2024 was my first full year on Substack, and I’m very proud of having finished my first serial, Destination Europa (linked below) as well as 10 short stories. Looking forward to what 2025 will bring!
I learned how to throw pots on a potting wheel. I increased my level of Spoken French. I joined Substack and met some really interesting people on here.
On the creative front, I kept up with this newsletter! Aside from that, my son completed junior school. That's primarily HIS achievement, of course, but I like to think that I contributed a bit. :)
I started serialising fiction and I’m into serialising book 2 and the stories are pouring out, could really use some timey-wimey stuff as the Doctor says so I could write them all down. The queue is kinda getting epic.
I've written more in the last 3 years since starting my own newsletter than in the previous 30 years, I think. :) It's a really effective way to build a regular writing habit.
One 2024 achievement was to start an historical fiction Substack, "The Inspiration of Artifacts." And I am deeply indebted to Simon's helpful guides and how-tos, which totally helped me understand the platform. Thank you, SKJ! And happy new year.
It was a big year. We downsized, sold our house and moved to a little place on a lovely creek in Annapolis. Easy access to the Chesapeake Bay. Resident heron and ospreys. Now, lots of ducks and geese. Building community with lots of wonderful nature writers on Substack. .
I launched my Substack last January 1st with the first 3 chapters of my crime serial - The Spring - which is set in The Presidio of San Francisco. Very proud to say that I've published consistently (okay, a few exceptions,) twice a week since then, and I'm wrapping up the story in the next moth or so.
I've really appreciated all of your advice about fiction writing on Substack — especially serial writing. I've used the idea of the chapter index and it has been a great starting point for my new subscribers. Hoping 2025 will connect me with an agent and develop my community of subscribers more, but overall pleased with my first year!
What did I do this year with my Substack? I went back through my archives and found an article (?) I wrote in Jan 2024, titled WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR. I've learned a lot since I've come here. I've settled down, somewhat. I put out stuff twice a week. Once, on my FREE page: STORIES, AFTER EIGHT, which comes out every Sunday at 8 am; and my serials, which come out on Wednesdays. The serial I'm publishing at the moment is THE SHIELD OF LOCKSLEY. I put my serials behind the PAYWALL because when I first got here I had three friends pay me on the second day. I had to give them something...so I gave them JACK OF DIAMONDS.
I've been very busy this past year. I have over 500 posts out. I put out a partial story I had for SCI-FI Friday. It was just a whim, but people liked it. It was, of all things, a STAR WARS story. But I only had 8 chapters. But people liked it. And then I started posting on THROWBACK THURSDAYS, which I thought was a good idea, because my numbers were starting to grow. I started the year with 387 Subscribers. I wanted to share my writing with them. And then I looked at my King Arthur story. It was in a notebook I found in my filing cabinet when I was changing over from the cabinet, to totes. I found a Table of Contents I'd written when I was 18-19 years old. I decided I was going to write it and use the table of contents as my plot. I shut down JACK OF DIAMONDS and put THE SHIELD OF LOCKSLEY up in its place. But I kept it behind the PAYWALL. And that's where it will stay.
So it's been a busy year. This year, I'm starting to scale back a bit. Two posts a week: one FREE, one PAYWALLED. I'll use Notes, and Comments, and Recommend as much as I always do. I grew my 'stack from 387 to over 860; and my FOLLOWERS from 520 to 2800! So it's been a good year, and next year should be even better! Of course, this could all go out the window if I suddenly get an idea...like the videos I'm thinking of doing.
He's got metastatic cancer, acromegaly, and diabetes. His prognosis upon diagnosis was six months. He's still here, he's mostly happy (his meds have him a little stoned all the time), and he's even put on a half kilo of weight in the last few months. He's got excellent vets and we've been on top of everything as owners.
My greatest accomplishment is starting my substack and putting my stories out there for people to read! The point of stories is to share them, and I hadn't been doing that for the longest time, so it's exciting and fun, and I can already see how I'm improving as a writer.
So pleased to hear that. I found I was able to write more once I started actually publishing my work, and that was the most effective way to then improve as a writer. Studying and learning and reading is all very important too, but it's all theory unless you get your own words down.
Exactly this! It motivates me to publish, so serialized fiction writing is fun. Also lets me be less focused on being perfect so the content can go out on time.
Well, I published a trilogy and learned my new gelding (unpapered, therefore grade in equestrian parlance) is a Foxtrotter, so am learning how to train a gaited horse as opposed to a trotting horse.
Trilogy is science fantasy neoWestern with a strong relationship facing challenges and Carolingian elements. Link is to Amazon but it's available wherever ebooks are sold, except Google Play. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFNYLNWG
2024 was my first full year on Substack, and I’m very proud of having finished my first serial, Destination Europa (linked below) as well as 10 short stories. Looking forward to what 2025 will bring!
https://open.substack.com/pub/coraclevoyager/p/mission-europa
Sounds like a fantastic first year. Nice one!
I learned how to throw pots on a potting wheel. I increased my level of Spoken French. I joined Substack and met some really interesting people on here.
Those are all excellent things. Have you made any particularly good pots?
I made individualised mugs for my entire family (I include some friends in that list) and made (gulp) 28 mugs. I felt like IKEA.
Amazing! You'll have to create a proper IKEA style catalogue next.
And you, Sir? What was your smallest achievement that you were very proud of and your biggest?
On the creative front, I kept up with this newsletter! Aside from that, my son completed junior school. That's primarily HIS achievement, of course, but I like to think that I contributed a bit. :)
I started serialising fiction and I’m into serialising book 2 and the stories are pouring out, could really use some timey-wimey stuff as the Doctor says so I could write them all down. The queue is kinda getting epic.
