I'm a list person too, Rosario! I write about alternative music in all its myriad shapes and forms over at: thepitchofdiscontent.substack.com/welcome.
Brilliant! I'll check it out. I love alt music