#How to grow your substack newsletters | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

larissa-the-scribe · 5 months ago

Note

Hey! I'm looking into potentially starting a newsletter for writing related stuff, do you have any advice on where to start?

Yeah, for sure!

So, I'll be dividing this response into several parts: the technical details, the content details, and the growing details. (disclaimer that I am by no means an expert, this is just stuff I've learned and/or observed and/or heard about)

Also sorry this is so long adfasdasdadfa it kept building on itself

The important thing throughout, though, is to have fun and be yourself. I'm only partially joking.

Technical details:

So what program do you use? How and why? Personally, my criteria for this was pretty simple: what was the cheapest but still functional option, and/or what option offered the best features for free (without being overcomplicated)?

The answer to this will vary depending on what you want to do. For example, Substack, from what I know, seems good; it's free, simple, straightforward. However, I wanted extra features that Substack didn't provide (automation sequences,* landing pages, etc), and so for me the best fit was Mailerlite. As far as I know, it's the only free option that offers automation, and besides that it seems like it has all the features I'd need. No need to pay until 1,000 subscribers, and after that it's still one of the cheaper options.

Some other possibilities include Mailchimp (though their pricing system can get a bit wonky), Brevo, Sendpulse, ConvertKit, HubSpot and like a gazillion others.

Basically, figure out what features you need/want, and go from there, but personally I'd recommend MailerLite. It can be a bit clunky at times, but overall I've found it more intuitive than Mailchimp, and it has a handy assortment of free features.

Honorable mention: Canva is a free service for graphic design, and that can be helpful for setting up any backgrounds or banners you might need.

*["automation sequence" refers to emails you can set up to send automatically without you needing to do extra manual work. For example, if someone signs up for your newsletter, you can set that up as the "trigger" for a sequence of emails that will deliver a freebie to the new subscriber, give them information, welcome them, etc, without you having to remember to do it every time someone new shows up].

Content details:

One of the other big questions that you'll have to answer for a newsletter is 'what am I going to be talking about for the next forever?'

An idea of how to start brainstorming is to sketch out broad categories, and then once you figure those out, see how many related ideas you can list out for each category (say, if you want to write about book publishing, how many topics or details can you cover?). If you can't list more than like 10-15 ideas for a shortish "post" off the top of your head, you may want to look at a different category.

Also, one of the best ways to answer this question is by asking the follow-up question of "what do I want to talk about for the next forever?" If you don't like writing about a topic, it's going to be an absolute chore, and the less you like doing something, the more of a drain that will be on your time and mental resources. And it will be harder to think of things to talk about. Don't worry about what you should write. That's a trap and only helpful in select cases.

So, what can you talk about and what do you want to talk about?

If that's still a lot of topics, you can ask people for their opinions on what they'd most be interested in hearing about, and in general asking 'the audience' for questions can also be a good way to find content ideas.

You'll also want to find a way to talk about your books regularly, too, since you're trying to cultivate an audience that will enjoy the stories you tell. That can be sharing snippets, updates, or even just talking a lot about similar types of books and have a line at the end of "if you liked--" etc.

What I do is I have three categories: 'updates', 'recommendations', and 'content'. Updates is behind-the-scenes stuff of the progress I've made on my creative projects (and a personal touch of things from my non-work life); recommendations is all about other peoples' books, with reviews, collaborations, and such; and content is a serial story I kinda designed for the email format (semi-inspired by podcast stories). I like talking about my projects (and that also makes the audience aware of and invested in my projects), I like reading and talking about books, and I like writing stories and am fairly fast at writing individual scenes. All three of my chosen categories are things I like to do with a lot of options for content, and that makes it easier to work on it regularly.

A lot of marketing-type people will also bring up that what you're sharing needs to 'bring value' to the audience, so that people will want to open your email; but that's really broad, and the 'value' you bring can just be... entertainment. It can be fun to hear someone talk about something they like (or dislike, depending). So like, it's a consideration (you don't want to just be saying "buy my book" over and over again, you want to be giving back to people), but also it is not that deep.

Also! Don't be afraid to talk about stuff you're 'selling'. As long as that's not most of what you ever talk about, people normally don't mind--and also, how else will they know.

Also also: You will want to figure out an upload schedule that you can stick to. Typically, you want to find the sweet spot between 'regular enough that those who signed up don't forget you exist and unsubscribe because they can't remember who you are' and 'spamming.' That can be anything from once a week to once a month. Conventional wisdom states that you don't want to go longer than a month without sending an email, but there can be exceptions.

Addition to the schedule idea: I've found it helpful to figure out a consistent routine so I'm working on my newsletter regularly, and don't have to panic-write an email the night before sending out. I try to work on my next email for 10-15 minutes a day as kind of my warm up for other writing stuff. Sometimes I really need that time every day, sometimes the consistent schedule means I finish early and don't have to worry about the next email for a bit. You could also try dedicating a day a week to focusing on the email versus your story, etc. Basically, play around with it until you can fit it into your schedule in a way that works for you.

