Seasoned newsletter writer and food fellow Scott Hines reflects on a career in internet writing, sharing his advice on connecting with readers and how to stick to a regular drumbeat of posts
Now, if we want to talk about *really* hard things, it's finding a quiet place to do a clean audio recording in a house with two kids and two dogs. I did this reading inside my daughter's closet.
I couldn’t feel any more validated and supported on this journey than I do reading this as someone who’s also killing the editor in her head that’s held back from the writing I used to do years and years and YEARS ago.
I’ve very recently returned to Substack to rebrand and show up to write about anything I want; finally giving myself permission to show up and do this gives me real butterflies in my stomach!
SO excited!!
And seeing how you’re doing it with a full plate makes me feel like it’s possible for me too.
I’m a caregiver for a mom who doesn’t get the internet, so she’s not too supportive of me trying to build a livelihood online.
So I’m going to be so much more intentional with my time as I build my business to sustain me financially, AND keep writing: my first love.
Thank you SO much for your words. I’m saving this article to read again and again; it has everything I need. 💕
This is *exactly* what I needed to read right now. I mean, I knew that everything came down to my voice (and sticking to it), but getting this reinforcement is everything at a moment where I'm in a period of transition and floundering a little. Thank you so much!
Scott, I love this piece big time. (That’s how you know we’re talking writer-to-writer when we call it a “piece,” vs. an article or a post, right? 😀)
You’ve been such a great guide, lightning the way in how to expand your topic area, and our horizons as writers. Thank you for this. Your example (and advice) has helped me do this with my own Substack, even though sometimes my courage wanes and I retreat to the familiar. This is such a great reminder to break through that insecurity and reach out to explore new ground. Bravo 🙌
Thanks for the insight Scott... As a relatively new writer, I agree with you about voice - finding my authentic voice and having the courage and persistence to keep that voice in the foreground of everything I write is key in growing an audience. It's slow - sometimes painful - but completely rewarding once that voice begins to develop...and it's fun!
Well done Scott! This is the beauty of Substack... that we don't have an editor saying.... "you can't say that" finding our voice and sharing our personalities is what it is all about. Congrats on your success!
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE! For years I was a staff writer for two independent news agencies (`1989-2002) and then I retired early to try my hand at playing golf at the Pro-Am level. Now, I'm back to writing. (that should give a little insight into my golf game) In 2015 I began trying to freelance for online news agencies and realized that you MUST stand out to succeed in this vast ocean. So I put in some valuable 'seat-time' learning how to build links, rank well with SEO, and so on. Now, I am building my own Digital Marketing Agency from scratch. I too relate well from the football angle as Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide stand for the same values as my efforts these days...it's all about MY process and I would love to collaborate with you!
Here's to hearing from you soon!
Greg Lockhart
Birmingham, Alabama (35 minutes from the NCAA Football Capitol of the Universe)
Scott's newsletter sounds perfect for someone like me - a foodie & parent. Thanks for highlighting this. Also, the advice was great too! especially loved the part about how you shouldn't write about just one thing. "Chasing a single topic meant that things got repetitive, monotonous, even tedious, and I often felt like my writing was too often unconsciously influenced by the voices of others in that same sphere." I feel the same way!
Now, if we want to talk about *really* hard things, it's finding a quiet place to do a clean audio recording in a house with two kids and two dogs. I did this reading inside my daughter's closet.
I couldn’t feel any more validated and supported on this journey than I do reading this as someone who’s also killing the editor in her head that’s held back from the writing I used to do years and years and YEARS ago.
I’ve very recently returned to Substack to rebrand and show up to write about anything I want; finally giving myself permission to show up and do this gives me real butterflies in my stomach!
SO excited!!
And seeing how you’re doing it with a full plate makes me feel like it’s possible for me too.
I’m a caregiver for a mom who doesn’t get the internet, so she’s not too supportive of me trying to build a livelihood online.
So I’m going to be so much more intentional with my time as I build my business to sustain me financially, AND keep writing: my first love.
Thank you SO much for your words. I’m saving this article to read again and again; it has everything I need. 💕
This was truly helpful for my inner editor to read. Thank you Substack for curating meaningful content and to Scott for telling us how you do it!
Well said, Scott.
I’ve found that it doesn’t matter what the topic is, if someone is writing with authenticity, knowledge, and passion, then I’m sucked in.
This is *exactly* what I needed to read right now. I mean, I knew that everything came down to my voice (and sticking to it), but getting this reinforcement is everything at a moment where I'm in a period of transition and floundering a little. Thank you so much!
Scott, I love this piece big time. (That’s how you know we’re talking writer-to-writer when we call it a “piece,” vs. an article or a post, right? 😀)
You’ve been such a great guide, lightning the way in how to expand your topic area, and our horizons as writers. Thank you for this. Your example (and advice) has helped me do this with my own Substack, even though sometimes my courage wanes and I retreat to the familiar. This is such a great reminder to break through that insecurity and reach out to explore new ground. Bravo 🙌
Great insights - thank you Scott and thank you Substack for putting this out there - I mean, out here.. :)
Thanks for the insight Scott... As a relatively new writer, I agree with you about voice - finding my authentic voice and having the courage and persistence to keep that voice in the foreground of everything I write is key in growing an audience. It's slow - sometimes painful - but completely rewarding once that voice begins to develop...and it's fun!
Thank you for this. I needed to read something that will inspire me as the struggle is real sometimes, especially writing what I write about.
Well done Scott! This is the beauty of Substack... that we don't have an editor saying.... "you can't say that" finding our voice and sharing our personalities is what it is all about. Congrats on your success!
Wow, great advice. Thanks.
Scott,
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE! For years I was a staff writer for two independent news agencies (`1989-2002) and then I retired early to try my hand at playing golf at the Pro-Am level. Now, I'm back to writing. (that should give a little insight into my golf game) In 2015 I began trying to freelance for online news agencies and realized that you MUST stand out to succeed in this vast ocean. So I put in some valuable 'seat-time' learning how to build links, rank well with SEO, and so on. Now, I am building my own Digital Marketing Agency from scratch. I too relate well from the football angle as Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide stand for the same values as my efforts these days...it's all about MY process and I would love to collaborate with you!
Here's to hearing from you soon!
Greg Lockhart
Birmingham, Alabama (35 minutes from the NCAA Football Capitol of the Universe)
writerguy87@yahoo.com
(205)607-7286
Inspiring! All hail the random post-it notes!!!
Scott's newsletter sounds perfect for someone like me - a foodie & parent. Thanks for highlighting this. Also, the advice was great too! especially loved the part about how you shouldn't write about just one thing. "Chasing a single topic meant that things got repetitive, monotonous, even tedious, and I often felt like my writing was too often unconsciously influenced by the voices of others in that same sphere." I feel the same way!
Great words! Love it!
This was helpful, Scott. Relaxing. Thank you.