Craft Chat Author Newsletters

[Sedayne]

I came across this helpful article about author newsletters. It's particularly related to Substack, but it's good advice for those of us who are looking at producing newsletters on the Litopia Author Platform.

The Newsletter Market Is Crowded, But Most of Your Competition Is Easy to Beat. | Jane Friedman

For writers who approach a newsletter with intention, it’s one of the most powerful—and genuinely scalable—channels available today.

janefriedman.com

What do you think?

Are you planning a newsletter for the Author Platform?
Do you already have a newsletter?
Or a Substack?

(I'm on Substack here: rachelmccarron.substack.com
@Aethalope is here: laurarikono.substack.com
Anyone else Substacking? )

 

[Jake E]

The problem I have with newsletters, is they only work if you can get people to sign up to them.
I've had one for two years now, and have a grand total of...
5 subscribers. So, not worth the effort really

 

[RK Wallis]

That was a great read. Thanks for sharing

How do you find substack? I really should start something but I barely have enough time to write and critique as it is. Most critiques take all the free time of my day, and that's a good 4-5 hours. I'd rather spend my time helping other writers

 

[Sedayne]

How do you find substack?

I got into Substack because I read Becky Tuch's Lit Mag News which is a Substack publication that I get a lot from. Then it kept recommending other stacks and encouraging me to put stuff up and gradually I've been worn down. But it's a time suck like so much else on the internet. I haven't posted anything except a couple re-posts of my Litopia blogs. Even so, I've somehow got 6 subscribers and 14 followers without trying, so I could probably make a go of it if I had the time and motivation.

But whilst there is some really interesting stuff - like the Jane Friedman post and Lit Mag News - there's a lot of posturing of writers talking about writing and how hard their lives are because writing is so difficult... Or about how brilliant they are because "here's the query letter that got me 500 offers of representation but actually I still haven't finished the novel yet and I might not because I'm too busy Substacking" and things like that.
I put a note on saying I'm too busy writing to Substack, and nobody liked it.

So, yeah, it's hit and miss, and it's totally swamped, but there's some real gold amongst the shite.
And Laura's Substack is worth the read at least.

 

[Sedayne]

5 subscribers. So, not worth the effort really

Yeah, I feel the same about my few subscribers on Substack - it doesn't give much motivation to post - but then again, if you don't post, nobody will subscribe. It's working out what is worth the time and effort.

 

[Sedayne]

I'd rather spend my time helping other writers

Me too. Litopia is the best place for that.