[DISCLAIMER: I have a "category three" content system with more or less weekly updates, and I landed on that because I am an over-achiever who can't make up my mind on a thing to focus on. You do not have to make my mistakes. You can just focus on One Thing and do it like every two weeks or something. That would probably be a good idea for starting out]

Growing details:

Then..... the other hard part (on top of the other hard parts lol). You have a newsletter now. How do you get people to join and follow you?

Well, some sites/services make it easier. For example, currently I'm with StoryOrigin, which is a service that allows you to do newsletter swaps with other authors (they promote your book, you promote their book, etc). This does require you to have some kind of "reader magnet," though--that could be a paid one, like your book, but those can be harder to find swaps/followers for, etc. Another similar platform is Bookfunnel, I think, though I don't know much about them (I did research once upon a time but that was Ages ago and I have ADHD lol)

[Disclaimer: I linked to both, but the link for StoryOrigin is an affiliate link, which just means I get something if you go with them. But I do legitimately recommend them]

The downside to both of those is that they are paid. StoryOrigin is 100$ a year, and Bookfunnel is 20-250$ a year. Bookfunnel has a more tiered system, and StoryOrigin has one price and you get everything.

Now, you might find that to be a worthwhile expense, but it is nonetheless an expense. It also isn't a magic way to get your book promoted; sorting through the different groups and swaps takes time, and it takes even more time if you do what I do and try and read anything you swap with (you don't have to do that, and most people don't; you can usually get by with some quick research), but I have chronic "what if I recommended the worst thing ever" disease, so.

However, while SO doesn't magically solve your problems, it does offer steady growth. I only properly started using their services in September, and I'm up to 215 subscribers. I'm also taking it fairly slow; I keep a tighter limit on my swaps (I don't want to spam readers with options, since I make a larger space to talk about the swaps), but I know other authors do like five swaps/groups at a time (basically just sharing the cover), and that can make you grow a lot faster. It kind of is what you make of it, but also it's still going to take patience and effort.

Other methods of growing your newsletter subscriber count: growing a following on social media and hoping that translates with landing pages and promotion and the like; directly contacting other authors you might know to do a swap; doing guest appearances on podcasts or blogs etc to get yourself better known; and most of all, be very patient, and be willing to make mistakes until you get good (those last are for any form of newsletter growth, tbh). I've, uh, only ever done the one way, so this part isn't as good as it could be.

NOTE: Feel free to experiment. You might not get it right the first time. You might need to drastically change your content to something you enjoy more, if you find out that your idea didn't work as well as you'd hoped. That's okay! Now's the time to learn and figure out, when you still have a small audience. Also, I've found that as long as you communicate with people, they tend to be pretty forgiving.

OTHER NOTE: While newsletters typically have a higher "return on investment" than regular social media, you're still going to be dealing with less numbers than you might think. For example, a good, healthy mailing list will have like 60% of people actually opening the email; more often it's about 50%. That doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong (actually it means you're doing well), it just means that the further you expand, the more you're going to get normal people who forget to open emails.

Other things to consider:

What email are you going to use for email list?

Typically, it's recommended that, if possible, you try and get a domain name email (connected to a website), because that will make it seem more legitimate and help it get through peoples' spam filters. Using something like gmail, since it's so easy to get an email from them, is associated with spam and as such it might have a higher rate of being blocked/flagged as spam. Getting a domain name email is a whole other can of worms, but it is something that should be considered. You can also start with gmail and then switch later once you have a more stable platform, but switching things like that can be difficult/a pain depending on what all is going on.

(also I think MailerLite requires you to have a domain name email?? I can't remember. But that it is another thing to consider when looking for an email provider)

Reader magnet?

This would probably go in the "growth" section, but basically--what extra incentive/reason do you have for people to sign up to your letter? That can be a short story or a guide or a piece of art or whatever, but it is helpful to have something to pique peoples' curiosity. Also, it's a good way to present what you have to offer in terms of setting their expectations for type of story, quality of writing/content, your knowledge of a subject, etc. And you tend to get more subscribers this way than if you don't have anything to share upfront.

YouTube:

Mailing List Research is a playlist of all the videos I looked at when researching. There are. a lot of them with varying degrees of quality and helpfulness, and it's a pretty messy overall. But there's some helpful stuff in there on a variety of mailing list topics. I was going to pick out the best ones but unfortunately I can't remember which those were. I think I removed the worst ones, though.

Podcast suggestion:

For marketing in general (and Instragram), it might be worth checking out Book Marketing Simplified (by Jenn Hanson-dePaula). She covers a variety of topics, and since she basically has a few core principles that she keeps coming back to, it can get repetitive after a while, but she's a good starting place. She has some episodes on email marketing and ideas for doing that.

Joanna Penn is another podcaster people talk a lot about, but the few episodes of hers I listened to were pretty supportive of AI so I got miffed asdfasdfas I should probably give her another go because I still have a lot to learn about everything, but I might go back to some of her older ones, pre-AI, if I do lol

If you'd want more resources, I could go digging more, but a lot of what I've used to learn has gotten scattered over the years, or is like a single episode from a longer podcast series, etc.

