There is a tug between what current Substack users want Substack to continue to be, and what it will inevitably become. I don't think there is a right or wrong. I am just grateful I have a place to right long-form content and not be lambasted by an algorithm for it.
102.4% chance of making some solid friends with that opening.
...I'm one of them.
Yeaaaah, you just summed up the whole of my online existence.
I play in my own little corner, all the time...so if you ever want to have a chat, a great cup 'o Joe...or, heck, I even have a a bag of marshmallows and an extra double-prong roaster (for the 'pro' sugar jockeys)....I'll save a seat by the fire. Also have a few bottles of 'Knobel' Whiskey sent to me from Mike Rowe...if you need something harder.
Change is always...changing.
And?
What has always been consistent in my life are my goals...and being me. The tools, the opportunities and the perceptions of what people THINK I'm doing and how they THINK I'm DOING it, change.
And?
I got a bid back in 2004 to have my first website built. It was to support my comic books that my substack is now based on.
$20K they said -- it was when everything was HTML.
"Screw that," I said, "I'll do it myself."
Guy laughed at me.
Went to the library, learned basic HTML and built my first website...for me...and 750,000+ who came to that site the first year, from 60 countries. No clue how or why it happened. ZERO clue, to this day...but it did. THAT is the point.
Haven't stopped since.
Welcome to another version of 'the grass is greener on the other side of the fence', Evan.
...what most just don't get...is that when they piss on MY side of the fence, my grass just grows greener.
(Great name, BTW -- that's my oldest son's name =)
Thank you so much for sharing this, I've been pretty intimidated on Substacks because everyone seems unapproachable here, except for a few.
I had no idea this site existed until a couple of days ago and I'm hoping to learn from those who are themselves and legit, instead of following everyone else's get rich quick schemes that work solely for them.
As a mother of three boys, their ages ranging 5, 4, and 2 years-old, I don't have limitless time to write as most people do but I'm passionate about my writing and I want to be friends with this who are passionate as well.
I remembered reading the second substacker who restacked your post. I was confused between what she said and what you meant. Really glad that you wrote this clarifying post.
You're doing it all wrong, Evan. You're supposed to thank people for their criticism and tell them you want to grow up to be just like them. This might net you a subscriber or two. Instead, your "wrong" way has gained you lots of likes, comments and restacks and probably lots of subscribers, including me. I guess doing it wrong isn't so wrong on Substack. Oh, that's your point!
I like what you wrote and welcome you kind sir to the Substack 🌍 never let children, fools or the uneducated…find a way to dampen your day ..You are a writer ✍️ simple…and you prefer to be left alone ..when people do stufd like thos it means one word ~ Jealousy ~ … don't take it or them 😒 seriously… You keep the eyes on the prize young man…
It's laughable to think there is only one way to do substack. I intentionally did not read what others did with substack because I wanted it to be the way I'd do it naturally for my audience... Now I'm beginning to see what others do... But caring about your audience is all that matters.
Thanks Evan, it was a very useful article. I am also almost new to this platform. I write with all my heart and I resonate with your thoughts. Thanks for being there and keep up the great work man!
I've always been bothered by the term 'real writer.' It's elitist speak, as though that's the highest on the food chain and I'm not in that club. I don't want to be!
We each make Substack what we want our Substack to be. Mine isn't for everyone and neither is theirs.
There is a tug between what current Substack users want Substack to continue to be, and what it will inevitably become. I don't think there is a right or wrong. I am just grateful I have a place to right long-form content and not be lambasted by an algorithm for it.
Define ‘irony’: decrying “hustle-porn” while spouting your own statistics in genuine hustle-porn form.
HAHAHAHA,....fantastic article.
102.4% chance of making some solid friends with that opening.
...I'm one of them.
Yeaaaah, you just summed up the whole of my online existence.
I play in my own little corner, all the time...so if you ever want to have a chat, a great cup 'o Joe...or, heck, I even have a a bag of marshmallows and an extra double-prong roaster (for the 'pro' sugar jockeys)....I'll save a seat by the fire. Also have a few bottles of 'Knobel' Whiskey sent to me from Mike Rowe...if you need something harder.
