There is so much good stuff here, and I think that I've finally realized that I need to make more connections and relationships with readers and stop being hurt that friends and family have no interest in my writing. That means doing more in-person events (an introvert's nightmare) and giving more work away for free as I prepare for crowdfunding.
Oh, and I'm going to keep learning from those who have gone before me, too 😉 Thanks for all that you do, Simon!
Thanks, Sarah! The friends and family thing is a weird one, isn't it? My wife has never read any of my fiction. It actually surprises and unnerves me when a friend reveals that they read the newsletter. I find it easier to have readers scattered around the world, rather than living nearby who I might see in other contexts.
I suppose if a reader doesn't like something I write, it's no big deal. They can unsubscribe, or leave a snarky comment. But if a close friend dislikes something I write....that's awkward. :)
My son (11) is quite keen to read one of my books, which is a slightly terrifying prospect.
In-person events are tricky. I've done a few, though not many. I find it easier if I'm teaching writing, rather than talking about my actual fiction. What kind of thing were you thinking of doing? Reading, book fairs?
Indy has a strong and growing indie writer scene. I'm trying to lean into that. There are a couple book fairs in going to try for and work with independent stores for book signings when my next book launches.
Nice. I keep thinking I should submit a pitch for a talk at London Book Fair, but have never quite committed. Maybe that's rather leaping in at the deep end.
It's my belief that you should pitch your videos in a promotional package to the Geek Squad -- or other American computer-fixer-people. The girl I'm working with had never heard of Substack and had to learn from your videos. BUT I won't nag.
Sarah, the beauty of Substack is that you can make those connections right here on the platform, without leaving home! I’ve gained 450 subscribers in the past two months by ramping up my engagement and building relationships on the platform. I’m writing an article about what’s worked for me, so if you’re interested, feel free to subscribe at www.lizexplores.com. (I’m not a writing coach and I’m not selling anything; just sharing my strategies with fellow newbies!)
I'm lurking 😜 My growth is pretty steady and I'm working on intentional networking. Got any interest in camping travel posts? 😂 I really just want a strong Kickstarter launch for my book in March and a strong official launch in June 🤷🏼♀️ Indy has a strong indie writing community and I'm really trying to lean into that as well.
And I would love to write about why we prioritize camping travel as weekend warriors even though our kids are now teenagers and we keep getting busier. We are headed to Yellowstone in June 😊
How exciting, Sarah! Congratulations for making so much progress on your memoir. I don’t do guest posts on my Substack, but it seems like you could get a lot of traction by pitching freelance pieces to camping magazines and websites. Have you considered that?
This is the beta draft, but it has changed A LOT since I posted it on Substack. (I went from 22 to 40 chapters, things got moved around, other stuff got cut. It's been a whole process.) https://sarahstyf.substack.com/s/camping-memoir
The people that you think are going to back you, never do. Your validation will always come from unexpected sources -- at least that's been my experience.
You're going to have to accept the fact that they'll never understand and keep on writing. Stop looking for validation from people who don't have a clue; this causes more insecurity and saps your creative energy. Personal note: my mother was a very talented musician. She had perfect pitch, an MFA in musical performance, many choirs, many awards, many write-ups, a local legend. My writing was "Joan and her scribbles" . Not until I published my novel "Silver Bottle" (Moon Valley Press) did she read any of my work. She was 81. She died at 83, and I can honestly say we never had a decent conversation, primarily because by not acknowleding my talents, she was, in effect, not acknowledging me. My talents had no value. We never had a decent conversation that I can remember. If I could talk to myself at 25, I'd say what I'm saying to you: Let go, and quit chasing that particular dream.
I have multiple accounts in multiple places, back up my work, and connect with any writer who wants to connect with me. I couldn't have built the audience I have any other way.
Watt pad was never my main writing platform, but I know plenty of people who wrote directly into the interface and didn’t back up anywhere. As someone who had an entire book deleted by the site on a whim (after multiple ambassadors already read it and approved it), you definitely want to make sure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. If I had, that book would just be gone. No warning, no recourse, nothing.
Yikes, that's a terrifying thought. Did Wattpad not engage with you to find any kind of solution? Even with a backup, it must have been very annoying to lose the potential reads/comments/etc.
Nope. I just logged in and it was gone. They claimed content violations. This is a novella that longlisted in the ONC last year. So people saw it. Five months later it was just gone and Wattpad said I couldn’t do anything about it. Their decision was final. That was the final nail in the coffin for me.
