#Benefits of blogging for Substack | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mariacallous · 2 months ago

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When I caught up with Elizabeth Warren, the senior Democratic senator from Massachusetts, by telephone on Wednesday evening, it seemed like she didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. Hours earlier, Donald Trump had caved to pressure from the financial markets and announced, via social media, a ninety-day pause on many of his tariffs. On Wall Street, stocks shot up. Later in the afternoon, Warren, who sits on the Senate finance and banking committees, had spoken from the floor of the upper chamber, where she demanded an independent investigation into whether Trump had manipulated the markets to benefit Wall Street donors. (Anybody who had known about the policy pivot in advance could have made a fortune buying stocks or stock futures.) But while, in her floor speech, Warren had bristled with righteous anger at the idea of Trump, or anyone else at the White House, tipping off rich friends, during our conversation she couldn’t stop herself from chortling at the Administration’s claim that the President’s reversal had been the product of an artful negotiation strategy. “No serious person believes that, and I can’t even find an unserious person who believes it,” she joked. “The tariffs are on; the tariffs are off. The tariffs are on; the tariffs are off. Donald Trump is playing the biggest game of Red Light Green Light since ‘Squid Game.’ ”

Since Trump’s return to the White House, his chaotic style of governing has often seemed to catch Democrats off balance, and deprived them of a stationary target. Warren, however, has been on the offensive throughout. Unlike Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have joined forces for a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, she hasn’t been barnstorming around the country. (Although, as part of the mass “Hands Off!” protests last weekend, she did speak to a large crowd in Nashville.) But Warren has been busy in Washington. In February, when a team from Elon Musk’s DOGE gutted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (C.F.P.B.), which she was the primary figure in founding, she denounced the attack as illegal and joined a street protest by the agency’s staff. More recently, Warren has broadened her critique of Trump’s policies to encompass other areas, including trade, taxes, financial regulation, and the debilitating effect of his over-all blitzkrieg. “Chaos is its own tax on the economy,” she said to me. “No business wants to plunk down the millions of dollars it takes to build something, or assemble a team, if they don’t know what the rules will be next week, much less next year. The only consistent theme is chaos, and no one can plan against chaos.”

Warren, who has long been a leading voice on the progressive left, is part firebrand and part policy wonk. During the run-up to the great financial crisis of 2008, when she was a professor at Harvard Law School, she cautioned, in speeches and blog posts, about the dangers of financial deregulation and Wall Street greed. After becoming a senator, in 2012, she focussed on soaring inequality, and, in 2020, when she ran for President, she proposed an annual wealth tax on the top 0.01 per cent. Even before last week, when Trump announced his blanket tariffs and brought the United States to the brink of another financial crisis, Warren was warning about the dangers that Trumponomics posed, including the likelihood that it would plunge the U.S. economy into a recession. “Look, this is the dumbest financial crisis in U.S. history,” she told me in an interview on Wednesday morning, shortly before Trump did his about-face. “Unlike earlier crises caused by viruses or subprime mortgages, this is one man who woke up with a crazy idea and imposed it on the world. But the tariff crisis is layered onto other ways in which he is weakening the economy.”

On a new Substack newsletter that Warren launched on Friday, in conjunction with other Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee, she highlights some of the Trump policies that she sees as particularly pernicious, including efforts to weaken financial deregulation, Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics at key federal agencies, and the pursuit by Republicans in Congress of a highly regressive tax policy that could well force spending cuts which could rip up the social safety net. “Lights are flashing red, but it is not too late,” Warren writes. “We still have time to prevent economic calamity for American families if we act quickly.”

Since coming to office, Trump has appointed new regulators—or, rather, deregulators—at many of the nation’s oversight agencies: the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the C.F.P.B. To Warren, this is a recipe for disaster. “The lesson we should have learned from 2008 is that if the regulatory players don’t do their jobs in enforcing the laws and overseeing large financial institutions, these institutions will go for profit every time and load risk into the system,” she told me. In February and March, the shell of the C.F.P.B., where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now the acting director, dropped more than half a dozen enforcement cases. In one of them, the agency had accused the bank Capital One of cheating customers out of two billion dollars by misleading them about interest rates offered on its savings accounts. In another, it had accused three big banks—JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America—of failing to protect their customers from rampant fraud on Zelle, a payments platform in which they have ownership stakes.

In our conversation, Warren underscored that the Republican desire for tax cuts seems to know no bounds. “Even in the middle of this chaos, they are moving forward on a bill that has trillions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and billionaires, and cuts the underlying investment in working families,” she said. “That’s a terrible idea in the best of economic times, but it will be a complete disaster at a time when more American families are coming under financial stress.”

The struggle over taxes and spending seems set to dominate the legislative agenda on Capitol Hill until the end of the year. But, for the moment, Warren is focussed on Trump’s tariffs. Even though some are now lower than they were at the start of the week, they are all still very much in place. (For most goods from China, the import duty is now a hundred and forty-five per cent. Autos, auto parts, steel, and aluminum face rates of twenty-five per cent, as do many other goods from Canada and Mexico. Items from most other countries are subject to a rate of ten per cent.) The policy debate about how far the federal government should go to protect manufacturing jobs remains heated. Even as elected Democrats have lambasted Trump for panicking investors and tanking the markets, some of them, particularly in industrial states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, have joined the United Auto Workers union in expressing support for at least some of Trump’s tariffs.

