Robyn, I like your newsletter just the way it is. Also, I'm going to steal that line (the first couple of times with attribution --- after that no guarantees) about being a liberal arts graduate who is constitutionally unable to specialize. Priceless (and true)! Keep writing! DJB
Thanks so much, David. This was part of what I hated about graduate school for my Ph.D. As much as I love sociology, I did not like studying nothing but sociology. Also, liberal arts graduates are clearly the most interesting people.
Maybe you could tell Randy about me? I could use another Substack friend! So appreciated your opening a vein and letting it flow. I’m astonished by my own instant adoption of Substack. What did I do BEFORE I began posting every five days? IDK! But now I have a home for my writing and drawings, at least until they f it up. And I’m so pleased that author of Sex on the Midwest is in my inbox as often as she cares to be. Here’s to relaxing into a medium that rocks us like a hammock! Meanwhile, have we ever compared bites about Vincent? I was muddling along on here for a couple of years, until I posted “Vincent & Me,” my own viral coming out party. And honest to god, my finger hovered over the publish button as I asked myself, “Will anybody read this?” Answer yes X 60k. Go figure. If that’s doesn’t teach you to loosen up, nothing will. My only regret is that he had but one ear to give for my Substack. Thanks for being here Robyn!
I can relate to so much of this port. OMG, I love Substack, and OMG, my growth rate has been even more glacial than yours. I just passed my 3 year Substack Birthday and I am at just over 600 free subscribers. But I love reading my friends' stacks and them reading mine, and recommending new stacks that I discover, some by old friends and some by new friends. And yes, I have definitely made friends here that I have not met in person, like YOU.
And I love the comments I get every Friday, and the way people recommend my stack. I am in it for the long haul, and I am seeing, lately, a slowly but steady gain of subscribers each week, so I guess specializing a little tiny bit has helped me. I was writing about all the stuff I do now--editing, book reviews, marketing--plus about life on a boat and travel and politics and sheesh...I guess no one could figure it out. Now, I keep all the boat and travel stuff out of most of the posts, but every now and then it sneaks in a bit. Which is fine, it is my life.
Definitely so happy to connect with you on here! And, yes, I think slow growth is probably the best. It seems that way you’re more likely to get the people who are actually into what you’re doing and will stick around.
I also remember Substack telling me that I could expect ten percent of my subscribers to upgrade to paid. Hahahaha. They must have mistakenly added an extra zero to that percentage!
"Just be nice." I think snarky and unkind behavior have been on the rise for some time, reflecting the national leadership and climate, so it bears repeating. I have been trolled here, and it is shocking, but like you, I have developed a community that I admire and laugh online with. The good outweighs the bad. Great post, thank you! By the way, should we be saying "post, essay" or "article"? I never know.
I got spanked (rather meanly) by a person who teaches how to “optimize” your Substack, but only if you have 1000 followers. My mistake for calling a Substack essay, the term she prefers, a blog post. Apparently I showed my age :-)
So sorry you got trolled, Isa. Like I said, I can’t understand that type of behavior at all. Never will. Glad the good still outweighs the bad.
Yes, I have no idea what to call these things I write. I mean, I feel like essay is too formal, though the origins of the word ‘essay’ are ‘to try,’ so maybe essay is the perfect word? I’m a blogger from back in the day, so I have no problem with post. A lot of people in town who read the newsletter still call it my blog and I don’t care. Article is probably my least favorite as it sounds a little dry.
This is one of the most honest money posts I've read on here, and I mean that as the highest compliment. I write about money mindset, and the thing I keep coming back to is that "what is this worth?" and "what does this pay?" are two completely different questions — you found a publisher and a community through this newsletter, and no spreadsheet captures that. But I'll admit I hold both: I love the writing playground AND I want it to pay. Do you think naming the number out loud like this changed how you feel about it?
Absolutely, Caroline, I think there are other ways to monetize the Substack beyond paid subscribers, like opportunities to get the word out about my book and my writing. And community is pricelss.
That's a good question about naming the number out loud. I think I was surprised it was $10 a post. I thought it might be nickels. I've done a lot of pitching to various media outlets in the past. I can't say they ever paid much better. So, no, I don't think it changed how I feel.
Robyn, I like your newsletter just the way it is. Also, I'm going to steal that line (the first couple of times with attribution --- after that no guarantees) about being a liberal arts graduate who is constitutionally unable to specialize. Priceless (and true)! Keep writing! DJB
Thanks so much, David. This was part of what I hated about graduate school for my Ph.D. As much as I love sociology, I did not like studying nothing but sociology. Also, liberal arts graduates are clearly the most interesting people.
