Love this. I've even signed up for an appt. I am a bit skeptical about making 'friends' on substack but I'm open to your critique and feedback in our consultation. Thanks for sharing the post and offering your services!
Yes! Stop looking at the numbers! You came here to write. Just focus on that for now and for like a long, long time. The numbers thing will work itself out as you find your groove here and engage with the community. Substack is great, but I definitely feel as if the super-detailed stats tab is the worst thing going for it, it's that big bright piece of candy dangling in front of you when you know you should be eating your veggies first.
I'm just five weeks into writing my Substack and your notes are very helpful perspective! Even though I see very few hearts and comments, I find it encouraging to see the activity stars next to my subscribers' names... Nearly 80% are reading even if not commenting. Plus, I'm enjoying the creating so much which is fulfilling all on its own! Watching the numbers is definitely social media conditioning.
I'm still new here and getting the hang of it; it's so great to see that my initial feelings about the platform ("Substack is full of the most talented, lovely, cool, kind, creative people") echoed in this way. Great inspiration to keep going and maintain perspective right the way through.
The five year plan is a beautiful metric. For me, I just need Substack to last. I’m in no rush. My son, is only 8 months. And since I’m writing to save for his college fund. I’m really writing for the long game. The people will come, I’m going to make sure whenever they arrive, I have something worth for them sticking around.
I don’t really know what “doing well” here is because I don’t understand the metric. I started in the last week of June 2013 without expectations. I had a self published book (2012) and had been writing other things since 2011. This platform has been a great place to start publishing stuff and that’s what I’ve been doing, old and new. I add to the works as time and inclination allow. This place is a cornucopia of talent and resources. My subscriber/follower count is something I look at but don’t obsess over. I’m approaching 200 followers and I’m actually very pleased with my results and progress. Those superstars of Substack (you come to know them) are inspirational and helpful. I like it here mostly because it is an agglomeration of the whole spectrum of talented creators usually with an average intellect above the average. That’s refreshing in many respects.
Excellent reminders here; thanks for sharing them. One thing that comes to mind is that old piece from James Michener:
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body…”
Same thing with my Substack journey. I don’t think of it as “doing Substack” or “writing a newsletter” or “building a community” or “monetizing my work.”
Yes, I was wondering if there is cost to book a session with you. My sub #'s remain the same, views continue to grow since I started posting again, but opens are low. French and Gaelic sites are gaining subs but First Nations site remains dormant I am considering cancelling it, as unable to obtain correct translation for articles 😒 Income is limited and expenses mounting so, cost is an issue.
There is a cost, but I would say to keep going. Views matter more (in some cases) than open rates. Substack shouldn't be costing you anything! Just keep going.
Thank you for your insight. Although Substack platform is easier on 💰 vs Medium or others I agree Substack should not be costing me anything, I truly believe there should and could be some way of compensating us Writer's for our contribution to the profits of the Substack platform. Any ideas..
Just my 5 cents. I have had a website since the late 90's and wrote newsletters. I moved from a Wordpress site to Subtack in October 2020. I moved my 1,300 subscribers over and now am just a few short of 5,000. My old newsletters were monthly and now, I also create content for my paid subscribers ( just a few short of 300). My advice.Keep writing. People will unsubscribe .... but trust me, they will subscribe and stay, when they connect with you. Stay Real.
I've joined Substack only approx. 2 weeks ago (or is it three already)? Anyway, I didn't have any subscribers at all as I've never, ever written a Newsletter before. But with Substack, I already sent two Newsletters (next one scheduled for later today) and I already got some subscribers (free). And I was so amazed by this. People who don't know me are just subscribing to get some news from me. And what I love most is that we can actually 'talk' to each other. People add comments, notes, recommendations etc. and so far, I couldn't find any shaming or discouraging comments. Sometimes I think: Is this real? In today's online world? And it seems that it is! Thank you everybody for making this great community work. ❤️
It seems like the sophisticated version of twitter, where people are actually after real conversations and not likes. The likes and subscribers are hard to ignore though, due to the last 10 years of social media conditioning us to think that is what values our effort.
You nailed it! People are after real conversations. And yes, it's really hard not to get sucked into the subscribers/likes vortex. I was just trapped in one and it was a herculean effort to get out of it, but once I did I remembered why I love it here, which is getting to interact with people like you.
Love this. I've even signed up for an appt. I am a bit skeptical about making 'friends' on substack but I'm open to your critique and feedback in our consultation. Thanks for sharing the post and offering your services!
Very useful post. I am giving it a full year and aim to relax. Community on here is very different to any other I have encountered.
Yes! Stop looking at the numbers! You came here to write. Just focus on that for now and for like a long, long time. The numbers thing will work itself out as you find your groove here and engage with the community. Substack is great, but I definitely feel as if the super-detailed stats tab is the worst thing going for it, it's that big bright piece of candy dangling in front of you when you know you should be eating your veggies first.