When I asked Warren what stance Democrats should adopt on tariffs, she marked out a middle ground, describing them as “an important tool in the economic toolbox,” but arguing that they should be introduced only in certain situations and industries. “If you get sick, and fill your prescription in America, there’s a ninety-per-cent chance that the drug was manufactured overseas, probably in Asia, and the materials for it probably came from China,” she said. “That’s a dangerous place for our country. If we got into a back-and-forth with a couple of countries, suddenly there’s no antibiotics for heart medication.” Warren argued that the keys to employing tariffs successfully are targeting them on goods that have strategic value, using them in conjunction with other policies designed to encourage production in the United States, such as subsidies, and introducing them gradually so that businesses and investors can plan for them. This was the approach of the Biden Administration, and Warren pointed out that it is very different from what Trump is doing. “Imposing tariffs on virtually every country for virtually every product sent to the United States, at rates that seem to be randomly pulled from a bingo cage, is not a way to strengthen America’s economy,” she said. “And it is certainly not a way to attract long-term investment and good jobs to the United States.”

But with Trump and the Republicans holding power in Washington, what can the Democrats do? Warren insists that, at least when it comes to Trump’s blanket tariffs, they are far from powerless. In introducing these levies, which it falsely described as “reciprocal,” the White House invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977, which gave the President the authority to introduce broad tariffs during a national emergency. “But we are not in an emergency right now with Belgium or South Korea,” Warren pointed out. “That same law gives Congress the power to pass a resolution and say, ‘Nope. No emergency here,’ and roll back the entire tariff authority that Trump is using.”

On Thursday, as the stock markets fell again, Warren, together with her colleague Ron Wyden, of Oregon, introduced a piece of legislation that would do just that. Four Democrats and one Republican—Rand Paul, of Kentucky—joined them. With only forty-seven seats, Democrats seem unlikely to get the votes that they need for the bill to make it out of the Senate, especially now that Trump has announced his timeout. But Warren insists that bringing the legislation to the floor is still worthwhile because Republicans will be forced to vote on it. She said, “They will have to declare for everyone to see: Are they still simply Donald Trump’s suck-ups? Or are they legislators who will exercise independent judgment to protect the people and the economy of the United States?”

Warren surely knows the answer to her questions, which may explain, in part, her enthusiasm for the bill. When I spoke with her for a second time, after Trump’s reversal, she insisted that it was now more important than ever. “Trump demonstrated again that his whims will determine tariff policy for the entire world,” she said. “That will be true right up until Congress says no. Our resolution is the no.”

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ekingston · 5 months ago

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Hello! So sorry to bother, but have you had any updates on the Word-Stream/Speechify situation?

Just one: like I posted on Xitter and Bluesky last night, as of yesterday afternoon, the links to individual works as they were listed on WordStream are gone from both Google and Bing. Hurray, right? Surely we’re all sick of this whole debacle and there’s far more important things to worry about. If all is well that ends well, surely there’s no need to still be angry.

Well, I am. Here’s why:

When I checked on Wednesday, the links to my own work on WordStream were still listed. So rather than it taking a week after Cliff Weitzman first hid the fanwork from view, it took a little over a week from the moment he first promised privately that they would be deleted. Which, fine. Perhaps Cliff didn’t really know what he was talking about when he gave that timeframe. Or maybe he told a little white lie to create the impression that he always intended to do the right thing. It seems more likely to me, though, that Cliff still believed—even after the backlash he received—that he would get away with honoring only individual takedown requests. Or worse, that he needed just a little bit more time with the stolen material to figure out an alternative way to profit off it—preferably without us noticing, this time.

But who knows? I certainly don’t! All we can do is speculate, because publicly, Cliff Weitzman has remained completely silent on his copyright infringements. All we got was the initial justifications he and his sockpuppet accounts used in comments on the original Reddit and Tumblr posts. After those were so understandably ill-received, Cliff only ever communicated with a few individual authors who contacted him directly and repeatedly, blocking people who addressed the issue on Twitter and quietly distancing himself from WordStream by deleting a blog he’d posted to Speechify.com dated December 20th—where Cliff promoted WordStream’s platform specifically to fanfiction readers. (See my enormous timeline post for details and screenshots of said posts before they were taken down.)

And this is why I’m still angry: As long as Cliff Weitzman faces no real consequences for his actions, he won’t see a need to own up to his mistake; and as long as he’s able to delay taking responsibility, this isn’t over. This didn’t end well.

After all, wasn’t this the next-best scenario for Cliff, second only to him turning WordStream into a (for him) effortless, infinite money-making machine? He took something we provided for free and fed it to AI so he could more easily put it behind a paywall; we found out and protested; Cliff quietly erased all evidence of his crime; and we went—almost equally quietly—away.

I want to make sure you know that I continue to be genuinely amazed and intensely grateful for how quickly the news about WordStream’s copyright infringement was shared—and continues to be shared—throughout fandom, on tumblr in particular. If it hadn’t been for our collective outcry here and on Reddit, WordStream would very likely still be up in its original form, and Weitzman would be reaping the benefits (those subscription prices were steep) today.

But it’s been frustrating to see that, with the exception of mentions in articles on Substack and Fansplaining (the latter of which is a particularly awesome and thorough read on fandom’s decontextualization) and a Fanlore listing, our outrage never really spilled out beyond the safely insulated, out-of-the-way spaces that are tumblr, a handful of subreddits and bluesky. And I believe that—unfortunately—we are collectively responsible for that part, as well.

Most of us seemed content to only spread the word by circulating the same two posts on tumblr. (Have we all given up completely on every other social media platform? Am I the only remaining straggler?) And soon after Cliff Weitzman hid WordStream’s fanfiction category from view, our interest in the issue took a sharp dive even there. Are we genuinely deceived into believing the issue has been fully resolved? Do we truly fail to realize that Weitzman’s refusal to admit that what he did was wrong left the door wide open for the next greed-driven tech bro to wander through? Or is the true naivety in thinking that, as a community, we can keep this kind of attack on fandom from happening again? Has our disillusionment already gotten that bad?