Maybe you could tell Randy about me? I could use another Substack friend! So appreciated your opening a vein and letting it flow. I’m astonished by my own instant adoption of Substack. What did I do BEFORE I began posting every five days? IDK! But now I have a home for my writing and drawings, at least until they f it up. And I’m so pleased that author of Sex on the Midwest is in my inbox as often as she cares to be. Here’s to relaxing into a medium that rocks us like a hammock! Meanwhile, have we ever compared bites about Vincent? I was muddling along on here for a couple of years, until I posted “Vincent & Me,” my own viral coming out party. And honest to god, my finger hovered over the publish button as I asked myself, “Will anybody read this?” Answer yes X 60k. Go figure. If that’s doesn’t teach you to loosen up, nothing will. My only regret is that he had but one ear to give for my Substack. Thanks for being here Robyn!
No, I didn’t know you were also Vincent-obsessed. I will have to check it out. I like that posts about Van Gogh get such traction here.
I will let Randy know, but mostly Randy does whatever he wants and I have very little control.
https://petermoore.substack.com/p/vincent-and-me?r=4g2k&utm_medium=ios
I can relate to so much of this port. OMG, I love Substack, and OMG, my growth rate has been even more glacial than yours. I just passed my 3 year Substack Birthday and I am at just over 600 free subscribers. But I love reading my friends' stacks and them reading mine, and recommending new stacks that I discover, some by old friends and some by new friends. And yes, I have definitely made friends here that I have not met in person, like YOU.
And I love the comments I get every Friday, and the way people recommend my stack. I am in it for the long haul, and I am seeing, lately, a slowly but steady gain of subscribers each week, so I guess specializing a little tiny bit has helped me. I was writing about all the stuff I do now--editing, book reviews, marketing--plus about life on a boat and travel and politics and sheesh...I guess no one could figure it out. Now, I keep all the boat and travel stuff out of most of the posts, but every now and then it sneaks in a bit. Which is fine, it is my life.
Definitely so happy to connect with you on here! And, yes, I think slow growth is probably the best. It seems that way you’re more likely to get the people who are actually into what you’re doing and will stick around.
This is so refreshing and comforting to read.
I also remember Substack telling me that I could expect ten percent of my subscribers to upgrade to paid. Hahahaha. They must have mistakenly added an extra zero to that percentage!
Keep up the good work, Robyn! 🙏💚
Thanks so much, Don! Glad it brought you comfort. You’re definitely on the list of good people I’ve connected with on here.
"Just be nice." I think snarky and unkind behavior have been on the rise for some time, reflecting the national leadership and climate, so it bears repeating. I have been trolled here, and it is shocking, but like you, I have developed a community that I admire and laugh online with. The good outweighs the bad. Great post, thank you! By the way, should we be saying "post, essay" or "article"? I never know.
I got spanked (rather meanly) by a person who teaches how to “optimize” your Substack, but only if you have 1000 followers. My mistake for calling a Substack essay, the term she prefers, a blog post. Apparently I showed my age :-)
Huh. I guess my reaction is, who cares what you call it?
So sorry you got trolled, Isa. Like I said, I can’t understand that type of behavior at all. Never will. Glad the good still outweighs the bad.
Yes, I have no idea what to call these things I write. I mean, I feel like essay is too formal, though the origins of the word ‘essay’ are ‘to try,’ so maybe essay is the perfect word? I’m a blogger from back in the day, so I have no problem with post. A lot of people in town who read the newsletter still call it my blog and I don’t care. Article is probably my least favorite as it sounds a little dry.
I don’t know. What do you think?
I wrote a newsletter for my business, so couldn't exactly call it a blog. Maybe essay? I had no ideas of the origin of the word!
Yes, I learned the origins of essay from an essay by the amazing Ross Gay, I think in his book, Inciting Joy.
Perfect advice!
Thanks, Kaspa!
This is one of the most honest money posts I've read on here, and I mean that as the highest compliment. I write about money mindset, and the thing I keep coming back to is that "what is this worth?" and "what does this pay?" are two completely different questions — you found a publisher and a community through this newsletter, and no spreadsheet captures that. But I'll admit I hold both: I love the writing playground AND I want it to pay. Do you think naming the number out loud like this changed how you feel about it?
Absolutely, Caroline, I think there are other ways to monetize the Substack beyond paid subscribers, like opportunities to get the word out about my book and my writing. And community is pricelss.
That's a good question about naming the number out loud. I think I was surprised it was $10 a post. I thought it might be nickels. I've done a lot of pitching to various media outlets in the past. I can't say they ever paid much better. So, no, I don't think it changed how I feel.