It's making me nuts. I deleted Meta and it was not easy to do! I have had Facebook deactivated for a while, but as a theater artist, it is REALLY hard to get rid of Instagram. I just couldn't justify it to myself anymore, and that's just my thing. I don't judge anyone who has to use it, and there really isn't a viable alternative. I have a Blue Sky and I also hate Blue Sky. People love to sniff and be like "you know Substack IS social media, right?" and I am like uh yes but I write things that are longer than a paragraph full of fucking emojis and people actually read it sometimes. Thanks for writing this!
I’m not on it as I was never on Twitter and just can’t add another app. I believe most people do like Bluesky and have found it to be a good alternative to Twitter.
I did the exact same thing, and lost my Band Page for SmokeStack that I've had for so many years. It was worth it. I like it here because so far I haven't had any of my foul seeming vids denied, but dam it's a learning curve.
Thanks for this. Love being on Substack, love reading most everyone so far - mostly I read women because...
I just deleted Facebook and Instagram and I don't care what others do. Not going on bluewhatever because I don’t need to fill up anymore consuming rather than creating time. Have a book coming out in a few months and am looking to be innovative flogging it. Adore seeing your name in my inbox. The exquisite beauty of women's fury right now is oxygen to me.
I love this. Thank you. I am relatively new to Substack, and I am feeling the same way about it being oxygen. I didn’t know about its history, so at least I’m a little more up to date. It seems like there are problems with each platform these days, so it’s a balancing act, isn’t it?
First, there are Nazis everywhere. Can we agree that there are awful people spouting off nonsense everywhere in every disgusting way. You can't eliminate them without, erm, eliminating them. They will find another place to preach to other awful people even if it's on the street corner where you live.
Let's just be clear here about all the nonsense about platforms and social media and what to choose and why. I'm spending less time on IG because it makes me angry and sad. I choose Substack but there is a deeper reason why. This is coming from a former brand strategist so, I'm sorry if I'm pedantic.
All of these platforms exist to make money. Period.
Meta/Instagram's business model is to make money from ads. How do you get people to spend money on ads? You make it difficult to reach new audiences or engage the audience you do have - so they are forced to give you money to boost your posts and profile so that maybe you can earn a little money. Basic breakdown: give Meta money to maybe, potentially earn money.
Substack's business model is to make money off their users' paid subscriptions. So, their motivation is to make their users/writers successful because if they are getting paid subscribers, then Substack makes money. Basic breakdown: Substack helps you make money and only then do they make money.
For this reason alone, as someone trying to make money from my writing, do I choose Substack. They seem to have a more equitable commission than Medium, or so I hear. They also have these little promotional pushes you may not even notice until you get a paid subscriber from them and think, what the hell was that?
Anyway, long way of saying, I agree and I love when you fire something off in 5 minutes.
Agreeing with all this. Except that I find it a hell of a lot easier to make money on Medium as a writer than on here. Been making a good part time income for nearly a year for writing 3 or 4 articles a month there, whereas here I make a grand total of about £24 a month. It's slow going here and feels more democratic over on Medium bc if you write something that meets their boost guidelines, which isn't rocket science, your piece gets shown to a lot of people. I love it here for the great community feel and the fantastic writers so I'm staying.
I get that - I think there is a science to growth here and once I approached it as a business versus a writing platform, my income exploded. Night and day difference.
I think that’s what frustrates writers the most. They write, post and then crickets. But the tools are here to get your work viewed and if you have a paid strategy and consistency, you will make money.
And no, I don’t pay for any of those people trying to sell you tricks to earning money on Substack. It’s just pulling from my strategy knowledge and using common sense (like, what would I pay for?).
Sounds like you've cracked it! I must admit I feel a lot of resistance to the idea of approaching my writing as a business. I moved away from copywriting as a freelancer to start writing more authentically again. Not that you can't write authentically here, but for me, strategy gets in the way of enjoying writing and plays into my demand avoidance as a neurodivergent person. I also know writers who have become enormously successful here with zero strategy and just writing what they're moved to, but I think mostly they had already established something of a platform elsewhere.
Yeah, I think there are successful Substackers who came here with a significant following or credentials which gave them a leg up. Doesn’t stop some of them from giving advice on how to have success here. The nerve!
I approach it as a business because this is an extension of my business and so the value proposition was easy to figure out. For someone from a different angle or perspective, that might look different but it doesn’t mean that you don’t treat it like a business, meaning you show up consistently and deliver the goods to your subscribers.
