Once again, you’ve put into much better (and kinder) words my feelings of “what’s the fucking POINT?!” regarding ~community~ and supporting writers and making money online.
My current strategy of subscribing to everyone because they’re nice to me is completely backfiring--I can’t bear to even open the Substack app most days because of the guilt.
free yourself from the obligation! I never look at my unsubscribes now that I’m on Substack (MailChimp made me look because I had to “archive” the unsubscribes so they didn’t count toward my paid plan)
There’s so much to think about here! I always love where your head is at. I think all writers need to invest in long form formats outside of their writing (substack, podcast etc) because they’re long form communicators! I’m starting to get to the place where I see the internet as a resume, legacy project, and marketing apparatus all in one and we need these timestamps of our lives. I think substack is 💯 where it’s at right now, for writers.
This is particularly astute and captures the current state of the platform, imho. I think real fatigue is setting in with the obligation to read and "support" each other. I used to keep my subscriptions to 30 max but then the dam broke and I'm up to 56, which is entirely unmanageable. I plan to cull this month and heading into 2024.
Also, I've been noodling on a short satire piece on the MLM writer economy for some time...
Hey Leigh! Not sure if you'll see this comment since the attention economy always looks forward, but your post encouraged me to ruthlessly cull my subscriptions. I just dropped down to 40-ish, which is still too many, though most come monthly or even less regularly.
I even preemptively discontinued a few paid subs that had become a chore to read.
The platform's at an interesting inflection point. The content moderation issues (or lack thereof) continue to plague and the influx of get-rich-quick schemers is killing the vibe. Interesting times ahead.
Thank you for this nuanced perspective Leigh. Another thing writers can do to reach new subscribers/readers who genuinely want the content is through paid ads. I have experimented with small ad buys (less than $500) on Facebook and Google and found this very successful, resulting in many new subscribers who stick around and become engaged readers. I got this idea after reading a post by Elle Griffin - but I don't see anyone else giving this advice regularly. Building an audience is a goal of mine, as is supporting other writers - and so far, I'm finding that paid ads are a better spend when it comes to attracting readers for my work than paid Substack subscriptions.
I took out an ad on a niche newsletter for creatives and that resulted in a little bump in subscribers, but it's not financially viable to keep doing that as none of them converted to paid. I've had better luck with running free webinars and asking people if they'd like to subscribe during the ticketing process. That's something I want to really lean into next year.
So I’m super confused by Substack. But I’m NOT confused by a writing retreat in the south of France!! But could you please move it from the beginning of June because that’s my pub week and I’m gonna need you here supporting my work🤪
I think your publisher should send you to Collioure on book tour so that we can recreate your book cover using cheese and charcuterie, resulting in viral TikTok content
Leigh, I absolutely loved this post, because you rightly skewer the mix of coaching rah-rah and literary moralism on Substack. It’s been like that for awhile in digital media, but I’ve long been irritated with “buy my poetry chapbook to support artistic freedom.” You are right, there is a limit to subscriptions one can attend to, and that’s okay - subscribing on Substack is not the same as following someone on Twitter - thank god 😉
That is one thing I love about Notes: I can follow people who interest me so I can still occasionally see what they are publishing without more in my inbox.
This is an on-the-nose timely read for me as I'm new to substack and already feeling over my limit with the amount of content I've attempted to keep up with and engage with. Removing email alerts asap, and motivated to be choosey and thoughtful about my subscriptions. Thank you!
Brilliant piece with so many stand-out quotes. Also, you’re so right about writing classes being focused on dark, heavy shit and not enough that focus on joy and pleasure. Thanks for being you 🤘🏽
Writers writing for writers is almost a pyramid scheme — there's just a limited audience there.
not if you make it your goal to turn more people into writers! *manic laughter*
Once again, you’ve put into much better (and kinder) words my feelings of “what’s the fucking POINT?!” regarding ~community~ and supporting writers and making money online.
My current strategy of subscribing to everyone because they’re nice to me is completely backfiring--I can’t bear to even open the Substack app most days because of the guilt.
Thanks for the insight, Leigh.
free yourself from the obligation! I never look at my unsubscribes now that I’m on Substack (MailChimp made me look because I had to “archive” the unsubscribes so they didn’t count toward my paid plan)
Yeah, I have no desire to see people unsubscribe. I turned that off right away.