#thanks for the ask!#hopefully some part of this was helpful asdfasdfas I can never tell what people do or don't know etc etc #go forth and prosper #writing advice #marketing advice #newsletters #indie authors #salt and light #writerblr

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mooglebunny · 8 months ago

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why I keep thinking about 2006

(from my Substack newsletter, Molly's Love Letter)

Someone once said that being 10 years old is the peak of our lives, that it doesn’t get better than that. I can’t remember who said this—Darren Aronofsky? Truman Capote?—but I have found there is some real truth to it. I tried to look it up and couldn’t find it, but I did find this relevant Capote quote:

“Past certain ages or certain wisdoms it is very difficult to look with wonder; it is best done when one is a child; after that, and if you are lucky, you will find a bridge to childhood and walk across it.”

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. This runaway train of thought was fueled in part by The Artist’s Way: Week 3, which asked me to note my favorite childhood toy (dolls), game (dress-up, monkey bars), and foods (Walker’s prawn cocktail crisps and paté sandwiches (?!)). And then there were my artist’s dates spent reading old issues of Teen Vogue and remembering not only cultural trivia, but also certain cultural—and personal—moods.

When I was 10, I was in 6th grade. The year was 2006. I spent my evenings rooting for Paris Bennett on American Idol and then trying to get Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” out of my head. There was also “Promiscuous” and “SexyBack,” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” and the premieres of Hannah Montana and Ugly Betty…

This month, to harness my tweenage nostalgia, I rewatched a 2007 episode of Gossip Girl and listened to 2006 Britpop and Ameripop albums like Lily Allen’s Alright, Still and Fergie’s The Duchess. Each of these cultural artifacts was like a portal into a world I had not truly thought about for at least a decade.

As I dug into all these sentimental pieces of media, I started thinking more about who I was when I was younger—someone free-spirited, enthusiastic, imaginative, goofy, eccentric, whimsical. Someone who wrote freely on my garage-sale typewriter about orphans and spies and talking cows and overweight cats doing ballet. I didn’t overthink or question my writing or compare it to that of Joan Didion or even think about other people reading it at all. I was in my own little world, playing, for the joy of it.

Cut to a decade later: After taking a semester-long writing workshop in Chicago at age 19, I stopped writing fiction. Since then, another decade has passed—one spent writing primarily for other people, lifestyle features for medical websites and branded content for luxury liquor labels.

More and more throughout this decade, I have been wondering why I’ve had creative-writer’s block for 10-plus years, when I used to spend hours a day playing make-believe through my writing. While thinking about this recently, I thought about how I had gone through puberty and internalized a narrow idea of who I “should” be in order to be “cool” or attractive. I realized there was some truthful connection between the loss of my childhood creativity and my adolescent foray into the world of hormones and vodka and boys and Skins. As I moved into my teens, writing weird, whimsical stories—or made-up stories at all—started to seem childish to me, or delusional somehow. I found myself spending less time in my vivid imagination and more in my (self-)conscious mind. This self-consciousness stifled my ability to play.

Not to get all Peter Pan Syndrome and start rambling about the Good Old Days and how “when you grow up you lose your wings” or whatever—referencing, of course, these quotes from J.M. Barrie’s Victorian-era plays and novels:

“Why can’t you fly now, Mother?” “Because I am grown up, dearest. When people grow up they forget the way.” “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”

It’s just that, as someone who prides myself on my elephantine memory, I was alarmed by how much of the stuff I used to wholeheartedly love I hadn’t given much thought to in almost two decades. And the reason I hadn’t thought about it was because somewhere along the way I deemed it “uncool,” or else not in alignment with a certain identity I had created for myself. Said identity may have been more digestible to whatever dude I was crushing on or dating at the time or to strangers on social media or to my own ego, but it was a dilution and a flattening and a boxing-in of who I was. I denied myself the complexity of being a full human being who can love both Ariana Grande and Tom Waits, both Gossip Girl and Twin Peaks, both Teen Vogue and Tolstoy.

The result of this self-denial was that it not only obscured my true self from the people around me, but it obscured me from myself. I think that’s what growing up can do to a lot of us: We start trying to define and explain and justify ourselves to the world. We start to compartmentalize things, to label them as “babyish” or “basic” or “nerdy” or “girly” or whatever else. This hides parts of us in the shadows, and keeps us from being free and expressive and whole.The Olsen twins: Style icons then and now.

Sure, 2006 wasn’t a wholly wholesome time. Toxic trends (Perez Hilton, fat shaming) ran rampant. But the Internet had a simpler and less central role in the culture then: Facebook wasn’t made available to the public until that September; iPhones weren’t launched until the following June; and YouTube revolved—at least in my own consciousness—around silly videos like Charlie the Unicorn, Fred Figglehorn, and “Shoes. Oh my God, shoes.” Today, most of the content I see on YouTube comes from lifestyle vloggers pushing products or podcasters preaching self-optimization strategies. Teen Vogue has gone digital and political. Hyper-“connection” has made us more individualistic and censorious as a society. Culture, not just age, has made the world feel heavier.Blake Lively and Leighton Meester in Gossip Girl (2007)

So why am I thinking about that time so much? Why am I watching The O.C. and reading back issues of Teen Vogue and listening to tracks produced by Timbaland? It’s because doing so reminds me in small but mighty ways of who I was—who I am—beyond any self-consciousness about projecting a certain curated, “correct,” and clear-cut image to the world. It’s fun to look back and feel 10 years old again. It reclaims the parts of me I had rejected for being too corny or cheesy or geeky or goofy. It builds that bridge Capote wrote about, the one back to childlike wonder and creativity.