However the situation spins out from here, Cliff’s actions will set a precedent. If we fail to show Cliff and his ilk that attempts to profit off fandom’s unpaid labor have consequences, their tech companies will keep trying until something eventually sticks. They might be a little smarter about it next time; obscure their sources a bit better, maybe leave the titles and the authors’ names off. Or maybe they’ll go a bolder route: maybe next time they cross the line they’ll do it boldly enough for IP holders to take notice and stop tolerating fanwork entirely.

Doesn’t that make you angry, too?

There’s this whole other mess of thoughts I would love to be able to untangle about how commercial influence is contributing to the steady erosion of fandom’s foundations, but I’m tired, and other people have said it all much more eloquently than I ever could. Seriously, go read that article on Fansplaining. Or listen to the podcast version of it. Better yet, as long as you’re wearing your noise-canceling headphones, go listen to a podfic of one of your favorite fandoms’ works, and enjoy the collaborative joy and creativity of the people who Cliff Weitzman refuses to believe exist. (In one of Speechify’s other blogs, Cliff claims there are only 272 podfics on AO3. Would you like to run that ChatGPT prompt again, Cliff?). Honestly, much like Cliff Weitzman’s infuriating denial of the fact that fandom fucking has this covered, thank you very much, there’s so. Many. More. Things for us to talk about. There’s the connotations of WordStream’s dubious ‘upload’ button, for instance, or the fact that the app scraped (and in some cases, allegedly, still lists) copyright-protected original fiction as well, or WordStream’s complete lack of contact information, which is illegal for an internationally operating app. And oh! Has anyone reported more thoroughly on Cliff’s app’s options to ‘simplify’ or ‘modernize’ uploaded works, or—my own very favorite abomination—to translate them into something Cliff calls ‘Gen-Z Language’? Much like his atrocious AI book covers, it would be hilarious, if it didn’t make steam come out of my ears.

Anyway, there it is. I highly recommend you do all of that. And then, if you aren’t familiar with it already, go do some research re: fair use and your rights as the copyright owner of your works. A good number of people commenting on this controversy expressed stunned surprise or fearful hesitation about claiming any sort of ownership of their fanfiction. The more informed we are about our rights, the more willing we will be to defend them.

Please don’t stop writing or sharing your work. If you can’t bring yourself to work on your WIPs today (trust me, I get it), post about this situation instead. Tweets, skeets, whateverthefucks—about WordStream’s theft, about how this reflects on Speechify’s already shady business practices, about how Cliff’s actions and justifications have personally affected you. You’re welcome to share or copy my posts on these platforms, but since Cliff already blocked me, I very much prefer you post your own. If you do, call Cliff Weitzman by his full name and tag or include both WordStream and Speechify to ensure Weitzman will recognize he has both a personal as well as a professional stake in handling the situation with integrity. Leave your concerns in reviews on the Speechify app. (We weren’t provided with a more appropriate place to put them, after all!) Consider calling for a Speechify boycott until Cliff accepts accountability for his actions.

Do avoid making exaggerated claims, and don’t call for physical retaliation against Cliff’s person or his property. We don’t want to give him or Speechify even the weakest of grounds to claim defamation or threats of violence. Focus on the facts: they’re incriminating enough by themselves. Show Cliff that we’re determined to keep bringing up his company’s wrongdoings in public spaces until he demonstrates that he understands why taking these freely shared fanworks and monetizing them was wrong, and takes steps to ensure it won’t happen again.

One last thing—and this is really more of a general reminder—please stop suggesting I handle this situation for you. People have come to me asking for action items. The resulting flashbacks to my days as an office assistant were extremely upsetting. In all seriousness, casting me as some sort of coordinator or driving force behind this backlash actively hurts the cause. Not only does it downplay fandom’s collective efforts, it also makes our message extremely vulnerable. It would be all too easy for Cliff to silence one singular source. Wikipedia will not maintain mentions of this controversy as long as it leads only to Easter Kingston’s attempt to summarize what happened as it was happening. You only know my name because I stumbled upon WordStream’s theft and decided to get my friends involved. I am not more knowledgeable, more skilled or more angrily invested in this issue than you are (or can, or should, be). I draw pictures and I write stories and I worry about the shift I’m seeing in fandom after having been on this ride for even a few pre-livejournal rounds.

I’m not going to stop doing any of those things. But I am going to allow myself to step away for a bit, make my wife dinner, and catch up on our shows.

I trust you’ve got it from here.

#word-stream #cliff weitzman #plagiarism #speechify #AO3 #writers on tumblr #fanfiction #independent authors #web scraping #fandom activism #ask me things!#(which is my ask tag please don’t send me asks about things i’ve already answered in the main post)#anonymous

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branwyn-says · 4 months ago

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I’m Branwyn. Or Brittany, depending on when and where you met me. (Cesario, if you only knew me on Livejournal. I never did get over the Shakespeare thing.)

I’m 43. I was born and raised in the south. I moved to Baltimore 10 years ago, and now I’m back south for awhile.

I don’t have a manifesto for this substack. I don’t even have set intentions, or a posting schedule, or a professional plan. I’m trying reclaim the joy I lost when I stopped writing like a normal person online and started blogging like someone trying to have a career in new media.

So many things have happened since then.

The benefit of being older now is that I’ve had a little time to process this century, and myself, and how the internet’s changed, and how we’ve changed.

I want to write about coming back to North Carolina, a place where I longed to be accepted but never felt at home, a place I fled in confusion and disappointment after I experienced homelessness and assault and found there was no safety net for me. I came back here to help my friends, and I’m finding that after all, this is my home whether I like it or not. I love Baltimore, the lessons I learned there, and the life I was making. But I spent a decade acting like the past was dead to me, and it isn’t. I always wanted to come back here: a better, stronger version of myself.

A humbling thing to know about myself, at last.

