Thanks for this, Michael. I have far fewer subs than you but I notice the same thing. Some posts get little interaction, others land really well. For me it the more vulnerable ones that land better, but that's hard to keep tapping into. Bravery required. But sometime I have to just write something simpler and put with the fewer interactions.
Thank you for sharing your Substack journey. I think it's great that you're sharing tips and tricks and at the same time, telling your story. You are right, Substack does let us get away from the blatant noise of social media in general. That's why I am here. I like your last line. Be brave.
I love Substack, both reading and writing, but I 'worry' that it will become just another noisy, crowded place that demands we all shout to be heard, and jump around to be seen. For me, I'm here to write the words that need to be written; not to any 'success formula', but from my heart, and trust that those who need to read them, will do so. Would I like more subscribers? Yes. Would I like to make money from it? Yes. But, after 30 years of compromising myself in my corporate career, I'm not willing to do it here with my writing. The increasingly busy nature of the platform will undoubtedly make that more difficult, but this is the ongoing practice, remaining true to my heart.
I agree with all of this and haven't much to add. 🤣
I'm finding myself on Notes a lot less lately, turning to a IRL book or audiobook if I'm doing chores. I'm stewing on my own work a lot and find things distracting here which isn't always helpful.
I'm learning as I get older, success is a process for all of us, and as long as you are making consistent progress towards your goals - sincerely giving your best effort more often than not - then you are already successful and deserve to feel proud of yourself; especially writing on Substack.
And there I thought my serializations sucked. XD Well, who knows: maybe yes, maybe no. But the elephant in the room here is that Substacks enabling of the revival of the serialized novel doesn't appear to be working by itself. Except, maybe, for established authors.
That's the bad news. But there is some good news here: if readers like posts about literature, then we should review each others' literature more often, just as you did with Flaubert and McCarthy. Reviews of that sort imply a seriousness that just isn't present in the literary world today. Sadly I haven't gotten around to continuing it - will do in December! But when I did review a fellow Substacker's story some time ago, that got a really positive reception. I think Substack readers would enjoy more of that: the best way to find out is to review your covid memoir down the road and see how it goes! :) Let's not forget: literary criticism and reviews exist for a reason.
On the topic of payments, I think I will probably follow Anne Kadet's example sometime down the road. The simpler things are, the more time I can spend writing those novels that no one reads anymore. XD
It's interesting to read about all of the different Substacks/Notes' experiences out there.
I don't Subscribe to many of the fiction writing Stacks you mention, partly because that simply isn't what we're doing these days. And frankly, I can hardly keep up with the stuff I feel like I need to follow just in our own category.
As for reading fiction...sigh. I used to read at least a novel a week. Now I'm lucky to manage two a month. Between writing our own Stack and handling all of our social media, I have to actively work very hard to carve out even a little time to read fiction. Which is lousy bc I love reading...
As for the culture wars on Notes, thankfully as soon as Notes went live I started culling out all of that stuff and now I basically see zero, thank god.
I crave reading more fiction yet have found I don’t enjoy reading fiction on a screen. Maybe I’m not alone in that and that’s a reason fiction tends to get less traction? Or maybe it’s my age and growing up with book in hand is my comfort zone. Reading this opened me up to try again and read fiction on a screen because I know I’m missing out on some beautiful writing.
Nov 20, 2023·edited Nov 20, 2023Liked by Sincere American Writing
I've concluded the key is connection. Here are some thoughts: I did start here with essays on movies and books and then did a course on Creative Writing that you can find here: https://marytabor.substack.com/s/write-it-how-to-get-started -- I did need a way to put the lessons in order, though I labeled them by # and some of them for reasons of copyright are paid. Now I am posting a memoir (Re)Making Love --all true--of the good the bad and the foolish that you can find here with Chapter 1: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/i-need-to-live-alone-chapter-1 Which do you think is a better approach if you're not, say, whatever we call "famous"? Would love to know what others think so placed this also on Notes. My love to Substack, big time. ~ Mary
Great to hear you’re making steady progress (wish I could say the same in terms of money). I also like that Substack helps me to do the work--to put something out there several times a week that I imagine real live people will want to read. It helps me to consider audience more fully as I write; what’s in it for them--not just me. I’ve tried to resist the where-to/how-to writing that has such a large, steady audience, though likely at the cost of finding solid growth in subscriber numbers. Good job or articulating a range of truths writers need to consider these days.
"I see this is a good thing. Substack has shifted a chunk of American culture away from the blatant extremism we see both on the right and on the left, on social media.."
This is exactly, as a reader, why I turned to Substack and in doing so I've discovered writers such as yourself and have had the benefit of enjoying your short stories and essays.
Well put ... it is horses for courses I guess - but I much prefer the 'actual' creative output than the talking about the creative output ... however much I suspect the latter would garner more interest than the former. For me personally, substack has always been about MY development - sticking to a schedule, creating new work ( sometimes based around writing, poetry, photography or ideas I've hidden away previously ) and I have found it a wonderful place to do that ... an encouraging place ... I think I secretly worry that were I to try to monetise that, I'd lose something....
