I want to continue to strive to write consistently in 2024- I generally wrote once a week once I started my Substack in August. My sister and I wrote together a number of times, and we always had fun when we did it.
Many of the people I encounter in my daily life have zero idea what Substack is, but I think I have at least gotten a few people in my orbit to be more interested. My mom started an account just so she could read and like both of our posts even though she didn’t commit to reading posts by other authors (she loves reading The NY Times online and finds that takes up the majority of time that she devotes to recreational reading). My sister and I both love Substack and have had to make decisions about how many subscriptions we can reasonably keep track of and how many we should pay for as well.
These all sound like great plans for Substack! I too keep having to filter and refine my subscriptions as I can’t give them all the attention they deserve!
Interesting, thank you. I’m definitely finding writing a post a week helps with writing for masters studies. I’m not as hesitant at the blank screen and even seem to be more organised! Although quality over quantity is a good aim, actually just getting something down each week seems to keep my mind in flow. I remember at lecturer at uni saying, don’t sweat it, get something down and move on!
Yes this is definitely true. I find that the more regularly I write, the more ready the word are - I guess it's like any muscle, it needs exercising to get full benefit! I like that piece of advice from your lecturer - sometimes that initial articulation can feel so daunting, but once its done at least you have something to work with!
Fantastic list, and I wholeheartedly agree (support?) all of these too.
Similar to another commenter here, number 7 is tricky. There is so much 'content' out there, and there is just a lot to access and read. I am also considering reducing the number of newsletters in the new year that I am subscribed to as I would love to read everything, but know that I can't.
Number 10 too stands out - I love how you say: 'I commit to exploring whether Substack could be a suitably (relatively) low-fi home where I can host a community'. I know that you also refer to IG here, but I think this sentence sums up my feelings about Substack.
No 7 - so many amazing writers with so many interesting perspectives but NEVER ENOUGH TIME! Yesterday I did a (guilt-inducing) cull of some of my free subscription to clear some headspace for the ones I really want to read. I suspect this will be a pattern of discovery and un-discovery that will repeat through my time of this platform, but I think I like that reflection of how we are as people, because I certainly have a core group of interests that don't shift surrounding by an ever-evolving clouds of other interests that move closer and further away and sometime disappear entirely.
That’s a great way of putting it, an ever-evolving cloud of interests (should I stop quoting you now 😆). But you’re right, when I see the number of newsletters that I subscribe to, and then the ones that I’m draw to and want to read, that’s a bit of a disconnect. Not a bad thing I don’t believe, but just trying to be realistic.
This is brilliant and an excellent canvas for others to organise themselves.
Personally I have 3 guidelines:
- consistency in pace (every Monday) and quality of my posts.
- I don't get distracted by wanting to read everything others write. That's why I choose to be focussed.
- I write things that I would like to read and I always write with an evaluative approach to myself. Almost as if I were my most critical reader. However, I don't let this destroy me. On the contrary, it's a driving force for me.
Hi Rolando - thanks so much for your kind words. I've similarly set myself a posting cadence - every Thursday, although sometimes I post a second time because I'm impulsive;-) I'm not so good at not getting distracted by other people's writing though - I think I need to whittle down my reads list as its quite unwieldy and distracting at the moment. Finding my way through this new-to-me platform though is proving really enjoyable so long may that continue!
This is brilliant. I love the way you set clear frameworks for yourself. I am much more scatter. I am especially interested in number 7, because I struggle with the constant pace of social media and the fear of getting left behind or missing opportunities. It is helpful to have conversations around this I think x
It’s an attempt to stop myself wanting it ALL, NOW, WHY ISN’T IT HAPPENING NOW lol. Whenever I do think that, I can now point to my commitments and pretend I’m zen ;)
I want to continue to strive to write consistently in 2024- I generally wrote once a week once I started my Substack in August. My sister and I wrote together a number of times, and we always had fun when we did it.
Many of the people I encounter in my daily life have zero idea what Substack is, but I think I have at least gotten a few people in my orbit to be more interested. My mom started an account just so she could read and like both of our posts even though she didn’t commit to reading posts by other authors (she loves reading The NY Times online and finds that takes up the majority of time that she devotes to recreational reading). My sister and I both love Substack and have had to make decisions about how many subscriptions we can reasonably keep track of and how many we should pay for as well.
These all sound like great plans for Substack! I too keep having to filter and refine my subscriptions as I can’t give them all the attention they deserve!
Interesting, thank you. I’m definitely finding writing a post a week helps with writing for masters studies. I’m not as hesitant at the blank screen and even seem to be more organised! Although quality over quantity is a good aim, actually just getting something down each week seems to keep my mind in flow. I remember at lecturer at uni saying, don’t sweat it, get something down and move on!
Yes this is definitely true. I find that the more regularly I write, the more ready the word are - I guess it's like any muscle, it needs exercising to get full benefit! I like that piece of advice from your lecturer - sometimes that initial articulation can feel so daunting, but once its done at least you have something to work with!
That’s really true, it’s that articulation really! Halfway through an essay at the moment but it’s time for a Christmas break now! 🎄🎄
Fantastic list, and I wholeheartedly agree (support?) all of these too.
Similar to another commenter here, number 7 is tricky. There is so much 'content' out there, and there is just a lot to access and read. I am also considering reducing the number of newsletters in the new year that I am subscribed to as I would love to read everything, but know that I can't.
Number 10 too stands out - I love how you say: 'I commit to exploring whether Substack could be a suitably (relatively) low-fi home where I can host a community'. I know that you also refer to IG here, but I think this sentence sums up my feelings about Substack.
Thanks for sharing!
No 7 - so many amazing writers with so many interesting perspectives but NEVER ENOUGH TIME! Yesterday I did a (guilt-inducing) cull of some of my free subscription to clear some headspace for the ones I really want to read. I suspect this will be a pattern of discovery and un-discovery that will repeat through my time of this platform, but I think I like that reflection of how we are as people, because I certainly have a core group of interests that don't shift surrounding by an ever-evolving clouds of other interests that move closer and further away and sometime disappear entirely.
That’s a great way of putting it, an ever-evolving cloud of interests (should I stop quoting you now 😆). But you’re right, when I see the number of newsletters that I subscribe to, and then the ones that I’m draw to and want to read, that’s a bit of a disconnect. Not a bad thing I don’t believe, but just trying to be realistic.
This is brilliant and an excellent canvas for others to organise themselves.
Personally I have 3 guidelines:
- consistency in pace (every Monday) and quality of my posts.
- I don't get distracted by wanting to read everything others write. That's why I choose to be focussed.
- I write things that I would like to read and I always write with an evaluative approach to myself. Almost as if I were my most critical reader. However, I don't let this destroy me. On the contrary, it's a driving force for me.
Hi Rolando - thanks so much for your kind words. I've similarly set myself a posting cadence - every Thursday, although sometimes I post a second time because I'm impulsive;-) I'm not so good at not getting distracted by other people's writing though - I think I need to whittle down my reads list as its quite unwieldy and distracting at the moment. Finding my way through this new-to-me platform though is proving really enjoyable so long may that continue!
This is brilliant. I love the way you set clear frameworks for yourself. I am much more scatter. I am especially interested in number 7, because I struggle with the constant pace of social media and the fear of getting left behind or missing opportunities. It is helpful to have conversations around this I think x
It’s an attempt to stop myself wanting it ALL, NOW, WHY ISN’T IT HAPPENING NOW lol. Whenever I do think that, I can now point to my commitments and pretend I’m zen ;)