I want to write about the lessons of age and trauma and grief. I want to write about my cat, because she just died. I want to write a journal, a proper journal. Not an audience-oriented, engagement-driven, algorithm boosted…anything. Not a political blog. I live my politics; I don’t theorize about them much. But I want to write about that life, too.

Livejournal Is Dead is going to be my new home on the internet. At some point if Substack goes peak fashy I might need to rehome it. Until then, please read it, if you want. Please talk to me in the comments, if you’re so moved. Please don’t leave Yelp review style comments, or comments only meant to stir up engagement with other commenters. I’m a relic of the vintage Internet, and the old-fashioned protocols will apply here.

Since I was 17 I’ve been pouring myself in words into the internet behind a series of masks. I’ve published over 2 million words online just since 2012. Some of the better known examples include:

K'diwa: A Steamy Novel of Interspecies Romance by Jim Kirk (AO3)

The Unified Theory of Ophelia (The Toast)

the "save $500 on bread this year"(viral Twitter thread)

Amateur Oppossum Actress (meme that originated as a comment on a Tumblr post)

the story about my 12th grade English teacher enjoying Buffy the Vampire Slayer while rolling his eyes at the idea that teenagers should be hot to old men (viral Tumblr post)

embroidery art of flowers that are people

a shitty Kindle best-seller about Alexander Hamilton that I got paid $500 to write in a week

If you’ve known me awhile or just encountered me, you’re welcome. Let’s all find out where we’re going together.

(ETA the actual link)

#my blog #personal

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wonderful-prompts · 9 months ago

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I kinda need a space to ask this and my own blog might not be reachable enough, so I hope I can ask here, thank you!

I have this idea to write journal entries of my character(s) because I liked the format. Though this seemed like a better idea as a plot device to support the story, I've only been able to think of the author of the journals going insane. I wonder if anyone has ideas about alternative routes how the journals could've ended?

If anyone else wants to contribute to answering this question, have at it in the comments/reblogs!

Otherwise, here's my answer:

There's a list of stories on Wikipedia that are similar to what you're describing ("List of fictional diaries"), which can provide examples of different narratives that have other endings.

Some epistolary novels (novels written as a series of letters between the fictional characters) contain diary/journal entries, so you can look to some of those for inspiration as well. There's 100 public domain epistolary novels on Project Gutenberg (including Dracula), if you'd like to read one or a few of those to see how other writers have handled it in the past.

Dracula contains journal entries of various characters, letters between them, and even newspaper articles that cover additional incidents. It ends once Dracula is defeated.

What Manner of Man (written by Tumblr user St. John Sterling) consists of letters and journal entries from one main character's perspective. It ends once a mystery is uncovered, a significant amount of character growth happens, and a new period of that character's life begins. (This is on Substack, later to be published in its full form)

I'm going to guess that "going insane" is in the Lovecraftian sense, so the narrative would end like Herbert West—Reanimator (or several other of his stories). The narrator is forever haunted by whatever happened and knows too much about something they shouldn't. But there is also a defined end of a period of time. In this case, (spoilers for a 102-year-old serialized work) Herbert West is killed by his own unnatural creations. But that's the last straw for the unnamed narrator, who had been wary of all this to begin with.

I'd say that finding alternate routes shouldn't be as hard once you know what you want out of your story.

What genre are you writing in?

Are you sticking to that genre's conventions?

What are you trying to accomplish with this particular framing device? (Besides just enjoying the format.)

How does the story benefit from being told in this perspective?

What sort of conclusion do you want?

Is there a particular emotion you want to evoke in the readers from this conclusion?

I'm sorry if this looks more like homework than a post that can help you figure out other ways to end your story. I personally ask myself (sometimes ridiculous amount of) questions while writing in order to better accomplish what I want to accomplish and also try to make sure the conclusions are logical, so that's where I'm coming from. I'm also of the belief that research helps with writing, even if it's reading/amassing reference materials for a particular kind of fiction.

#not a prompt #lyre response #colorfulcloudbluebird #general writing advice

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saintmeghanmarkle · 1 month ago

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My first encounter with a Sugar by u/Efficient_Classic123

My first encounter with a Sugar I follow Jen Lancaster (author) on IG. She has a substack called blessthemesspod. Yesterday, on an IG post, she and her podcast partner discussed Harry's lawsuit and whether or not he should have IPP status. I commented that he has bespoke protection, and I got this reply from an obvious sugar.Me: He gets protection, but he wants what William receives 24/7. Harry gets bespoke protection depending on why he is in the country. Meghan wants the entourage of motorcycle escorts and SUVs. When I left my job, my benefits didn't follow me. No work, no perks. Sugar: but Harry& family receives death threats, people are in prison for it.Really? Wouldn't this have been released as news by MM if it were true? post link: https://ift.tt/a7bGEiq author: Efficient_Classic123 submitted: May 11, 2025 at 04:36PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

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orchidscurse · 3 months ago

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hi! loved your latest Substack post <3 I wanted to ask, do you have any advice on starting a Substack? I've been considering it for a while, but I always get hesitant about it or feel like I have nothing important to say (I have a lot of opinions on movies and literature, but communicating them in an organized way intimidates me because I regularly see such awesome thinkers on Substack). any tips you could give would be really appreciated! have a nice day :)

hello and first of all thank you for your sweet words!! i don't often get feedback/compliments (which is very much welcome btw hehe, i'm here to learn and grow!) so i appreciate it.

that being said, i am of course still looking for my voice, which is a never ending process i believe but if you want to start writing a substack/blog/newsletter etc. here are some things i do that might be able to benefit you!

do a lot of research about the topic, but only on things that are of interest to you! you might notice i don't talk a lot about, for example, camera techniques cause i don't know anything about it and atm it's not where my interests lie when writing about a film. other aspects, be it, symbolism, fun behind the scenes trivia, the set design, the wardrobe etc. read about what you want to write and form your opinion around that!