There’s so much to think about here! I always love where your head is at. I think all writers need to invest in long form formats outside of their writing (substack, podcast etc) because they’re long form communicators! I’m starting to get to the place where I see the internet as a resume, legacy project, and marketing apparatus all in one and we need these timestamps of our lives. I think substack is 💯 where it’s at right now, for writers.
oooh I love “legacy project”....
Every time I see the word “timestamp” I sing the timestamp song 🤣
This is particularly astute and captures the current state of the platform, imho. I think real fatigue is setting in with the obligation to read and "support" each other. I used to keep my subscriptions to 30 max but then the dam broke and I'm up to 56, which is entirely unmanageable. I plan to cull this month and heading into 2024.
Also, I've been noodling on a short satire piece on the MLM writer economy for some time...
56!!!!!!
Hey Leigh! Not sure if you'll see this comment since the attention economy always looks forward, but your post encouraged me to ruthlessly cull my subscriptions. I just dropped down to 40-ish, which is still too many, though most come monthly or even less regularly.
I even preemptively discontinued a few paid subs that had become a chore to read.
The platform's at an interesting inflection point. The content moderation issues (or lack thereof) continue to plague and the influx of get-rich-quick schemers is killing the vibe. Interesting times ahead.
Thank you for this nuanced perspective Leigh. Another thing writers can do to reach new subscribers/readers who genuinely want the content is through paid ads. I have experimented with small ad buys (less than $500) on Facebook and Google and found this very successful, resulting in many new subscribers who stick around and become engaged readers. I got this idea after reading a post by Elle Griffin - but I don't see anyone else giving this advice regularly. Building an audience is a goal of mine, as is supporting other writers - and so far, I'm finding that paid ads are a better spend when it comes to attracting readers for my work than paid Substack subscriptions.
it's a great way to reach people OUTSIDE the Substack bubble
I took out an ad on a niche newsletter for creatives and that resulted in a little bump in subscribers, but it's not financially viable to keep doing that as none of them converted to paid. I've had better luck with running free webinars and asking people if they'd like to subscribe during the ticketing process. That's something I want to really lean into next year.
Thank you, as always, for your insight. I also laughed at the $1100 webinar! The solution to everything!!!!
So I’m super confused by Substack. But I’m NOT confused by a writing retreat in the south of France!! But could you please move it from the beginning of June because that’s my pub week and I’m gonna need you here supporting my work🤪
I think your publisher should send you to Collioure on book tour so that we can recreate your book cover using cheese and charcuterie, resulting in viral TikTok content
See I think it’s sad that you’re the first person to think of that
😂
As always...🔥 I love your takes.
The MLM marketing style from some of the Substack writers makes me 🫠
I lol’d at the $1100 webinar. SPOT ON. 😂😭
it really was $1100!!! LOL
Leigh, I absolutely loved this post, because you rightly skewer the mix of coaching rah-rah and literary moralism on Substack. It’s been like that for awhile in digital media, but I’ve long been irritated with “buy my poetry chapbook to support artistic freedom.” You are right, there is a limit to subscriptions one can attend to, and that’s okay - subscribing on Substack is not the same as following someone on Twitter - thank god 😉
So smart and refreshing, as always. Thanks for the post.
thanks Heather!
That is one thing I love about Notes: I can follow people who interest me so I can still occasionally see what they are publishing without more in my inbox.
This is an on-the-nose timely read for me as I'm new to substack and already feeling over my limit with the amount of content I've attempted to keep up with and engage with. Removing email alerts asap, and motivated to be choosey and thoughtful about my subscriptions. Thank you!
Brilliant piece with so many stand-out quotes. Also, you’re so right about writing classes being focused on dark, heavy shit and not enough that focus on joy and pleasure. Thanks for being you 🤘🏽
I think there’s a connection to rise in destigmatization of therapy! Therapy is so encouraged > writing becomes therapy, too.
Nailed it!
So well said! Thanks for this!
Great commentary. Thoughtful and real. Thank you for exploring so we can become more aware and selective. Good stuff!
thank you Barbara!