Love this! I’ve been writing on Substack for a year now - I even went paid and then changed my mind and turned it off. I also didn’t want to adhere to a certain frequency of posts and writing for the sake of it. I write when a topic calls to me. It might not grow my subscribers as well but it aligned more with my life. (I work in publishing full time so my Substack isn’t for the money!)
I have noticed that Notes always seem to be full of ‘grow your Substack’ type posts. It makes me not want to look at that tab. And I totally get the intimidation of so much excellent writing on here!! It’s both wonderful and terrifying as a new writer. 🤯
For as much as I know I *could* enjoy connecting with more writers + their work via Notes, this is exactly why I don't use it. It reminds me of the brown-nosing + comparison-trapping of other platforms, which doesn't inspire me but rather leaves me feeling a bit lost/hopeless.
I’m new to Substack and have felt very overwhelmed (and annoyingly seduced) by the ‘ten steps to make Substack a success’-type posts. But I don’t want to adhere to a set of rules, it doesn’t feel true and authentic. I keep reminding myself to put my blinkers firmly on and write anyway, my people will find me. Thanks for your honesty and your reflections on creating freely - it feels like the only way 👍🏼
I have been here for a year and a half now. I have the same view you do—don’t focus on growing your audience; they’ll find you approach. Just write; your passion will come through your writing.
I think you're one of the most beautiful modern writers I have read. Your prose is stunning. I just finished your _In Case of Emergency_ novel and loved it too. But I get that feeling. As someone who has a “good corporate editorial job” and does a bit of freelance to keep me in paid writing but dreams of writing novels and enjoys writing my Substack, I'm aware of the noise and competition. The market is saturated by many talents. I see the success of celeb Substackers and know that it's very unlikely I'll reach those heights, etc. Your writing life and success is a dream for many (of course, much deserved). And as far as paid subs go, I think it's a tough economy and many people cannot afford to support as many writers as they'd like. I look forward to your posts whenever they come and there's no set schedule needed. I love your voice and authenticity. Sending well wishes. 🫶🏻🥰
The celebrity writers on here asking for paid subscriptions make my eyes roll. Some might need the money—I get and understand that. However, there are some where I think—DO you REALLY NEED the money?! That has lately gotten under my skin on here.
Yes yes yes to all this! - perhaps apart from the bit where you’re still going to post at least once a week. I am struggling to manage that myself. I’ll be glad if I can stick to once a month. Clearly, I need to get my shit together! But as you say, everyone’s mailing lists are different and I’m just not sure my group of friends, acquaintances and people who once signed up for a funny course I wrote want to hear from me that regularly…
I certainly don’t mind if people post less, since it gives me a chance to catch up, but I can appreciate having paid subs makes the relationship feel very different.
Exactly. I’ll write and post whenever I’m ready. Twice a month would do well—I was thinking twice a week. Once a week will be good. Right now I am just using this to keep on writing while I find freelance work too. A good stepping stone and always something to keep me writing and creating.
Couldn’t agree more with all of this. As you know I’ve set myself the challenge of delivering a newsletter every Thursday (mainly bc I need a deadline to write) and every single Wednesday morning I sit in a cafe with no idea what to write, no belief I can do it and no belief anyone will read it. (Also I am feeling horribly jaded by all the “how to succeed at substack” posts. It feels cynical tbh - like the substack equivalent of clickbait) and in my naïveté I had hoped for different here, but of course we’re human and we take our humanness wherever we go…)
I’ve always admired your discipline of being able to do this on a Wednesday! It’s helpful to know it’s not just me who feels this way - especially given how much I adore your writing
It helps me to know you do. And back at you. Right now I have Wednesday morning angst. I’m seeing a mini outflux of paid subscribers too and it’s hard not to see it as a reflection on your work, rather than someone else’s economics.
I think we all are, if it's any consolation. And I suspect the answer is to just keep on doing what we're doing and writing about what we care about rather than look for some magic fix from how to succeeed at Substack posts!
I can relate to all of this. Sometimes I feel the field is so crowded, the overwhelm so great that there can’t be enough people out there still interested in what I have to say. But as you say if you need to say it, it’s worth writing. Carry on on your own way!
