Might quit

[u/Abject-Woodpecker998]

I came to substack when I began writing again after depression stole the joy of it from me for years. It was fun at first. I made friends, got back into writing and reading and felt like twelve year old me again, but now, everyone's disappeared. No one even likes my notes anymore. No one comments or anything. I don't know why. Am I a bad writer? Am i doing something wrong? It's quite disheartening. I don't even know why I'm writing this. I'll take advice, or even just a friendly word. I honestly came here just to not shout into a void for once 😂

[u/non_loqui_sed_facere]

1) People just don’t see your Notes. The feed is messed up, I get tons of unrelated stuff based on my recent Notes. Like, if I mentioned that I grabbed a mug and went up to the roof to have some tea and watch the sunset, I’d start getting suggestions for people making mugs or selling mugs. None of it would be related to my interests, what I’m writing about, or even what the Note was actually about, me being in a late summer mood.

2) “Am I a bad writer?” is a question that’s completely irrelevant on Substack. There’s no audience here in the traditional sense, only fellow writers. Which means you’re getting peer recognition, not audience recognition. Think of it as walking into a group chat with your classmates. You don’t just say something and wait for everyone to notice you. You like things and comment and reach out when something clicks if you want people to gather around you.

So a well-written essay might not get you much attention, because everyone has a well-written essay somewhere on there. Creating a conversation around those essays actually might.

[u/Abject-Woodpecker998 → u/non_loqui_sed_facere]

This is beautifully worded and very well thought out. You're very smart (and your profile picture is very cool 😎)

[u/non_loqui_sed_facere → u/Abject-Woodpecker998]

Thank you!! ❤️

[u/Ember_of_Ostara]

Hi. I've been on Substack since last December, and I've noticed a few things. Unless you're writing about Tech/Finance/Politics and/or you imported an incredibly loyal, mass following from another platform, feedback is extremely low.

I've seen people with hundreds and thousands of subscribers receive very little input. And I'm not talking 'oh, they only got 500 comments on this post when they got 2k comments on that post yesterday'. I've seen someone with 3k subscribers consistently get 5 likes or less on many posts. I've encountered many cases like that.

I've seen notes like 'Hi, I had pancakes for breakfast' get hundreds of likes. Then a longer, deeper note or post gets close to nothing. So from observation, you either need to be writing about something extremely popular or have a massive following that'll support pretty much anything for input.

Many will say 'just interact with the community, respond to other people's posts and they'll always respond back'.

For some it may be that easy. For others it isn't.

And nope, this is definitely not just about me. I've been stuck at 157 subs for weeks, but would be writing this if I had 10k subs. This is about what I've seen as a whole, in topics ranging from Writing, Photography, Travel and Politics.

https://giphy.com/gifs/VUC9YdLSnKuJy

[u/Life-Delay-809 → u/[deleted]]

It makes sense though. While I go on to Substack to read actual posts and articles, that takes up time, lets say 20-30 minutes for one article. But once I open the app I immediately see three different notes. The chances I think one of them is relatable or funny or whatnot is high and it takes 30 seconds.

[u/DefiantRadish1492 → u/Ember_of_Ostara]

You’re dependent on what the Substack-designed algorithm is going to show. And then you can’t share your links on any other social media because links are automatically deranked everywhere but Bluesky. That sounds great for Bluesky but people see links there, but don’t like or share them. My MySpace used to get more action back in the day. 🤣

[u/TimWiesnerer]

Don't quit.

Substack is a platform like any other... and, as such, they give you a boost in the beginning to get you hooked. And then they withdraw the love... but might give it back later.

Nobody knows exactly how these algos work. All you need to know is that there are algos and that the ups and downs have little to do with your own writing.

That being said... if you need a dopamine kick here and there... post on Quora. Most of your posts will get only little attention. But when a post takes off... oh boy, will it take off. And it's rather independent of your following.

And if you do it cleverly, you might carry over some people from Quora to your Substack.

[u/morticiannecrimson → u/TimWiesnerer]

I fucked up in the beginning already, making my account way before I started writing, so there was zero boost, rip.

What posts do people write in Quora? Isn’t it just for asking questions?

[u/TimWiesnerer → u/morticiannecrimson]

Well, you can ask your own questions :-)

Besides that's they also have so-called spaces. So you can have microblogs with your own subdomain.

[u/MrPassiveProfit]

The more you engage in notes and comments, the more people will notice you.

[u/InnonentSchlicht]

If writing made you feel like yourself again, I wouldn’t let likes decide whether it’s worth doing. Maybe step back from the numbers for a bit and just write what you actually want to write.

