13 Comments

figured I'd test the comments out. Say hello if you're so inclined!

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I think you have a good model in Aaron Rupar. I always perk up when I see you've written a piece for Public Notice.

Dan Pfeiffer's Message Box is interesting. Some posts are paywalled. Only subscribers can comment on any post.

As with any newsletter (Constant Contact, etc.) consistency is key. Whatever schedule you set, stick with it.

Substack is great because the emails keep showing up, even if reset are like me—I delete them without opening, but I've already seen the subject line.

I prefer the Substack app as a reader. I look for the badge number notification for my three (now four) newsletters, even when I'm avoiding my email. The Substack voice reader is superb. I actually prefer it to writers reading their own content.

I know you have many by lines but even before the Musk takeover, I'll go a few days without diving into Twitter. I'm happy to see the tweet embeds in the Substack newsletters.

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Welcome to the suck.

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Hi Noah! 😌

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I am inclined to say hello!

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Substack isn't evil but it is where Evil hangs out to meet people so...I dunno.

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Hi! I am subscribed to several substacks and even though it seems everyone follows each other, it has been very fun to read.

Happy to see you here!!

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writing a substack works, but give it some time

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"works" in what sense? (honest question; I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing!)

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you can write good pieces, satisfying the itch to put your thoughts on paper

in time, you can find an audience, which encourages you to keep going

later, some even pay, which propels you to do more and do it better

but, you soon want to grow faster, and that's the hard part... bringing new subscribers on board is difficult and time consuming

so, don't rely on substack for food money, at least, not for a while; but sending a newsletter out to people who want to read it, even if just a few hundred, is a balm for the writer's soul

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ah, got it. I don't really lack for venues at the moment exactly. I need to figure out whether monetization is possible and how that would work. Maybe I should include a link to my patreon to start, idk...

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perhaps I am jaded, Noah, but people expect content for free

it's not just writing

it's music, video, news outlets

so we are operating in an environment where most people view payment as a kindness, rather than a responsibility....they don't see writing as being worth very much

some substackers paywall everything; some put it all out for free; I do the latter, and get payments from subscribers who actually say they want to 1) support my work, and 2) want to support independent writers/journos

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I appreciate your comments here. I of necessity must limit paid subscriptions but enjoy the articles and do support here and there. I’ll buy a book from a writer that has quality work. As a content creator there must be residuals that do pay off even if a subscriber is on a free plan.

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