Whenever someone asks "What's Substack?" It reminds me of when I first started my podcast in 2017 and people would ask "How do I get your podcast on my phone?" True story!
Substack is by far my absolute favourite “social” app. I find myself absorbed for hours sometimes, but instead of that icky feeling you get from being absorbed in TikTok or Instagram, I feel as though I’ve spent time in community or down rabbit holes. Like I’ve read a perfectly curated magazine of long reads! I’ve found some glorious niches and have slowly become a paid subscriber here and with Poorna Bell. Spending time in so much good writing, I feel the need to write for myself bubbling up again too.
I’m really enjoying this platform too. It feels so much more intentional and nourishing than other platforms. And I love that it’s geared towards writers 🥰
Thanks for the terrific letter about how Substack is growing and what it may mean. I am just beginning to learn about Substack and am considering signing on, enlarging my conversations with other writers. I think that's helpful and inspiring. You've given me the "kick" to go ahead and do this, so I will. THANKS AGAIN. ..... Marianna
I love Substack, and I’m a paid subscriber to a number of newsletters. I wonder how long this economic model can sustain itself — I suspect that most Substack readers are on limited incomes and without the type of aggregation we’ve seen in podcast-world, where one subscription fee gets us access to a number of podcasts, there’s a point at which some of us will be tapped out. As someone with ADHD and a visual disability, I do love the clean, graphics and ad-free interface, and I hope reader support will allow it to stay that way. I don’t feel any need to comment on the content because there’s no need to - it’s a feast of ideas and expression that we desperately needed. So far we haven’t seen the type of community-building we had on X/Twitter and that some have found/made on Facebook, for all those platforms’ faults, and that may develop as time goes on.
I found Substack because of you Emma, and it was such a revelation. Until then, I had thought that I was part of a tiny minority of people who enjoyed long-form writing rather than ten-second video clips. "It's just me, I'm old", I told myself. But then I got on Substack and realised that actually, there are so many of us here who want nothing more than to read and write. I really hope that as a platform, Substack keeps its writers-first focus. That's what makes it special.
Totally have always felt the same re video clips vs long form writing - and put it down to being an old soul lol. But you're right, so many of us here!
I don't want to dampen anyone's creative spirits, but I do agree the reading/writing focus is what makes it special ☺️
There are already so many great platforms out there for video-making. They’re all awesome for uplifting the people who are passionate about video. We need something that’s just for writers!
I'm a fairly recent newbie to Substack, and spent a few weeks enjoying reading and discovering new talents that I enjoyed, paying for several. I've also taken the (scary) leap and started writing, in my own name, which is mildly terrifying and yet oddly satisying.
I did take a deliberate step back in the past week or so as almost every newsletter was centred around the elections, and I needed some space from the noise. But on the whole, loving the platform and eagerly reading. Thanks for your contributions!
I joined the platform a year ago and it’s taken a year for me to find my voice and publish weekly, I’m in week 4. I come from a Tech Startup background, I have seen the rise and fall of so many domains. Email and cookies have been the stalwarts of the online world. Email is about getting permission to be in someone’s personal space and deliver value. Cookies have become about permission too. As Substack grows it will become very hard to keep subscribers but equally if you provide value you will have your subscribers loyalty. The Substack app is fast becoming full of noise. The number of people promising to teach me how to make money and charge me for that privilege is nauseating but ultimately I think the winning formula is about delivering value which may be enriching content or an email about daily deals. Believe me, I have seen both do well. You will be surprised how many people would tolerate a “deal of the day” email. My prediction is that substack will likely become an engine for both types of content because human behaviour seldom changes and emails and cookies can drive it.
As a relative newbie to Substack, I was a little apprehensive about reading this - but it was as positive a take on the growing popularity of the platform as I could have hoped for. I joined earlier this year and then returned later, around the same time as the Annie Mac's and Jameela Jamil's joined too, and it gave me the fear that I'd already "missed the boat" - that there already wasn't enough spae (readers) to go around for the (much) smaller writers just getting started, like me. But I am encouraged by your words, to "find your own voice and not overthink ‘the competition’ or tell yourself ‘you’ve missed the boat’". Will carry that into writing my next posts. Thank you!
Well said Emma. I'm not interested in notes, or follows, or videos or anything other than the long-form emails I receive in my inbox. I don't have the app, and I love to type my own substack, comments, and responses from my trusty laptop. I'm here to be curious and learn from others like you, while occasionally tapping my own thoughts to myself (and one or two lovely friends) for free, and just for me. I have paid subscriptions to only a few people, including you, and interestingly, they are all women whose voices I love. Keep it up. Those of us who are here for content will always be here!
I’m loving it here. I wish I had realised how good it was earlier and come over sooner. But it’s uplifting to realise long form writing is valued here and nuanced and intelligent discussion still has a place. The community is terrific and full of brilliant information and inspiration. I feel it’s possible to influence for the good of society here in a way that isn’t possible elsewhere.
I wish I had joined earlier. When i first discovered it a over a year ago, I was reading other people's posts and didn't think this was a space where I too could create. Now I am here and I feel I may have missed the boat a bit, but will keep trying. I recently took advantage of the discounted option and signed up for yours. I cannot afford to pay for many, since I only have 3 paid subscribers (all of whom are very supportive friends), but I think I may opt to rotate my paid subscriptions to support different small Substacks for a while. I hope the weird DMs from random men will stop as bots will lose interest. Maybe I should block those completely.
Whenever someone asks "What's Substack?" It reminds me of when I first started my podcast in 2017 and people would ask "How do I get your podcast on my phone?" True story!
I'm excited to see where Substack goes.
