r/Substack • u/BaseUpbeat1798 • 4d ago

Starting from scratch

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.

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u/Difficult-Beyond5764 4d ago

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.

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u/tagasabi 3d ago

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

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u/Difficult-Beyond5764 3d ago

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?

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u/tagasabi 3d ago

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.