As a newcomer to Substack I found this item useful and rather inspiring. Hopefully I'll be able to put Sam's advice into effect. I say hopefully because Sam's action plan may be simple, but it certainly isn't easy.
All great advice, Sam. Thanks! I've got a preamble & observation tendency, for sure, one I'm learning to deal with. But does this directness, which you do so well, mean that all Substack roads lead to the hot take? More generally--does the competition for readers' eyes mean first-person argumentation is the clear winner? This is not a bad thing, and makes sense if you think of Substack as one giant magazine. But for a platform that aspires to be the future of culture, it poses interesting questions about the future of text. I know there are thoughtful ramblers & personal essayists here who make it work by sheer force of talent/persona/platform. I know there is fiction here--I haven't figured out yet how to suspend my disbelief in the app, I'll have to read Naomi's novella. I don't know. Just thinking here. Thanks for being a good egg and just generally making this place a nice place to read and write!
Really appreciate this one, Sam! As I read this, I was encouraged to realize that I think I really do fall into that category of someone for whom doing substack comes from a deep place. I've tried a lot of other things and realized my heart wasn't really in it, so it was a nice contrast to read your remarks about that and not feel convicted by it.
On another note, I'm sure you're right about the "reach out to bigger writers" thing. And I've done it a little bit as well. But man... It makes me uncomfortable. I don't like to ask people for favors in general, and I especially hate making people feel like I just want something out of them. Feels like no matter what you say in a cold contact, that message comes across.
Is there a right time or way to do this? Do I need to just get over my self-promotion squeamishness?
Thanks again, I've been really enjoying your pieces.
Not a newcomer, I build here on one of your points: commenting with knowledge that you have indeed read is key for anyone who isn't let's say, e.g., Timothy Snyder, et al ... As a fiction writer, memoirist, essayist, one thing is for sure: my heart is on the page ... That matters as well.
I agree with all these points, and I am especially all for commenting and joining the conversation. It's my bread and butter, since I pride myself on being an incisive reader. I would add, though, that there is a hierarchy that often forms where certain, more subscribed accounts get more engagement from authors in their comments. Its unfortunately the "it takes money to make money" paradox, where the lower sub count you have the lower chance your comment will get boosted via sustained reply by an author because they focus on whoever already has the money, ie the higher sub count, as this boosts exposure more for both. You can fight through this but it probably just makes the organic growth slower if you're friendly with higher subbed accounts. But then, this is sort in all social media. The mimesis of influencer culture.
Sam—This is not a good fit, so please don’t put up my piece Conversation at Sunset. Just delete it from your files. Thanks for putting up these tips. I think I will probably drop Substack too. This has been an odd experience.
Bullet point #4: “ You almost can’t overestimate the patience of this community. In different forums here I’ve been involved in a lot of wrestling about what a good rate of publication is, and at what point audiences start to burn out. And the truth is that they don’t really. I think the sad reality of our era …” THIS is EXACTLY why you should choose a spartan posting schedule. Do not make assumptions about people’s feckless habits and err on the side of More … in this way, you’re abetting them being their own worst enemy. Time and attention are so very limited and yet so scintillatingly demanded that for the asking, people give it away, leading to “content producers” feeling entitled to have it… (The way “newsletters” used to send-twice if you didn’t open the first time!! Excuse you, my Inbox is MINE) This Attention Economy is really bad for both senders and receivers and guess who makes the money… the tool providers. Writers and purveyors of news, images, art, data analysis all earn their place in my Inbox when they tell me something notable on a lunar cycle… or once a week, if they absolutely must. (They don’t, as a rule). A few of you guys send me two things a week. I can hardly handle it! And Substack tries to recruit me to other people as often (grrrr argh) — whereas the people I hear from on the lunar cycle, I absolutely Stan them.
Great advice about being patient and plugging away. I have yet to see a quality and interesting Substack that publishes regularly and over a long time fail to get discovered. It WILL happen. Every time!
Well, this is just my anecdotal experience stumbling across someone who has a very small following but great writing, and watching them over time. The good ones make it!
Thank you, Sam. I agree with your postulation on Substack, and having read you, I understood that I instinctively followed the same road you described. I am totally out of any media or influences. As a solitary, unknown person, I found a circle of readers interested in my writing and my knowledge of Russian culture and literature. What I don't like about Substack is the unnecessary abundance of newsletters from people who teach you about life, or just a lot of mediocre articles, or AI's pictures, and it makes you think, why is it on Substack...
Maybe put out to pasture saying "a lot of effort", because for my generation it's "our uncle's a lot of effort" times a couple. It's unhealthy. We don't get to buy a house, or a good job now with a master's degree. What do you think "a lot of effort" means in my scale? What does it mean in terms of time for example. I'm asking this, because it'd be reassuring to get a realistic view.
Dear Sam, I greatly enjoy both Castalia and RoL. Feels like sneaking in a party with smart people and being able to watch and listen to them (I know, I should consider paying the entrance ticket…). I also appreciate your being open and transparent about your goals on Substack. I am a bit puzzled (and worried) about the quantitative argument: The need for writing more and more. How can one keep the pace you are having here, posting every second day plus revising and selecting other’s work, and save both quality and health? It must be exhausting. Is it really necessary? Isn’t it a self-fulfilling prophecy if good writers on Substack push each other into writing more and more? I might be limited but I cannot, as a reader, process more than a very good essay every couple of days. Take care and thanks for your work.
As a newcomer to Substack I found this item useful and rather inspiring. Hopefully I'll be able to put Sam's advice into effect. I say hopefully because Sam's action plan may be simple, but it certainly isn't easy.