Change is always...changing.
And?
What has always been consistent in my life are my goals...and being me. The tools, the opportunities and the perceptions of what people THINK I'm doing and how they THINK I'm DOING it, change.
And?
I got a bid back in 2004 to have my first website built. It was to support my comic books that my substack is now based on.
$20K they said -- it was when everything was HTML.
"Screw that," I said, "I'll do it myself."
Guy laughed at me.
Went to the library, learned basic HTML and built my first website...for me...and 750,000+ who came to that site the first year, from 60 countries. No clue how or why it happened. ZERO clue, to this day...but it did. THAT is the point.
Haven't stopped since.
Welcome to another version of 'the grass is greener on the other side of the fence', Evan.
...what most just don't get...is that when they piss on MY side of the fence, my grass just grows greener.
(Great name, BTW -- that's my oldest son's name =)
People react to change differently, especially when it makes them uncomfortable.
Notes *is* changing and from what I’ve heard, Substack *welcomes* the change.
So. Effing. What? Life is full of changes every day. Either adapt or die.
Stand your ground. I hear that that’s a thing.
Thank you so much for sharing this, I've been pretty intimidated on Substacks because everyone seems unapproachable here, except for a few.
I had no idea this site existed until a couple of days ago and I'm hoping to learn from those who are themselves and legit, instead of following everyone else's get rich quick schemes that work solely for them.
As a mother of three boys, their ages ranging 5, 4, and 2 years-old, I don't have limitless time to write as most people do but I'm passionate about my writing and I want to be friends with this who are passionate as well.
I have three boys myself!
I know what it’s like to have limited time!
You can do it. Just find a spare block of time (as impossible as it seems) and start writing!
Aww, that’s great, it helps to know I’m not the only parent with limited time, working hard to achieve my goals!
I support you 100!
Thank you for inspiring me to continue, I’m going to keep writing.
that’s exactly what I do, sometimes, I even stay up in the late hours of the night writing and getting my thoughts down!
I remembered reading the second substacker who restacked your post. I was confused between what she said and what you meant. Really glad that you wrote this clarifying post.
You're doing it all wrong, Evan. You're supposed to thank people for their criticism and tell them you want to grow up to be just like them. This might net you a subscriber or two. Instead, your "wrong" way has gained you lots of likes, comments and restacks and probably lots of subscribers, including me. I guess doing it wrong isn't so wrong on Substack. Oh, that's your point!
I like what you wrote and welcome you kind sir to the Substack 🌍 never let children, fools or the uneducated…find a way to dampen your day ..You are a writer ✍️ simple…and you prefer to be left alone ..when people do stufd like thos it means one word ~ Jealousy ~ … don't take it or them 😒 seriously… You keep the eyes on the prize young man…
It's laughable to think there is only one way to do substack. I intentionally did not read what others did with substack because I wanted it to be the way I'd do it naturally for my audience... Now I'm beginning to see what others do... But caring about your audience is all that matters.
LOL ... This is too funny man .... thanks for sharing your experience.
And guess who just posted an article stating the exact opposite approach???🤔🤔🤔
haha, great article! 🕺
Thanks Evan, this is my first day on Substack so I'm trying to learn all there is to know about it.
I too joined Stacks a week ago. How do I get engagement? ☹️
Write, make friends, and stay consistent.
How do I make friends?
Seriously?
Was this an absurd question? 😅 New here.
I’m new here too.
But it seems baffling that you’d have trouble growing an audience when this is your profile bio:
“I Help Businesses Win With Strategic Content. Increased website traffic by 300% for a SaaS company through engaging blog content.”
Assuming you're being truthful about your skills, just do what you do for your customers.
Thanks Evan, it was a very useful article. I am also almost new to this platform. I write with all my heart and I resonate with your thoughts. Thanks for being there and keep up the great work man!
I've always been bothered by the term 'real writer.' It's elitist speak, as though that's the highest on the food chain and I'm not in that club. I don't want to be!
We each make Substack what we want our Substack to be. Mine isn't for everyone and neither is theirs.
Well said!