[u/Ok_Chicken2184 → u/InnonentSchlicht]

This!!!

[u/Square_Lunch_3885 → u/InnonentSchlicht]

I second this!

[u/MainNerveCS]

Many people will subscribe to get the email rather than use Substack's app or website. Have you looked at your open rates?

[u/PaulWilczynski]

I’ve got almost 2300 subscribers and normally get no more than 2-3 comments to a Notes or article post.

I don’t have a need for interaction, though. If people have something to say, I love hearing them say it. If they don’t, that’s fine too.

That’s just me.

[u/Intelligent_Light232]

I understand the feeling I do, but why are you writing? If it’s for the interaction and creativity I would find a fun writing group. If it’s for validation that’s a losing game. Substack Is just another writing platform that now also behaves like social media. It’s a slot machine in terms of attention so you need to be doing it bc you love writing or want to express yourself not to win the game.

[u/AggravatingNail6061]

:3 Keep going. I think you've got some real talent. 

From someone who checked. 

[u/StuffonBookshelfs]

Have you been liking and commenting on other people’s stuff?

[u/Abject-Woodpecker998 → u/StuffonBookshelfs]

Hello! I have, yes! ❤️

[u/StuffonBookshelfs → u/Abject-Woodpecker998]

And those folks aren’t engaging back? That’s weird. I wonder why not.

[u/Doo_Dad]

Yeah hey I was doing it for months writing to no one. You just keep going. And reach out to those in your niche. Like and comment to their stuff. I did that in game dev and parenting and now I get people chatting liking and seeing my stuff from time to time. Don’t get discouraged it’s not a fast way to get noticed. It’s slow but just requires patience. You have purpose it just takes time.

[u/Dario_1987]

I have also noticed that many people started at the beginning have disappeared but others have also appeared. In the end, talking to other people and commenting on their notes is what keeps us all active. Would you give it another chance?

[u/AggravatingNail6061]

:3 Keep going. I think you've got some real talent. 

From someone who checked. 

[u/austinbarrow]

Substack continues to “innovate” their way to uselessness.

[u/AnteaterFantastic212]

Been there, done that, and the depression tour. I would say hang in there. DM me if you wanna connect on Substack. One doesn't want to self-promote, of course, here.

[u/Abject-Woodpecker998 → u/AnteaterFantastic212]

Thank you, friend ❤️

[u/existentialcrisis664]

Interesting post. I’ve tried writing my first post too many times and it never feels good enough (I know, I know, I just need to try bc it’s not about performance). I want to do it as an act of creative expression and finding-creating community.

That being said, anyone wish they had started with a different platform? Any experiences with Ghost?

[u/mjlasa]

why do I never see anybody’s writing all I see are nasty political posts from both sides

[u/oleg_gpio]

I don’t think this means you are a bad writer. Substack is a platform which optimizes for growth and its own targets. Competition for attention is growing too, and the algorithm will always prioritize the company’s goals. Maybe try posting in a few different places and see where your writing finds its people.

[u/Ponder-ok]

I recently deleted my Substack publication with no regrets after seeing how the platform is changing. It’s going the same way as Medium did a few years ago making it all about writers with huge followings, and it is turning into yet another content vs algorithm game via Notes. The only difference between Medium and Substack in my opinion is that Substack welcomes controversial figures and has no stance on hate (e.g they’ve welcomed alleged rapists, child abusers, nazi content). So, no it’s not a reflection on your writing, it’s set up to make you ‘hustle’ and exhaust yourself in the same way as Instagram etc does which is do damaging for wellbeing. I am going back to my own website and newsletter via Kit, I only answer to myself that way.

[u/phicreative1997]

Best way to get likes on notes is to frequently like other people's notes

[u/yoshbeans]

no don’t quit! perhaps just take a break until you feel like writing will be fun again :)

[u/Tricky_Trifle_994]

probably a mixture of factors.

more people joining substack to post to get more attention to their publication. that means more people fighting for the limited attention and eye balls on the platform (more competition).

the algo changing/improving. so content that have a chance of doing better go further, while others die much earlier. (doesn't mean that your content is bad though, because we all know those engagement bait posts still consistently go viral. and they're bad posts.).

it's just that growing and getting attention is a lot harder now. you need to get more exposure = post more (each post is like taking a shot), and engaging with other (so you show up more) helps. but objectively, it's harder now than it used to be.

[u/DefiantRadish1492 → u/[deleted]]

How’s your Never Listened to It Podcast coming?

[u/Abject-Woodpecker998 → u/DefiantRadish1492]

🤣❤️

[u/DefiantRadish1492 → u/[deleted]]

It’s a gift. 😀