"We want—and have the need—to go back to how life used to be: interacting with others in good faith, disagreeing with each other while remaining friendly, having genuine connections with one another." YES!!!! And you're so correct, AI will never get this right. Even if it's able to feign the connection, something will still be off, on a cellular level. To use Alisa's expression, Huzzah to humans! Thank you for creating such a hopeful, inspiring, reflective space here Nadia. Your wildflower garden is already abundant with cross-pollinating species, color and growth.
Huzzah!!! Congrats on your first anniversary and thank you for sharing your learnings! I have found traditional social channels to be lacking as well. The best thing has been finding a likeminded tribe of writers and readers. It feels more like the internet 20-some years ago... except I'm not dialing into a wall plug and it actually works 😂
Nadia! I saw someone on Notes call you one of their favorite people to follow because of your generosity. This post is so in line with that. Everything you say here feels spot on. I, too, can't be bottled by niche. ;) I've been meaning to look into Sample, and this post is going to be the push for me to follow through. And now Lettergrowth and InboxReads too. Thank you! Oh and congratulations!!
And then I'm over the moon to be included among such a wonderful list. Because I love so much the writers I'm familiar with, I'm gonna need to meet those who are new to me. 🥰
congratulations on this milestone! i actually enjoy that you don’t have a “niche”, but instead write what’s on your heart. it feels more authentic that way. this article was so informative and helpful for anyone joining substack!
Thank you for the shoutout. I agree that you need to write what you want, without catering too much to the advice of others. I had not heard of those other ways to promote the substack, but I will check them out.
Oh, beloved Nadia, happiest of anniversaries to you, my dear. What a blessing it has been to find and to interact with you, to read your hope soaked posts, to feel I've found a sister who can stare into the darkness with me while keeping one foot on solid, hopeful ground. This post is so generous, and so important. I especially resonated with your call for genuine expression. AI has it's uses, sure, but one of those uses should NEVER be it becoming someone's voice! We mustn't hand over our humanity like that, and it's tragic that some people feel the need to, whether through laziness or self-doubt.
Thank you for being you, for using your voice, for expressing yourself so beautifully and honestly, and for creating the space and the community that you have, here. If something crazy happened and Substack imploded, I would come and find you in person (in a non-stalky way) because I just can't imagine life without you 💗
I’m so glad I chose to read this in a moment when I can fully engage and digest all the goodness you have given us in this post, Nadia!! This was so cozy and the best (not) growth post I have read yet! I value you your experience and wisdom, especially in giving friendly suggestions and expertise on how to maintain the love for creating on Substack.
What a beautiful journey you’ve experienced so far! I truly can’t wait to see what year 2 has for you 🥳 Bless you, your family and your community for make this a possible experience for me 💚
Many people are visually impaired, never use a black background with a white font, or other colour combinations, it's just too much effort for some of us to read; it's a hard pass.
Writers should be cautious about their blurb saying they respond to all of their readers, when they self evidently only interact with selective people. Just change your blurb, rather than looking untrustworthy.
I know all too well that publishing is a business for us writers. I learned that on the day in 1989 or 1990 that my first editor was assessing the potential price of my hardcover based on pages and rattled off page lengths and appropriate prices for each length like an accountant. I realized then that a book was many things and one of those was a product and I had to do whatever I could to promote myself. Sometimes it paid off brilliantly. For my memoir My Germany (Terrace Books, UWP), I landed over fifty gigs including two books tours in Germany thanks to researching possible venues that could invite me and crafting each contact individually based on the person I was reaching out to. The touring lasted five years--and was highly remunerative.
Congratulations on the milestone, Nadia. It's been a joy to be part of your journey.
This post should go out to all new Substacks when they first create their publication. It's a thoughtful and grounded reflection and is something I would have loved to have read this time last year after just starting a publication myself.
Congrats! Thank you for this great essay, it should be required reading for anybody who is thinking about starting a newsletter.
My only twist would to push prospects into the deep end of the pool. There’s no reason to wait. The beauty of starting from scratch is that there is no one to watch you flail. So if you gonna flail around anonymously, might as well start today!
It’s a special community here. Let’s hope the party lasts a long while.
“I myself go back to my previous publications months later to make sure there aren’t any more errors, but that’s my editorial obsession.” Mine too, sister. 🤦 Once again, congrats on your first year here! I’m so glad to have met you, you wonderful human being you, and to have gotten to read your words and have you read mine. You’ve been a constant source of goodness and positivity here. I don’t remember how I came across your newsletter, though I have a vague recollection Alex Dobrenko was involved somehow 😂 Anyhow, here’s to many more years of this, for both of us 🥂
"We want—and have the need—to go back to how life used to be: interacting with others in good faith, disagreeing with each other while remaining friendly, having genuine connections with one another." YES!!!! And you're so correct, AI will never get this right. Even if it's able to feign the connection, something will still be off, on a cellular level. To use Alisa's expression, Huzzah to humans! Thank you for creating such a hopeful, inspiring, reflective space here Nadia. Your wildflower garden is already abundant with cross-pollinating species, color and growth.
