Everything I've learned from 2 years on Substack (and a lifetime as a writer)
It's The Exposition's 2nd birthday.
My newsletter turns 2 this month. Now, one thing I absolutely hate about this platform is how many Substacks end up just being about ‘how to make it big’ on Substack. This is not that kind of post.
I don’t know the secret to success. I also haven’t ‘made it big’. So if that’s what you’re looking for, leave now.
However, I have picked up a few tidbits of information that have encouraged me to keep going. Because even though I started this purely for myself, I’ve managed to snag 100+ subscribers long before I ever thought I would, have regular readers (ILY❤️), have connected with and discovered a bunch of other amazing writers, and regularly get the odd person embarrassing me by mentioning how much they enjoy reading this TO MY FACE.
(Also shout out to my husband and friends etc. who make up a good proportion of the above. I’m going to conclude that you support me because I’m dead good and not because you have to.)
I can only assume everybody is either a liar, trying to play a horrid trick on me, or you know, actually enjoying what I do.
As someone who has been writing since they learned how to hold a pen (and later, customise their interface on Blogger, Myspace notes, LiveJournal, Tumblr and god knows what else) it’s nice. And somewhat validating.
Writing is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle baby!
💻 Everything I’ve learned about Substacking
Consistency really is key. My wonderful writing friend
inspired me first and foremost with which she started in lockdown. To date, she has sent out a newsletter almost every week since then and I have looked forward to it dropping into my inbox each and every time. The curse of writerdom is often that we get so wrapped up in our ideas and ‘needing to write’ that we forget to actually do it. Some of us never get started. And consistency, I’ve learned, is the only hack worth breaking that cliche.
No one is saying that you have to write every single week, but committing a set goal or time to do it, regardless of length, quality, or topic is going to take you places you never thought you’ll go. Over time I’ve gotten quicker and more consistent at putting out posts based on Ellen’s expert approach and it really works! I even look forward to throwing out a piece ad-hoc if something really gets me going but also not having the pressure to do it if I’m not feeling it at all is also very freeing.No one is asking for War and Peace. As a perfectionist (bleugh), all-or-nothing kind of gal, it irks me that the posts I spend the most time writing and researching often fall flat. I love a lengthy think-piece (ooerr!) but in a time-poor world, not everyone has the hours or energy to follow my deep dive into psychoanalysing why JoJo Siwah has reinvented herself as Paula Deen.
The posts I often get the most engagement with are my shorter posts where I actually just…. talk about me. And my weird experiences. As much as I’d love to be remembered for my pithy, profound critiques and meandering, comprehensive observations, it seems people kind of like it when I just be me? And by me, I mean someone who talks shite. In shorter bursts, no less.Sometimes it’s just dumb luck. I’d be lying if I didn’t occasionally have delusions of grandeur about my writing; that one day I’ll ‘go viral’ and people will discover my blog - and then wish to pay me millions for my insights. All writers have such fantasies. But honestly, I don’t believe there are any real tricks - just algorithms, being in the right place, at the right time, and topicality.
I hate the phrase ‘doing numbers’ but earlier this year I had a couple of notes AND a post start to ‘do numbers’. Previous experience with arseholes on the internet meant that it scared me more than it should. But as we used to say in PR, ‘its all exposure’.
I’m not sure what it is about my Gwen Stefani post - maybe it’s the mention of M*GA as a dirty word, the criticism of a divisive ‘90s icon, or just that I managed to hit a cultural nerve around the same time as someone else, but sometimes things just pop off for no real rhyme or reason. I haven’t managed to replicate it since and I’m not trying to… but a gross little part of me yearns to be seen. And simultaneously not seen ever again.Validation will come at the most inconvenient moments. Let me preface this by saying that even putting yourself out there in the first place is the hardest thing. That goes for anything creative; art, photos, film, comedy, writing - whatever. The people who do this are brave. Much braver than the people who don’t try at all for fear of failure or looking stupid. But as much as creative people try to train themselves that they do this simply for the love of it, I do believe that internally we are usually the kinds of folk who find it absolutely soul destroying when we think we’re getting nothing back.
I know there are people out there who enjoy my newsletter but don’t necessarily show it physical love (likes, comments, subscriptions etc.) I also know that people will bring it up in person to tell me they like it but like a freak, I will feel horribly seen and embarrassed that they read my deepest, darkest thoughts that I just happen to share publicly with strangers online and then promote via my personal channels.
External validation is a funny thing. Creative people need it, but we also loathe it. So thank you for however you have chosen to show my newsletter love - whether it be a giant banner in Times Square or a silent nod of appreciation I’ll never, ever know about.Your best friends won’t always read it. Life is busy, I get it. There’s a scene in that godawful show And Just Like That where Miranda reveals she doesn’t listen to Carrie’s podcast and somehow it’s like the friendship crime of the century. And honestly, I can relate - to Miranda that is. Look, I’m not going to force people to engage with my work just because it’s mine. It’s not always their thing and that’s fine. It also can be totally cringeworthy for a myriad of reasons. I don’t care if you don’t read it. I just care if you make fun of me for it, okay?
‘Everyone is a writer’ is a double edged sword. If you’re thinking of starting a Substack, I say just do it. Even if it’s anonymously. Even if you only get 3 subscribers. Even if it’s just a weird diary for nobody but yourself. I love reading other people’s writing - and I promise that even though it’s also my job, I don’t actually spellcheck them or anything! (Unless you’re my sworn enemy).
However, there is a lot of garbage out there. I see it in my line of work all the time; that people have delusions about their skills as a writer because they think it’s ‘just words on a page’ and that therefore, any old person can do it. Technically I suppose they are right but not everyone is a GOOD writer. And that little nuance is what devalues it as a developed skill.
However this is somewhat assuring in Substack world, because if even the worst blogs you’ve ever read can merely exist, then you shouldn’t feel self conscious at all about putting yourself out there. There’s something for everyone.
Ode to my fellow Substackers
A quick round up of the Substacks I’ve been reading and recommending over the last 2 years that you should definitely check out….
Luiza is one of the first writers I connected with here and
I loved Alexandra’s recent post on
about the female icons we’d do anything for. Always such considered think-pieces, and obviously any fan of Dolly Parton is a friend of mine.
I could share so many of Ellen’s posts but I can only choose one today so why not go for this fun recent love letter she wrote on physical media…
For a dose of fiction both ways (why is everything I say today unintentionally suggestive?),
has you covered. From book reviews, to writing tips, to actual works of fiction, Kelly is another writer who inspired me to get going at the very beginning.
Another member of the secret Substackers club is
who is not only currently writing a book but is an accomplished playwright - she documents the process here among all manner of other works of fiction, editorial posts, and guides.
Also check out…
- by Jennifer Morrow
- by Hayley Nahman
What I’ve been reading lately….
Tell me your Substack secrets. And thank you again to everybody who has somehow, inadvertently, contributed to keeping me going with this over the last two years…
Oh my! Congratulations! Thank you for the cute little shout out, too! 🫶
Hi Nicola! Congrats for the two years. It is quite an accomplishment. It is nice having our words out even if we don't get "famous" and I feel the same when people IRL tell me about something I wrote. It's the worst haha