A supremely insightful article, thanks Simon. As a newbie on Substack, I'm finding your perspective invaluable - and the body of work you're building on here is inspirational. Thanks again!
Well said. So much of this I relate to. I've been bouncing around different platforms for the last year. Some I completely love but a few I've dipped my toes in and then backed out, just barely in the nick of time. It's nice to hear from someone who gets it.
I had a Zoom call with my family last night and a couple of them were enthusiastic about my latest stories and started suggesting I do podcasts, get on TikTok, etc. It took me a few minutes, but I had to explain that I've reached a point where I was so busy learning Search Engine Optimization, Ad Copy, Amazon algorithms, etc., that I wasn't writing any fiction. I don't know how all this effort will turn out, but the change in my attitude has been an important one. Put my head back on straight.
It's so difficult. There's always that nagging feeling that you might be missing out on the Next Big Thing. TikTok/BookTok seemed like a genuine phenomenon, but I just can't bring myself to spend any time on that platform.
As long as we all make conscious decisions about where we spend our time, I think we'll be OK. But yeah, over-committing to loads of different places just because they're in fashion is probably a fast route to burnout....or, as you say, not having any time to do actual writing.
Ticket to Ride has a Legacy version??? I'm so up for that. After Risk Legacy, the first two Pandemic Legacies and currently working our way through Sea Fall and Undaunted: Stalingrad, we are ALL about the Legacy boardgame...
It does! It's only been out for a month-or-so. Was released just before Christmas, I think. Oddly, we were playing Ticket to Ride (standard) with some friends and were then talking about how good Pandemic Legacy was, at which point I noted that TtR would make for a brilliant Legacy game. Quick Google search later, and I discovered that it was being released the following week.
Spooky.
Only slight disappointment is that it doesn't begin with everyone only having those comedy train platforms where two people have to wiggle a lever up and down to make it move, Laurel & Hardy style.
Thanks, Simon! I've only a passing awareness of the journey you've described!
Since I'm on Website version 4 on a mission to support others - I've been approaching the platforms and tech from a 'fit for purpose?' perspective, not as a writer. Version 1 I 'just wanted to share some resources so other carers didn't feel so alone'.
So I appreciate this concise 'Darwinian evolution!?' of a modern-day writer? The Mindfulness & Community for Writers. As a non-writer, I'd watch that animated video!! ;-)
I'm nodding along with every word Simon, such an engaging read! I'm brand new to Substack, one book published and spreading my authorly wings (or trying to). Thank you for this!
As you said, there's a certain vulnerability to producing your work and it's exciting. Hopefully, someone considering sharing their work but needs extra courage, reads your post!
It's funny that I was thinking about writing something similar to this earlier today while I was walking the halls at work. I remember MySpace, when it was a platform, where you posted silly shit and interacted, but it was also a blogging platform, and we all wrote there. Everyone was in one place, and I had hundreds of readers and dozens of writer friends. What a different world we live in where everyone is trying to garner the attention of a few people -- hey, look at this thing I did. It feels so much less of a community, and I don't think that's nostalgia at all. I'm not criticizing Substack at all, or disagreeing with the post, only thinking about what was and what is now. It's just different than it used to be. C'est la vie!
I grew up on usenet bulletin boards back in the 90s, which again felt very focused and community-driven. The internet was REALLY good at communities right from the beginning. Back then it was all infrastructural and nobody really 'owned' it. When the big corporations waded in in the 2000s they certainly made it easier to use the internet, but something was lost along the way, I think.
FWIW, the writing community here on Substack is the closest I've got to the 'feel' of those 90s usenet forums.
There is so much good stuff here, and I think that I've finally realized that I need to make more connections and relationships with readers and stop being hurt that friends and family have no interest in my writing. That means doing more in-person events (an introvert's nightmare) and giving more work away for free as I prepare for crowdfunding.
Oh, and I'm going to keep learning from those who have gone before me, too 😉 Thanks for all that you do, Simon!
Thanks, Sarah! The friends and family thing is a weird one, isn't it? My wife has never read any of my fiction. It actually surprises and unnerves me when a friend reveals that they read the newsletter. I find it easier to have readers scattered around the world, rather than living nearby who I might see in other contexts.
I suppose if a reader doesn't like something I write, it's no big deal. They can unsubscribe, or leave a snarky comment. But if a close friend dislikes something I write....that's awkward. :)
My son (11) is quite keen to read one of my books, which is a slightly terrifying prospect.
