Ah, Kelly, I am so glad you called these people out on Substack. Sadly, they are increasing daily. I want to scream at them: where's your novel? What genre do you write in? Do you write fiction or non-fiction? That would stump them. All they can do is SHOUT in a really loud voice about how brilliant they are and how much money they make. I sometimes wonder whether I will ever make it big with my cosy crime novels because I don't say LOOK AT ME a million times a day on social media. All I want to do is WRITE! There, I shouted it out!
I think many writers are introverts like me and for us, self-marketing is not just overwhelming and time-consuming, it’s also highly uncomfortable, even anxiety-producing. I’ve written two novels and working on my third and if I spent all the time required on social media marketing myself, I’d never have time to write, research, or just live my life. I’m brand new to this platform and I really enjoyed reading your piece, thank you!
You are right on point Kelly. That’s why i started my blogger. I am no longer interested in chasing the algorithm and commercial writing that we do here in America. I want to write because I have a story to tell. I don’t want to be a marketer.
Thanks for this. This is in all social media, no? I see on IG all the time influencers who sell courses on how to sell courses. And i am sure they are not lying about the fact they make money because they show screenshots and the whole thing. But. It feels so circular and hollow, no? Kind of like the feeling pyramid schemes give me . Icky
I don't fit any of those questions. I'm a technical writer. So my products are vetted by aerospace, nuclear, defense, clients for the most part. But I definitely see the value here. I do understand that making money sells because everyone is having a hard time making ends meet. Some of that is our increasingly materialistic world. But whereas I would have pointed out the extreme cost of a new car or house in the past, those items are equal in cost now. And yes, there's a lot of people just looking to make more and be more. Definitely a difficult subject.
Ah, a breath of fresh air. I thought it was only me who recognized that pattern of the constant sales newsletters. I look for articles that get me thinking. Not the ones that keep telling me I need to do something different to be "successful." Thanks for sharing an article that is worth reading.
Thanks, Kaprice. I like ones that get me thinking too. I don't mind people selling things if they have something valuable to offer, but when all they do is say "I made X amount of money and you need to buy my product!" it gets on my nerves. Nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way!
Enjoyed reading this. laughed at “flotsam and jetsam”. Your clarity piece makes complete sense. However however can I ask - what if someone is not looking to make a living off writing on substack - merely writes here to collect people that like reading their thoughts is clarity still as crucial (sounds highly egotistical but isn't the hallmark of most writers? At least that's what Orwell said about writers in general)
Ps - asking for a friend 😏
Thanks for the piece - really learnt stuff from it
Realmente, Venkatesh, é um ponto importante a ser considerado: ter pessoas aqui na Substack com o intuito tão somente de escrever por puro amor à escrita.😎
Interesting to hear that, Derek. Would you want to share why you're backing away from Substack? Everyone's experience is so different. Good to hear all sides.
I'm on a reduction kick right now. Prepping to move house and don't want to build anything new. I read Substack but limiting my writing to Medium, Vocal, and Jotter for now.
It's super new at the moment and needs a lot more development, but it's slowly building. Currently, you can read stories on the jotter app and write on desktop. https://jotterrevolution.com/
I don’t have a presence on other platforms, so I’m a bit stuck, but I’ve heard the same thing. I’ve registered with Bluesky so maybe I should make the effort to do something there.
All the selling on how to sell writing gets on my nerves, too. It's hard to sort the genuine from the insincere sometimes.I've only been on here for less than a month. Substack is complicated, wonderful, and full of possibility.
As for the quality writers, i wish I could buy a paid subscription to all of them. Maybe someday I can, but right now I'm a struggling teacher.
The best thing I have found here on Substack (been here less than a month) is the engagement with other writers, and their willingness to help one another and avoid pitfalls.
If you're interested in checking out my fledgling newsletter about the changes in culture, education, and self-betterment, check out the Joyous Road: http://joyous461.substack.com
I wish I could buy a paid sub for them all too and I totally get the teacher thing--I taught for a couple of years and it's not badly paid here, but I was working 80 hour weeks and basically burnt out. Teachers need far more money to do what they do!
