Why You Should Use Yet Another Social Media Platform

I discovered Substack about five months ago as a reader, first. Because love of other people’s beautiful words is what drove me to be a writer in the first place. That spark of inspiration that lead my wild imagination down alternate paths into other universes and creative written works of my own.

Through the beauty of connection, some truly inspiring Notes and Essays showed up on my Substack feed. More inspiring than what I’d increasingly felt perusing on Instagram, or my nearly abandoned Twitter account (yes, I still call it Twitter). I had to know more about this odd little platform I’d never heard of. This place was simple … words. And lots of them.

Yes there is room to put reels and images and podcasts—oh my!—but the heart of it: The Writing.

Then Pipeline Symposium did this lovely One-On-One with NYT bestselling author J.T. Ellison, whom I immediately subscribed to on Substack—and I was officially down the rabbit hole.

Before long, though, I began to see Substack as something else. More than a newsletter engine and Flipboard-esque magazine, a little piece of my heart whispered: This could be a place where you could write, too.

It became a secret obsession. I signed up for a class with author—and The Fearless Writer Podcaster—Beth Kempton that walked me through the basics of Substack. Because let’s be honest, I’m far happier with a journal and pen than navigating another new technology.

Then I ground to a halt. Interestingly—but not shockingly—on Lesson 5, “How to Publish.” But that’s a whole other topic for a whole other essay. I eventually did hit publish, not on the essay I’d planned, but on a different, slightly messier introduction.

The content will come with time, in this space that I’m allowing myself to simply play in, for once. Write in for the joy of it.

And I’m learning some valuable lessons along the way:

Take the time to teach yourself

It’s worth it to take the time to learn the ins-and-outs of Substack. The practical set-up and such. Setting yourself up—bio, and about, and don’t forget the welcome email. I did. Then woke up in a sweat after midnight realizing my first subscribers hadn’t received a personalized one. We live. We learn.

Why take this precious time? Because that’s your byline (unless you decide to write in secret). More than a tweet or passing reel fad, these words could *live forever* here.

Substack as an archive of your work

That’s the beautiful thing about Substack: It’s a wonderful way to showcase your portfolio of words and create a “platform” for yourself. That tiresome word we hear again and again as screenwriters and authors. The extra marketing bit we need to do to sell our “real writing.” And here it is, hosted like a lovely little magazine, no tiresome Wordpress website in sight.

Bonus: You can mail every single essay—read: writing sample—to your subscribers’ inboxes! It’s an ‘authentic’ way to build a list that makes my marketer’s heart sing.

Start a conversation in the responses. Connect with your readers. Something a regular online portfolio doesn’t usually offer. Remember, though:

Post with purpose

While you’re cultivating these online social media places, it’s important to remember every word you put to page is part of a marketing strategy, dedicated to making your writer’s brand sizzle. Make sure it’s all aligned with that purpose, worthy of catching that readership, producer’s attention, or whatever grand scheme it is you have planned for your fiction, screenplays, etc.

It’s easy to feel stretched thin when it comes to social media. Planning the content, posting the content, and engaging with your audience, as well as the audience you hope to attract. It’s a lot. A whole job, turns out. Just search LinkedIn for Social Media Manager.

Take a breather when you need to. Engaging in a digital detox is not only okay but encouraged! But setting yourself up with a well-thought-out plan with that mindset will help you with the next part:

Consistency is key

Consistency, with any of these online platforms, is one of the crucial keys to the kingdom. Maybe a key just to, like, the garage, but still as useful as the one to the lavish front door.

Have a plan, post with purpose, because here’s another secret:

Substack can be the “real writing” itself, as well, not just a way to sell your novel or screenplay. Shhh, don’t tell anyone.

Or do.

Because frankly, we could all use a lovely place to cheer each other on when it comes to creative pursuits. Substack is a place to not only read each other’s work, but to share it. It’s a way to consistently build your writing skills, connect with others, and builds your writers’ brand in a new way.

It creates community. And so far, the one I’ve found is delightful.

Evolving with the times

Substack is also continually evolving its platform. One of the coolest new features I came across, especially important for those just starting and growing their readership, is Substack’s leaderboards addition of a “rising” category. You can read the details here, but basically, you don’t have to already be a bestseller, this nifty list highlights writers on the way up the ladder so others can give them that final nudge over the line to bestseller. Which then opens up all kinds of other new opportunities.

Substack: my lens to the world

As a writer, the trick for me has always been, how do I show up as the best professional version of me? How much of my life do I want to share? And what should I share that feels important enough, worthy of people’s precious time? All those parts of our lives as Creatives are what producers, agents, and the final consumer of your written product are looking for—the connection through which they can understand and relate to what you’re offering.

It’s always come down to what do I have to say about the pretty picture someone’s painted or taken, or the place I’ve visited. The feeling and story of it. Or rather, the story behind the story. It’s why I love interviewing other writers. I want to share everything I know.

That’s why if I had to pick just one online social media place to show up, it would be Substack.

Footnote:
My lifelines to learning this platform (without them knowing!) have been:

Bestselling author Beth Kempton’s Write For Love Write For Money – How to Get Started on Substack class is still 100% free until the end of May, I highly recommend checking it out.

Engagement Consultant and Mentor Claire Venus, whose clients include no less than Substack itself and the BBC. You can find her advice at Creatively Conscious and how to Sparkle on Substack.

*Feature image by nuvolanevicata (Adobe)