In-person events are tricky. I've done a few, though not many. I find it easier if I'm teaching writing, rather than talking about my actual fiction. What kind of thing were you thinking of doing? Reading, book fairs?
Indy has a strong and growing indie writer scene. I'm trying to lean into that. There are a couple book fairs in going to try for and work with independent stores for book signings when my next book launches.
Nice. I keep thinking I should submit a pitch for a talk at London Book Fair, but have never quite committed. Maybe that's rather leaping in at the deep end.
It's my belief that you should pitch your videos in a promotional package to the Geek Squad -- or other American computer-fixer-people. The girl I'm working with had never heard of Substack and had to learn from your videos. BUT I won't nag.
Sarah, the beauty of Substack is that you can make those connections right here on the platform, without leaving home! I’ve gained 450 subscribers in the past two months by ramping up my engagement and building relationships on the platform. I’m writing an article about what’s worked for me, so if you’re interested, feel free to subscribe at www.lizexplores.com. (I’m not a writing coach and I’m not selling anything; just sharing my strategies with fellow newbies!)
I'm lurking 😜 My growth is pretty steady and I'm working on intentional networking. Got any interest in camping travel posts? 😂 I really just want a strong Kickstarter launch for my book in March and a strong official launch in June 🤷🏼♀️ Indy has a strong indie writing community and I'm really trying to lean into that as well.
Hi Sarah, what did you have in mind for camping travel posts? And what’s your book about?
And I would love to write about why we prioritize camping travel as weekend warriors even though our kids are now teenagers and we keep getting busier. We are headed to Yellowstone in June 😊
How exciting, Sarah! Congratulations for making so much progress on your memoir. I don’t do guest posts on my Substack, but it seems like you could get a lot of traction by pitching freelance pieces to camping magazines and websites. Have you considered that?
That's a good idea! I've also been working on contacting camping IG accounts.
And I get it. I struggle with requests for guest posts on mine as well. It doesn't really fit.
This is the beta draft, but it has changed A LOT since I posted it on Substack. (I went from 22 to 40 chapters, things got moved around, other stuff got cut. It's been a whole process.) https://sarahstyf.substack.com/s/camping-memoir
The people that you think are going to back you, never do. Your validation will always come from unexpected sources -- at least that's been my experience.
Truth.
PAINFUL truth.
Especially when I'm spilling out my heart and it's the only way that certain family members can really know me, and they aren't reading it.
Other times, I'm probably ok with them not knowing the WHOLE truth 😉
You're going to have to accept the fact that they'll never understand and keep on writing. Stop looking for validation from people who don't have a clue; this causes more insecurity and saps your creative energy. Personal note: my mother was a very talented musician. She had perfect pitch, an MFA in musical performance, many choirs, many awards, many write-ups, a local legend. My writing was "Joan and her scribbles" . Not until I published my novel "Silver Bottle" (Moon Valley Press) did she read any of my work. She was 81. She died at 83, and I can honestly say we never had a decent conversation, primarily because by not acknowleding my talents, she was, in effect, not acknowledging me. My talents had no value. We never had a decent conversation that I can remember. If I could talk to myself at 25, I'd say what I'm saying to you: Let go, and quit chasing that particular dream.
That is so frustrating and I'm sorry. My own relationship with my mother has different complications, so I get that part all too well.
I have multiple accounts in multiple places, back up my work, and connect with any writer who wants to connect with me. I couldn't have built the audience I have any other way.
Nicely done. :)
It's so much easier to do all these things now, but it still takes a huge amount of time. All we need now is some sort of time dilation machine.
Many thanks for this column. I hope I shall be able to follow your advice more carerfullly!
Thanks for reading!
Watt pad was never my main writing platform, but I know plenty of people who wrote directly into the interface and didn’t back up anywhere. As someone who had an entire book deleted by the site on a whim (after multiple ambassadors already read it and approved it), you definitely want to make sure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. If I had, that book would just be gone. No warning, no recourse, nothing.
Yikes, that's a terrifying thought. Did Wattpad not engage with you to find any kind of solution? Even with a backup, it must have been very annoying to lose the potential reads/comments/etc.
Nope. I just logged in and it was gone. They claimed content violations. This is a novella that longlisted in the ONC last year. So people saw it. Five months later it was just gone and Wattpad said I couldn’t do anything about it. Their decision was final. That was the final nail in the coffin for me.
OUCH! There should be at least a condolence card for those traumatic grief situations!