Great read Kelly, I’ve just started my Substack and I’m quite nervous and put off by these big claims of success. U hit the nail on the head and through all these comments from everyone proves they it’s not just me. Keep up the great honest work 🙂
I was lucky when I started at SS that there were less people here so it felt like less pressure. It's certainly more nerve wrecking when a platform is in full swing so I understand how that might feel. With your particular topic and because you're doing video you're competing with Youtube fitness channels. If that was my topic. I would watch a lot of those channels and see what seems to be working. It will be interesting to see how video goes on Substack. Keep us updated!
Thanks for taking the time to write this message, Kelly. I appreciate your feedback. My partner has been using SS for a while and she is a great writer so I knew what I was up against. I explained that I'm not great at writing but really enjoy recording my messages (which is a big thing for an introvert like me) but she said go for it as my content was easy to watch for people starting out. I agree with what you're saying about the competition out there but I just want to do it my way. I have a lot of clients in my PT business so this is a great platform to spread my knowledge at least locally but hopefully wider over time. If I start to watch too much YouTube or social media I'll probably never post anything again so just want to have some fun with it for now and see where the wind blows me. Hope this makes sense. Will defo keep u updated
Your post is a breath of fresh air! When I read a writing newsletter, I expect tips on writing... Not how to make money on platforms like Substack and Medium...
Thank you for the tips and for suggesting other newsletters for me to explore! When I am financially able to do so, I will definitely subscribe to your newsletter. As a subscriber, it would be nice to have more tips about submissions and how to promote my work as a writer so that I can make money outside of SubStack.
Sorry about your health conditions, but I understand totally... It's like my grandmother said "some days are good days, some days are not"...
Thanks, Deborah. Great idea with submission tips. Did you see the free Pitching Guide in the resources which covers a lot of tips for submitting your work to editors?
Sorry to hear that, Lydia. My health has been pretty good for the past 6 months, but I have stretches of bad that happen out of the blue with Crohn's Disease. Are you writing an illness memoir?
No ... though I could. I'm writing a coming-of-age spiritual memoir. If you read my profile it'll give you a hint. 😊 So maybe two memoirs might be in the works. Not exactly sure how they'll work out, outline-wise. I've been sick almost 20 years with 3 disabling conditions. That said, I can still write, but S-L-O-W-L-Y, and mostly on my phone.
Interesting. The things is I do like writing in multiple formats. Poems, short fiction, novels. And I like sharing what I've learned as a black women in a leadership position. And I travel, love eating good food. And don't get me started on gaming. So Substack feels like all those things but limited to one focus. I need three different rooms.
Sounds like Medium or somewhere you can share more varied stories could be a good place to start and then see what your readers like most (and what you enjoy writing most) and make a Substack from that? Are you already sharing your writing somewhere, Juin?
I thought medium was dead or dying. I have self published but I have shifted my goals to short form. I do have their finished novels that I will publish later this year. For the next year, I am still figuring it out.
It's not dead yet, but is certainly having some issues in the last couple of months which they seem to be trying to sort out. We will have to wait and see I guess.
Medium is not dead or dying... That is the opinion of the people who are not making money on the platform at the moment. Some authors have shifted to free for all articles, and some still keep a few articles behind the paywall... I agree with Kelly that it is an excellent platform if you want to publish random topics. When I looked a few weeks ago, they had over 300 calls for submissions in the different categories.
It's true Jan '25 is a bumpy month at Medium, but I have faith they will work it out. Time will tell. What I Can say is: there's an amazing writing community there putting out a lot of top notch stuff. Been writing there since 2020 and I have no regrets.
I recently joined... already delected two sets of articles.. now on a third. Testing things out. Not wanting to hook into Stripe.. that will wait.. on my home page ... it used to offer more new articles by hirting the arrow.. thats gone. I have subscribed to many authors and am enjoying all the reading... but now i am limited.. algorithms are strange here. I love lots of variety... not repeats of the same subjects.
I didn't know there was such a category on Substack! I live on a farm too, and most of the time it is a Funny Farm! I learned something you everyday and I have learned at least 10 new things while reading this particular post and the comments that followed! Thanks to Kelly for that!