I never figured out the medium hack. Or I did, but the only stuff that I made money on was really shallow quick read stuff that I wouldn't read if I hadn't written it lol (example: an ode to my old Subaru, and a story about getting older and enjoying more things and less experiences now that I had a home to do hobbies in). I doubt I will ever make money here, but the concentration of professional writers, culture studiers, and historians on Substack is what makes it better for me here.
I know what you mean ☺️ My stuff is pretty in-depth but I think I was lucky I hit on topical issues as I've been writing about neurodiversity. I got in with the right publications, hit on a great editor, and got boosted consistently. But I definitely prefer the quality and range of writing here.
How are people even comparing Substack to IG or FB or Twitter or BlueSky or.....? It's a completely different format, IMHO. I love Substack. I get thoughtful words from thoughtful people. Not short little emoji rants. Perhaps my dopemine levels are stable enough that I can still hold a thought for more than 60 seconds. I, too, would move directly out of this country right now if I could. -sigh- Until then, there is Substack. Best wishes and warm regards to you all!
Timely! Just yesterday I was considering an Atlantic subscription but delayed because I don’t think I have time to read it in addition to my substack subscriptions which I’m finding very helpful.
Through Substack I’ve learned for example that Andrew Hubberman is a horrible person towards women and unsubscribed to his podcast (admittedly platforming Jordan Peterson was a sufficiently huge red flag but now I have information to back up my gut). I’ve learned feminist history which I’ve found literally no where else. I hope it never gets bad enough to force me to leave but meanwhile I’m here, following a whole lotta ex-Washington Post people, ex-religious people, and it turns out, an ex-Atlantic person too!
I love that you have learned feminist history here! This seems to be an appropriate moment to brag about a project created by some of my mentors, a historical timeline of domestic workers in the U.S. - as an undergrad, I contributed research to this project! https://dwherstories.com
I know, right? He taught me so much about sleeping and what is happening in my gut. Turns out he's horrible to the women in his life. I learned about it from Celeste Davis, who links the NYT article at the beginning of her post: https://celestemdavis.substack.com/p/never-meet-your-heroes-wives
I'm torn. Her work is so important, well researched and well written but I always feel horrible after reading it. I’m an empath and it can throw me off for a full day or more if I’m not careful. Sigh . . .
I subscribe to apple news and the Atlantic is included along with a bunch of others i like to read (new yorker, real simple, the cut…) but couldn’t hope to afford separate subscriptions for.
Okay well first of all I fucking love you and if I could move to Amsterdam so we could snark in person, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm too small a social media fish for any of this to impact me, really, other than, you know, ethicsandprinciples. I love BlueSky b/c people read my posts (ego ego ego) but I deleted Twitter. And Rebecca Solnit said that we should stay where we are and be LOUD about what's wrong, rather than let the bullies decide where we get to sit in the lunchroom. So. If *she* says it's okay . . . I was bullied all the time in elementary school and dammit, I'm a grownass woman and those blowhard bros need to shut up. SO. Stay here, lady; we need your voice.
I’m not going anywhere, goddamnit. Although I dramatically announced to my living room that I don’t want to be a writer anymore several times this week. Also, I love you.
I went to look at Blue Sky and a review showed me all the people I hate now and here they are So I won’t be going there! I’ll look for you right here on SUBSTACK.
"Look at these assholes in charge of everything" OMG, you slay me. Thank you for naming that we're all just doing the fucking best we can in a fucked up situation. And also--all y'all can keep your fucking opinions to yourselves. It makes me smile. It makes me feel less alone and it makes me feel safer in the world.
Loved this. All the purists out there canceling substack subscriptions but still ordering off Amazon when they can’t find it anywhere else, and paying their taxes I presume. And I saw that Bluesky thread (also hating it there, really wanted to like it), and it took all my self-restraint to walk away from the sanctimony. Also your bit about Stephen King 💀Until Scotland, I’ll be here.
Thank you. Yeah, I also left that Blue Sky exchange alone, but it simmered, along with the other discourse floating around and then I birthed this lil rant. Ugh, we’re all doing the best we can. Xo
Listen. I found you here a looooong time ago and kick myself now for not following you then. You are speaking truth after truth and giving me life on the daily. From one immigrant to another (sorry, I’m just too low class to ever call myself an ex-pat) THANK YOU.
I’m in the process of leaving Meta and the number of people sending me that fucking article that of course I read years ago makes me want to scream.
