Three Key Substack Learnings
..from a newbie
People who choose to read my stacks also choose to read Goodness by
and (this information comes up when I get a new subscriber under a heading ‘also reads’) mostly - there are others of course - but those are the two names that come up the most often.I’ve also learned that readers would like a pay per read option because suddenly, all those Substacks that you pay to follow add up, and realistically, it’s not possible to pay for absolutely every tempting Substack. Most of my posts are free because writing is for reading, but I save two per week for those who have opted to support my work by paying and that seems fair enough to me. It’s very special to have any followers at all but those who put the extra faith in get extra content because otherwise, I don’t know how to thank them. But, with that in mind, after 5 months, I dropped my sub fee from £4.99 (randomly pulled out of hat when I started because I had no idea what would be reasonable) to £3.50 which feels more the right price and I’m happier with it.
Being generous with sharing what and who you read is so important – I really notice those that share and those that don’t. It’s a community and while it’s all well and good to just dip in, say what you have to say, and dip out again, it’s not necessarily in the spirit of the Substack community. So with that in mind, I have some great stacks to share:
Firstly,
(top picture) who writes The Tox Report on the rise, fall and rise again of singer, Chappell Roan. It’s a lesson in the fickleness of the music industry and how success or failure is as random as the spin of a coin. I’m not particularly interested in music but found it a fascinating read. Then, we have on her undiagnosed PTSD that stemmed from 9/11. This felt particularly relevant to me as my brother-in-law was in Tower 2 when Tower 1 was hit – thankfully, he was well away from the tower before it was also hit, but it was a close shave and I understand, to a point, the absolute panic.
Then, wonderful
(above) whose stack, The Midlife Edit, is exactly like the back page (always the best page!) of a glossy magazine – if you miss those style and beauty round ups, look no further. asks why ‘glass skin’ is such a goal and that is a very good question indeed. Why are we so obsessed with complexions? is a very generous sharer of other great reads and I always pay attention to what she recommends – I’ve found some great stacks that way. Finally, I’ve always enjoyed reading who is a great life observationalist – I can see she allows one free post before you commit and I’d suggest you read it.
I just wanted to say thank you for the very kind mention! And I agree with you completely about sharing the substack love...
Awww Jane, I feel so touched that you've included me in this. I'm in awe of the other great Stackers you've mentioned here. I saw it earlier on today but was on a series of Zoom meetings all day and was like did I really just see that .. BBB has mentioned me in her newsletter ❤️ I'll come back later to say ... THANKYOU!!!
Once again you've written exactly what I've been mulling over in my own head. I'm tempted with turning off the paywall and just letting people pay if they want to. I flip between this and having a few special things just for paying readers.
I've also started writing about my very late in life ADHD diagnosis journey and so far I've put one post about that behind the paywall. I decided to do that 1) because it is very personal and 2) that it might create a safe space for others on a similar path that maybe I can help a little. I don't know. I have so many questions about how much we can all afford for the writers we love to read.
I know I love it all waaay more on here than anywhere else right now whether I'm paid or not. Like you I'm just so so happy that people want to read what I write. I think we mentioned that didn't we when we bumped into each other in Marylebone? I'm saying that as if it's normal when in essence I was like wow what were the chances of that? 😆 xx