I love this. I just joined substack this week because I want a place to share my story and connect with other folks without being inundated with the sales pitches I see on Instagram and Threads.
Your Substack name and description are both fantastic. People still sell on Substack (I do have things for sale) but it's certainly a quieter platform that feels far less pushy. I hope you enjoy this space and find plenty of people to connect with. :) I'm glad you connected with us here on BYW!
I have a question for you given you’re a long-timer here. My niche is a marketing and strategy role in technology called ‘industry analyst relations’ (super niche). I’m currently focused on LinkedIn and just getting started. Seems this platform is primarily writers (& I do publish romance under a pen name) - not the best fit to find technology company execs. Agree?
Seems like there are a lot of people writing about it in some way, but you'd need to decide whether that's who you want to connect with. To me, LinkedIn makes more sense. I would put all my energy there if you're just starting out. But perhaps check out some of the tech people on Substack and see what they're doing.
Ah, Kelly, I am so glad you called these people out on Substack. Sadly, they are increasing daily. I want to scream at them: where's your novel? What genre do you write in? Do you write fiction or non-fiction? That would stump them. All they can do is SHOUT in a really loud voice about how brilliant they are and how much money they make. I sometimes wonder whether I will ever make it big with my cosy crime novels because I don't say LOOK AT ME a million times a day on social media. All I want to do is WRITE! There, I shouted it out!
Haha! Well said Rosy. I'm not much of a shouter either. I don't think many writers are. It does make the marketing side difficult.
I think many writers are introverts like me and for us, self-marketing is not just overwhelming and time-consuming, it’s also highly uncomfortable, even anxiety-producing. I’ve written two novels and working on my third and if I spent all the time required on social media marketing myself, I’d never have time to write, research, or just live my life. I’m brand new to this platform and I really enjoyed reading your piece, thank you!
You are right on point Kelly. That’s why i started my blogger. I am no longer interested in chasing the algorithm and commercial writing that we do here in America. I want to write because I have a story to tell. I don’t want to be a marketer.
Thanks for this. This is in all social media, no? I see on IG all the time influencers who sell courses on how to sell courses. And i am sure they are not lying about the fact they make money because they show screenshots and the whole thing. But. It feels so circular and hollow, no? Kind of like the feeling pyramid schemes give me . Icky
I don't fit any of those questions. I'm a technical writer. So my products are vetted by aerospace, nuclear, defense, clients for the most part. But I definitely see the value here. I do understand that making money sells because everyone is having a hard time making ends meet. Some of that is our increasingly materialistic world. But whereas I would have pointed out the extreme cost of a new car or house in the past, those items are equal in cost now. And yes, there's a lot of people just looking to make more and be more. Definitely a difficult subject.
Ah, a breath of fresh air. I thought it was only me who recognized that pattern of the constant sales newsletters. I look for articles that get me thinking. Not the ones that keep telling me I need to do something different to be "successful." Thanks for sharing an article that is worth reading.
Thanks, Kaprice. I like ones that get me thinking too. I don't mind people selling things if they have something valuable to offer, but when all they do is say "I made X amount of money and you need to buy my product!" it gets on my nerves. Nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way!
Sometimes they make it seem all so easy.
Yeah me too. I really like the articles that helped me start to think about things in a new way.
Enjoyed reading this. laughed at “flotsam and jetsam”. Your clarity piece makes complete sense. However however can I ask - what if someone is not looking to make a living off writing on substack - merely writes here to collect people that like reading their thoughts is clarity still as crucial (sounds highly egotistical but isn't the hallmark of most writers? At least that's what Orwell said about writers in general)
Ps - asking for a friend 😏
Thanks for the piece - really learnt stuff from it
If you're writing to collect people that like reading your thoughts, then write about whatever you fancy. There are no rules.
Exactly! I don’t get to do that enough.
Definitely. That's my impression of this platform.
