👋 Hey there! I’m Alexis. I write about life, creativity, being a freelance writer, and everything in between. If you enjoy corny humor and cute cat pictures with a splash of advice (and maybe personal essays), you’ll probably fit in around here.
Substack Notes are like that friend you love but can only handle in small doses
Everyone’s Substack looks cooler and reads better than mine
Fuck it, hit publish, and don’t overthink it
Analytics matter, but my sanity matters more
I’m not the only one who’s still figuring it out
Substackers are wildly creative — not only in their writing but with their business models, too
I’ve been working on this publication for 6 weeks, so I’m an expert, of course
Ha! Not really. But I still wanted to share what I’ve learned, especially since many of you said here (in the poll at the end) that you’d be interested in this topic.
So, shall we dive in?
1. Substack Notes are like that friend you love but can only handle in small doses
Since I discovered the Notes feature my newsletter has grown by hundreds of subscribers (I’m grateful! 🙏), but I’ve also struggled to find the time to write. I’m on an airplane right now, flying over the Atlantic Ocean to visit my mom in Ocala, Florida and I have been so productive! Without WiFi and distractions (and dopamine hits), I’ve brainstormed nearly a dozen topics for this newsletter's “Diary of a freelance writer” section. I usually write my drafts in Substack, but I think from now on I will draft all my posts in Notion to avoid getting sidetracked. I might also designate a specific time of day to jump into notes. I’m curious, how do you handle this?
2. Everyone’s Substack looks cooler and reads better than mine
It’s hard not to play the comparison game. Anyone who says differently, I don’t believe you (sorry!). I find myself looking (weekly) at other people’s home pages and then fiddling with mine. But it doesn’t matter what colors or layout I use. What matters most to me is writing more, engaging with readers, and building community.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that not every post I publish will be a hit. And that’s OK. I’m testing different topics to see what resonates most with readers (yes you!) and then I’ll dig deeper into what does.
3. Fuck it, hit publish, and don’t overthink it
I’ve struggled to figure out what to write about next since many of you seemed to love my first few posts. In particular, the one where I talked about how I make a living as a freelance writer. I approached the topic with a humorous, casual, and lighthearted tone while keeping it real and reiterating that freelancing is not always rainbows and sunshine.
But now I feel like you guys are expecting something from me and I need to live up to those expectations. Do I need to write every post in the same style? Or can I be more serious in some? I plan on going with the flow, testing different types of posts, and rolling with the punches. That’s why I started this publication in the first place. I think removing expectations of how others will react makes all this (and life) so much easier. Wdyt?
4. Analytics matter, but my sanity matters more
I’ll be honest, after this Note went viral and my subscriber list grew from 10 to 180 and then to 350 in just a few days, I was on a high. But I was (and still am) a bit skeptical. Who are all these people that want to read my work? Please introduce yourself here! (If you haven’t already)
I even told my boyfriend, “I think I hacked Substack,” with a big grin.
He didn’t know about this publication yet. I kept it a secret because I wanted a creative outlet that no one I know (offline) could see or judge. At the time of writing, I have about 525 subscribers and the rush of getting 50+ subscribers a day has subsided. Not only because it’s not happening anymore, but also because I don’t want to let that be a leading factor in how excited I feel about writing here. What excites me more is when someone comments on my posts saying they can relate or that I made them laugh out loud. Mission accomplished!
5. I’m not the only one who’s still figuring it out
The other day,
from The Bored Millenial posted a Note about how no one showed up for her webinar and that it was disappointing but also part of the process. I admire her transparency, along with many other Substackers, as you can see in the comments of her Note.She normalized that things don’t always go as planned and that’s OK. All you can do is keep moving forward. Keep testing. Keep learning. Keep creating. Thanks, Marie.
6. Substackers are wildly creative — not only in their writing but with their Substack business models, too
When I discovered Substack I thought it was a free, easy-to-use newsletter platform that doubles as a blog. I was so wrong.
Some people have created entire businesses on the concept of Substack like
and who I’m sure you know (so smart!). Others have come up with unique and creative newsletter or business model ideas. Some that I admire (and read regularly) include:- by
- by
- by
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Shall we meet in the comments?
I’d love to know what you’d add to this list. What resonates with you? What’s your biggest Substack learning and failure so far?
I love your perspective on doing this! I've been using it for over 2 weeks and I have over 70 subscribers, even tho I don't consider myself i writer I'm enjoying the process of writing and learning about expressing myself using words.
GRACIAS CREATIVE CURIOUS