Why Substack?

I jumped into Substack without much information about how it worked. I’d become dissatisfied with my WordPress website because it was always breaking down, and the security became a nightmare as well as expensive. Substack seemed like a great alternative. 

Here’s what I like so far:

• It has a blog feature called Notes.
• It’s an easy-to-use newsletter platform.
• It doesn’t require up-front money for hosting or security like WP.
• It allows me to connect directly with people who like what I write and to find others whose work I enjoy.

One of the biggest draws for writers is the option to receive payment for their work. It's a definite mark of professionalism. Some writers only allow liking and commenting by paying subscribers while others offer deeper dives into content for people who pledge $$ to their site. While I’m not asking for payment, I do tell readers they can support my work by buying my books. 

It was interesting to read what Alexa Schlosser, the managing editor of IBPA wrote about this platform, “ I strongly believe Substack will become one of the main arenas for discovering new books in a few years time.” She also included the fact that John Pistelli, a novelist who wrote Major Arcana, managed to secure a publishing deal after serializing his novel on Substack.

As I make my way through this new (to me) platform, I'm finding publishers like Galiot Press that accept submissions for fiction and non-fiction. There are renowned writers of both fiction and non-fiction, so I pick up some great tips and read some excellent writing.   

To be successful on Substack you have to do what you do on all other social media.

• Be consistent. If you say you’re going to publish weekly, do so, or explain why you’re not able to. 
• Visit other Substack writers to like, comment, restack, or share. If you take the time to comment, that’s seen as more involvement, and you’re more likely to have that writer subscribe to your site.
• Subscribe to other Substacks. You can do that for free or pledge whatever amount you feel is appropriate or affordable. 

So far, I’m happy being there, but there are downsides. A big one is that you’re dependent on Substack’s structure, and you don’t have as much control as you do with a website. 

Also, Substack doesn’t have the same SEO capacity as say WordPress. That means search engines might miss you and many readers won’t find your posts. 

After I settle in a bit, I may consider creating a website (not WordPress!) where my Substack posts can show up and where search engines are more likely to find me.