I'm just five weeks into writing my Substack and your notes are very helpful perspective! Even though I see very few hearts and comments, I find it encouraging to see the activity stars next to my subscribers' names... Nearly 80% are reading even if not commenting. Plus, I'm enjoying the creating so much which is fulfilling all on its own! Watching the numbers is definitely social media conditioning.
Thank you for this!
I'm still new here and getting the hang of it; it's so great to see that my initial feelings about the platform ("Substack is full of the most talented, lovely, cool, kind, creative people") echoed in this way. Great inspiration to keep going and maintain perspective right the way through.
Appreciate this helpful perspective. As the old joke goes, it takes ten years to become an overnight success.
I am new to Substack and not really sure how it fits into my life plan but I am enjoying meeting writers so . . .
The five year plan is a beautiful metric. For me, I just need Substack to last. I’m in no rush. My son, is only 8 months. And since I’m writing to save for his college fund. I’m really writing for the long game. The people will come, I’m going to make sure whenever they arrive, I have something worth for them sticking around.
I began in June 2023, not 2013! I just discovered that I cannot edit the answer! However, seven months isn’t 5+ years, so I don’t want to mislead you!
I don’t really know what “doing well” here is because I don’t understand the metric. I started in the last week of June 2013 without expectations. I had a self published book (2012) and had been writing other things since 2011. This platform has been a great place to start publishing stuff and that’s what I’ve been doing, old and new. I add to the works as time and inclination allow. This place is a cornucopia of talent and resources. My subscriber/follower count is something I look at but don’t obsess over. I’m approaching 200 followers and I’m actually very pleased with my results and progress. Those superstars of Substack (you come to know them) are inspirational and helpful. I like it here mostly because it is an agglomeration of the whole spectrum of talented creators usually with an average intellect above the average. That’s refreshing in many respects.
^^^ JUNE 2023!! Not June 2013!! Hahaha
I needed to hear this, thank you <3
I'm so glad!
Excellent reminders here; thanks for sharing them. One thing that comes to mind is that old piece from James Michener:
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body…”
Same thing with my Substack journey. I don’t think of it as “doing Substack” or “writing a newsletter” or “building a community” or “monetizing my work.”
I just think of it as living.
Doing my thing.
Here, is fine.
I’d use a pen if that’s all I had;
or something else.
I write because I must.
And the rest is a gratitude.
Keep going, my friends!
Yes!
Thank you so much for this 💚
It's been a great and helpful read.
Yes, I was wondering if there is cost to book a session with you. My sub #'s remain the same, views continue to grow since I started posting again, but opens are low. French and Gaelic sites are gaining subs but First Nations site remains dormant I am considering cancelling it, as unable to obtain correct translation for articles 😒 Income is limited and expenses mounting so, cost is an issue.
There is a cost, but I would say to keep going. Views matter more (in some cases) than open rates. Substack shouldn't be costing you anything! Just keep going.
Thank you for your insight. Although Substack platform is easier on 💰 vs Medium or others I agree Substack should not be costing me anything, I truly believe there should and could be some way of compensating us Writer's for our contribution to the profits of the Substack platform. Any ideas..
Just my 5 cents. I have had a website since the late 90's and wrote newsletters. I moved from a Wordpress site to Subtack in October 2020. I moved my 1,300 subscribers over and now am just a few short of 5,000. My old newsletters were monthly and now, I also create content for my paid subscribers ( just a few short of 300). My advice.Keep writing. People will unsubscribe .... but trust me, they will subscribe and stay, when they connect with you. Stay Real.
I've joined Substack only approx. 2 weeks ago (or is it three already)? Anyway, I didn't have any subscribers at all as I've never, ever written a Newsletter before. But with Substack, I already sent two Newsletters (next one scheduled for later today) and I already got some subscribers (free). And I was so amazed by this. People who don't know me are just subscribing to get some news from me. And what I love most is that we can actually 'talk' to each other. People add comments, notes, recommendations etc. and so far, I couldn't find any shaming or discouraging comments. Sometimes I think: Is this real? In today's online world? And it seems that it is! Thank you everybody for making this great community work. ❤️
It's real! Isn't it cool?! I love the title of your Substack. It's really great here. Welcome!
It seems like the sophisticated version of twitter, where people are actually after real conversations and not likes. The likes and subscribers are hard to ignore though, due to the last 10 years of social media conditioning us to think that is what values our effort.
Yes and actually much more has come from writing here than anywhere else. So it's a great lesson in long-term delayed gratification 😂
You nailed it! People are after real conversations. And yes, it's really hard not to get sucked into the subscribers/likes vortex. I was just trapped in one and it was a herculean effort to get out of it, but once I did I remembered why I love it here, which is getting to interact with people like you.