What I’ve learned from publishing 100 Substacks
SHAKING THE TREE #101
I’m not sure if publishing 100 Substacks since early May of 2023 amounts to anything special. I’ve certainly given this endeavour my best shot so far, and I’ve built a small list of regular readers.
So, what have I learned?
All sorts of things, not least of which is that even though I doubted I could sustain things, I’ve kept at it because it’s been both fun and challenging.
Lesson 1: Publishing 100 Substacks has drilled into me the importance of consistency and the importance of showing up (even when I haven’t felt like it).
I showed up while last summer even though I was away in the UK for a week (thank you, scheduling!). I showed up when I had COVID just after Thanksgiving.
I showed up when I was tired, or when things hadn’t gone well at work, or for any one of a dozen other reasons.
Lesson 2: Focusing largely on content creation with each Substack I’ve published has allowed me to stay on point and hopefullly, it’s helped me create in-depth content my readers couldn't find anywhere else.
Lesson 3: One of the things I like most about Substack is that it allows me to foster direct interaction with my readers. OK, so, there hasn’t been as much interaction as I mgiht have liked, but that’s probably my fault.
Publishing 100 Substacks highlighted the power of building a community, not just accumulating followers. Engaging with comments, responding to questions, and fostering genuine connections are what turn readers into loyal fans.
Lesson #4: The publishing world can be an unforgiving, desolate environment. Substack is more like a writer’s playground for experimentation. Publishing 100 Substacks allowed me to test different writing styles, formats, and even pricing models. I’m looking at introducing paid content at some point in the near future, so that will be interesting. This constant experimentation has helped me discover what resonates best with my audience.
Lesson #5: Not everything I’ve published here on Substack has been a roaring success. Some of my stuff has sputtered and died. Well, a lot of it really. But each "failure" has provided valuable lessons. Publishing 100 Substacks has taught me to embrace these stumbles as opportunities to learn, adapt, and refine my approach.
Lesson #6: The online world is a cacophony of established voices. Publishing 100 Substacks has pushed me to find my own unique voice, even when it’s felt as shaky as fuck or uncertain. I’ve learned that it’s important to inject your personality and perspective into your writing, and that authenticity resonates with readers.
Lesson #7: While hitting 100 Substacks is something of a milestone, the real reward lies in the journey itself. The lessons learned, the connections made, and the constant evolution as a writer are the true treasures gleaned from this unconventional publishing odyssey.
So, what's next? Well, now it’s on to another 100 Substacks, each one a stepping stone on the path to becoming a better writer and fostering a thriving online community.
The beauty of this journey is that there's no set destination – just the thrill of exploration, experimentation, and the ever-evolving landscape of the written word.
As always, thanks for reading.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … What’s next?