OMG. I love this. We have to use the tools that we have available to keep our wheels turning. Shifting away from as many platforms and services owned by assholes as I can, but I publish books. I can't ignore Amazon. I can build up a following and offer alternative places to buy and send people there, but Amazon is still the 800 pound gorilla.
Amen. It’s tough. I left Substack last year because Nazis and I just wrote a holocaust memoir so, you know, irony or something. But the truth is there isn’t a ghost of a substitute for Substack. I’m going to return at some point. If it’s any comfort, though, I don’t think the painter liked those assholes any more than you do. (And no one knows their names, but we know and will remember yours Jennifer, because you’re a wonderful writer and you write stuff that matters.)
I'm sick and tired of people telling me that I have to get off Twitter. I Like Fucking With MAGAts and Nazis. They are unarmed when it comes to a battle of wits, and I thoroughly enjoy bitch-slapping them on Twitter for my amusement.
I have no issues with other people not wanting to engage those morons, go ahead and bug-out. But STFU about how I have to do so as well.
Haha! You 've got to feel better after that rant! Oddly, I do, too. I do not, though, want to get soured. So can I go to lovely Scotland, too? It's so refreshingly wild!
I pat myself on the back for not resubscribing to WaPo, not shopping at Whole Foods, rarely buying on Amazon... and use Prime video frequently. It has everything! So I do what I can and call it good. Same with deleting ads on Facebook: I'm sure it just sends more ads my way, but I do enjoy getting rid of all the weird accounts that show up out of nowhere. "You're not going to get me, haha!"
It's making me nuts. I deleted Meta and it was not easy to do! I have had Facebook deactivated for a while, but as a theater artist, it is REALLY hard to get rid of Instagram. I just couldn't justify it to myself anymore, and that's just my thing. I don't judge anyone who has to use it, and there really isn't a viable alternative. I have a Blue Sky and I also hate Blue Sky. People love to sniff and be like "you know Substack IS social media, right?" and I am like uh yes but I write things that are longer than a paragraph full of fucking emojis and people actually read it sometimes. Thanks for writing this!
I don't think of Substack as social media. On FB I only friend people I know. I don't know anyone here, it's more like a library where you can talk!!
Oh I love that, a library where you can talk.
You can talk in libraries now. Not like the good old days!
Why do ppl hate BlueSky? Just when i switched over from FB feeling all proud of myself… haven’t figured out how it works yet though.
I’m not on it as I was never on Twitter and just can’t add another app. I believe most people do like Bluesky and have found it to be a good alternative to Twitter.
Yes!
I did the exact same thing, and lost my Band Page for SmokeStack that I've had for so many years. It was worth it. I like it here because so far I haven't had any of my foul seeming vids denied, but dam it's a learning curve.
Thanks for this. Love being on Substack, love reading most everyone so far - mostly I read women because...
I just deleted Facebook and Instagram and I don't care what others do. Not going on bluewhatever because I don’t need to fill up anymore consuming rather than creating time. Have a book coming out in a few months and am looking to be innovative flogging it. Adore seeing your name in my inbox. The exquisite beauty of women's fury right now is oxygen to me.
“The exquisite beauty of women's fury right now is oxygen to me.” - powerfully expressed, feel the same.
I love this. Thank you. I am relatively new to Substack, and I am feeling the same way about it being oxygen. I didn’t know about its history, so at least I’m a little more up to date. It seems like there are problems with each platform these days, so it’s a balancing act, isn’t it?
I love you for writing this.
First, there are Nazis everywhere. Can we agree that there are awful people spouting off nonsense everywhere in every disgusting way. You can't eliminate them without, erm, eliminating them. They will find another place to preach to other awful people even if it's on the street corner where you live.
Let's just be clear here about all the nonsense about platforms and social media and what to choose and why. I'm spending less time on IG because it makes me angry and sad. I choose Substack but there is a deeper reason why. This is coming from a former brand strategist so, I'm sorry if I'm pedantic.
All of these platforms exist to make money. Period.
Meta/Instagram's business model is to make money from ads. How do you get people to spend money on ads? You make it difficult to reach new audiences or engage the audience you do have - so they are forced to give you money to boost your posts and profile so that maybe you can earn a little money. Basic breakdown: give Meta money to maybe, potentially earn money.
Substack's business model is to make money off their users' paid subscriptions. So, their motivation is to make their users/writers successful because if they are getting paid subscribers, then Substack makes money. Basic breakdown: Substack helps you make money and only then do they make money.