write out the topics you want to touch on within a newsletter. let's say i'm writing a piece on the doom generation, i will write down multiple aspects surrounding that film i want to touch upon: the screenplay, the dynamics between the characters, the soundtrack, the set design, the impact on queer culture. under each topic i will write notes pertaining to said subject: what comes to mind? what has the director said about it? how does it show in the film? how does it make me feel? etc.

ask someone you trust to proofread if you feel like it. my dear friend and fellow writer ra has read and given feedback on multiple pieces and provided me with new perspectives on certain topics. find other writers to talk to, read their work, let yourself be inspired.

if, like me, your first language isn't the one you write in and you can't find the words: use your mother tongue! sometimes i will write sentences using both english and dutch so i can put down the thought i wish to convey and at a later stage i will get back to that paragraph and try to translate the idea into english.

i also sometimes just write down pretty sounding words and words i didn't know the meaning of before in a list and try to incorporate them if they work in said context. i believe your writing can only grow if you also read

there's probably a bunch of things i'm forgetting to touch on now, i do hope this is not just a biiig ramble for you and there's advice in here that works for you! of course, everyone's process is unique to them - what works for me might not work for you. if you however want me to give you advice on something specific, feel free to reach out! i'm always open to sharing my thoughts but i am still growing as a writer and feel like there is a lot more that i can learn too. so if any fellow writers want to drop advice below, feel free to do so!! we can all benefit from it :-)

#also i didn't spell check sorryyy!!!#have a nice day <3

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tc-doherty · 2 years ago

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As we all know I am terrible at advertising and hate using social media. I've been considering releasing text-only chapters of my work (starting with Dragon's Daughter) for free. Naturally these chapters would be months behind what you can access on the Patreon, and don't come with any of the other benefits including the illustrations.

#writeblr #writing #I am curious about what people think #not sure about the actual legality of AO3 for this tbh

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creatonationforyou · 6 months ago

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Top 7 Chess Tactics Every Player Must Know to Outsmart Opponents

Chess isn’t just a strategy game—it’s a tactical battle. The ability to identify and execute strategic opportunities can be the difference between success and failure. If you want to level up your chess game, you need to master basic techniques.

In this blog, we will explore the top 7 chess techniques every player should know to beat their opponents Plus, discover how KingCompiler, the first chess course, can help you become tactical genius on the board.

Thanks for reading KingCompiler_For_You’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribed

1. Swan: Attacks multiple pieces at once

The swan is one of the most powerful moves in chess, where one side (usually a knight) attacks two or more opposing sides simultaneously.

Why It Works:

It forces your opponent to sacrifice a valuable piece.

It brings immediate benefits.

At KingCompiler, we show you how to identify forks and use them to control your game.

📢 Welcome to Chess Academy! 🌟 🆓 We’re offering FREE Trial Classes for all levels — beginners to advanced! 🎓 Why Choose Us? ✅ World-class coaching by experienced players and coaches ✅ Interactive online sessions with personalized attention ✅ Build critical thinking, strategy, and focus ✅ Suitable for ALL ages and skill levels 🚀 Book a Free Trial Class at: https://forms.gle/M1x5dVL5tru5QSSw5 📱 WhatsApp us at +91 9903600848 ♟️ Let the game begin!

2. Pin: Solidifying your opponent’s pieces

A pin occurs when a piece is attacked and cannot move without finding a more valuable piece behind it.

Pins for:

Absolute pin: A pinned piece cannot legally pass.

Relative Pin: A pinned block can go, but at a cost.

KingCompiler’s expert trainers help players master pins and use them to block opponents.

3. Cutthroat: Forced loss of value

The knife is the opposite side of the pin, where the more valuable piece is attacked, and once it moves, the cheaper pieces are caught behind it

Key Note: Use long-range pieces like the queen, rook and bishop to kill the skewer.

At KingCompiler, we train players to skewer real games and use them.

4. Invented Attack: Unleashing a hidden power

A detected attack occurs when moving one block exposes an attack by another block. When a revealed attack is a check, it is a made check, one of the deadliest strategies in chess.

Why It Has Power:

It poses two threats.

It often brings important material benefits.

KingCompiler teaches students how to identify opportunities for discovered attacks and exploit them effectively.

5. Back-Rank Checkmate: Use a weak king

A back row checkmate occurs when your opponent’s king is trapped behind his pawns, with no escape frame within reach.

How to avoid:

Always give your king an escape route.

At KingCompiler, we focus on learning to kill and prevent external checkmates, so you stay ahead of your opponents.

6. Double Check: The ultimate tactical weapon

Double testing occurs when two sides investigate the king at the same time. The only way is to make a king move, which is a powerful way to force your opponent into a disadvantage.

The Cause of Death:

It is impossible to prevent both temptations.

often with decisive advantages.

KingCompiler helps players master this advanced technique through guided exercises and practice games.

7. Bait: It attracts pieces of your opponent

Trickery involves sacrificing a piece or performing a deceptive tactic to trick your opponent’s pieces into a bad situation.

When to use:

To establish a decisive method (e.g., fork or skewer).

To gain positional advantage.

KingCompiler teaches players how to create effective lures and turn them into winning strategies.

Why chess strategy matters

Strategy is the backbone of chess, allowing players to create opportunities and exploit their opponents’ mistakes. Once you have mastered these techniques, you will:

Be confident in your ability to attack and defend.

Improve your math skills.

Make more victory positions.

How KingCompiler can help you discover chess strategies

At KingCompiler, we specialize in teaching players how to excel in strategy games. Here’s how we can help:

Communication Training: Learn techniques like forks, pins and skewers through practical exercises.

