Listen now | Helen and Claire's Substack journey over the course of 2023. We talk about writing on Substack, gaining subscribers, going paid and lots more.
Morning! I really enjoyed listening to your podcast yesterday whilst grooming the horses. Very informative. I’ve just started my Substack journey. A former blogger for a decade I was starting to feel stuck in a rut which I think may have been influenced my social media. I’m hoping substack will allow me to find my groove again & listening to you both chatting definitely helped. Thank you 😀
Can I just say I love that you were grooming your horses whilst listening! It beats washing up or driving which is when I usually listen to podcasts! I’m sure Substack will help you find your groove again. Good luck with your journey!
Thank you so much for listening Becky, and so pleased you found our chat encouraging. Substack sounds like a great fit for you, and there are so many of us here because we wanted more community and creative freedom than we were getting on other social media platforms. Look forward to reading your words and watching your journey unfold! <3
Thanks for another great listen, Helen and Claire! It's really interesting to hear how you're using Substack - in these behind-the-scenes podcasts I'm hearing about stuff that isn't even on my radar! I'm making progress with my own Stack, and really enjoying myself with it. And yay to planning (with which I'm obsessed... as long as I can do it in pencil!). 😉
No worries, Helen! Well, it's two things, actually: I don't/can't/won't engage with any other social media (apart from Substack, I mean), and I'd rather not have the pressure of being paid for my posts.
I'm happy to just to be on here to engage with lovely readers and writers - I'm learning so much from so many sources, and just by plodding along, practising my writing, sticking to my posting schedule, establishing relationships in the Substack community by reading and commenting on others' posts, finding new readers coming my way and seeing where things take me, I've found myself in the unexpected position of feeling able to be getting stuck in again to another writing project alongside: one that I had mothballed six months ago. 😘
Thanks, Rebecca. I was going to come at you for more details and Helen beat me to it!! I'm really enjoying your writing and you've come up with so many interesting and varied strands. I also LOVE to hear that it's sparked you getting back to another writing project. As I talked about, I have suddenly found that Substack is a bit all-encompassing, so with your planning queen crown on, do you have any thoughts about my taking time away dilemma? Do you have a strategy in place for that? x
LOL! Well, this time last year I decided to write a book... which sent me hiding under my own desk for a bit. 🤣 I'm just settling down to some tasks related to that, alongside my Substack posting schedule.
I took a couple of weeks off over Christmas - I told my subscribers that I'd see them on the other side!
For my first few months on Substack I had set my sights on posting twice a week, and before long I reduced that to just the once because I'd put far too much pressure on myself. In December I added back a weekly post (my Letters to Terry series) but in January we decided to reduce that to every other week. I now post 6-7 times a month, depending on where in the month the Saturdays and alternate Wednesdays fall.
I aim to be two posts ahead, but that's not always achievable. I'm finding though that the more time I spend writing, the better I can turn stuff around. I've got a busy year with work (and the new project) this year - I might take a week off posting once or twice, if I haven't managed to schedule a post in advance, but I have no qualms about letting my subscribers know that there won't be a post next week, for instance.
I'd hesitate to call it a 'strategy' - but that's kind of the plan...! 🤣
Thank you so much, that’s really helpful. I think I need to give myself a breather to get better and then put more of a plan of sorts together. Even if I have something less extensive than a multi-book deep-dive ready as a back up if needed, that would feel better. You’ve motivated me now, thank you!
A breather is always a good plan! People often talk about the 80%/20% rule, don't they? I mean, if we're all always running at 100% all the time (what my husband would call 'max chat'), then there's no leeway to allow for colds or catastrophes or power cuts or whatever. 😊
Morning! I really enjoyed listening to your podcast yesterday whilst grooming the horses. Very informative. I’ve just started my Substack journey. A former blogger for a decade I was starting to feel stuck in a rut which I think may have been influenced my social media. I’m hoping substack will allow me to find my groove again & listening to you both chatting definitely helped. Thank you 😀
Can I just say I love that you were grooming your horses whilst listening! It beats washing up or driving which is when I usually listen to podcasts! I’m sure Substack will help you find your groove again. Good luck with your journey!
I know, a little bit different. I had it playing on loudspeaker through my phone - so the horses listened too 🥰
Thank you so much for listening Becky, and so pleased you found our chat encouraging. Substack sounds like a great fit for you, and there are so many of us here because we wanted more community and creative freedom than we were getting on other social media platforms. Look forward to reading your words and watching your journey unfold! <3
Thanks Claire, there seems like a lovely supportive community which is fab!
I love yours and Claire catch up on here about growing your Substack. You both inspire me to follow my own Substack journey xx
Thanks for another great listen, Helen and Claire! It's really interesting to hear how you're using Substack - in these behind-the-scenes podcasts I'm hearing about stuff that isn't even on my radar! I'm making progress with my own Stack, and really enjoying myself with it. And yay to planning (with which I'm obsessed... as long as I can do it in pencil!). 😉
Thanks Rebecca! I don’t suppose you could give an example of the sort of the thing we talk about which isn’t on your radar? I’m really intrigued! X
No worries, Helen! Well, it's two things, actually: I don't/can't/won't engage with any other social media (apart from Substack, I mean), and I'd rather not have the pressure of being paid for my posts.
I'm happy to just to be on here to engage with lovely readers and writers - I'm learning so much from so many sources, and just by plodding along, practising my writing, sticking to my posting schedule, establishing relationships in the Substack community by reading and commenting on others' posts, finding new readers coming my way and seeing where things take me, I've found myself in the unexpected position of feeling able to be getting stuck in again to another writing project alongside: one that I had mothballed six months ago. 😘
I love that you’ve used the platform to suit you. It’s really inspiring!
Awwww, that's so kind, Helen! I blame the head stuff - I need to be careful with pressure. 🤯♥️
Thanks, Rebecca. I was going to come at you for more details and Helen beat me to it!! I'm really enjoying your writing and you've come up with so many interesting and varied strands. I also LOVE to hear that it's sparked you getting back to another writing project. As I talked about, I have suddenly found that Substack is a bit all-encompassing, so with your planning queen crown on, do you have any thoughts about my taking time away dilemma? Do you have a strategy in place for that? x
LOL! Well, this time last year I decided to write a book... which sent me hiding under my own desk for a bit. 🤣 I'm just settling down to some tasks related to that, alongside my Substack posting schedule.
I took a couple of weeks off over Christmas - I told my subscribers that I'd see them on the other side!
For my first few months on Substack I had set my sights on posting twice a week, and before long I reduced that to just the once because I'd put far too much pressure on myself. In December I added back a weekly post (my Letters to Terry series) but in January we decided to reduce that to every other week. I now post 6-7 times a month, depending on where in the month the Saturdays and alternate Wednesdays fall.
I aim to be two posts ahead, but that's not always achievable. I'm finding though that the more time I spend writing, the better I can turn stuff around. I've got a busy year with work (and the new project) this year - I might take a week off posting once or twice, if I haven't managed to schedule a post in advance, but I have no qualms about letting my subscribers know that there won't be a post next week, for instance.
I'd hesitate to call it a 'strategy' - but that's kind of the plan...! 🤣
Thank you so much, that’s really helpful. I think I need to give myself a breather to get better and then put more of a plan of sorts together. Even if I have something less extensive than a multi-book deep-dive ready as a back up if needed, that would feel better. You’ve motivated me now, thank you!
A breather is always a good plan! People often talk about the 80%/20% rule, don't they? I mean, if we're all always running at 100% all the time (what my husband would call 'max chat'), then there's no leeway to allow for colds or catastrophes or power cuts or whatever. 😊