For this reason alone, as someone trying to make money from my writing, do I choose Substack. They seem to have a more equitable commission than Medium, or so I hear. They also have these little promotional pushes you may not even notice until you get a paid subscriber from them and think, what the hell was that?
Anyway, long way of saying, I agree and I love when you fire something off in 5 minutes.
Agreeing with all this. Except that I find it a hell of a lot easier to make money on Medium as a writer than on here. Been making a good part time income for nearly a year for writing 3 or 4 articles a month there, whereas here I make a grand total of about £24 a month. It's slow going here and feels more democratic over on Medium bc if you write something that meets their boost guidelines, which isn't rocket science, your piece gets shown to a lot of people. I love it here for the great community feel and the fantastic writers so I'm staying.
I get that - I think there is a science to growth here and once I approached it as a business versus a writing platform, my income exploded. Night and day difference.
I think that’s what frustrates writers the most. They write, post and then crickets. But the tools are here to get your work viewed and if you have a paid strategy and consistency, you will make money.
And no, I don’t pay for any of those people trying to sell you tricks to earning money on Substack. It’s just pulling from my strategy knowledge and using common sense (like, what would I pay for?).
Sounds like you've cracked it! I must admit I feel a lot of resistance to the idea of approaching my writing as a business. I moved away from copywriting as a freelancer to start writing more authentically again. Not that you can't write authentically here, but for me, strategy gets in the way of enjoying writing and plays into my demand avoidance as a neurodivergent person. I also know writers who have become enormously successful here with zero strategy and just writing what they're moved to, but I think mostly they had already established something of a platform elsewhere.
Yeah, I think there are successful Substackers who came here with a significant following or credentials which gave them a leg up. Doesn’t stop some of them from giving advice on how to have success here. The nerve!
I approach it as a business because this is an extension of my business and so the value proposition was easy to figure out. For someone from a different angle or perspective, that might look different but it doesn’t mean that you don’t treat it like a business, meaning you show up consistently and deliver the goods to your subscribers.
I never figured out the medium hack. Or I did, but the only stuff that I made money on was really shallow quick read stuff that I wouldn't read if I hadn't written it lol (example: an ode to my old Subaru, and a story about getting older and enjoying more things and less experiences now that I had a home to do hobbies in). I doubt I will ever make money here, but the concentration of professional writers, culture studiers, and historians on Substack is what makes it better for me here.
I know what you mean ☺️ My stuff is pretty in-depth but I think I was lucky I hit on topical issues as I've been writing about neurodiversity. I got in with the right publications, hit on a great editor, and got boosted consistently. But I definitely prefer the quality and range of writing here.
How are people even comparing Substack to IG or FB or Twitter or BlueSky or.....? It's a completely different format, IMHO. I love Substack. I get thoughtful words from thoughtful people. Not short little emoji rants. Perhaps my dopemine levels are stable enough that I can still hold a thought for more than 60 seconds. I, too, would move directly out of this country right now if I could. -sigh- Until then, there is Substack. Best wishes and warm regards to you all!
Timely! Just yesterday I was considering an Atlantic subscription but delayed because I don’t think I have time to read it in addition to my substack subscriptions which I’m finding very helpful.
Through Substack I’ve learned for example that Andrew Hubberman is a horrible person towards women and unsubscribed to his podcast (admittedly platforming Jordan Peterson was a sufficiently huge red flag but now I have information to back up my gut). I’ve learned feminist history which I’ve found literally no where else. I hope it never gets bad enough to force me to leave but meanwhile I’m here, following a whole lotta ex-Washington Post people, ex-religious people, and it turns out, an ex-Atlantic person too!
I love that you have learned feminist history here! This seems to be an appropriate moment to brag about a project created by some of my mentors, a historical timeline of domestic workers in the U.S. - as an undergrad, I contributed research to this project! https://dwherstories.com
You sound very Rotterdam and I like it
What?!!! Huberman is out?!! Any chance you have a link to that article? Geeeeeezus, where’d all the good people go?
I know, right? He taught me so much about sleeping and what is happening in my gut. Turns out he's horrible to the women in his life. I learned about it from Celeste Davis, who links the NYT article at the beginning of her post: https://celestemdavis.substack.com/p/never-meet-your-heroes-wives
Thank you for this. I love Celeste’s work but I guess I missed this one.