Expert Tutoring: Get guidance from experienced tutors who break down complex techniques into easy-to-understand concepts.

Customized courses: Whether you are a beginner or advanced, KingCompiler creates courses tailored to your level.

Practice sessions: Apply your tactical knowledge to real games with feedback from instructors.

Final Thoughts

Chess strategy is the key to defeating opponents and winning many games. By mastering these 7 top moves—forks, pins, squares, and more—you’ll take your chess skills to the next level.

With KingCompiler’s guidance, you can become a strategic powerhouse on the board. Don’t just play chess—control it.

#chess #chess tips #chess tricks #chess tips and tricks #gukesh chess #chess academy #chess class #strategy #chess strategy #brainstorming #kids #mind game

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mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog · 3 months ago

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Section 15: How to Integrate Substack with Patreon for Growth & Engagement

Summary of my Udemy Course “From Zero to Substack Hero.” Image source from the video location Purpose of this Series for New Readers If you are following this series, you can skip this intro and start from the next section. I have to introduce it to new readers as otherwise it will not make sense to them. This is a new series upon request from my readers. I recently developed a course titled…

#" "How blogs drive traffic to your Substack" "#Benefits of Patreon #Benefits of Sbustack #Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?#Education for Substack and Patreon #From zero to Substack Hero on Udemy #How to Integrate Substack with Patreon #Join From Zero to Substack Hero on YouTube for free #Patreon for freelancers #Substack and Patreaon #Substack Mastery #Subtack for Freelancers #Why to Integrate Substack with Patreon

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linkablewritingadvice · 9 months ago

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How do I make money writing fiction?

It's difficult, but possible, to be a working writer. There are a few avenues:

1.) Traditional publishing royalties

If you have written a manuscript and successfully queried an agent, they will connect you with a publisher and help you negotiate royalties and other contractual benefits. Most people who make a living writing are being traditionally published like this.

2.) Self publishing profits

If you are a prolific writer who can put out consistent, frequent work in a profitable genre niche, you can make good money in self publishing. This takes a lot of work and know-how in terms of marketing and other skills, but it is possible.

Since the success of a self publishing career relies heavily on consistent output and building an audience, some successful self-publishing "writers" are actually a shared pen name. Multiple writers with a similar style write under the same name, but only take the profits from their books.

3.) Contracted ghostwriting

If you're more focused on making money with your writing skills and less worried about accolades or a career based on your name, you can make money writing for other people based on outlines they provide. You will need to start out with a solid portfolio of sample work in the genre(s) you're selling.

You can find ghostwriting positions listed on websites like Upwork or Fiverr, and there are some companies that specifically hire ghostwriters. Always do your due diligence about any company you get involved in, and make sure you're not taking underpaid gigs.

4.) Commissioned work

If you are able and willing to write erotica and fetish content, you can find lucrative commission opportunities. People will hire you to write a customized story based on whatever they want, and since there is a taboo around this, they are often willing to pay a premium.

It can be complicated to try and market or monetize this sort of content given the current state of internet regulations. You'll need to find the websites and forums where people who sell and buy this sort of work are currently hanging out.

5.) Serialized subscriptions

If you are able to build an audience that wants to read your work, and you're good at putting out consistent work with great cliffhangers, you can get people to sign up for a paid subscription to your work on a platform like Patreon, Substack, or Wattpad.

This is very difficult to do, and requires a lot of skill and discipline around output, marketing, lead magnets, etc.

Note: this all applies only to longform fiction, like novels. There is almost no money in things like poetry and short stories. Even if you were to win lots of contests or get published in paying journals, it is nearly impossible to make a living on things like that.

Check this list or this one for writing contests with cash prizes.

Check this list or this one for literary magazines that pay.

If you are a talented writer who just needs cash, there are lots of other ways to make money writing in the nonfiction sphere, from grant writing to technical writing to blog and SEO content.

#working writer #writer #writing #publishing #advice

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grandhotelabyss · 1 year ago

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What are the benefits of using substack compared to other blogging/social media sites? Just the possibility of monetization or something else too like the potential audience or the feeling of it being more "propper and official"?

I don't want to be crass, but the possibility of monetization Substack offers is considerable compared to everything except maybe OnlyFans (I wouldn't know!). I wrote on Wordpress for a decade and by the end was making about $100 per year from ads and the (very) occasional PayPal donation. I've been on Substack for two years, and it's now covering over a third of my annual rent. This the first time in my life I've ever made anything like real money from writing. Do you know how hard it is to make real money from writing in America?

Speaking of Wordpress, I think the changes they made a few years ago to their interface is an under-discussed factor in the rise of Substack. They switched over to something called "block editing," which has proved in my experience to be very non-intuitive and distracting. I ended up having to write all my posts in HTML. Substack's interface is much smoother: essentially what you see in the drafting process is exactly what you get in the final post. They also make it easy to add media, from audio to visuals to pdfs, and I think they do video now too.

The built-in audience is definitely attractive. I will admit it can also be a trap. I like the political heterogeneity, now that everybody is on there, from Roxane Gay to Slavoj Žižek to Curtis Yarvin, but the center of gravity still feels kind of "centrist" and, for lack of a better term, "middle-aged," as in, "people who outgrew their youthful folly and became moderate liberals." (Maybe I'm just in denial that this is also what's happened to me.) Still, if you let this kind of moderation seep too much into literary writing it creates a complacency and self-congratulation that is the enemy of art's necessary vigor.

My own Substack audience appears to be ideologically mixed in the extreme. (I can tell because I see what people who subscribe to me also subscribe to.) This is a proof of my own theory that art and literature can unite the polis when politics cannot. But it's also unsettling, since it sometimes causes me to have to battle the left, the right, and the center all at once in my head when I'm trying to write something.