Thanks for this, Michael. I have far fewer subs than you but I notice the same thing. Some posts get little interaction, others land really well. For me it the more vulnerable ones that land better, but that's hard to keep tapping into. Bravery required. But sometime I have to just write something simpler and put with the fewer interactions.
Thank you for sharing your Substack journey. I think it's great that you're sharing tips and tricks and at the same time, telling your story. You are right, Substack does let us get away from the blatant noise of social media in general. That's why I am here. I like your last line. Be brave.
I love Substack, both reading and writing, but I 'worry' that it will become just another noisy, crowded place that demands we all shout to be heard, and jump around to be seen. For me, I'm here to write the words that need to be written; not to any 'success formula', but from my heart, and trust that those who need to read them, will do so. Would I like more subscribers? Yes. Would I like to make money from it? Yes. But, after 30 years of compromising myself in my corporate career, I'm not willing to do it here with my writing. The increasingly busy nature of the platform will undoubtedly make that more difficult, but this is the ongoing practice, remaining true to my heart.
I agree with all of this and haven't much to add. 🤣
I'm finding myself on Notes a lot less lately, turning to a IRL book or audiobook if I'm doing chores. I'm stewing on my own work a lot and find things distracting here which isn't always helpful.
I guess, like everything, it's finding a balance.
Great read comments and all.
This is so good to read Michael.
I'm learning as I get older, success is a process for all of us, and as long as you are making consistent progress towards your goals - sincerely giving your best effort more often than not - then you are already successful and deserve to feel proud of yourself; especially writing on Substack.
Best ending ever. I love (and need) the prompt to Be Brave. Thank you Michael.
And there I thought my serializations sucked. XD Well, who knows: maybe yes, maybe no. But the elephant in the room here is that Substacks enabling of the revival of the serialized novel doesn't appear to be working by itself. Except, maybe, for established authors.
That's the bad news. But there is some good news here: if readers like posts about literature, then we should review each others' literature more often, just as you did with Flaubert and McCarthy. Reviews of that sort imply a seriousness that just isn't present in the literary world today. Sadly I haven't gotten around to continuing it - will do in December! But when I did review a fellow Substacker's story some time ago, that got a really positive reception. I think Substack readers would enjoy more of that: the best way to find out is to review your covid memoir down the road and see how it goes! :) Let's not forget: literary criticism and reviews exist for a reason.
On the topic of payments, I think I will probably follow Anne Kadet's example sometime down the road. The simpler things are, the more time I can spend writing those novels that no one reads anymore. XD
It's interesting to read about all of the different Substacks/Notes' experiences out there.
I don't Subscribe to many of the fiction writing Stacks you mention, partly because that simply isn't what we're doing these days. And frankly, I can hardly keep up with the stuff I feel like I need to follow just in our own category.
As for reading fiction...sigh. I used to read at least a novel a week. Now I'm lucky to manage two a month. Between writing our own Stack and handling all of our social media, I have to actively work very hard to carve out even a little time to read fiction. Which is lousy bc I love reading...
As for the culture wars on Notes, thankfully as soon as Notes went live I started culling out all of that stuff and now I basically see zero, thank god.
I crave reading more fiction yet have found I don’t enjoy reading fiction on a screen. Maybe I’m not alone in that and that’s a reason fiction tends to get less traction? Or maybe it’s my age and growing up with book in hand is my comfort zone. Reading this opened me up to try again and read fiction on a screen because I know I’m missing out on some beautiful writing.
I've concluded the key is connection. Here are some thoughts: I did start here with essays on movies and books and then did a course on Creative Writing that you can find here: https://marytabor.substack.com/s/write-it-how-to-get-started -- I did need a way to put the lessons in order, though I labeled them by # and some of them for reasons of copyright are paid. Now I am posting a memoir (Re)Making Love --all true--of the good the bad and the foolish that you can find here with Chapter 1: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/i-need-to-live-alone-chapter-1 Which do you think is a better approach if you're not, say, whatever we call "famous"? Would love to know what others think so placed this also on Notes. My love to Substack, big time. ~ Mary
Great to hear you’re making steady progress (wish I could say the same in terms of money). I also like that Substack helps me to do the work--to put something out there several times a week that I imagine real live people will want to read. It helps me to consider audience more fully as I write; what’s in it for them--not just me. I’ve tried to resist the where-to/how-to writing that has such a large, steady audience, though likely at the cost of finding solid growth in subscriber numbers. Good job or articulating a range of truths writers need to consider these days.
Makes a lot of sense. I found it helpful. Kinda calmed me down about what I'm doing here, and why. Thanks!
"I see this is a good thing. Substack has shifted a chunk of American culture away from the blatant extremism we see both on the right and on the left, on social media.."
This is exactly, as a reader, why I turned to Substack and in doing so I've discovered writers such as yourself and have had the benefit of enjoying your short stories and essays.
Well put ... it is horses for courses I guess - but I much prefer the 'actual' creative output than the talking about the creative output ... however much I suspect the latter would garner more interest than the former. For me personally, substack has always been about MY development - sticking to a schedule, creating new work ( sometimes based around writing, poetry, photography or ideas I've hidden away previously ) and I have found it a wonderful place to do that ... an encouraging place ... I think I secretly worry that were I to try to monetise that, I'd lose something....