That was my exact sentiment!! She had me at “flotsam and jetsam” too!! 😉
Realmente, Venkatesh, é um ponto importante a ser considerado: ter pessoas aqui na Substack com o intuito tão somente de escrever por puro amor à escrita.😎
All good this, Kelly, though I am backing away from me writing on Substack. Accountability would be a great subscriber feature.
Interesting to hear that, Derek. Would you want to share why you're backing away from Substack? Everyone's experience is so different. Good to hear all sides.
I'm on a reduction kick right now. Prepping to move house and don't want to build anything new. I read Substack but limiting my writing to Medium, Vocal, and Jotter for now.
Those 3 are more than enough. I saw your entry in Jotter! Best of luck!!
Thanks! I was also the third most read author on Jotter in December :-)
That's exciting!
I need to google Jotter!
It's super new at the moment and needs a lot more development, but it's slowly building. Currently, you can read stories on the jotter app and write on desktop. https://jotterrevolution.com/
Good advice although I haven’t switched on paid subscriptions. The problem with writing fiction is there’s so much great writing on Substack it’s hard to stand out. https://open.substack.com/pub/francesbrindle?r=j0ch2&utm_medium=ios
I've heard crossposting to Instagram or other visual platforms is helpful for fiction writers. They're not platforms I've tried much. Have you?
I don’t have a presence on other platforms, so I’m a bit stuck, but I’ve heard the same thing. I’ve registered with Bluesky so maybe I should make the effort to do something there.
All the selling on how to sell writing gets on my nerves, too. It's hard to sort the genuine from the insincere sometimes.I've only been on here for less than a month. Substack is complicated, wonderful, and full of possibility.
As for the quality writers, i wish I could buy a paid subscription to all of them. Maybe someday I can, but right now I'm a struggling teacher.
The best thing I have found here on Substack (been here less than a month) is the engagement with other writers, and their willingness to help one another and avoid pitfalls.
If you're interested in checking out my fledgling newsletter about the changes in culture, education, and self-betterment, check out the Joyous Road: http://joyous461.substack.com
I wish I could buy a paid sub for them all too and I totally get the teacher thing--I taught for a couple of years and it's not badly paid here, but I was working 80 hour weeks and basically burnt out. Teachers need far more money to do what they do!
Yes, this is my 30th year of teaching. I am ready to reclaims some of my life! Thank you for your understanding!
Great read Kelly, I’ve just started my Substack and I’m quite nervous and put off by these big claims of success. U hit the nail on the head and through all these comments from everyone proves they it’s not just me. Keep up the great honest work 🙂
I was lucky when I started at SS that there were less people here so it felt like less pressure. It's certainly more nerve wrecking when a platform is in full swing so I understand how that might feel. With your particular topic and because you're doing video you're competing with Youtube fitness channels. If that was my topic. I would watch a lot of those channels and see what seems to be working. It will be interesting to see how video goes on Substack. Keep us updated!
Thanks for taking the time to write this message, Kelly. I appreciate your feedback. My partner has been using SS for a while and she is a great writer so I knew what I was up against. I explained that I'm not great at writing but really enjoy recording my messages (which is a big thing for an introvert like me) but she said go for it as my content was easy to watch for people starting out. I agree with what you're saying about the competition out there but I just want to do it my way. I have a lot of clients in my PT business so this is a great platform to spread my knowledge at least locally but hopefully wider over time. If I start to watch too much YouTube or social media I'll probably never post anything again so just want to have some fun with it for now and see where the wind blows me. Hope this makes sense. Will defo keep u updated
Your post is a breath of fresh air! When I read a writing newsletter, I expect tips on writing... Not how to make money on platforms like Substack and Medium...
Thank you for the tips and for suggesting other newsletters for me to explore! When I am financially able to do so, I will definitely subscribe to your newsletter. As a subscriber, it would be nice to have more tips about submissions and how to promote my work as a writer so that I can make money outside of SubStack.
Sorry about your health conditions, but I understand totally... It's like my grandmother said "some days are good days, some days are not"...
Thanks, Deborah. Great idea with submission tips. Did you see the free Pitching Guide in the resources which covers a lot of tips for submitting your work to editors?
It seems health issues keep many of us from churning things out full time. I'm in bed most days ...