Aside from the money, the ease of composition, and the post-woke politics, though, what Substack really offers, especially to writers of a certain age, is a paradisal restoration of the pre-social-media internet, the circa-2005 internet of blogging, a kind of neo-Enlightenment coffee-house culture of the digital, when it seemed like this medium of communication was going to augment and extend serious literacy rather than obliterating it in a haze of 30-second ephemera.

I don't know if that answers your question, but those are my thoughts on Substack!

#substack

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skygola · 14 days ago

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Online Publishing Platforms for Digital Publishers: Empowering the Future of Content Creation

In the age of digital transformation, content creation and distribution have seen a revolutionary shift. Online publishing platforms for digital publishers now serve as the backbone of modern content strategy—offering tools, analytics, design flexibility, and distribution channels that enable creators to publish and monetize their work globally. Whether you're a blogger, magazine editor, author, or corporate content manager, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your reach and success.

What Are Online Publishing Platforms?

Online publishing platforms are web-based tools that allow digital publishers to create, format, and distribute content such as articles, blogs, eBooks, whitepapers, newsletters, and digital magazines. These platforms often come equipped with content management systems (CMS), design templates, monetization options, and audience engagement tools.

Benefits of Online Publishing Platforms for Digital Publishers

Ease of Use

No advanced technical knowledge required—publish content with drag-and-drop editors and customizable templates.

Global Reach

Instantly reach international readers with SEO-optimized content and multi-device accessibility.

Cost-Effective Distribution

Eliminate printing and distribution costs by publishing entirely online.

Monetization Opportunities

Platforms offer revenue-generating tools like subscriptions, ads, affiliate links, and e-commerce integration.

Real-Time Analytics

Track user engagement, content performance, and reader behavior to refine your content strategy.

Popular Online Publishing Platforms for Digital Publishers

WordPress

Most widely used CMS for blogs, news portals, and niche websites.

Offers thousands of plugins and themes for customization.

Medium

Best for writers and thought leaders who want exposure without worrying about site management.

Built-in audience and sleek reading experience.

Issuu

Ideal for digital magazines, catalogs, brochures, and flipbooks.

Visually rich interface and sharing tools.

Substack

Perfect for newsletter-based publishing.

Enables direct monetization through paid subscriptions.

Ghost

A minimalist, open-source platform built for publishers and journalists.

Focuses on performance and independent monetization.

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite

Enterprise-level publishing for brands, magazines, and corporate publications.

Offers interactive elements and mobile app integration.

MagLoft

A mobile-first digital publishing platform for magazines and eBooks.

Provides white-label apps and in-app purchases.

Features to Look for in an Online Publishing Platform

Content Editor: Easy-to-use text and image editors.

Customization Options: Themes, branding, and design freedom.

SEO Tools: Built-in search optimization features.

Responsive Design: Automatically adapts to all screen sizes.

Social Sharing: Integration with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Audience Engagement Tools: Comments, likes, email lists, and push notifications.

Data Security & Backup: Protection against data loss and cyber threats.

Use Cases for Digital Publishers

Independent Authors: Publish and sell eBooks directly.

Corporate Publishers: Share whitepapers, research, and industry updates.

Media Outlets: Launch and manage full-fledged digital magazines or newspapers.

Educators & Trainers: Deliver course materials and educational resources.

Marketing Teams: Publish branded content and newsletters to drive leads.

Conclusion

As digital consumption continues to rise, the importance of using effective Online publishing platforms for digital publishers cannot be overstated. The right platform allows you to publish faster, reach wider, and monetize smarter. Whether you're starting a new blog, launching a digital magazine, or building a content hub for your business, there's a platform tailored to your needs.

#Online publishing platforms for digital publishers

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jamesh2025smith · 22 days ago

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An Article a Day Keeps the 9–5 Away

For decades, the traditional 9–5 job has been the standard model for earning a living. The rhythm of waking early, commuting to the office, and working under someone else’s schedule has defined professional life for millions. However, in recent years, a quiet revolution has been taking place—one article at a time. More individuals are discovering that consistent content creation, particularly writing articles, can open doors to financial freedom, flexibility, and a life outside the rigid 9–5 construct.

The Rise of the Digital Creator Economy

The internet has democratized access to audiences. Today, anyone with a voice, perspective, or skill can reach a global readership. Whether you’re an expert in personal finance, a travel enthusiast, or a niche hobbyist, there’s an audience out there waiting to read what you have to say.

Platforms like Medium, Substack, LinkedIn, and even personal blogs have become powerful outlets for writers. What was once a hobby or side gig has now become a full-time career for many. Writers are monetizing their words through ad revenue, paid subscriptions, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and even by leveraging their writing to land freelance gigs and consulting opportunities.

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Freedom

For many, writing begins as a passion project—an after-hours endeavor fueled by curiosity or a need for creative expression. However, the potential for growth is enormous. The secret lies in consistency. Writing one article a day might sound ambitious, but it’s a manageable and incredibly effective strategy for building a body of work, developing authority in your niche, and building a loyal audience.

Consider this: writing one article per day results in 30 articles per month—360 per year. Imagine the compounding impact of that much content. Even if only a fraction of those articles gain traction, they can continue generating passive income or lead readers to your paid offerings long after they’re published.

The Power of Compounding Content

Just like compound interest in investing, content compounds over time. Each article acts like a digital seed, capable of growing into an evergreen resource that brings in traffic, leads, and revenue.

Here's how compounding works in the content world:

SEO Benefits: With each new article, you increase your chances of ranking for more keywords in search engines. This means more organic traffic over time.

Interlinking Opportunities: More content allows you to reference and link between your own articles, keeping readers engaged on your site or platform.

Authority Building: Consistent publishing signals expertise. The more content you produce around a topic, the more readers—and even search engines—begin to see you as a trusted source.