All great advice, Sam. Thanks! I've got a preamble & observation tendency, for sure, one I'm learning to deal with. But does this directness, which you do so well, mean that all Substack roads lead to the hot take? More generally--does the competition for readers' eyes mean first-person argumentation is the clear winner? This is not a bad thing, and makes sense if you think of Substack as one giant magazine. But for a platform that aspires to be the future of culture, it poses interesting questions about the future of text. I know there are thoughtful ramblers & personal essayists here who make it work by sheer force of talent/persona/platform. I know there is fiction here--I haven't figured out yet how to suspend my disbelief in the app, I'll have to read Naomi's novella. I don't know. Just thinking here. Thanks for being a good egg and just generally making this place a nice place to read and write!
Really appreciate this one, Sam! As I read this, I was encouraged to realize that I think I really do fall into that category of someone for whom doing substack comes from a deep place. I've tried a lot of other things and realized my heart wasn't really in it, so it was a nice contrast to read your remarks about that and not feel convicted by it.
On another note, I'm sure you're right about the "reach out to bigger writers" thing. And I've done it a little bit as well. But man... It makes me uncomfortable. I don't like to ask people for favors in general, and I especially hate making people feel like I just want something out of them. Feels like no matter what you say in a cold contact, that message comes across.
Is there a right time or way to do this? Do I need to just get over my self-promotion squeamishness?
Thanks again, I've been really enjoying your pieces.
This is genuinely fantastic advice. The fact that you can’t fake your passion or interest is central to success.
Not a newcomer, I build here on one of your points: commenting with knowledge that you have indeed read is key for anyone who isn't let's say, e.g., Timothy Snyder, et al ... As a fiction writer, memoirist, essayist, one thing is for sure: my heart is on the page ... That matters as well.
"Benevolent Uncle" was a band that had a small but fanatical following in the Seattle grunge era. I made that up but it could be true.
I heard they touched a lot of people... with their music.
I agree with all these points, and I am especially all for commenting and joining the conversation. It's my bread and butter, since I pride myself on being an incisive reader. I would add, though, that there is a hierarchy that often forms where certain, more subscribed accounts get more engagement from authors in their comments. Its unfortunately the "it takes money to make money" paradox, where the lower sub count you have the lower chance your comment will get boosted via sustained reply by an author because they focus on whoever already has the money, ie the higher sub count, as this boosts exposure more for both. You can fight through this but it probably just makes the organic growth slower if you're friendly with higher subbed accounts. But then, this is sort in all social media. The mimesis of influencer culture.
Sam—This is not a good fit, so please don’t put up my piece Conversation at Sunset. Just delete it from your files. Thanks for putting up these tips. I think I will probably drop Substack too. This has been an odd experience.
Bullet point #4: “ You almost can’t overestimate the patience of this community. In different forums here I’ve been involved in a lot of wrestling about what a good rate of publication is, and at what point audiences start to burn out. And the truth is that they don’t really. I think the sad reality of our era …” THIS is EXACTLY why you should choose a spartan posting schedule. Do not make assumptions about people’s feckless habits and err on the side of More … in this way, you’re abetting them being their own worst enemy. Time and attention are so very limited and yet so scintillatingly demanded that for the asking, people give it away, leading to “content producers” feeling entitled to have it… (The way “newsletters” used to send-twice if you didn’t open the first time!! Excuse you, my Inbox is MINE) This Attention Economy is really bad for both senders and receivers and guess who makes the money… the tool providers. Writers and purveyors of news, images, art, data analysis all earn their place in my Inbox when they tell me something notable on a lunar cycle… or once a week, if they absolutely must. (They don’t, as a rule). A few of you guys send me two things a week. I can hardly handle it! And Substack tries to recruit me to other people as often (grrrr argh) — whereas the people I hear from on the lunar cycle, I absolutely Stan them.
Great advice about being patient and plugging away. I have yet to see a quality and interesting Substack that publishes regularly and over a long time fail to get discovered. It WILL happen. Every time!
Isn’t that some sort of paradox? If they failed to get discovered, then likely you’d never see them in the first place. :-)
hihihihi
Well, this is just my anecdotal experience stumbling across someone who has a very small following but great writing, and watching them over time. The good ones make it!
Thank you, Sam. I agree with your postulation on Substack, and having read you, I understood that I instinctively followed the same road you described. I am totally out of any media or influences. As a solitary, unknown person, I found a circle of readers interested in my writing and my knowledge of Russian culture and literature. What I don't like about Substack is the unnecessary abundance of newsletters from people who teach you about life, or just a lot of mediocre articles, or AI's pictures, and it makes you think, why is it on Substack...
Thank you Sam.
You should try to be on friendly terms with the void. - Ain’t that the truth!
Maybe put out to pasture saying "a lot of effort", because for my generation it's "our uncle's a lot of effort" times a couple. It's unhealthy. We don't get to buy a house, or a good job now with a master's degree. What do you think "a lot of effort" means in my scale? What does it mean in terms of time for example. I'm asking this, because it'd be reassuring to get a realistic view.
Dear Sam, I greatly enjoy both Castalia and RoL. Feels like sneaking in a party with smart people and being able to watch and listen to them (I know, I should consider paying the entrance ticket…). I also appreciate your being open and transparent about your goals on Substack. I am a bit puzzled (and worried) about the quantitative argument: The need for writing more and more. How can one keep the pace you are having here, posting every second day plus revising and selecting other’s work, and save both quality and health? It must be exhausting. Is it really necessary? Isn’t it a self-fulfilling prophecy if good writers on Substack push each other into writing more and more? I might be limited but I cannot, as a reader, process more than a very good essay every couple of days. Take care and thanks for your work.
So, can I just start calling you Uncle Sam now or? Because this was a fantastic article.