Substack is by far my absolute favourite “social” app. I find myself absorbed for hours sometimes, but instead of that icky feeling you get from being absorbed in TikTok or Instagram, I feel as though I’ve spent time in community or down rabbit holes. Like I’ve read a perfectly curated magazine of long reads! I’ve found some glorious niches and have slowly become a paid subscriber here and with Poorna Bell. Spending time in so much good writing, I feel the need to write for myself bubbling up again too.
Agreed! no ickiness - just a joy to read!
I’m really enjoying this platform too. It feels so much more intentional and nourishing than other platforms. And I love that it’s geared towards writers 🥰
Thanks for the terrific letter about how Substack is growing and what it may mean. I am just beginning to learn about Substack and am considering signing on, enlarging my conversations with other writers. I think that's helpful and inspiring. You've given me the "kick" to go ahead and do this, so I will. THANKS AGAIN. ..... Marianna
Thanks for being here Marianna! <3
I love Substack, and I’m a paid subscriber to a number of newsletters. I wonder how long this economic model can sustain itself — I suspect that most Substack readers are on limited incomes and without the type of aggregation we’ve seen in podcast-world, where one subscription fee gets us access to a number of podcasts, there’s a point at which some of us will be tapped out. As someone with ADHD and a visual disability, I do love the clean, graphics and ad-free interface, and I hope reader support will allow it to stay that way. I don’t feel any need to comment on the content because there’s no need to - it’s a feast of ideas and expression that we desperately needed. So far we haven’t seen the type of community-building we had on X/Twitter and that some have found/made on Facebook, for all those platforms’ faults, and that may develop as time goes on.
I found Substack because of you Emma, and it was such a revelation. Until then, I had thought that I was part of a tiny minority of people who enjoyed long-form writing rather than ten-second video clips. "It's just me, I'm old", I told myself. But then I got on Substack and realised that actually, there are so many of us here who want nothing more than to read and write. I really hope that as a platform, Substack keeps its writers-first focus. That's what makes it special.
Totally have always felt the same re video clips vs long form writing - and put it down to being an old soul lol. But you're right, so many of us here!
I don't want to dampen anyone's creative spirits, but I do agree the reading/writing focus is what makes it special ☺️
There are already so many great platforms out there for video-making. They’re all awesome for uplifting the people who are passionate about video. We need something that’s just for writers!
That is a good point :)
Goddam, I love common sense!
I'm a fairly recent newbie to Substack, and spent a few weeks enjoying reading and discovering new talents that I enjoyed, paying for several. I've also taken the (scary) leap and started writing, in my own name, which is mildly terrifying and yet oddly satisying.
I did take a deliberate step back in the past week or so as almost every newsletter was centred around the elections, and I needed some space from the noise. But on the whole, loving the platform and eagerly reading. Thanks for your contributions!
I joined the platform a year ago and it’s taken a year for me to find my voice and publish weekly, I’m in week 4. I come from a Tech Startup background, I have seen the rise and fall of so many domains. Email and cookies have been the stalwarts of the online world. Email is about getting permission to be in someone’s personal space and deliver value. Cookies have become about permission too. As Substack grows it will become very hard to keep subscribers but equally if you provide value you will have your subscribers loyalty. The Substack app is fast becoming full of noise. The number of people promising to teach me how to make money and charge me for that privilege is nauseating but ultimately I think the winning formula is about delivering value which may be enriching content or an email about daily deals. Believe me, I have seen both do well. You will be surprised how many people would tolerate a “deal of the day” email. My prediction is that substack will likely become an engine for both types of content because human behaviour seldom changes and emails and cookies can drive it.
"your cocktail party has now turned into a very big noisy rave" - exactly my concern! 😆
This is a really great piece, Emma ~ thanks.
As a relative newbie to Substack, I was a little apprehensive about reading this - but it was as positive a take on the growing popularity of the platform as I could have hoped for. I joined earlier this year and then returned later, around the same time as the Annie Mac's and Jameela Jamil's joined too, and it gave me the fear that I'd already "missed the boat" - that there already wasn't enough spae (readers) to go around for the (much) smaller writers just getting started, like me. But I am encouraged by your words, to "find your own voice and not overthink ‘the competition’ or tell yourself ‘you’ve missed the boat’". Will carry that into writing my next posts. Thank you!
Well said Emma. I'm not interested in notes, or follows, or videos or anything other than the long-form emails I receive in my inbox. I don't have the app, and I love to type my own substack, comments, and responses from my trusty laptop. I'm here to be curious and learn from others like you, while occasionally tapping my own thoughts to myself (and one or two lovely friends) for free, and just for me. I have paid subscriptions to only a few people, including you, and interestingly, they are all women whose voices I love. Keep it up. Those of us who are here for content will always be here!
I think that's actually such a lovely sentiment Sally, to be writing for you, and your friends! Thanks for sharing ☺️
Well this is refreshing and encouraging. Thank for sharing Emma!
Great read, Emma! I, too, love my little cosy corner of the internet, and am proud to be part of this culture shift in publishing.
I’m loving it here. I wish I had realised how good it was earlier and come over sooner. But it’s uplifting to realise long form writing is valued here and nuanced and intelligent discussion still has a place. The community is terrific and full of brilliant information and inspiration. I feel it’s possible to influence for the good of society here in a way that isn’t possible elsewhere.
I wish I had joined earlier. When i first discovered it a over a year ago, I was reading other people's posts and didn't think this was a space where I too could create. Now I am here and I feel I may have missed the boat a bit, but will keep trying. I recently took advantage of the discounted option and signed up for yours. I cannot afford to pay for many, since I only have 3 paid subscribers (all of whom are very supportive friends), but I think I may opt to rotate my paid subscriptions to support different small Substacks for a while. I hope the weird DMs from random men will stop as bots will lose interest. Maybe I should block those completely.