A lot has changed within and around me since 2006. And one day I’m sure I’ll be looking back at 2024 through this same wistful, rosy haze. But today, I look at and listen to these cultural relics with the same ears and eyes I did 18 years ago, and I am reminded what it felt like to be free, to express rather than impress, to explore and play with wonder and delight. Thinking about 2006 reminds me how to fly. ♡

(from my Substack newsletter, Molly's Love Letter)

#2006 #Y2K #nostalgia #2007 #Gossip Girl #Olsen twins #Peter Pan #The Artist's Way #Teen Vogue #personal #rookiemag #rookie mag #personal essay

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therumpus · 8 months ago

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Mini Interview with Jami Attenberg

By Denise S. Robbins

Jami Attenberg’s A Reason to See You Again (Ecco Press, 2024) is funny and quick-moving with a strong emotional core that explores what it really means to be family, through thick and thin. The novel revolves around the complicated family dynamics of a mother and her two daughters as they grow up and live through the cultural and technological changes throughout the 20th century, moving deftly between the thoughts of the characters in surprising ways. It’s wide-ranging, delving into various women’s relationships with work—or the absence of it.

When she’s not writing books, she manages the highly popular Substack newsletter Craft Talk and its yearly challenge, “one thousand words of summer,” where she motivates thousands of subscribers to write a thousand words a day for ten days straight.

We spoke over Zoom about her writing process and how this latest book fits in with her life’s work.

***

The Rumpus: A Reason to See You Again is your tenth published book. That’s a lot of books! Is there something you're trying to accomplish that you haven't in your earlier works?

Jami Attenberg: I wanted the book to cover more time. My last few novels were much more compact. Then when I wrote my memoir, I enjoyed how it spanned so many years and so many cities. It gave the story the chance to breathe. So, I wanted to apply that to the novel. I was also interested in having family members be separate from each other as opposed to being intimate and involved in each other’s lives. They were more spread out and spaced out. It’s also possible this desire to span more time and space came as a response to that particular claustrophobic feeling I had in the pandemic.

Rumpus: What seeded the idea behind this novel?

Attenberg: I actually wrote about this in my newsletter [Craft Talk]. During the pandemic, I was looking at a lot of vintage clothes on Etsy and kept seeing these white puffy shirts. I started thinking about a woman wearing it and being somebody's cool aunt. Generally, characters show me the way into a book. And so, the cool aunt, Shelly Cohen, was the first character for me. I pictured her at a kitchen counter in the suburbs talking to her family, with all of them leading different lives, interested in each other but also always a little annoyed with each other.

Rumpus: Does that dynamic have any resemblance to reality? How much of yourself is in this book and these characters and their relationships?

Attenberg: None of these characters are like anybody that I know, really. But they’re adjacent to people I know. They feel like they live in a neighborhood I’ve lived in before. Or maybe they’re a third cousin. Someone you met once and feels familiar, even if you can’t say exactly who they are.

Rumpus: How do you find the central core of a story with multiple main characters? What are they all hovering around?

Attenberg: The way time moves forward in this book is the core, and how the characters are impacted by time. Time is both the structure and the thrust. For example, the way they communicate at the beginning of the book has changed by the end of it, often expressed in terms of technological advancements. And those kinds of changes are ones that can only emerge specifically over the passage of years or decades of time.

Rumpus: So, technology changes relationships in this book. But you could say it just provides your main characters with new ways of ignoring each other.

Attenberg: There’s one scene near the end of the book where two characters are driving in a car and a third one calls them on a cellphone. And they really don’t want to talk to this person, but there’s no way of ultimately avoiding it: we live in an era where you can track people’s locations all the time. It’s vastly different than earlier in the book, when it’s Nancy’s twenty-first birthday and she desperately wants to talk to her family, and she has to leave her house, walk down to the corner payphone, put money in it to make a long-distance call, and hope that somebody's there and picks up at this specific moment in time. In a way that phone call is so much more meaningful. But their communication still has meaning at the end of the book, when they finally do break through to each other.

Rumpus: A lot of important life events in this story aren’t actually in the book but are referenced offscreen or obliquely. How did you decide what to put in the story versus what to reference offscreen?

Attenberg: These people are not confrontational until it’s too late. They’re trying to figure out how to exist with a problem without actually dealing with it. So, these things feel far away to the reader because they feel far away to the characters. They don’t like dealing with things head on. But there are still feelings that are very much present.

These things trigger other issues down the line, though. If you don’t deal with something in the moment, eventually it’s still going to show up. One of my characters doesn’t tell another character something very important, and when the other finds out, she is furious with her. It impacts their relationship forever. By choosing to avoid conflict, she created another conflict in the process. And a lie by omission is still a lie, and that’s certainly a plot point.