Haha, I fully sympathise with this.
I started a serial and finished a side project.
I started my Substack a year ago and got 2000 subscribers in that year.
I’m blown away by Substack, and the people and opportunity here.
I’m proud to have posted 70 times, it’s been a big commitment though so fulfilling.
I appreciate your writing Simon, thank you! 🫶
I've written more in the last 3 years since starting my own newsletter than in the previous 30 years, I think. :) It's a really effective way to build a regular writing habit.
I finished the first draft of my romance novel! Leaving edits for the new year after a bit of a break.
Congratulations!
Thank you! Very excited for the next steps.
My start on developing my oc Yukikuro and the novel that they are starring in.
So good to see you on here, Morgan!
Hoi to you, Shannon!
One 2024 achievement was to start an historical fiction Substack, "The Inspiration of Artifacts." And I am deeply indebted to Simon's helpful guides and how-tos, which totally helped me understand the platform. Thank you, SKJ! And happy new year.
Happy to help! And happy new year to you, too.
It was a big year. We downsized, sold our house and moved to a little place on a lovely creek in Annapolis. Easy access to the Chesapeake Bay. Resident heron and ospreys. Now, lots of ducks and geese. Building community with lots of wonderful nature writers on Substack. .
Wow, that all sounds very exciting and idyllic.
Especially in summer, it felt like being on vacation.
Finally finished the first draft of my sixth self-pub
Congrats! How many more drafts to go? :)
Depends on the feedback. I'm hoping just the one...
I launched my Substack last January 1st with the first 3 chapters of my crime serial - The Spring - which is set in The Presidio of San Francisco. Very proud to say that I've published consistently (okay, a few exceptions,) twice a week since then, and I'm wrapping up the story in the next moth or so.
https://anniewilson.substack.com/
I've really appreciated all of your advice about fiction writing on Substack — especially serial writing. I've used the idea of the chapter index and it has been a great starting point for my new subscribers. Hoping 2025 will connect me with an agent and develop my community of subscribers more, but overall pleased with my first year!
Great stuff, Annie. Good luck with the agent hunt!
I finally realized a lifelong dream and published my debut novel in November. It still feels surreal.
Incredible! Congratulations.
What did I do this year with my Substack? I went back through my archives and found an article (?) I wrote in Jan 2024, titled WHAT I'VE LEARNED SO FAR. I've learned a lot since I've come here. I've settled down, somewhat. I put out stuff twice a week. Once, on my FREE page: STORIES, AFTER EIGHT, which comes out every Sunday at 8 am; and my serials, which come out on Wednesdays. The serial I'm publishing at the moment is THE SHIELD OF LOCKSLEY. I put my serials behind the PAYWALL because when I first got here I had three friends pay me on the second day. I had to give them something...so I gave them JACK OF DIAMONDS.
I've been very busy this past year. I have over 500 posts out. I put out a partial story I had for SCI-FI Friday. It was just a whim, but people liked it. It was, of all things, a STAR WARS story. But I only had 8 chapters. But people liked it. And then I started posting on THROWBACK THURSDAYS, which I thought was a good idea, because my numbers were starting to grow. I started the year with 387 Subscribers. I wanted to share my writing with them. And then I looked at my King Arthur story. It was in a notebook I found in my filing cabinet when I was changing over from the cabinet, to totes. I found a Table of Contents I'd written when I was 18-19 years old. I decided I was going to write it and use the table of contents as my plot. I shut down JACK OF DIAMONDS and put THE SHIELD OF LOCKSLEY up in its place. But I kept it behind the PAYWALL. And that's where it will stay.
So it's been a busy year. This year, I'm starting to scale back a bit. Two posts a week: one FREE, one PAYWALLED. I'll use Notes, and Comments, and Recommend as much as I always do. I grew my 'stack from 387 to over 860; and my FOLLOWERS from 520 to 2800! So it's been a good year, and next year should be even better! Of course, this could all go out the window if I suddenly get an idea...like the videos I'm thinking of doing.
See? It just keeps growing in my head!
I do find that the ideas start multiplying once you start writing a regular newsletter. Sounds like a very successful and busy year, Ben!
I kept Scotty-cat alive with quality of life.
He's got metastatic cancer, acromegaly, and diabetes. His prognosis upon diagnosis was six months. He's still here, he's mostly happy (his meds have him a little stoned all the time), and he's even put on a half kilo of weight in the last few months. He's got excellent vets and we've been on top of everything as owners.
I'll take the win. He's muh guy.
Definitely the big win of 2024.
A little later we'll have some lap time.
🤗
My greatest accomplishment is starting my substack and putting my stories out there for people to read! The point of stories is to share them, and I hadn't been doing that for the longest time, so it's exciting and fun, and I can already see how I'm improving as a writer.
Imwriternim.substack.com, for those looking for more serialized fiction to read!
So pleased to hear that. I found I was able to write more once I started actually publishing my work, and that was the most effective way to then improve as a writer. Studying and learning and reading is all very important too, but it's all theory unless you get your own words down.
Exactly this! It motivates me to publish, so serialized fiction writing is fun. Also lets me be less focused on being perfect so the content can go out on time.
The link for convenience:
https://open.substack.com/pub/imwriternim?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4nshvk
Well, I published a trilogy and learned my new gelding (unpapered, therefore grade in equestrian parlance) is a Foxtrotter, so am learning how to train a gaited horse as opposed to a trotting horse.
Trilogy is science fantasy neoWestern with a strong relationship facing challenges and Carolingian elements. Link is to Amazon but it's available wherever ebooks are sold, except Google Play. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFNYLNWG