I absolutely LOVE this reality/gratitude check. Substack still takes work but it has changed a lot for me even mentally, and how I'm approaching author platform. And I am tremendously, tremendously grateful. Onward!
Playing the long game since 2022 and SO happy to be here! Thanks for the mention Sarah! I just hit 6k across my writer publications today and I can’t quite integrate what this platform has made possible for me and so many other passionate creatives!
Going for a very special dinner this Friday and I just know Substack is going to be high on our agenda!
Thank you, Sarah, for such a great post. I totally agree with you, especially on highlighting other authors/gratitude/making new friends. Substack is such a wonderful platform, I just hope it won't become too much. Notes, threads, etc. It's difficult too keep up with everything and also write a couple of novels. 😊😊 I'm asking myself, how much time can I afford to be on Substack?
It's so important to answer that question. (Saying this to myself as I say it to you.) Here's what I've learned: Substacks succeed when they're entirely you, which means there's no right amount of time to be on here, post, etc. No certain feature to use or not use. It's just whatever you gravitate to that will help you succeed.
I love all of this and so funny to see it posted today, as last week, I posted a Substack Survival Guide, to help people struggling with that sense of comparison and overwhelm on this platform. It really took off, and this morning I shared part two of that post, which echoes a lot of what you say here and I get deeper into the highs, lows, and nitty gritty of being a creative person online. If anyone is interested, here is part one: https://tamzin.substack.com/p/how-to-survive-substack-part-one
Great article Sarah! When I joined I kept telling myself that I am in this for a marathon, not a sprint. I keep reminding myself of that, every time I get impatient and I try real hard not to compare my results with others. I just keep writing from the heart.
Yep. To all of this. **nodding head in vigorous agreement.**
Maybe it's the February blah's that have us all looking at our belly buttons wondering why we're not 'good enough' or 'there yet'. When in reality, where the hell is there??!! And good enough apropro of what??
One of my 12 tips after 12 months on Substack included:
#1 - Comparing is inevitable - keep an open heart and be kind to yourself and others. The writing here is good. The writer’s exceptional. Talent is everywhere. But, there is no one like you. Remember that and carry on.
Happy Valentine's Day to the open hearted and unique person **you (we) are--there is no one like you. So, you are more than good enough. Thanks for this advice and reminder today Sarah. xo
May I just say I love what you do. So full of sense and empathy (must note that I got told off by my English teacher in 12th grade for using that word because it was 'modish' – it is now well over 60 years later and I use it carefully, but remember her every time!)
I may well take you up on the offer of a one-on-one, one of these days.
Thank you! Isn't it funny what an impact our high school English teachers had on us? Mine said I used commas like I was decorating a Christmas tree (which was true) and to this day, every time...
Yup, but somewhere along the line – and I suspect it was a gradual process – I learned how to write. I have been a confident writer since then and I am 82 (today! yes, it's my birthday and I had a huge lovely lunch and am trying to recover by a little R&R in front of Substack).
Im new to Substack (about a month) and I might be missing something here - but I've been using - I feel - the best of several worlds.
After sending my Substack newsletter out, I share it on Social (only FB and LinkedIn) with a click bait title and sub title and the maximum number (40) of hashtags.
So far I'm doing this mostly manually. I have some template documents with hashtags grouped by topic, so I can copy and paste. I know there's plenty of software that can make those faster and easier, but manually is fine for now.
Of course, this simple method means I can regularly re-share my best content, getting more shares and new subscribers.
I am enjoying Substack! For my needs, it's a big improvement on WordPress, and I'm slowly 🐌 moving over 💖
Well timed, Sarah -- thank you. Someone messaged me recently to say that they were unsubscribing because they weren't working at the moment. Fair enough and a good reminder that sometimes you could be doing everything right and lose a reader for no fault of your own.
For my part, worrying about external metrics is a recipe for bad mental health. The thing is to anchor into a core "why" and write from there, as you say, for the long haul. It's like the oxygen mask: give yourself air before you help someone else.