Rumpus: I also wanted to highlight one particular line: “He thought it would be easier to explain themselves to the world if they lived in the same place, when actually they only had to explain themselves to themselves and no one else.” It feels like the heart of this story.

Attenberg: I wouldn’t say that line is the heart of the book, but it’s a touchstone line, one I hope people highlight on their Kindles, ha. The characters in this novel grew up during a certain time and place where they felt like there was a path for them with specific milestones they had to achieve to please the world in a certain kind of way. I think most people understand now that we don’t have to stay on that conventional path, that we don’t have to abide by anyone else’s rules. I think the characters in the book are happiest when they figure that out. Even if it takes a long time.

Rumpus: On top of writing novels, you also run Craft Talk and the yearly “one thousand words of summer” challenge, with daily letters of encouragement from various authors. Does this community enliven your own novel writing?

Attenberg: It keeps me on track. And every year there’s a letter from one of the contributing writers that hits the right chord and comes at the right time. That’s the beauty of these letters of writing advice. You never know when you’re going to need it. This year, that letter came from Jennine Capó Crucet. It was about writing from a place where you know you can throw it all away. So that’s what I did. I gave myself permission to just write something I could throw away. Then I loved everything I wrote, and now I’ve written thirty thousand words this summer, the new beginning of the book, and it's great. I definitely feel the accountability. Every year. We're doing it together. It's equalizing.

Rumpus: Even somebody who's written ten books needs that accountability sometimes.

Attenberg: People need it, and it works. It really works. But also, you don't need it. We can write all the time on our own. But during one thousand words of summer, it feels like a friend is there with me.

Rumpus: So, you’re working on another novel now. How many more novels do you have inside you?

Attenberg: I’m not planning to stop writing. Will my next novels get published? Who knows. Does it matter? Probably not. How many books do I have in me? A million. I’m in my fifties now. I’ve slowed down a bit but know more of what I want and can look back at what I’ve done. And I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

#lit #interviews #the rumpus #writeblr #creative writing

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atinylittlepain · 1 year ago

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a tiny little announcement

Some of you may remember my brief foray into substacking last fall - well, she's gotten a facelift, and some time to re-imagine what a newsletter could look like without being soul-sucking and trite, annnd I'm excited to share that Ask Again Later, a free weekly newsletter from yours truly, will be coming out with its first edition this Sunday.

What can you expect from this newsletter? Music and reading recommendations, me trying to Figure Life Out, and usually failing at it, musings on grief, relationships, queerness, and yes, my beautiful wife Bruce. Mostly, I want this newsletter to be a pulse-point way for me to keep up my writing while I start the chaos that is grad school.

Each week will be centered around a question or how-to - think agony aunt, except I am both the agony and the aunt. This week's: How to cross state lines in the least effective way possible.

As I mentioned, it's free, it's weekly, and I'd love to have you along for the ride.

:) yeehaw

#yayyyy #i'm stoked to be sharing this with yall

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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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inkedwingss · 1 year ago

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For the ones joining my new writing-only blog, my baby Substack: I will upload one poem every day for the next 15 days, so expect some e-mails in your inbox! :)

If you have been here for a while, you must know I was in desperate need of a writing-only platform — in fact, if you remember, I even tried a side blog, but that didn't work for me (and the novel is cooking atm). So, for the sake of my peace of mind and my writing, I will upload all the poetry in here to this sparkling, brand-new Substack.

After a few days on that platform, though, I can already tell I'm not going to follow what I perceived to be the pattern. Do I feel like a fish out of the water? Yes. Do I plan to change? No. Is it good for ''marketing''? Nope! But I literally can't force myself into a non-authentic space. It gives me anxiety.

I believe in using the platform instead of letting the platform use me. I'm free. That is unnegotiable. So, I will do my best on my own terms, as many things annoy me about the writing culture of these times we live in and I refuse to wear the halter. Oh, I promise I'll never try to coach you, start mothering you, or try to sell you a "how to write poetry in 5 steps" guide. No hooking titles. I won't join the experts-on-shit FOMO cult to prey on other people's triggers or to feel ''good'' about myself at the expense of others. This type of thing actually creeps me out.

But I do promise we can just resonate and inspire each other by being honest and raw, by having a brave heart so we can keep being kind, and by pursuing truth, beauty and art... How about that? We can enjoy the vibe and cultivate this appreciation of words! We can even chat as writer friends, as reader friends or just as friends friends — and encourage each other through real, second-intention-free presence.

If my writing doesn't touch you, it's fine. If yours doesn't touch me, it's fine. It's not personal, it's not a bad thing. We are all finding our voice. The day you think you know everything, you're dead, so we have to keep searching, moving and growing together! How many times have I needed the words from @cssnder @goodluckclove @hersurvival or @remnantofabrokensoul, and so many others around here (iykyk)? And I'm very grateful for every word and idea you all shared here in this amazing space, helping me to keep going, to break from my shell and lay another brick in the foundations of what I want to create.

That is the beauty of it. Creation demands connection. That is respect and human experience. And I repeat it: sometimes what I create won't touch anyone but me.

