this for my fiction writing at the moment - I found this
and I wonder if you might also be interested having listened to the podcast - it is more directly about art but I found it built on what I had been listening to here with you the last 6 weeks. I think it is called Inkwell and this is a conversation between host and an artist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFSisg7CvXU
Also as I try to post this it is offering that I 'share it to Notes' not sure it will let me leavethe post without checking that box...Actually it posted three times hence the deleted comments - sorry!!
A really super listen - thank you so much, Helen and Claire. 😊😊
Plenty of really interesting points - you've made me think about any expectations I might have about ever going paid, and about Substack Notes, too.
With everything new on Substack (why does the app default to the 'Notes' screen every time I open it?!) I'm struggling to hear a clear voice through the barrage of noise. I love to write, read, view and listen - but I feel I need to keep my distance from *some* of Substack's offer. For now I'm simply enjoying writing for myself and reading and commenting on posts from writers I subscribe to and love, and I need to stick with that approach for now.
Sending love and grace to you both - and of course a gazillion thanks for everything you're doing for readers and writers out there. ♥️♥️
Great post. I agree with you so much about all you had to say about the six-figure writers on Substack and the impact I have felt on those of us just trying to earn a few pennies off of our writing for the first time in our writing on-line. Keep on with the good work, and love and grace to you both.
Well,that was lovely! So nice to hear your voices <3. This is the first one I've listened to -- I keep meaning to go back and start from the beginning but of course I never get around to it. Story of my life. lol
Anyway - I found it so interesting when you were talking about the article that reported on the six-figure Substack writers and the ramifications of that....more writers coming over, vying for the same number of eyeballs (and cups of coffee). It reminds me of the 'gold rush' of indie publishing (which is apparently over now). There were fewer people releasing books and so many of them ended up making large amounts of money, word got out and so started the influx of more writers. Which, as you say, is fantastic. There's nothing more satisfying than knowing writers are being paid for the value they're bringing. It also quickly becomes a really congested marketplace and a lot of really great writers will go unnoticed, simply because there are only so many eyeballs (and attention spans) to go around.
Substack obviously has a vested interest in promoting the 'success' stories, even when those successes are because a writer brought their own audience with them, because it encourages more readers and writers, which is good for the platform. But I would also like to see more focus given to those starting off small and, by virtue of consistency and craftsmanship, grow their audience. Those are the stories that inspire me the most....I guess I cling to the idea of meritocracy, though i've been told over and over again that there's no place for that in the online world. But I'm mulish like that and will keep believing that it's possible. :)
Anyway, lots of thoughts on this one....sorry for the essay-length comment! I wish you both a fulfilling October - with your Substack and everything else. xo
Love you ng the space. ❤️ keep up the good work ❤️
Hi Helen I'm wandering around doing research on
this for my fiction writing at the moment - I found this
and I wonder if you might also be interested having listened to the podcast - it is more directly about art but I found it built on what I had been listening to here with you the last 6 weeks. I think it is called Inkwell and this is a conversation between host and an artist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFSisg7CvXU
Also as I try to post this it is offering that I 'share it to Notes' not sure it will let me leavethe post without checking that box...Actually it posted three times hence the deleted comments - sorry!!
A really super listen - thank you so much, Helen and Claire. 😊😊
Plenty of really interesting points - you've made me think about any expectations I might have about ever going paid, and about Substack Notes, too.
With everything new on Substack (why does the app default to the 'Notes' screen every time I open it?!) I'm struggling to hear a clear voice through the barrage of noise. I love to write, read, view and listen - but I feel I need to keep my distance from *some* of Substack's offer. For now I'm simply enjoying writing for myself and reading and commenting on posts from writers I subscribe to and love, and I need to stick with that approach for now.
Sending love and grace to you both - and of course a gazillion thanks for everything you're doing for readers and writers out there. ♥️♥️
Great post. I agree with you so much about all you had to say about the six-figure writers on Substack and the impact I have felt on those of us just trying to earn a few pennies off of our writing for the first time in our writing on-line. Keep on with the good work, and love and grace to you both.
Well,that was lovely! So nice to hear your voices <3. This is the first one I've listened to -- I keep meaning to go back and start from the beginning but of course I never get around to it. Story of my life. lol
Anyway - I found it so interesting when you were talking about the article that reported on the six-figure Substack writers and the ramifications of that....more writers coming over, vying for the same number of eyeballs (and cups of coffee). It reminds me of the 'gold rush' of indie publishing (which is apparently over now). There were fewer people releasing books and so many of them ended up making large amounts of money, word got out and so started the influx of more writers. Which, as you say, is fantastic. There's nothing more satisfying than knowing writers are being paid for the value they're bringing. It also quickly becomes a really congested marketplace and a lot of really great writers will go unnoticed, simply because there are only so many eyeballs (and attention spans) to go around.
Substack obviously has a vested interest in promoting the 'success' stories, even when those successes are because a writer brought their own audience with them, because it encourages more readers and writers, which is good for the platform. But I would also like to see more focus given to those starting off small and, by virtue of consistency and craftsmanship, grow their audience. Those are the stories that inspire me the most....I guess I cling to the idea of meritocracy, though i've been told over and over again that there's no place for that in the online world. But I'm mulish like that and will keep believing that it's possible. :)
Anyway, lots of thoughts on this one....sorry for the essay-length comment! I wish you both a fulfilling October - with your Substack and everything else. xo