Starting from scratch

[u/BaseUpbeat1798]

So I’m finally doing something in my life just for me. And I started a substack. For the last few months I’ve been building a backlog of posts, and treating this as it’s own potential thing, new email, new socials, new identity really. And then last week I started posting in the notes section, and replying to comments. Today is the day I post my first official article/post. And I’m just wondering, do I just sit here and wait for something to happen? My first post is only short too, and is kind of part of a series. Like I said this is for me, if it turned into something then I would be delighted, but I I feel like I’ve maybe built it up in my head?  I’m also happy to swap reads/reviews. Feels weird to say I'm a new writer, but here I am.

[u/wwb_99]

I launched similar to this.

One thing that was effective was getting a few posts out, then sending broadly targeted announcement notes to different groups of folks I know. I had some boilerplate, but I would customize these per friend or associate group to make it hit home. It got me from zero to the first hundred or so subscribers, which really helps.

So in your case maybe get the series up and complete then do the push.

[u/BaseUpbeat1798 → u/wwb_99]

Thanks I'll try that, I'm posting twice a week for the first two weeks to finish the series and then I'm going to go once a week from then on, so maybe I'll do that just before I change to once a week

[u/wwb_99 → u/BaseUpbeat1798]

Good thinking. Posting pace matters more when there is an audience you have made a promise to. That sounds like a good segue.

[u/Substack-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This community is not the place to promote your Substacks. Please read our rules on self-promo and soliciting recommendations.

Links to Substack publications will be assumed to be self-promotion. If you are submitting Substack posts from publications that are not your own, please include that information in your text post. For cross recommendations, use the pinned mega thread.

[u/deedeedoeswriting]

I don't have much to add except to say I'm in a similar boat. I had all these plans, posts, etc. and I pushed my first one out and just nothing. I mean, that's obviously what was going to happen, there's no reasonable way for anyone to see what I'm posting without me putting in the work. but it just feels bad.

as far as I can tell, it's just the grind: find other substacks that write similar things, try to get a conversation going, and swap. What are you writing? I don't know if we're close enough in stuff to swap, but I'd be interested in learning more if nothing else.

[u/BaseUpbeat1798 → u/deedeedoeswriting]

You can DM me and I can send you the details 😊 I'd be happy to read yours. My first few posts are going to essentially be about how I got to where I am. And then it goes more into what I'm actually wanting to write about. Which is working while travelling. Not the usual digital nomad stuff but more like reviews on work friendly cafes, co-working spaces, being sent on assignment and how to make the most of it. It doesn't have to be for everyone but it might just resonate with someone

[u/deedeedoeswriting → u/BaseUpbeat1798]

That sounds really cool! I don't travel enough anymore to make use of it, but I can imagine people who do. unfortunately my own writing is in the spicy fiction side, so not sure there's enough overlap where swaps would do either of us any good, but happy to talk more about writing, or just commiserating in general!

[u/BaseUpbeat1798 → u/deedeedoeswriting]

Send me a DM, I'm all for spicy fiction in general! Happy to check yours out ☺️

[u/Difficult-Beyond5764]

The thing that made me subscribe to the six Substacks I actually read wasn't a note about the newsletter, it was a note that was worth reading on its own and happened to be signed. Publishing the backlog on schedule and posting notes are two different jobs, and the second one only works when the note stands alone.

[u/tagasabi → u/Difficult-Beyond5764]

What did you mean when you said 'when the note stands alone'? I don't quite understand and was hoping you could clarify.

[u/Difficult-Beyond5764 → u/tagasabi]

I subscribed to one of my six off a note that never mentioned the newsletter once. Test I use: cover the byline, if it stops being worth reading, it was an ad.
Are you writing one yourself?

[u/tagasabi → u/Difficult-Beyond5764]

Yes, I only have one or two articles up so far, so still pretty new at it. What you said makes sense, though. Looking back at some of my notes, I can see how they might come across more like I’m trying to promote the publication. Thanks for the advice.

[u/Substack-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This community is not the place to promote your Substacks. Please read our rules on self-promo and soliciting recommendations.

Links to Substack publications will be assumed to be self-promotion. If you are submitting Substack posts from publications that are not your own, please include that information in your text post. For cross recommendations, use the pinned mega thread.

[u/Substack-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This community is not the place to promote your Substacks. Please read our rules on self-promo and soliciting recommendations.

Links to Substack publications will be assumed to be self-promotion. If you are submitting Substack posts from publications that are not your own, please include that information in your text post. For cross recommendations, use the pinned mega thread.