Oh, but what if it does!

Well, that being said: I actually do have some crazy ideas for the Substack. At first, the focus was on creating some substantial and self-indulgent content about literature (I like to study). Although I still think that's important, exciting and valid, Poetry is making its way through my inked fingers more and more, demanding space, attention, and voice; so I will not neglect this calling.

What about the future? I don’t know. Paid subscriptions for specific academic literature content? Prophetic, devotional newsletters?Generating debates on books for the community? Just poetry that you can read for free and not engage at all because I can be quite antisocial at times? Digging around some old ancient advice on writing? None of the above? Anything is possible, really. For now, I will slow down and avoid contributing to the hamster wheel of modern despair for the speed of light living and likes.

For now, poetry, please.

And tea. Lots of tea, because it's raining.

The grass looks so green!

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mauannacreates · 9 months ago

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Storyteller Saturday! I am kind of fascinated that you write every day and give updates every two weeks?! :O What are the struggles in doing this, and how are they overcome? How do you balance writing with working/sleeping/house chores? (I will ask question ABOUT the story soon, I just struggle to do daily writing so I was wondering if you had hints or tips!)

Hey @north-wyrm and thanks so much for the questions!

I will be honest, it is really difficult trying to manage my schedule at times. I mean, probably with lots of things that are going in my mind all at once, not just with my story, but also work stuff which usually are over the typical 8 hour shifts and wanting to move to a different work or field because of that, experiencing new emotions that I haven't really had much experience before in previous years and the perils of procrastination.

I don't wish this sort of heavy schedule upon anyone, but then at times, life can get like that where you're so distracted doing other stuff and you only have so much time for your writing where sometimes you have to decide whether you want to push through the tiredness and write that word count or write as much as you can and at the end of the day, know that you have written something. I used to do the former a lot, but nowadays, I find that I am doing the latter. It is good to have a balance between the two and maybe even have a weekly word count you could meet

First thing I must mention: Morning Pages. I do two big A4 sized pages of it every day. It is said to do three, but even then, I find that it does help to write something in the morning to get some stuff that you are focusing on your story, but even the stuff that is going on in your life. That's probably how I do some of my writing, which I used to do for my story ideas, but I also find that I do it just to understand what I am going through (and who knows, maybe it gives more of an idea on how to write other characters...? At least that's what I am wondering.)

I also try to have specific times in the day where I must write something on my notebook for my story. That time would be at my breaks at work, I would go and grab a pen and my notebook out, and write stuff down for my story (which has got me quite the reputation of being someone who either studies - which I don't - or people would ask what me what I'm writing about. In short, it brings curiosity to people.) And usually when I get home, I would go and write the stuff down on the computer, but I am not doing it as much on the weekdays, I find I may have more times for it on the weekends.

I guess there is also some acceptance about how my life is currently at in this point of my life, and I guess it's trying to have more of an idea which is something more realistic for me to handle. I know initially, I started this blog by writing every day, and it gets to a point where you don't really know what else to write, and with the hectic schedule, I managed it from December 2022 to April 2024, but I don't think that it would have been feasible, so I did think that the updating the newsletter that I hold on substack every two weeks would be feasible for me to think of what to write and get whatever I learnt into mind, and decided that I was going to update this blog about four to five times a day, three days a week.

And most of all, try to not be too hard on yourself! I know it's something that may be difficult to hear, but the story that you have written will always be there for you. Even if you want to explore other ideas and concepts, know that your understanding of the story will grow the more you learn and experience life as a person and a writer. And when writing, try to write whatever comes into your mind, and your mind or the characters that are inhabiting your mind will take a hold from there.

Thanks again, and I hope this helps for those that need it!

#writing #writeblr #writers of tumblr #creative writing #writing community

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susiephone · 8 months ago

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What exactly *is* Substack? I know vaguely it's some kind of blogging platform?

yeah, basically it lets users start a newsletter - some people use it as a personal or lifestyle blog, some people post essays or articles, other people post short stories or poetry. you have the option to either post content for free, or keep your pieces behind a paywall for subscribers, and you can decide how expensive the subscription fee is. (i believe the lowest you can go is $5/month, or $50/year.) most people who make money off substack have a mix of free and paid pieces - like they'll post x amount of free pieces and y amount of paid pieces a month, or they'll have a few free pieces up so people can get a sense of their work, and keep the rest behind the paywall. readers can choose with substacks to subscribe to and which ones they're willing to pay for

it's very lucrative for some people, but like all creative endeavors, the people who make real money off it are very much the exception - for most it's a few extra bucks a month, or they keep everything free and use it as a way to grow their following.

