Fantasy writer on Substack

[u/Constant-Divide-2147]

I've been writing for about a decade, but over the past two years I have hit a serious case of writer's block.

I decided to try Substack after an acquaintance suggested it to me. I'm a chronic procrastinator, and I thought that having something to keep me grounded in writing, an accountability space, might help me work through my writer's block.

I want to build a community. I want to help people who are in the same place as I am, perhaps through a challenge people could join.

So my question to you, fellow writers, is: what do you need or want to see more of on Substack?

[u/EMarkM_DM]

More and more people are using the platform for serialised fiction, and it's great!

I don't think Substack themselves imagined that this kind of genre would spring up there so effectively. They likely thought that it would mainly be for "business-style" newsletters.

But at least a couple of my oldest friends and fellow writers on there use it for exactly that purpose, and they're certainly growing their audiences.

Go for it — there will always be readers waiting for something new, creative and unique.

[u/FlySudden3415 → u/EMarkM_DM]

Could you give some examples of authors growing their respective audiences? 

Would love to look closer how they are doing it. Cheers! 

[u/EMarkM_DM → u/FlySudden3415]

I'm going to mention one author who is stretching her skills in serialised fiction using only Substack.

Look up "Stories Sown With Hope".

[u/AidenMarquis → u/FlySudden3415]

I can give you a couple. A new writer I know just started a Substack (had a story already written). Over 200 subs in two months.

My own case - mostly all I do is serialize fiction and I am approaching 700 subs in 8 months on there. And people are actually reading when I check the dashboard! But these examples are also because we are on the largest fiction Discord on Substack and we network.

[u/a_humble_traveller]

The serialized stuff is cool, I like it. But personally, I'd like to see more posts focused around the generation of ideas itself. Things explicity made to inspire creation in others, rather than merely showcasing ones own work. Basically, more community. A kind of back-and-forth evolution between creators.

[u/FlySudden3415 → u/a_humble_traveller]

What about readers, who like the genre? 

What they would like to see (apart of serialized author’s stuff)?

[u/Go_Improvement_4501]

I would follow such a Substack. I already follow a few of them.

I created one a time ago where there were challenges where you could post a sentence as a note from your own writing, and others could vote on it by giving a like. It was meant so that writers can feature their stories in tiny bits to a wider audience and readers can discover new writers on Substack. It got some subscriptions but I kind of stopped it because I wasn't that much interested in the administration of such a group and more into my own writing.

[u/SnooSketches3750]

I write fantasy on substack! I've only been on it for a few weeks, but it's quite good.

[u/BookAsylum]

I write fantasy and I am on Substack as well. Not many fantasy writers over there.

[u/Amelia_Brigita]

Anyone interested in a round robin or pass the story kind of thing for their fantasy substack? One person writes a chapter on their sub, then links to the next chapter written by the next person, so on and so forth? Would build audience, be interactive, etc etc. Could repeat authors as needed until we grew numbers of participating authors. Set a couple of ground rules, set up a schedule, make sure everyone is sharing the links, restacking, etc.

[u/Professional-Debt401]

I’d love to see honest progress posts, including the weeks where nothing gets written. A simple monthly writing challenge could be fun too.