I will take that medal Sarah! Thanks for this interesting read. My two cents on this topic: I feel one should not take anything too seriously if there is any tiny bit sense of overwhelm taking a break really helps. The digital world as you rightly pointed out is about algorithms but at the end of the day if the content is good it will bring in the reader. Having said this, I also feel that the moment we put our content on a platform we have made a choice. At the end of the day all platforms have to survive in different ways. Substack’s mode of operation seems better than the other platforms. Also what may overwhelm us may be necessary for someone’s mental health. I completely agree about the kindness and support part. I do feel that this is a more generous space!! I better stop as this is becoming a mini newsletter in itself :) Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and two cents (I checked if there was a cent emoji but alas! 😂)
Like you, I have realised that by taking some things a little less seriously, like this platform, I enjoy it a lot more. I’m glad that we are aligned on this! Focusing on the fun makes me have a much happier and healthier perspective about Substack too.
Thanks again for your feedback - I really appreciate your input and the time reading the post 🙏
I loved this, Sarah, and didn't think it was rambling at all! And it was great hear your actual voice as well as your writerly voice 😊.
It's great, isn't it, when you've been on Substack for a bit and you've managed to let go a little of the urgency you first feel to read EVERYTHING and to take all the advice. I'm happy to be at the point where I recognise that on Substack, as in life, there's only so much I can do and so many things I can subscribe to. By choosing one thing I'm necessarily missing out on many other things, but that's OK. Just yesterday I let go of some paid subscriptions to well known names so that I can focus on "smaller" writers with whom I feel a more direct connection. I agree with you about the kindness here on Substack, and I've decided that the best way for me to show kindness is to focus my time and energy and money on a few writers, rather than trying to engage with ALL the writers 🤣. It's early days. I'll let you know how it goes 😊
Thank you Michelle - I’m actually a bit tearful (in a good way!) when you say that you can hear my writerly voice (and my actual voice 😄). That means a lot 🙏
I hear you about subscriptions too for ‘smaller’ writers. I noticed yesterday that most of my paid subscriptions are to established writers, and I feel torn in some respects, as I want to continue to support them and their work, but I also want to support less established writers. But obviously, financially, I can’t do it all. Something has to give.
Yes! (I missed this somehow when it originally came out, so I'm glad you linked to this!)
1) I, too, have felt the overwhelm, and then I go bye-bye from the platform. I'm glad everyone (it seemed) took a summer break because I followed.
2) Because of all the subs hitting my Gmail, I admittingly just delete them and use the INBOX function on Substack's platform to catch up on my reads. This is my default now because I was stressed over the Notes-in-my-face default (aka HOME).
3) It also took me some time to realize that Notes defaulted to Explore, which I didn't like because it highlighted the fact that my Notes hit the pavement with a quiet thud. I also come here to escape people's good opinions on politics and started blocking people before I realized I was in some sort of Explorer's world that I didn't sign up for.
Speaking of the algo, I heard somewhere that a post/substack can NEVER be on the trending list if they don't have paid subscriptions on. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Substack, I'm a newbie, and I want to turn on paid subs, but I also don't because I'm so attuned to what folks can afford. Thanks for writing this out and based on the long comments, it was the right decision!
Like you, I just read the newsletters that I am subscribed to on the app. My email inbox was overflowing in those early months and I couldn't cope! (Although some newsletters that I subscribe to seem to send out lots of emails about events/discounts etc... and tbh I am tempted to unsubscribe to some of these for doing that. I don't mind the odd one, but when you receive an additional handful of emails about whatever each week, I am a bit turned off).
And yes, I didn't realise about how to change the Notes function until someone pointed it out. I cannot remember who it was, but I owe them a drink or something, as I really couldn't figure out sometimes why I was seeing the stuff that I was.
Oooooh that is very interesting about the algo and the trending lists - I hadn't come across this! I haven't got paid on either, and actually as I think about it, Substack are missing a trick on this. Why shouldn't free newsletters receive additional awareness in the ecosystem? It;s all good for publicity for them too, right? Oh, it's probably because the platform doesn't earn revenue that way... cynical? Me? Haha!
I 100% agree with you. Publicity is publicity, especially when it’s positive and uplifting.
As a result of ‘not getting’ Notes, I find that I hardly participate as I’m confused as to why certain Notes get traction while others don’t. I’m not sure if this is fair to say or not, but if you’re bringing the cash cow home to Sub, then I suppose, they’ll reward you by putting your stuff in Explore.
The algo stuff has sent me down a rabbit hole. For example, I read somewhere last week that Twitter prioritises Musk's tweets (does he really need more coverage??) and so with the recent UK riots, those who linked to him (often those associated far-right groups) and if he subsequently retweeted them, their posts then had a huge reach. I could bang on here about that for a few thousands words, I won't, but it's mad how there is so much power in the hands of one person.
