You touched on a major issue that I feel Substack has not addressed: when the business model is based on paying to read long-form publications, there is an inherent limitation to the number of subscriptions one can afford or simply have time to keep up with. It’s not like social media with the indefinite free scroll of content, but they are kind of assuming that it is going to work that way. I have already gone beyond my limit and can’t afford to subscribe to any more writers, and don’t have the time to keep up with the ones I do subscribe to. We definitely need to be focused more on bringing new readers to the platform, versus expecting writers to subscribe to dozens of other writers, which is what Notes promotes.
Yes. I have an unfair advantage because I have a lot of content and had 25,000 subscribers, so I have been able to put 15+ books behind a paywall and serialize one of my books weekly. I'm hoping that in the arms race of finding paid subscribers, offering more bonus content means something, but I'm not sure that it does. I did it for my email subscribers mostly.
Unfortunately, the winners will win more in the future as the network effects mean more and more, and the people struggling to gain purchase will struggle more because there is not enough money to go around.
If you are interested in this topic, my latest article that launched yesterday talks about personalized marketing, and presents a new archetype system for author marketing my business partner and I think will help people do this work for longer with more joy, and I have another post coming in the next couple of days about how to use sections to give more back catalog work to paid subscribers.
It's very hard out there, and while free growth will likely continue to explode for people (which is great), paid growth will likely stagnate or go backward.
“At the end of the day, being a writer is work, and work often sucks” made me laugh. So many truth bombs in this one. Brilliant reply from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
I am a writer AND happy, but that’s genetics and environment and luck making me happy, not necessarily writing, although writing mostly makes me happy too.
Chase the joy. Optimize the happiness.
I’ve also tried to explain the Zen parable of a finger pointing at the moon. The point is not to look at the finger. The point is to look at the moon. Much as writing is my calling, the point is not beautiful writing. The point is a beautiful life, or as beautiful as possible while acknowledging the wretchedness and hard work.
You touched on a major issue that I feel Substack has not addressed: when the business model is based on paying to read long-form publications, there is an inherent limitation to the number of subscriptions one can afford or simply have time to keep up with. It’s not like social media with the indefinite free scroll of content, but they are kind of assuming that it is going to work that way. I have already gone beyond my limit and can’t afford to subscribe to any more writers, and don’t have the time to keep up with the ones I do subscribe to. We definitely need to be focused more on bringing new readers to the platform, versus expecting writers to subscribe to dozens of other writers, which is what Notes promotes.
Yes. I have an unfair advantage because I have a lot of content and had 25,000 subscribers, so I have been able to put 15+ books behind a paywall and serialize one of my books weekly. I'm hoping that in the arms race of finding paid subscribers, offering more bonus content means something, but I'm not sure that it does. I did it for my email subscribers mostly.
Unfortunately, the winners will win more in the future as the network effects mean more and more, and the people struggling to gain purchase will struggle more because there is not enough money to go around.
If you are interested in this topic, my latest article that launched yesterday talks about personalized marketing, and presents a new archetype system for author marketing my business partner and I think will help people do this work for longer with more joy, and I have another post coming in the next couple of days about how to use sections to give more back catalog work to paid subscribers.
It's very hard out there, and while free growth will likely continue to explode for people (which is great), paid growth will likely stagnate or go backward.
I love your archetype framework! I think I am a Forest.
so excited to show you more :)
“At the end of the day, being a writer is work, and work often sucks” made me laugh. So many truth bombs in this one. Brilliant reply from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
I am a writer AND happy, but that’s genetics and environment and luck making me happy, not necessarily writing, although writing mostly makes me happy too.
Chase the joy. Optimize the happiness.
I’ve also tried to explain the Zen parable of a finger pointing at the moon. The point is not to look at the finger. The point is to look at the moon. Much as writing is my calling, the point is not beautiful writing. The point is a beautiful life, or as beautiful as possible while acknowledging the wretchedness and hard work.
I love it.
Thanks for this. Really helpful.
You’re welcome! If you liked this one then I recommend this one. https://authorstack.substack.com/p/you-dont-have-to-like-me-as-long
I don’t think it’s behind the paywall yet. Also this weeks is about personalized marketing which seems to have been very helpful to people :)
Good advice!
Thank you!
Keep chasing joy! 😉
trying :) Thanks!