A supremely insightful article, thanks Simon. As a newbie on Substack, I'm finding your perspective invaluable - and the body of work you're building on here is inspirational. Thanks again!
Thanks, TK!
Thanks for this post and all you do. 💗
Thanks, Jennifer!
Well said. So much of this I relate to. I've been bouncing around different platforms for the last year. Some I completely love but a few I've dipped my toes in and then backed out, just barely in the nick of time. It's nice to hear from someone who gets it.
It's such a maze, isn't it? And always shifting, so just when you think you've memorised the layout, it all changes.
It is! Trying to keep up with it can be maddening. I loved your enshitification reference :)
Great article. Thank you!
I had a Zoom call with my family last night and a couple of them were enthusiastic about my latest stories and started suggesting I do podcasts, get on TikTok, etc. It took me a few minutes, but I had to explain that I've reached a point where I was so busy learning Search Engine Optimization, Ad Copy, Amazon algorithms, etc., that I wasn't writing any fiction. I don't know how all this effort will turn out, but the change in my attitude has been an important one. Put my head back on straight.
It's so difficult. There's always that nagging feeling that you might be missing out on the Next Big Thing. TikTok/BookTok seemed like a genuine phenomenon, but I just can't bring myself to spend any time on that platform.
As long as we all make conscious decisions about where we spend our time, I think we'll be OK. But yeah, over-committing to loads of different places just because they're in fashion is probably a fast route to burnout....or, as you say, not having any time to do actual writing.
Ticket to Ride has a Legacy version??? I'm so up for that. After Risk Legacy, the first two Pandemic Legacies and currently working our way through Sea Fall and Undaunted: Stalingrad, we are ALL about the Legacy boardgame...
It does! It's only been out for a month-or-so. Was released just before Christmas, I think. Oddly, we were playing Ticket to Ride (standard) with some friends and were then talking about how good Pandemic Legacy was, at which point I noted that TtR would make for a brilliant Legacy game. Quick Google search later, and I discovered that it was being released the following week.
Spooky.
Only slight disappointment is that it doesn't begin with everyone only having those comedy train platforms where two people have to wiggle a lever up and down to make it move, Laurel & Hardy style.
Ha!
Thanks, Simon! I've only a passing awareness of the journey you've described!
Since I'm on Website version 4 on a mission to support others - I've been approaching the platforms and tech from a 'fit for purpose?' perspective, not as a writer. Version 1 I 'just wanted to share some resources so other carers didn't feel so alone'.
So I appreciate this concise 'Darwinian evolution!?' of a modern-day writer? The Mindfulness & Community for Writers. As a non-writer, I'd watch that animated video!! ;-)
I'm nodding along with every word Simon, such an engaging read! I'm brand new to Substack, one book published and spreading my authorly wings (or trying to). Thank you for this!
Thanks for reading! Enjoy flying on those wings.
Thank you so much! I look forward to reading more of your articles.
As you said, there's a certain vulnerability to producing your work and it's exciting. Hopefully, someone considering sharing their work but needs extra courage, reads your post!
Thank you for this. We also replayed Pandemic and Ticket to Ride in the Snowpocalypse
It's funny that I was thinking about writing something similar to this earlier today while I was walking the halls at work. I remember MySpace, when it was a platform, where you posted silly shit and interacted, but it was also a blogging platform, and we all wrote there. Everyone was in one place, and I had hundreds of readers and dozens of writer friends. What a different world we live in where everyone is trying to garner the attention of a few people -- hey, look at this thing I did. It feels so much less of a community, and I don't think that's nostalgia at all. I'm not criticizing Substack at all, or disagreeing with the post, only thinking about what was and what is now. It's just different than it used to be. C'est la vie!
I grew up on usenet bulletin boards back in the 90s, which again felt very focused and community-driven. The internet was REALLY good at communities right from the beginning. Back then it was all infrastructural and nobody really 'owned' it. When the big corporations waded in in the 2000s they certainly made it easier to use the internet, but something was lost along the way, I think.
FWIW, the writing community here on Substack is the closest I've got to the 'feel' of those 90s usenet forums.
I didn't know Ticket to Ride has a legacy version 😍 Came for the Substack advice, left with weekend plans
Glad to be the bearer of good news. :)
"People rich with investment but creatively bankrupt attempt to wrestle the very act of creation away from artists."
This is just the latest iteration of a theme almost as old as civilized humanity itself: it's all about who can Create like the gods do.
Hold my matcha...