When writing on Substack isn't enough
There’s a point when writing on Substack isn’t enough.
There’s a moment when a writer wants to sense their work is becoming something.
No one can tell you when that moment will show up.
But in my own experience, and from countless stories I’ve heard from friends, I do think it feels like a sort of hastening.
Like there’s movement in a quiet creek — and it’s picking up pace, pushing at the back of your heels.
The momentum tends to say something like, “Hey, what if we did something with this writing next?”
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When I felt ready to really understand my audience and write in collaboration for our mutual benefit, the resources I looked toward on Substack were thin.
The Substack guru subgenre hadn’t yet arrived in 2023. Most of the guidance, though well-intentioned, was pointed toward writing as a platform-centric activity. And I didn’t want a platform centered in my writing. I wanted it serving my writing.
So I began experimenting with everything I knew from years in print and digital publishing. I began trying to separate the content marketing ick from the human behavior that all readers share.
Fast forward a few years, and I have an answer to the question at the top of this post: What do you do when you’re ready for more?
There are three specific editorial practices that I’ve tested in publications of all sizes, including my own. And I’ll be sharing them — a little more intentionality in how you publish on Substack can help readers come along for the ride.
Marketing wonks will tell you all kinds of things to prioritize if you want to grow a readership. This is my alternative: editorial practices that ask you to focus, sharpen a skill and be in relationship with your writing, your readers and the publication you’re building.
If you’re interested in spending some time with me on these three practices, I hope you’ll sign up for tomorrow’s free workshop. I’m co-hosting it with Jessica Smock of Midstack.
3 Ways to Help Your Readers Stay
10 a.m. CST | June 20 | Registration is free
Registering helps me and Jessica plan for capacity on Zoom. Last time we had 300+ registrations for the first Writing to Publishing workshop. Thanks for helping us make sure there’s room for you in the live room!
This is so timely for me. I've been grappling with where to go with my Substack. In my case, it's not growing so I'm left with the question: is writing for myself enough or do I want more? If I want more, what is it and how do I get there? This describes it exactly: "But in my own experience, and from countless stories I’ve heard from friends, I do think it feels like a sort of hastening." Hastening. My yearning is becoming more and more urgent. I want more.
I especially like how you validate writing on Substack because sometimes it might not be enough in terms of what any writer sees as their eventual goals. I just always try to remember that it does an awful lot and has an incredible community which is what everyone needs these days. Also really like how you will provide observations on how writing for Substack will help anyone a lot. And whatever one does in addition to Substack will add more but will also optimize whatever any writer has already established. So this post is very encouraging in helping writers to move forward in some way that maybe they haven't tried before. Thanks so much!