Substack is just another social network platform, run as a for-profit corporation. It is a tool, developed with writers in mind. So it is up to us writers to use it for our purposes. Popular bits of advice are just reference points, we should set our own guidelines and chart our own growth path.
I have been on Substack for over a year and what I appreciate most is the care and support from the writer/reader community. Everything else is just secondary.
Sara, I came across your post via Notes and I’m so glad I did. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I feel like I’ve gone through a weird ride since being here in Substack with my thinking about how I ‘should’ be thinking about Substack. And I’m not sure what has happened in recent weeks but something has shifted for me, and I’m more at peace with just plodding along at my own pace - algorithms and ‘how to grow advice’ be damned!
It’s hard and I appreciate you naming it. I speak often with a friend who is trying to build an online business and is so frustrated wondering why she is t growing. Meanwhile being disappointed by the quality of offers by people who look successful. There’s a lot of “what am I doing wrong?” I’m tryin to embrace my slow but steady growth on Substack, grateful that I not in a rush for it to make me money.
yeah, that is the best way to do it! I'm definitely not relying on this for money--I have other writing I do for that. Still, it is a lot of work and a big time suck. But ... here we are. I guess because we like it?
Sara, your most recent post especially resonates with me at this point in my life. I am in a liminal space in pivoting my career, which I had been calling the in-between place until I had read this article: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-liminal-space/. It’s full of so much uncertainty! Taking the next step is something I’m nudging myself to do.
It helps so much when others share their struggles beyond just the feelings (or the polished outcome), but the day-to-day stuff, you know? That’s where the growth happens and is what makes life so much more interesting.
Thank you for your courage to be vulnerable and also for writing about topics that need more out of our attention and deserve a conversation. So, here is a cup of Gatorade and an energy bar too to keep going on your journey!
Thank you! I'm glad to know the post was helpful. I was a bit worried it was too navel-gazey, but I know that so many people on this platform are struggling with the same thing, and it seemed like there needed to be an alternative to the "How I Got 10,000 subscribers in three months" posts. It's so true that the day-to-day middle part is where things really happen!
I always appreciate your writing and thoughts, and I honestly prefer to have a smaller number of posts that really change things for me than to have a regular newsletter that I feel bad about not reading. I am definitely wrestling with the issue of not having money to support everyone though. I think the death of Twitter has had and will continue to have a big effect on writers. It was the best place to gain eyes - a big marketplace for networking and exchange. And now it's gone.
Thank you, Susanna. Yeah, I agree. It has been great to connect with people here, but I feel like this is mostly writers talking to other writers, which is great in a lot of ways but limits the audience!
Congratulations!! It’s Not You! Although I might not be the best person to say that because despite having read your book 12 times, I still walk around most of the time thinking it’s me (why I’m single, why I recently got replaced by a younger writer, why I can’t find a blazer that looks halfway decent on me, etc etc). One thing I know for sure: breaking a two-year writer’s block is a huge accomplishment any way you look at it!!
Thank you, Gina! And I still mostly think it's me too. Why am I 25 pounds overweight, why am I not making more money, etc. etc. etc. I am mostly writing this for myself!
I read this post just a couple hours after talking to a realtor, even though I am not at all sure if I want to buy a house. So the advice about taking the next step was very apt! Is there more to it? Like, "take the next step and then see if your decision feels clearer?"
Yeah, that's it--take a step and do a gut check and then take another step. Of course, at some point you have to take the big leap, but I have found this does make it easier.
Love your stuff, and your book was really important for me, but I really do think the whole idea of substack as a career path is the kind of exposure con you mention. It's the kind of thing you should only pursue if you are enjoying it.
I have been on Substack for exactly 99 days as of today. I have written on other platforms before that. Happy here in the Stacks and... I have been feeling into some of what you express here so well. I appreciate your measured thoughtfulness and the emphasis on just taking the next step. Step by step. When things seem overwhelming, we take a smaller step. 🙂
I think many of us here are having similar questions, at least I know I am. I didn't import any followers to see if my content could pull readers like a magnet. I'm happy with the subscribers who have found me and have much to celebrate about my experiences on the platform, but. Yup, lots of buts.
I’m so glad you’re going to keep writing it. I don’t know how to get more followers but this is my favorite substack, and I think lots of people would love it if they knew about it!
There is a further reason why I (and possibly others?) can’t subscribe: apparently within the past year or so, Substack changed the currency to tie to your location. My bank account is USD, while I am in Europe. Nothing in my settings seems to change which currency is offered.
Your writing is amazing! Your topics are interesting, thought-provoking and demonstrate your intellectual and emotional depth. This is your calling. You got this!
Substack is just another social network platform, run as a for-profit corporation. It is a tool, developed with writers in mind. So it is up to us writers to use it for our purposes. Popular bits of advice are just reference points, we should set our own guidelines and chart our own growth path.
I have been on Substack for over a year and what I appreciate most is the care and support from the writer/reader community. Everything else is just secondary.
Yes, it’s a great community!
Sara, I came across your post via Notes and I’m so glad I did. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I feel like I’ve gone through a weird ride since being here in Substack with my thinking about how I ‘should’ be thinking about Substack. And I’m not sure what has happened in recent weeks but something has shifted for me, and I’m more at peace with just plodding along at my own pace - algorithms and ‘how to grow advice’ be damned!