Anything that can be precisely measured is subject to the infamous hedonic treadmill. We all get used to our current metric and then we become blasé about it unless it goes up and feel bad if it goes down. I think this happens at every level.
When I get "Sub-sacked" (using a football reference for Sarah's benefit), Sarah's advice of spending time on other Substacks, commenting and restacking and being encouraging, always seems to make me feel better.
They made an announcement recently that it has got a bit unwieldy as so many people contribute to the comments. Since there are other sources of good information on how we can make the best of Substack, the role of Office Hours has effectively become redundant. It's a brave and sensible decision in my view.
* can understand the decision from a business perspective, but it seems like this is one less resource that SubStack writers will have. It also feels like a poorly thought-out cost-cutting measure.
Yes and to your point, people went into office hours thinking they’d get help from Substack and there’s no way Substack can answer all those comments. That’s part of the reason I set up our Office Party as a collective. (And more of a party where you can promote your Substack, which was missing on the platform.)
Yes!
I absolutely LOVE this reality/gratitude check. Substack still takes work but it has changed a lot for me even mentally, and how I'm approaching author platform. And I am tremendously, tremendously grateful. Onward!
Onward!
Indeed, it is easy to forget that good things take time to build. 👏
Let me introduce you to the Micro Goal to make the journey so much more fun! 🥳
https://open.substack.com/pub/katedarracott/p/substack-1-monthiversary-hip-hip?r=1nkhs2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Excellent! I love that.
Thank for the reminders, Sarah. Happy Valentine’s Day!
You too!
💖 YES!
Playing the long game since 2022 and SO happy to be here! Thanks for the mention Sarah! I just hit 6k across my writer publications today and I can’t quite integrate what this platform has made possible for me and so many other passionate creatives!
Going for a very special dinner this Friday and I just know Substack is going to be high on our agenda!
Amazing! ✨💫
Congratulations!
Thank you and for all your support and insight always! ✨💘
Thank you, Sarah, for such a great post. I totally agree with you, especially on highlighting other authors/gratitude/making new friends. Substack is such a wonderful platform, I just hope it won't become too much. Notes, threads, etc. It's difficult too keep up with everything and also write a couple of novels. 😊😊 I'm asking myself, how much time can I afford to be on Substack?
It's so important to answer that question. (Saying this to myself as I say it to you.) Here's what I've learned: Substacks succeed when they're entirely you, which means there's no right amount of time to be on here, post, etc. No certain feature to use or not use. It's just whatever you gravitate to that will help you succeed.
Thank you. Great advice!🥰
Great question, great answer. Thank you, both.
I love all of this and so funny to see it posted today, as last week, I posted a Substack Survival Guide, to help people struggling with that sense of comparison and overwhelm on this platform. It really took off, and this morning I shared part two of that post, which echoes a lot of what you say here and I get deeper into the highs, lows, and nitty gritty of being a creative person online. If anyone is interested, here is part one: https://tamzin.substack.com/p/how-to-survive-substack-part-one
We're on the same wavelength! Thank you for sharing your post!
That was a great post, Tamzin
thank you so much Jeffrey!
Great article Sarah! When I joined I kept telling myself that I am in this for a marathon, not a sprint. I keep reminding myself of that, every time I get impatient and I try real hard not to compare my results with others. I just keep writing from the heart.
Thank you for your insights!
I love that--the marathon!
Yep. To all of this. **nodding head in vigorous agreement.**
Maybe it's the February blah's that have us all looking at our belly buttons wondering why we're not 'good enough' or 'there yet'. When in reality, where the hell is there??!! And good enough apropro of what??
One of my 12 tips after 12 months on Substack included:
#1 - Comparing is inevitable - keep an open heart and be kind to yourself and others. The writing here is good. The writer’s exceptional. Talent is everywhere. But, there is no one like you. Remember that and carry on.