I relate so much to this! I talk myself out of so many pieces that way but then again the pieces just write that I don’t think will be successful end up doing well, so it’s important for me to remember not to doubt myself so much
Definitely! It's those posts where an idea suddenly strikes you and you can't wait to get something down that are the best not the ones where you think 'I have to write something - what am I going to write about this week?'
I relate to this a lot Poorna. There feels like a lot of pressure to do all the things that everyone says will grow your newsletter, but I'm very wary of strangling the lightness and joy that I felt in the early days of launching my newsletter and turning it into a chore. It's a fine balance, but I absolutely agree that we each need to do it in a way that works for us, and I think it shines through in the writing when someone is being authentically themselves 😊
Yes, yes, yes! 💯 I *could* have written this post myself, but I didn't. Darn! The competitive spirit in me is totally destroyed. Since joining Substack back in January, my plan was to think of this place as an "experiment home," my own tiny corner of the Internet, where I could just write what I want to write without the pressure of finding what it was than an editor, or even a certain type of reader, desires. I'm also out of writing practice after spending ten years as a middle school English teacher and four years as a SAHM of two. Substack has become my escape, my new adventure, my place to create freely. It is wonderful, but it is also frightening. I get nauseous when a scroll past a post on how to get more subscribers or how to become Successful on Substack. I often find myself questioning who do I think I am?! And so on and so forth. Somehow, someway, I pull myself out of the "imposter syndrome spiral," and I remember the thrill of a blank page. I remember the sense of urgency I feel to get those beating thoughts out of my head and onto to the digital paper before me. I remember the love that undeniably is with my Pen.
Thank you for writing on this topic that I have also wrestled with lately. May we continue to write what we want, how we want, where we want, and when we want. May we continue to just do the damn thing. ❤️
Some of my favorite writers on here only publish periodically- they follow their rhythm and I respect that. I publish weekly on Sundays but always tell myself if I don’t have something I can always just post a poem or reshare an old post but I’ll call Pinocchio on myself and say that some weeks I worry I won’t have a pocket and you are right about how that stifles creativity- 🌸
As a reader only, I use substack as an alternative to mindless scrolling on social media so I am using my time reading something interesting. Posting same day every week or even weekly isn't so important as I don't check substack daily. Quality over quantity!
Regarding paid subscriptions, I'm happy to pay, but I do also limit how many I subscribe to. It just isn't affordable for me to subscribe to several writers. I guess this is where the rising popularity of substack has its drawbacks - the average reader will have a limit to how many subscriptions they can afford.
That’s what I do. I thee have a certain number I paid for. If they are going to help me and grow my writing and creativity—I’ll pay for them. Also, if I have a relationship with your writing before; you make me feel something and better about the world I’ll pay for yours.
This is a great and really refreshing post. Substack is amazing but it feels like it’s quickly become a race to be bigger, have more, be more successful and instead of being motivating I find it debilitating. There was advice to turn paid subs on from the start and my god did I get an ego boost whenever anyone paid to ready my drivel (having started with a list of zero). But with that came the pressure to write and with my erratic jumbled brain and unpredictable schedule it was too much. So after a few months I refunded everyone and slowed down and the freedom that has brought with it is the reason I signed up for this space to begin with. To have fun and share stories in a way that suits me. I’m relieved!
I like your writing, and I like the "you" that your writing presents. This is true for all the Substacks I read. Not every post has to be life-changing. Life-changing is extremely rare, no matter what I read. I don't think it's possible for your Substack to "fail horribly," IMO. I totally support your posting when you feel like it. I'm not going to unsubscribe because it's not on a certain schedule; I'm not normally even aware of the schedules of the authors I read. They pop up from time to time and I read them. No biggie :-)
This article was so insightful, and this line in particular rang true: "I think the incredible quality of writing on here, alongside the posts on how to make your Substack successful, can contribute to a paralysing sense of overwhelm." Thanks for your openness and authenticity.
Love this! I’ve been writing on Substack for a year now - I even went paid and then changed my mind and turned it off. I also didn’t want to adhere to a certain frequency of posts and writing for the sake of it. I write when a topic calls to me. It might not grow my subscribers as well but it aligned more with my life. (I work in publishing full time so my Substack isn’t for the money!)