Monetization Opportunities: As your traffic and readership grow, so do your options for monetization. You can incorporate ads, offer digital products, promote affiliate products, or even launch paid newsletters or memberships.

Real-Life Success Stories

Many creators have already proven the power of this strategy. Take, for example, Nicolas Cole, who started writing on Quora and Medium, publishing articles daily. His consistency and unique voice led to a massive online following and eventually a successful ghostwriting business.

Or consider Ali Abdaal, a former doctor who started blogging and creating content while working his 9–5. Today, he earns millions through digital products, courses, and sponsorships—all catalyzed by consistently publishing content.

These individuals didn’t wait for perfection. They simply committed to publishing regularly and refined their craft along the way.

Skills That Grow With You

Writing articles isn't just about publishing words—it's a skill that sharpens over time and feeds into multiple other domains. As you write consistently, you improve in:

Communication: Clear, persuasive writing translates to better sales copy, pitch emails, and marketing materials.

Critical Thinking: Articulating ideas forces you to analyze, synthesize, and structure thoughts clearly.

Research: Every article you write teaches you something new, broadening your expertise.

Self-Discipline: Writing daily builds consistency and focus, two essential traits for any successful entrepreneur or creator.

Monetization Pathways

You don’t need millions of followers to start making money from writing. Here are a few monetization methods that work even for smaller audiences:

Freelance Writing: Use your articles as a portfolio to land freelance gigs.

Affiliate Marketing: Recommend products or services in your articles and earn a commission on sales.

Email Newsletters: Build an email list and create exclusive content for subscribers, free or paid.

Online Courses & Digital Products: Package your expertise into eBooks, templates, or courses.

Consulting & Coaching: Position yourself as a thought leader and offer one-on-one services.

Overcoming the 9–5 Mentality

Transitioning from a 9–5 job to a more independent, creative path can be daunting. Many are conditioned to believe that security comes from a paycheck. But in truth, the digital world offers more stability than ever—when you own your platform, your audience, and your income streams, you’re not dependent on one employer or one paycheck.

Of course, this journey requires discipline. Writing one article a day isn’t always easy. Some days you’ll be uninspired, tired, or busy. But the discipline of showing up and publishing anyway is what separates hobbyists from professionals.

Practical Tips to Get Started

Choose a Niche: Focus on a subject you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in.

Set a Schedule: Dedicate time each day to write—whether it’s morning, lunch break, or evening.

Use Templates: Create article structures to speed up your writing process.

Batch Ideas: Maintain an idea bank so you’re never stuck wondering what to write about.

Repurpose Content: Turn blog posts into social media threads, email newsletters, or videos.

Track Progress: Measure traffic, engagement, and income over time to see what’s working.

Final Thoughts: A New Path to Freedom

The idea that “an article a day keeps the 9–5 away” isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s a blueprint for a new kind of professional freedom. One that’s powered by ideas, fueled by consistency, and made possible by the internet.

You don’t need to be a bestselling author to make a living from writing. All you need is a voice, a message, and the courage to hit publish—every single day. Over time, you’ll build not just an audience, but a career and life on your own terms.

So start today. Write that first article. And then do it again tomorrow. Your future self—free from the cubicle, the commute, and the calendar—will thank you.

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negiseogaurav · 27 days ago

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Top Blog Submission Site List in 2025 to Boost Your SEO and Traffic

Blog submission is a powerful off-page SEO technique to gain backlinks, improve visibility, and drive traffic. Here's a direct list of the best blog submission sites for 2025:

What is Blog Submission?

Blog submission involves sharing your blog posts on various third-party platforms, directories, or communities. The goal is to increase the visibility of your content, gain backlinks, and attract traffic from readers who browse these platforms for new and useful content.

Benefits of Blog Submission

Increases website traffic

Builds high-quality backlinks

Enhances search engine rankings

Boosts brand awareness and authority

Drives targeted niche audiences to your site

Top Blog Submission Sites List in 2025

Here are some of the best blog submission platforms you should consider in 2025:

Medium – DA 96 A popular blogging platform with a massive readership, ideal for long-form content and thought leadership.

Blogger (Blogspot) – DA 100 Google’s own platform. Easy to set up and beneficial for SEO as it's directly linked with Google indexing.

WordPress.com – DA 92 Offers free blogging options with built-in SEO tools and access to a large community.

Tumblr – DA 86 Great for visual and microblog content; supports easy re-sharing and social engagement.

LinkedIn Articles – DA 99 Professional platform for sharing blogs with industry experts, marketers, and business professionals.

Ghost – DA 82 Minimalistic and performance-oriented blogging platform ideal for serious writers and content publishers.

Substack – DA 81 Perfect for turning blogs into email newsletters and monetizing your content.

Blogarama – DA 61 A reliable directory where you can list your blog and reach niche-specific readers.

BlogEngage – DA 63 A blog submission community that allows content sharing, voting, and engagement with fellow bloggers.

AllTop – DA 70 Curates the best content from top blogs in every category, giving your content extra exposure.

Get 250+ Blog Submission Sites With High DA, PA

Tips to Maximize Blog Submission Results

Customize Titles & Descriptions: Avoid generic summaries; tailor them for each platform.

Include Keywords: Ensure your titles and descriptions include relevant keywords.

Add Images: Visuals can significantly improve click-through rates.

Be Consistent: Make blog submission a part of your monthly content promotion strategy.

Track Results: Use tools like Google Analytics or UTM tracking to see which platforms perform best.

Final Note

Use these top blog submission sites to maximize your blog’s reach in 2025. Submitting your blogs on high-authority platforms not only helps with SEO but also boosts credibility and traffic. Start now and build strong backlinks for long-term results.

#Blog Submission Sites #List of Blog Submission SItes #Blog Submission Sites 2025

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