Anyway, enough politics/tech talk. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Sarah- Some great observations here. And I appreciate your openness. But I'm with you: so long as it encourages me to do things that are meaningful, I'm there. :)
I enjoyed reading your post. Posts on substacking are always a hot topic, and I learn something from them. I agree with you about the "kindness" of this platform. Substack is not anonymous, so I am responsible for what I write and cannot write anything too emotional. But it works positively.
Thank you, and I agree that it does feel that posts about substacking are a hot topic. I am hoping that some of it is now out of my system, but it has been interesting (and comforting to an extent) to know that I am not the only person experiencing some things/thoughts (e.g., the overwhelm).
There is a degree of distance that I want to maintain with the platform. Like you, I don't want to share anything too emotional or personal, mainly for privacy but also because it's unlikely that anyone really would care!
Substacking about the Substackiness of Substack's Substacks is definitely a thing. But it's the Substack Notes that stack on Substack's Substackiness that seem to gain most algorithmic traction.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm talking about Substack. :)
I saw a post the other day that said "every Substack writer will eventually write about writing on Substack". Guess it's your turn. Definitely feel you on the subscription overwhelm and notes can also give me performance anxiety. Thought about ignoring it for a time and turning off notifications...
Haha I know! I probably saw the same post as you about it being something that everything writes about at some point. And so I wonder if thinking about writing on Substack is a cyclical thing. I started jotting ideas (similar to what is in this post) down a few months ago, left it for ages, and then felt everything bubbling up again recently.
Have to be honest, just hitting publish has strangely cleared some of my thinking but I did chop off about half of what I had originally had written. Nobody needed to read all of that!
Lol, a short post's a good post hey? If it pleases the Substack Algorithm gods. I haven't won them over so maybe I need to add some more incense to the altar (and some entries to the draft on nice things to say about Substack when I decide to post about writing on Substack...the day will surely come!!)
I think there's a post title right there: 'How to please the Substack Algorithm Gods'. And the subtitle could be something like, 'Without feeling like you've been sent to the underworld...'
I will take that medal Sarah! Thanks for this interesting read. My two cents on this topic: I feel one should not take anything too seriously if there is any tiny bit sense of overwhelm taking a break really helps. The digital world as you rightly pointed out is about algorithms but at the end of the day if the content is good it will bring in the reader. Having said this, I also feel that the moment we put our content on a platform we have made a choice. At the end of the day all platforms have to survive in different ways. Substack’s mode of operation seems better than the other platforms. Also what may overwhelm us may be necessary for someone’s mental health. I completely agree about the kindness and support part. I do feel that this is a more generous space!! I better stop as this is becoming a mini newsletter in itself :) Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and two cents (I checked if there was a cent emoji but alas! 😂)
Like you, I have realised that by taking some things a little less seriously, like this platform, I enjoy it a lot more. I’m glad that we are aligned on this! Focusing on the fun makes me have a much happier and healthier perspective about Substack too.
Thanks again for your feedback - I really appreciate your input and the time reading the post 🙏
In the end it’s about being happy! Let’s make that cent emoji :)
I loved this, Sarah, and didn't think it was rambling at all! And it was great hear your actual voice as well as your writerly voice 😊.
It's great, isn't it, when you've been on Substack for a bit and you've managed to let go a little of the urgency you first feel to read EVERYTHING and to take all the advice. I'm happy to be at the point where I recognise that on Substack, as in life, there's only so much I can do and so many things I can subscribe to. By choosing one thing I'm necessarily missing out on many other things, but that's OK. Just yesterday I let go of some paid subscriptions to well known names so that I can focus on "smaller" writers with whom I feel a more direct connection. I agree with you about the kindness here on Substack, and I've decided that the best way for me to show kindness is to focus my time and energy and money on a few writers, rather than trying to engage with ALL the writers 🤣. It's early days. I'll let you know how it goes 😊
Thank you Michelle - I’m actually a bit tearful (in a good way!) when you say that you can hear my writerly voice (and my actual voice 😄). That means a lot 🙏
I hear you about subscriptions too for ‘smaller’ writers. I noticed yesterday that most of my paid subscriptions are to established writers, and I feel torn in some respects, as I want to continue to support them and their work, but I also want to support less established writers. But obviously, financially, I can’t do it all. Something has to give.
Yes! (I missed this somehow when it originally came out, so I'm glad you linked to this!)
1) I, too, have felt the overwhelm, and then I go bye-bye from the platform. I'm glad everyone (it seemed) took a summer break because I followed.
2) Because of all the subs hitting my Gmail, I admittingly just delete them and use the INBOX function on Substack's platform to catch up on my reads. This is my default now because I was stressed over the Notes-in-my-face default (aka HOME).