Huzzah!!! Congrats on your first anniversary and thank you for sharing your learnings! I have found traditional social channels to be lacking as well. The best thing has been finding a likeminded tribe of writers and readers. It feels more like the internet 20-some years ago... except I'm not dialing into a wall plug and it actually works 😂
Nadia! I saw someone on Notes call you one of their favorite people to follow because of your generosity. This post is so in line with that. Everything you say here feels spot on. I, too, can't be bottled by niche. ;) I've been meaning to look into Sample, and this post is going to be the push for me to follow through. And now Lettergrowth and InboxReads too. Thank you! Oh and congratulations!!
And then I'm over the moon to be included among such a wonderful list. Because I love so much the writers I'm familiar with, I'm gonna need to meet those who are new to me. 🥰
congratulations on this milestone! i actually enjoy that you don’t have a “niche”, but instead write what’s on your heart. it feels more authentic that way. this article was so informative and helpful for anyone joining substack!
Thank you for the shoutout. I agree that you need to write what you want, without catering too much to the advice of others. I had not heard of those other ways to promote the substack, but I will check them out.
Oh, beloved Nadia, happiest of anniversaries to you, my dear. What a blessing it has been to find and to interact with you, to read your hope soaked posts, to feel I've found a sister who can stare into the darkness with me while keeping one foot on solid, hopeful ground. This post is so generous, and so important. I especially resonated with your call for genuine expression. AI has it's uses, sure, but one of those uses should NEVER be it becoming someone's voice! We mustn't hand over our humanity like that, and it's tragic that some people feel the need to, whether through laziness or self-doubt.
Thank you for being you, for using your voice, for expressing yourself so beautifully and honestly, and for creating the space and the community that you have, here. If something crazy happened and Substack imploded, I would come and find you in person (in a non-stalky way) because I just can't imagine life without you 💗
I’m so glad I chose to read this in a moment when I can fully engage and digest all the goodness you have given us in this post, Nadia!! This was so cozy and the best (not) growth post I have read yet! I value you your experience and wisdom, especially in giving friendly suggestions and expertise on how to maintain the love for creating on Substack.
What a beautiful journey you’ve experienced so far! I truly can’t wait to see what year 2 has for you 🥳 Bless you, your family and your community for make this a possible experience for me 💚
Many people are visually impaired, never use a black background with a white font, or other colour combinations, it's just too much effort for some of us to read; it's a hard pass.
Writers should be cautious about their blurb saying they respond to all of their readers, when they self evidently only interact with selective people. Just change your blurb, rather than looking untrustworthy.
I know all too well that publishing is a business for us writers. I learned that on the day in 1989 or 1990 that my first editor was assessing the potential price of my hardcover based on pages and rattled off page lengths and appropriate prices for each length like an accountant. I realized then that a book was many things and one of those was a product and I had to do whatever I could to promote myself. Sometimes it paid off brilliantly. For my memoir My Germany (Terrace Books, UWP), I landed over fifty gigs including two books tours in Germany thanks to researching possible venues that could invite me and crafting each contact individually based on the person I was reaching out to. The touring lasted five years--and was highly remunerative.
Cats should always get shout outs for pets!
Congratulations on the milestone, Nadia. It's been a joy to be part of your journey.
This post should go out to all new Substacks when they first create their publication. It's a thoughtful and grounded reflection and is something I would have loved to have read this time last year after just starting a publication myself.
Congrats! Thank you for this great essay, it should be required reading for anybody who is thinking about starting a newsletter.
My only twist would to push prospects into the deep end of the pool. There’s no reason to wait. The beauty of starting from scratch is that there is no one to watch you flail. So if you gonna flail around anonymously, might as well start today!
It’s a special community here. Let’s hope the party lasts a long while.
Love this post and thank you 1000 times for listing my in your recommendations! 🙏🏼
Wonderful writing, thanks a million.
Nadia, you are an inspiration and an incredibly supportive fellow writer! Happy Anniversary, and here’s to many more of your writing!
“I myself go back to my previous publications months later to make sure there aren’t any more errors, but that’s my editorial obsession.” Mine too, sister. 🤦 Once again, congrats on your first year here! I’m so glad to have met you, you wonderful human being you, and to have gotten to read your words and have you read mine. You’ve been a constant source of goodness and positivity here. I don’t remember how I came across your newsletter, though I have a vague recollection Alex Dobrenko was involved somehow 😂 Anyhow, here’s to many more years of this, for both of us 🥂