#substack #writing #anonymous

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mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog · 2 months ago

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How to Be Successful on Substack: A Case Study

Featured Stories from Bestselling Substack Authors The First Curated Story of ILLUMINATION Writing Academy “In August 2024, I Made a Decision that Changed Everything” by Yana G.Y. A boosted story on Substack.com Yesterday, I introduced the initial submission guidelines of our first public publication, ILLUMINATION Writing and Reading Academy, on Substack. Although the story received only a…

#" "How blogs drive traffic to your Substack" "#A Powerful Toolkit for Advanced Substack Newsletter Mastery #Case study of a bestselling Substack Author #Grow a community on Substack #Growing audience on Substack #How to be a bestselling substack author #illumination writing academy #Meet the strategy of Yana a bestselling Substack Author #Writing advice #writing and editing on Substack

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bethestaryouareradio · 6 days ago

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Growing Herbs and No Fake Plants

Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian, spices up your cuisine by discussing growing herbs. Also, if you have fake plants in your home, maybe rethink your decor to go natural!

Growing Herbs and No Fake Plants

Tune into the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs!

Grow your own herbs and spice up your cuisine while adding nutrients to your diet. Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian will share information on how easy it is to grow parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, and more in pots or in plots.

Do you have fake plants in your house? Do you care about them? Fake plants bring no life to a home. Real plants filter the air and provide pleasure. Rethink your interior decor!

https://www.instagram.com/starstyleproductions/

Buy autographed books by Cynthia Brian @ https://www.CynthiaBrian.con/online-store

Find out more about shows at: https://www.starstyleradio.com/starstyleprograms

Listen to all programs at https://sites.libsyn.com/556617

Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617/growing-herbs-and-no-fake-plants

Newsletter: Building Bridges of Peace and Inclusion: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/building-bridges-of-peace-and-inclusion?

RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK: Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer! Available at www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store .

Read article about Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures: : https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1807/Lamorinda-Weeklys-Goddess-Gardener-uses-her-farm-experience-to-write-Stella-Bellas-Barnyard-Adventures-for-kids.html

Places to Listen to StarStyle Radio:

Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/id669630180?mt=2

Tunein: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Motivational/StarStyle---Be-the-Star-You-Are-p46014/

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/voice-america/be-the-star-you-are

IHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-starstyle-be-the-star-you-31083110/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zDdwzlsHH44caWiMQdD25

SubStack: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/228120.rss

Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/mjw2ng5n

Be the Star You Are! 501 c3 charity offers help, hope, and healing for women, families and youth in need.

BTSYA Operation Disaster Relief. Please donate. http://ow.ly/ks8A30lekGe

Read how BTSYA is Making a Difference: https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/460747/IBPA-Member-Spotlight-Cynthia-Brian.htm

Read Cynthia’s Voice America Blog Press Pass: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/author/cynthia-brian/

Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Or you can choose to make the donation using many different payment methods which may have fees via by Givebutter at https://givebutter.com/be-the-star-you-are-charity.

Small DONATIONS Make a Big Difference to Others: Decrease Violence. Increase Literacy.

$25 provides 5 new books.

$50 provides 12 new books.

$100 provides 28 new books.

Donate via Paypal Giving Fund

or Visit www.BTSYA.org

#herbs #rosemary #lavendar #basil #icommunity #nofakeplants #plants #mother #cynthiabrian #BTSYA #nonprofitoftheyear #be the star you are #voice America network #empowerment #growingwiththegoddessgardener

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jameszhall · 9 days ago

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The Real Reason So Many Writers Misunderstand Online Income

Let’s be honest: earning money from writing online can feel like a total mystery.

One minute, you’re reading a post about someone making six figures a year from blogging. The next, you’re staring at your own work — unpaid, unnoticed, and wondering what you’re doing wrong.

You’re writing. You’re showing up. You’re doing what you love. So why does online income feel so confusing — even unreachable — sometimes?

You’re not alone. In fact, this confusion is incredibly common. The internet is filled with talented writers who are still trying to figure out how the whole “getting paid online” thing really works.

Let’s break it down together — and get real about what’s actually going on.

We Confuse Views With Value It’s easy to believe that if your article goes viral or your post gets thousands of reads, the money will naturally follow. But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: views don’t always equal income.

Unless you’ve got a way to monetize that attention — like a service, a product, or a client offer — your viral post might bring you applause, but not a paycheck.

It’s not about chasing views. It’s about connecting your writing to something that actually brings in revenue.

We Don’t Really Know How the Money Flows There are so many ways to make money writing online — freelancing, ghostwriting, blogging, affiliate links, digital products, newsletters, courses — it’s overwhelming. And no one gives you a clear map.

So many of us dive in without really knowing how the income models work. That’s not our fault — it’s just that no one taught us how to turn words into wealth.

But once you understand how writers actually get paid online, everything becomes a lot less blurry.

We Focus on the Writing, Not the Business Most of us got into writing because we love words — not because we wanted to be business owners. But here’s the hard truth: if you’re trying to earn money from your writing, you’re also building a business.

That doesn’t mean you need to become a sales machine or learn SEO overnight. It just means you need to think about things like your audience, pricing, branding, and long-term goals — just a little bit.

Even the smallest mindset shift can make a big difference in how (and how much) you get paid.

We Rely Too Heavily on Platforms Platforms like Medium, Substack, and LinkedIn are great tools. But sometimes, we treat them like the whole plan. We post consistently, hope for traction, and wait for the magic to happen.

But here’s the thing: platforms change. Algorithms shift. Payment structures get updated.

Smart writers use platforms as a launchpad — not a safety net.