I’m reading through her back catalog! Goodness knows what I’ll learn next. But I find I’d rather know than not…
I'm torn. Her work is so important, well researched and well written but I always feel horrible after reading it. I’m an empath and it can throw me off for a full day or more if I’m not careful. Sigh . . .
I subscribe to apple news and the Atlantic is included along with a bunch of others i like to read (new yorker, real simple, the cut…) but couldn’t hope to afford separate subscriptions for.
Okay well first of all I fucking love you and if I could move to Amsterdam so we could snark in person, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm too small a social media fish for any of this to impact me, really, other than, you know, ethicsandprinciples. I love BlueSky b/c people read my posts (ego ego ego) but I deleted Twitter. And Rebecca Solnit said that we should stay where we are and be LOUD about what's wrong, rather than let the bullies decide where we get to sit in the lunchroom. So. If *she* says it's okay . . . I was bullied all the time in elementary school and dammit, I'm a grownass woman and those blowhard bros need to shut up. SO. Stay here, lady; we need your voice.
I’m not going anywhere, goddamnit. Although I dramatically announced to my living room that I don’t want to be a writer anymore several times this week. Also, I love you.
I went to look at Blue Sky and a review showed me all the people I hate now and here they are So I won’t be going there! I’ll look for you right here on SUBSTACK.
"Look at these assholes in charge of everything" OMG, you slay me. Thank you for naming that we're all just doing the fucking best we can in a fucked up situation. And also--all y'all can keep your fucking opinions to yourselves. It makes me smile. It makes me feel less alone and it makes me feel safer in the world.
Loved this. All the purists out there canceling substack subscriptions but still ordering off Amazon when they can’t find it anywhere else, and paying their taxes I presume. And I saw that Bluesky thread (also hating it there, really wanted to like it), and it took all my self-restraint to walk away from the sanctimony. Also your bit about Stephen King 💀Until Scotland, I’ll be here.
Thank you. Yeah, I also left that Blue Sky exchange alone, but it simmered, along with the other discourse floating around and then I birthed this lil rant. Ugh, we’re all doing the best we can. Xo
Xox
This one is earthy :)
Listen. I found you here a looooong time ago and kick myself now for not following you then. You are speaking truth after truth and giving me life on the daily. From one immigrant to another (sorry, I’m just too low class to ever call myself an ex-pat) THANK YOU.
I’m in the process of leaving Meta and the number of people sending me that fucking article that of course I read years ago makes me want to scream.
The Atlantic once sent me a rejection note about the story I submitted that began, "Alas,..."
This made me laugh. Mostly because “alas” is a word I’d definitely use. 😂😏❤️
"Alas, we weren't taken with this one."
I’m sorry, but also ewwww 🤣
I love John Irving. 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' is my favorite.
That’s a good one. The World According to Garp is my all time fave but it’s a close second to Widow for One Year.
both excellent!
The ones with wrestling and bears are best…
Ah, kindred spirits. John Irving! My favorite books are “Garp” with “the Cider House Rules” a close second.
I loved 'Cider House,' too.
OMG. I love this. We have to use the tools that we have available to keep our wheels turning. Shifting away from as many platforms and services owned by assholes as I can, but I publish books. I can't ignore Amazon. I can build up a following and offer alternative places to buy and send people there, but Amazon is still the 800 pound gorilla.
Amen. It’s tough. I left Substack last year because Nazis and I just wrote a holocaust memoir so, you know, irony or something. But the truth is there isn’t a ghost of a substitute for Substack. I’m going to return at some point. If it’s any comfort, though, I don’t think the painter liked those assholes any more than you do. (And no one knows their names, but we know and will remember yours Jennifer, because you’re a wonderful writer and you write stuff that matters.)
I'm sick and tired of people telling me that I have to get off Twitter. I Like Fucking With MAGAts and Nazis. They are unarmed when it comes to a battle of wits, and I thoroughly enjoy bitch-slapping them on Twitter for my amusement.
I have no issues with other people not wanting to engage those morons, go ahead and bug-out. But STFU about how I have to do so as well.
Haha! You 've got to feel better after that rant! Oddly, I do, too. I do not, though, want to get soured. So can I go to lovely Scotland, too? It's so refreshingly wild!
I pat myself on the back for not resubscribing to WaPo, not shopping at Whole Foods, rarely buying on Amazon... and use Prime video frequently. It has everything! So I do what I can and call it good. Same with deleting ads on Facebook: I'm sure it just sends more ads my way, but I do enjoy getting rid of all the weird accounts that show up out of nowhere. "You're not going to get me, haha!"