I have noticed that Notes always seem to be full of ‘grow your Substack’ type posts. It makes me not want to look at that tab. And I totally get the intimidation of so much excellent writing on here!! It’s both wonderful and terrifying as a new writer. 🤯
Thanks for the honest post, it really resonated.
For as much as I know I *could* enjoy connecting with more writers + their work via Notes, this is exactly why I don't use it. It reminds me of the brown-nosing + comparison-trapping of other platforms, which doesn't inspire me but rather leaves me feeling a bit lost/hopeless.
I’m new to Substack and have felt very overwhelmed (and annoyingly seduced) by the ‘ten steps to make Substack a success’-type posts. But I don’t want to adhere to a set of rules, it doesn’t feel true and authentic. I keep reminding myself to put my blinkers firmly on and write anyway, my people will find me. Thanks for your honesty and your reflections on creating freely - it feels like the only way 👍🏼
I have been here for a year and a half now. I have the same view you do—don’t focus on growing your audience; they’ll find you approach. Just write; your passion will come through your writing.
I think you're one of the most beautiful modern writers I have read. Your prose is stunning. I just finished your _In Case of Emergency_ novel and loved it too. But I get that feeling. As someone who has a “good corporate editorial job” and does a bit of freelance to keep me in paid writing but dreams of writing novels and enjoys writing my Substack, I'm aware of the noise and competition. The market is saturated by many talents. I see the success of celeb Substackers and know that it's very unlikely I'll reach those heights, etc. Your writing life and success is a dream for many (of course, much deserved). And as far as paid subs go, I think it's a tough economy and many people cannot afford to support as many writers as they'd like. I look forward to your posts whenever they come and there's no set schedule needed. I love your voice and authenticity. Sending well wishes. 🫶🏻🥰
This is incredibly kind of you Elaine ❤️
The celebrity writers on here asking for paid subscriptions make my eyes roll. Some might need the money—I get and understand that. However, there are some where I think—DO you REALLY NEED the money?! That has lately gotten under my skin on here.
Yes yes yes to all this! - perhaps apart from the bit where you’re still going to post at least once a week. I am struggling to manage that myself. I’ll be glad if I can stick to once a month. Clearly, I need to get my shit together! But as you say, everyone’s mailing lists are different and I’m just not sure my group of friends, acquaintances and people who once signed up for a funny course I wrote want to hear from me that regularly…
I think the main reason I’m doing weekly is because of paid subs but - I may need to reconsider whether this is something I will continue to do.
I certainly don’t mind if people post less, since it gives me a chance to catch up, but I can appreciate having paid subs makes the relationship feel very different.
Exactly. I’ll write and post whenever I’m ready. Twice a month would do well—I was thinking twice a week. Once a week will be good. Right now I am just using this to keep on writing while I find freelance work too. A good stepping stone and always something to keep me writing and creating.
Couldn’t agree more with all of this. As you know I’ve set myself the challenge of delivering a newsletter every Thursday (mainly bc I need a deadline to write) and every single Wednesday morning I sit in a cafe with no idea what to write, no belief I can do it and no belief anyone will read it. (Also I am feeling horribly jaded by all the “how to succeed at substack” posts. It feels cynical tbh - like the substack equivalent of clickbait) and in my naïveté I had hoped for different here, but of course we’re human and we take our humanness wherever we go…)
I’ve always admired your discipline of being able to do this on a Wednesday! It’s helpful to know it’s not just me who feels this way - especially given how much I adore your writing
It helps me to know you do. And back at you. Right now I have Wednesday morning angst. I’m seeing a mini outflux of paid subscribers too and it’s hard not to see it as a reflection on your work, rather than someone else’s economics.
I think we all are, if it's any consolation. And I suspect the answer is to just keep on doing what we're doing and writing about what we care about rather than look for some magic fix from how to succeeed at Substack posts!
Exactly! I tend to write about sports on mine. I know others might not be interested in that—but it makes me happy.
I can relate to all of this. Sometimes I feel the field is so crowded, the overwhelm so great that there can’t be enough people out there still interested in what I have to say. But as you say if you need to say it, it’s worth writing. Carry on on your own way!