We Undervalue Ourselves This one hurts, because it’s true for so many of us. We undercharge. We take low-paying gigs. We pour hours into free content hoping it “leads to something.” And sometimes it does — but often it doesn’t.

The truth is, writing is one of the most valuable skills online. It drives marketing, sales, trust, and connection. People build entire businesses around their writing.

So if you’re writing, and it’s helping others take action, grow, or understand something better — you deserve to be paid well for it.

So, What Can We Do Differently? Learn the money side. Even just a basic understanding of how writers get paid online can be eye-opening.

Experiment. Try different platforms, services, or income streams. You don’t have to pick just one.

Track what’s working. Look at where your income is coming from — and lean into that.

Connect with other writers. Community matters. Ask questions. Share your struggles. You’ll realize you’re not the only one figuring it out.

Own your value. You’re not “just a writer.” You’re a creator, a communicator, and yes — a business.

Final Thoughts If you’ve ever felt confused, discouraged, or stuck when it comes to earning money with your writing — take a deep breath. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just still learning how the system works.

The real reason so many writers misunderstand online income? Because we were never really shown how it works — we just started writing and hoped the rest would fall into place.

But now, you know better. And once you see writing as not just a passion, but a powerful tool — everything starts to change.

Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep going. Your words are worth more than you think.

#how to earn money #passiveincome #online work #earn money online

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jamesh2025smith · 25 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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dekhocampus11 · 28 days ago

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Rise of the Creator Economy: Can Everyone Be a Brand?

The digital age has ushered in a radical transformation in how people work, communicate, and express themselves. At the heart of this evolution lies the creator economy—a vast, fast-growing ecosystem where individuals monetize their content, skills, and personal brands directly with an audience. From YouTubers and podcasters to TikTok influencers and freelance educators, the rise of this economy has challenged traditional career paths and raised a compelling question: Can everyone truly be a brand?

What Is the Creator Economy?

The creator economy refers to the system of independent content creators, artists, influencers, and knowledge sharers who earn a living through digital platforms. Unlike the corporate world, where success often requires gatekeepers and institutions, the creator economy thrives on direct-to-audience interactions. It includes video creators, writers, musicians, gamers, coaches, and countless niche professionals using tools like Patreon, Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach and monetize their communities.

In this ecosystem, your value isn’t necessarily determined by degrees or titles—but by influence, originality, and trust.

The Rise of Personal Branding

In traditional media and advertising, brands were built through big-budget campaigns and strategic PR. But in today’s landscape, personal branding—how someone positions themselves online—is just as powerful.

Every tweet, blog post, video, or story contributes to a creator’s public identity. The idea is simple: be known for something, provide consistent value, and foster a community around your expertise or personality.

The shift is so pronounced that people now treat themselves like micro-businesses. Graphic designers market their aesthetic. Fitness trainers share daily routines. Writers develop newsletters. Even software engineers share code tutorials to build a niche following.

This movement toward self-monetization has sparked a cultural and economic shift: the average person no longer needs a middleman to make a living from their creativity.

The Democratization of Influence

What makes the creator economy so revolutionary is its accessibility. With a smartphone and internet access, anyone can start a channel, blog, or online store. Platforms offer built-in tools for creators to reach and engage with global audiences.

Previously, becoming a "public figure" required media coverage or celebrity status. Now, niche communities thrive with creators who serve micro-audiences. You don’t need millions of followers to make money—you just need a few hundred loyal fans willing to support you.

This "1,000 true fans" theory has become the backbone of many sustainable creator businesses. Writers earn through subscriptions. Educators offer paid courses. Musicians build communities on crowdfunding platforms. Creators are no longer waiting to be discovered—they’re building their own careers.

Can Everyone Be a Brand?

The idea that everyone can become a brand is inspiring—but also complex. While platforms have made it technically easier to build an audience, being a brand involves more than just posting content. It requires strategy, consistency, storytelling, and emotional resonance. It demands vulnerability, constant learning, and often a high tolerance for rejection and slow growth.

Moreover, not everyone wants—or needs—to be a brand. Branding comes with trade-offs: a loss of privacy, the pressure to always perform, and the challenge of constantly feeding the content machine.

There’s also the issue of saturation. With millions of creators competing for attention, it's more challenging than ever to stand out from the crowd. The idea that “everyone can do it” often overlooks the intense time, effort, and skill involved in standing out.

So, while the infrastructure exists for everyone to become a brand, not everyone will succeed—or should want to.

The Platform Paradox

Another challenge lies in the dependency on platforms. While Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube provide the stage, creators are at the mercy of algorithms, policy changes, and monetization rules. An account suspension or algorithm tweak can collapse a creator’s income overnight.

To mitigate this, many creators are diversifying their presence—building email lists, launching personal websites, and selling products or courses to maintain control over their brand and business.

The ideal creator strategy today involves platform leverage and brand ownership. This means that you should use platforms to grow your audience, but eventually direct them to spaces that you control.

Creators as Entrepreneurs

The most successful creators aren't just content makers—they're entrepreneurs. They understand marketing, audience psychology, and revenue diversification. A modern creator might offer: