I still remember when you recommended my newsletter, and I could not believe it. I had almost no audience then. But that one recommendation gave me the confidence that months of writing never did.
Thanks for this thoughtful post. Where I've been lost as I'm attempting to grow here (and I've shared on this a few times, even) is that there is a lot of noise. Even when starting out, some insist niche/write for one person, others say simply write. For me, time will tell whether this is the right place for me, but I'm intrigued by it.
And I couldn't help but laugh at "despair with a subject line" 😂 sums it up!
Back in the days when us dinosaurs blogged, I always found that to be true. The days you just open your laptop and write. Thats what people connect with. I have to learn to balance that story telling with teaching. By the way, my name is Barb and I write about (just kidding)
I am seeing a real shift in Substack readers. They are becoming far more selective about what they read and subscribe to. The novelty of simply publishing online has worn off. Readers are looking for substance, a clear point of view, and writers who consistently help them think differently or solve a meaningful problem.
That said, I think there is still a huge demand for personal stories. The difference is that readers no longer want stories for the sake of storytelling. They want stories that reveal an insight, challenge an assumption, or teach them something about themselves. The personal story is still the vehicle, but the lesson is what makes it memorable.
The writers who seem to be thriving are the ones who combine personality with expertise. They share their experiences, but they also help readers make sense of those experiences and apply the lessons to their own lives. Thanks for putting together such a thoughtful list, Derek.
I still remember when you recommended my newsletter, and I could not believe it. I had almost no audience then. But that one recommendation gave me the confidence that months of writing never did.
Thanks for this thoughtful post. Where I've been lost as I'm attempting to grow here (and I've shared on this a few times, even) is that there is a lot of noise. Even when starting out, some insist niche/write for one person, others say simply write. For me, time will tell whether this is the right place for me, but I'm intrigued by it.
And I couldn't help but laugh at "despair with a subject line" 😂 sums it up!
Some people spend years learning how to answer questions.
The people who grow the fastest usually learn how to ask better ones first.
Such brilliant advice here.
Back in the days when us dinosaurs blogged, I always found that to be true. The days you just open your laptop and write. Thats what people connect with. I have to learn to balance that story telling with teaching. By the way, my name is Barb and I write about (just kidding)
I am seeing a real shift in Substack readers. They are becoming far more selective about what they read and subscribe to. The novelty of simply publishing online has worn off. Readers are looking for substance, a clear point of view, and writers who consistently help them think differently or solve a meaningful problem.
That said, I think there is still a huge demand for personal stories. The difference is that readers no longer want stories for the sake of storytelling. They want stories that reveal an insight, challenge an assumption, or teach them something about themselves. The personal story is still the vehicle, but the lesson is what makes it memorable.
The writers who seem to be thriving are the ones who combine personality with expertise. They share their experiences, but they also help readers make sense of those experiences and apply the lessons to their own lives. Thanks for putting together such a thoughtful list, Derek.
This advice feels real to me, much more than some of the gurus here.
I love your notes and your posts, Derek!
I think a lot of writers hide inside “consistency” because it feels productive without forcing real emotional exposure.
Publishing often is not the hard part. Saying something that genuinely risks rejection usually is.
Thank you. I find this advice to be very helpful.