Thank you, Sarah! So glad to hear about your shift. I'm trying to get there myself!
It’s hard and I appreciate you naming it. I speak often with a friend who is trying to build an online business and is so frustrated wondering why she is t growing. Meanwhile being disappointed by the quality of offers by people who look successful. There’s a lot of “what am I doing wrong?” I’m tryin to embrace my slow but steady growth on Substack, grateful that I not in a rush for it to make me money.
yeah, that is the best way to do it! I'm definitely not relying on this for money--I have other writing I do for that. Still, it is a lot of work and a big time suck. But ... here we are. I guess because we like it?
As always, wonderful piece, Sara! Congratulations on the year. I''ll share this one to FB and hopefully it will net you a few more subscribers.
Thank you!!!
Sara, your most recent post especially resonates with me at this point in my life. I am in a liminal space in pivoting my career, which I had been calling the in-between place until I had read this article: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-liminal-space/. It’s full of so much uncertainty! Taking the next step is something I’m nudging myself to do.
It helps so much when others share their struggles beyond just the feelings (or the polished outcome), but the day-to-day stuff, you know? That’s where the growth happens and is what makes life so much more interesting.
Thank you for your courage to be vulnerable and also for writing about topics that need more out of our attention and deserve a conversation. So, here is a cup of Gatorade and an energy bar too to keep going on your journey!
Thank you! I'm glad to know the post was helpful. I was a bit worried it was too navel-gazey, but I know that so many people on this platform are struggling with the same thing, and it seemed like there needed to be an alternative to the "How I Got 10,000 subscribers in three months" posts. It's so true that the day-to-day middle part is where things really happen!
I always appreciate your writing and thoughts, and I honestly prefer to have a smaller number of posts that really change things for me than to have a regular newsletter that I feel bad about not reading. I am definitely wrestling with the issue of not having money to support everyone though. I think the death of Twitter has had and will continue to have a big effect on writers. It was the best place to gain eyes - a big marketplace for networking and exchange. And now it's gone.
Thank you, Susanna. Yeah, I agree. It has been great to connect with people here, but I feel like this is mostly writers talking to other writers, which is great in a lot of ways but limits the audience!
Congratulations!! It’s Not You! Although I might not be the best person to say that because despite having read your book 12 times, I still walk around most of the time thinking it’s me (why I’m single, why I recently got replaced by a younger writer, why I can’t find a blazer that looks halfway decent on me, etc etc). One thing I know for sure: breaking a two-year writer’s block is a huge accomplishment any way you look at it!!
Thank you, Gina! And I still mostly think it's me too. Why am I 25 pounds overweight, why am I not making more money, etc. etc. etc. I am mostly writing this for myself!
I read this post just a couple hours after talking to a realtor, even though I am not at all sure if I want to buy a house. So the advice about taking the next step was very apt! Is there more to it? Like, "take the next step and then see if your decision feels clearer?"
Yeah, that's it--take a step and do a gut check and then take another step. Of course, at some point you have to take the big leap, but I have found this does make it easier.
And also - I love your writing and am glad you've made the decision to do more freelancing!
Thank you!!
Congratulations! I love your SS. My one-year anniversary is coming up!
Thank you! Happy almost-anniversary!
Love your stuff, and your book was really important for me, but I really do think the whole idea of substack as a career path is the kind of exposure con you mention. It's the kind of thing you should only pursue if you are enjoying it.
Corey Doctorow writes well on the subject of "enshittification" if you haven't read it: https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/
Thank you, Aslan. And yes, that Corey Doctorow piece is fascinating!
I have been on Substack for exactly 99 days as of today. I have written on other platforms before that. Happy here in the Stacks and... I have been feeling into some of what you express here so well. I appreciate your measured thoughtfulness and the emphasis on just taking the next step. Step by step. When things seem overwhelming, we take a smaller step. 🙂
Glad it was helpful, and welcome to Substack!
I think many of us here are having similar questions, at least I know I am. I didn't import any followers to see if my content could pull readers like a magnet. I'm happy with the subscribers who have found me and have much to celebrate about my experiences on the platform, but. Yup, lots of buts.
Exactly! It's good, but ....
I’m so glad you’re going to keep writing it. I don’t know how to get more followers but this is my favorite substack, and I think lots of people would love it if they knew about it!
Oh, thank you so much, Meri!
Thank you for this! It's helpful to see someone in a very similar situation grappling with the "why."
However, your numbers are *much* more impressive than mine....I'm way, way under 500 subscribers after 8 months of weekly newsletters.
I am not sure how much longer I have it in me. My freelance career is awesome and going very well, but my newsletter career is non-existent.
It's so hard to figure out what works! Glad to hear about your freelance career!
There is a further reason why I (and possibly others?) can’t subscribe: apparently within the past year or so, Substack changed the currency to tie to your location. My bank account is USD, while I am in Europe. Nothing in my settings seems to change which currency is offered.
Oh, interesting I had no idea! But thank you for trying anyway! And for being a subscriber!
Your writing is amazing! Your topics are interesting, thought-provoking and demonstrate your intellectual and emotional depth. This is your calling. You got this!
Thank you so much, Ann! So nice to see your name here, and thank you so much for becoming a paid subscriber!