Sorry to hear that, Lydia. My health has been pretty good for the past 6 months, but I have stretches of bad that happen out of the blue with Crohn's Disease. Are you writing an illness memoir?
No ... though I could. I'm writing a coming-of-age spiritual memoir. If you read my profile it'll give you a hint. 😊 So maybe two memoirs might be in the works. Not exactly sure how they'll work out, outline-wise. I've been sick almost 20 years with 3 disabling conditions. That said, I can still write, but S-L-O-W-L-Y, and mostly on my phone.
I look forward to perusing your materials!
Interesting. The things is I do like writing in multiple formats. Poems, short fiction, novels. And I like sharing what I've learned as a black women in a leadership position. And I travel, love eating good food. And don't get me started on gaming. So Substack feels like all those things but limited to one focus. I need three different rooms.
Sounds like Medium or somewhere you can share more varied stories could be a good place to start and then see what your readers like most (and what you enjoy writing most) and make a Substack from that? Are you already sharing your writing somewhere, Juin?
I thought medium was dead or dying. I have self published but I have shifted my goals to short form. I do have their finished novels that I will publish later this year. For the next year, I am still figuring it out.
It's not dead yet, but is certainly having some issues in the last couple of months which they seem to be trying to sort out. We will have to wait and see I guess.
Medium is not dead or dying... That is the opinion of the people who are not making money on the platform at the moment. Some authors have shifted to free for all articles, and some still keep a few articles behind the paywall... I agree with Kelly that it is an excellent platform if you want to publish random topics. When I looked a few weeks ago, they had over 300 calls for submissions in the different categories.
It's true Jan '25 is a bumpy month at Medium, but I have faith they will work it out. Time will tell. What I Can say is: there's an amazing writing community there putting out a lot of top notch stuff. Been writing there since 2020 and I have no regrets.
That is good to know Deborah. Thanks
I recently joined... already delected two sets of articles.. now on a third. Testing things out. Not wanting to hook into Stripe.. that will wait.. on my home page ... it used to offer more new articles by hirting the arrow.. thats gone. I have subscribed to many authors and am enjoying all the reading... but now i am limited.. algorithms are strange here. I love lots of variety... not repeats of the same subjects.
Testing things out is a good idea.
My weekly ponderings on life on the farm. This time it's all about TB. https://debbiekingsley.substack.com/p/tb-no-hiding-from-reality
Oscar is so cute! I can honestly say, I've never read a Substack about farm life!
Happy to introduce you to one :)
I didn't know there was such a category on Substack! I live on a farm too, and most of the time it is a Funny Farm! I learned something you everyday and I have learned at least 10 new things while reading this particular post and the comments that followed! Thanks to Kelly for that!
Well said. Agreed on all points.
Thank you, Michael.
Great tips! I started one! 😂 Two posts in two months but it’s so fun to enter a world of writers and writing enthusiasts every time I open the app. 😍
I love this. I just joined substack this week because I want a place to share my story and connect with other folks without being inundated with the sales pitches I see on Instagram and Threads.
Your Substack name and description are both fantastic. People still sell on Substack (I do have things for sale) but it's certainly a quieter platform that feels far less pushy. I hope you enjoy this space and find plenty of people to connect with. :) I'm glad you connected with us here on BYW!
I have a question for you given you’re a long-timer here. My niche is a marketing and strategy role in technology called ‘industry analyst relations’ (super niche). I’m currently focused on LinkedIn and just getting started. Seems this platform is primarily writers (& I do publish romance under a pen name) - not the best fit to find technology company execs. Agree?
I just did a search for technology https://substack.com/search/technology?searching=profile
Seems like there are a lot of people writing about it in some way, but you'd need to decide whether that's who you want to connect with. To me, LinkedIn makes more sense. I would put all my energy there if you're just starting out. But perhaps check out some of the tech people on Substack and see what they're doing.
If there is one thing I've noticed about substack is that a follows the book and there is cutting through corners or trying to outsmart the system.
I'm so glad I met you today Kelly, this is really lovely
Thank you, Ral. Nice to meet you too.