Happy Valentine's Day to the open hearted and unique person **you (we) are--there is no one like you. So, you are more than good enough. Thanks for this advice and reminder today Sarah. xo
Yes, there's no one like you, which is (thank goodness) what makes your Substack successful. No need to be anyone else.
Helpful reminders to have patience (for years) and to help others even if you're not big yet.
Yes--and it's hard, particularly because we do grow on here.
May I just say I love what you do. So full of sense and empathy (must note that I got told off by my English teacher in 12th grade for using that word because it was 'modish' – it is now well over 60 years later and I use it carefully, but remember her every time!)
I may well take you up on the offer of a one-on-one, one of these days.
Thank you! Isn't it funny what an impact our high school English teachers had on us? Mine said I used commas like I was decorating a Christmas tree (which was true) and to this day, every time...
Yup, but somewhere along the line – and I suspect it was a gradual process – I learned how to write. I have been a confident writer since then and I am 82 (today! yes, it's my birthday and I had a huge lovely lunch and am trying to recover by a little R&R in front of Substack).
Happy birthday!
Im new to Substack (about a month) and I might be missing something here - but I've been using - I feel - the best of several worlds.
After sending my Substack newsletter out, I share it on Social (only FB and LinkedIn) with a click bait title and sub title and the maximum number (40) of hashtags.
So far I'm doing this mostly manually. I have some template documents with hashtags grouped by topic, so I can copy and paste. I know there's plenty of software that can make those faster and easier, but manually is fine for now.
Of course, this simple method means I can regularly re-share my best content, getting more shares and new subscribers.
I am enjoying Substack! For my needs, it's a big improvement on WordPress, and I'm slowly 🐌 moving over 💖
Well timed, Sarah -- thank you. Someone messaged me recently to say that they were unsubscribing because they weren't working at the moment. Fair enough and a good reminder that sometimes you could be doing everything right and lose a reader for no fault of your own.
For my part, worrying about external metrics is a recipe for bad mental health. The thing is to anchor into a core "why" and write from there, as you say, for the long haul. It's like the oxygen mask: give yourself air before you help someone else.
Agreed on all counts. What's so funny is that I just posted this and went to look at the metrics. Ha!
None of us are immune!
Anything that can be precisely measured is subject to the infamous hedonic treadmill. We all get used to our current metric and then we become blasé about it unless it goes up and feel bad if it goes down. I think this happens at every level.
When I get "Sub-sacked" (using a football reference for Sarah's benefit), Sarah's advice of spending time on other Substacks, commenting and restacking and being encouraging, always seems to make me feel better.
So true! Sub-sacked is genius.
Often when I comment on other stacks I get a new subscription
What’s this about SubStack Office Hours being deprecated soon?
They made an announcement recently that it has got a bit unwieldy as so many people contribute to the comments. Since there are other sources of good information on how we can make the best of Substack, the role of Office Hours has effectively become redundant. It's a brave and sensible decision in my view.
* can understand the decision from a business perspective, but it seems like this is one less resource that SubStack writers will have. It also feels like a poorly thought-out cost-cutting measure.
As far as I know, it's not a cost-cutting measure. I think they're going to replace it with alternative, more effective, offerings.
Yes and to your point, people went into office hours thinking they’d get help from Substack and there’s no way Substack can answer all those comments. That’s part of the reason I set up our Office Party as a collective. (And more of a party where you can promote your Substack, which was missing on the platform.)
I think they’re also really busy and have to give up things. We forget they’re a start up run by very few people on a platform that’s exploding.
Do you know when Office Hours is set to end, Yasmin?
I don't have any insider news, Liz. Just going on the info that Substack gave in their last Office Hours post.
OK thanks, I’ll check that out.
I believe it will end at the end of February.
Some real pearls of wisdom here - five years sounds very realistic, particularly for those looking to build a solid base. Thanks for sharing!
I have to remember this myself!