3) It also took me some time to realize that Notes defaulted to Explore, which I didn't like because it highlighted the fact that my Notes hit the pavement with a quiet thud. I also come here to escape people's good opinions on politics and started blocking people before I realized I was in some sort of Explorer's world that I didn't sign up for.
Speaking of the algo, I heard somewhere that a post/substack can NEVER be on the trending list if they don't have paid subscriptions on. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Substack, I'm a newbie, and I want to turn on paid subs, but I also don't because I'm so attuned to what folks can afford. Thanks for writing this out and based on the long comments, it was the right decision!
Hi Lani - thanks for your feedback!
Like you, I just read the newsletters that I am subscribed to on the app. My email inbox was overflowing in those early months and I couldn't cope! (Although some newsletters that I subscribe to seem to send out lots of emails about events/discounts etc... and tbh I am tempted to unsubscribe to some of these for doing that. I don't mind the odd one, but when you receive an additional handful of emails about whatever each week, I am a bit turned off).
And yes, I didn't realise about how to change the Notes function until someone pointed it out. I cannot remember who it was, but I owe them a drink or something, as I really couldn't figure out sometimes why I was seeing the stuff that I was.
Oooooh that is very interesting about the algo and the trending lists - I hadn't come across this! I haven't got paid on either, and actually as I think about it, Substack are missing a trick on this. Why shouldn't free newsletters receive additional awareness in the ecosystem? It;s all good for publicity for them too, right? Oh, it's probably because the platform doesn't earn revenue that way... cynical? Me? Haha!
I 100% agree with you. Publicity is publicity, especially when it’s positive and uplifting.
As a result of ‘not getting’ Notes, I find that I hardly participate as I’m confused as to why certain Notes get traction while others don’t. I’m not sure if this is fair to say or not, but if you’re bringing the cash cow home to Sub, then I suppose, they’ll reward you by putting your stuff in Explore.
The algo stuff has sent me down a rabbit hole. For example, I read somewhere last week that Twitter prioritises Musk's tweets (does he really need more coverage??) and so with the recent UK riots, those who linked to him (often those associated far-right groups) and if he subsequently retweeted them, their posts then had a huge reach. I could bang on here about that for a few thousands words, I won't, but it's mad how there is so much power in the hands of one person.
Anyway, enough politics/tech talk. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Sarah- Some great observations here. And I appreciate your openness. But I'm with you: so long as it encourages me to do things that are meaningful, I'm there. :)
Thanks Thalia, I am glad that you enjoyed the piece.
Yes, you're totally right - it's about doing things that are meaningful. Also, I think it's about having fun too. Here's to more meaning and fun :)
I enjoyed reading your post. Posts on substacking are always a hot topic, and I learn something from them. I agree with you about the "kindness" of this platform. Substack is not anonymous, so I am responsible for what I write and cannot write anything too emotional. But it works positively.
Thank you, and I agree that it does feel that posts about substacking are a hot topic. I am hoping that some of it is now out of my system, but it has been interesting (and comforting to an extent) to know that I am not the only person experiencing some things/thoughts (e.g., the overwhelm).
There is a degree of distance that I want to maintain with the platform. Like you, I don't want to share anything too emotional or personal, mainly for privacy but also because it's unlikely that anyone really would care!
Substacking about the Substackiness of Substack's Substacks is definitely a thing. But it's the Substack Notes that stack on Substack's Substackiness that seem to gain most algorithmic traction.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm talking about Substack. :)
Haha brilliant - yes, I agree. The more times that you put Substack or a variation into a sentence definitely pleases the algorithms.
https://substack.com/profile/229666-martin-hughes/note/c-66197651
😁
I think you’ve found the winning formula!
I saw a post the other day that said "every Substack writer will eventually write about writing on Substack". Guess it's your turn. Definitely feel you on the subscription overwhelm and notes can also give me performance anxiety. Thought about ignoring it for a time and turning off notifications...
Haha I know! I probably saw the same post as you about it being something that everything writes about at some point. And so I wonder if thinking about writing on Substack is a cyclical thing. I started jotting ideas (similar to what is in this post) down a few months ago, left it for ages, and then felt everything bubbling up again recently.
Have to be honest, just hitting publish has strangely cleared some of my thinking but I did chop off about half of what I had originally had written. Nobody needed to read all of that!
Lol, a short post's a good post hey? If it pleases the Substack Algorithm gods. I haven't won them over so maybe I need to add some more incense to the altar (and some entries to the draft on nice things to say about Substack when I decide to post about writing on Substack...the day will surely come!!)
I think there's a post title right there: 'How to please the Substack Algorithm Gods'. And the subtitle could be something like, 'Without feeling like you've been sent to the underworld...'
Ok, they are still working titles haha!
If only I knew the answers........