I relate so much to this! I talk myself out of so many pieces that way but then again the pieces just write that I don’t think will be successful end up doing well, so it’s important for me to remember not to doubt myself so much
Definitely! It's those posts where an idea suddenly strikes you and you can't wait to get something down that are the best not the ones where you think 'I have to write something - what am I going to write about this week?'
I'll definitely stay for this approach. I came for your writing, rather than a schedule, and am never disappointed. Never stop being you xx
Aww thank you!
I relate to this a lot Poorna. There feels like a lot of pressure to do all the things that everyone says will grow your newsletter, but I'm very wary of strangling the lightness and joy that I felt in the early days of launching my newsletter and turning it into a chore. It's a fine balance, but I absolutely agree that we each need to do it in a way that works for us, and I think it shines through in the writing when someone is being authentically themselves 😊
Yes, yes, yes! 💯 I *could* have written this post myself, but I didn't. Darn! The competitive spirit in me is totally destroyed. Since joining Substack back in January, my plan was to think of this place as an "experiment home," my own tiny corner of the Internet, where I could just write what I want to write without the pressure of finding what it was than an editor, or even a certain type of reader, desires. I'm also out of writing practice after spending ten years as a middle school English teacher and four years as a SAHM of two. Substack has become my escape, my new adventure, my place to create freely. It is wonderful, but it is also frightening. I get nauseous when a scroll past a post on how to get more subscribers or how to become Successful on Substack. I often find myself questioning who do I think I am?! And so on and so forth. Somehow, someway, I pull myself out of the "imposter syndrome spiral," and I remember the thrill of a blank page. I remember the sense of urgency I feel to get those beating thoughts out of my head and onto to the digital paper before me. I remember the love that undeniably is with my Pen.
Thank you for writing on this topic that I have also wrestled with lately. May we continue to write what we want, how we want, where we want, and when we want. May we continue to just do the damn thing. ❤️
Some of my favorite writers on here only publish periodically- they follow their rhythm and I respect that. I publish weekly on Sundays but always tell myself if I don’t have something I can always just post a poem or reshare an old post but I’ll call Pinocchio on myself and say that some weeks I worry I won’t have a pocket and you are right about how that stifles creativity- 🌸
As a reader only, I use substack as an alternative to mindless scrolling on social media so I am using my time reading something interesting. Posting same day every week or even weekly isn't so important as I don't check substack daily. Quality over quantity!
Regarding paid subscriptions, I'm happy to pay, but I do also limit how many I subscribe to. It just isn't affordable for me to subscribe to several writers. I guess this is where the rising popularity of substack has its drawbacks - the average reader will have a limit to how many subscriptions they can afford.
That’s what I do. I thee have a certain number I paid for. If they are going to help me and grow my writing and creativity—I’ll pay for them. Also, if I have a relationship with your writing before; you make me feel something and better about the world I’ll pay for yours.
This is a great and really refreshing post. Substack is amazing but it feels like it’s quickly become a race to be bigger, have more, be more successful and instead of being motivating I find it debilitating. There was advice to turn paid subs on from the start and my god did I get an ego boost whenever anyone paid to ready my drivel (having started with a list of zero). But with that came the pressure to write and with my erratic jumbled brain and unpredictable schedule it was too much. So after a few months I refunded everyone and slowed down and the freedom that has brought with it is the reason I signed up for this space to begin with. To have fun and share stories in a way that suits me. I’m relieved!
Thanks so much for this, Poorna. I love your writing and personally don’t care for publishing schedules, both as a reader and a writer!
I like your writing, and I like the "you" that your writing presents. This is true for all the Substacks I read. Not every post has to be life-changing. Life-changing is extremely rare, no matter what I read. I don't think it's possible for your Substack to "fail horribly," IMO. I totally support your posting when you feel like it. I'm not going to unsubscribe because it's not on a certain schedule; I'm not normally even aware of the schedules of the authors I read. They pop up from time to time and I read them. No biggie :-)
This article was so insightful, and this line in particular rang true: "I think the incredible quality of writing on here, alongside the posts on how to make your Substack successful, can contribute to a paralysing sense of overwhelm." Thanks for your openness and authenticity.