On Substack
My newbie thoughts, March (book) Madness, book resumes, and The Weekly What
I have been on Substack about 2 months now, this is my 8th published newsletter.
I started this newsletter for two main reasons:
Disillusionment with algorithm based social media.
A desire to write longer form content.
On Longer Form Content
I came of age in the blogging era. I’ve always been a blogger at heart. For better or worse, I’ve never appreciated the constraint of character limits. It took me a long time to come around to Instagram for multiple reasons, but ultimately that’s where I ended up because that’s where the people are. I love the ability to write to my heart’s content and Instagram is not the place for that. Substack is obviously a platform for longer form content and I am enjoying both writing and reading in this space.
On Disillusionment
I’m not on social media for the fame or fortune, well, mostly because I’ve never experienced either, but also I am interested first and foremost in community, as I expect many of us are. It is increasingly apparent standing between me and the community I wish to connect with is an algorithm I’m forced to interact with instead of actual people. It’s hard to reach anyone (or be reached!) and it’s a real bummer. Because I’m not online to interact with an algorithm. I’m online to talk about books (and other things, but always and forever books) with my reader friends. I’m not enjoying much of the content being served to me by the algorithm and the content I produce isn’t pleasing to the algorithm so it’s not being seen.
On Substack
I’m still very much getting my bearings around this space. I’m learning not only the mechanics of the platform, but the culture as well. Every platform has it’s own vibe and it takes a while to figure that out (I find, anyway.)
Here’s where I’m at currently:
I love the pace of Substack. Sure there are writers who publish daily, but I follow many more who don’t. I love that I don’t feel the need to check in everyday (or multiple times a day… all day?) in order to keep up with all the writers I want to read. Imagine that! We’re so used to the endless scroll of algorithm directed social media we forget what it’s like not to constantly open an app in order to feel up to date. This is a huge, huge benefit.
I deeply appreciate the consideration that goes into the content around here. Of course there is thoughtful content to be found on all social media, but so much of what’s pushed out is done so to satisfy the algorithm. Attempts to to stay relevant, remain in people’s news feeds, have your content shown to someone, anyone. It’s all a big game that’s impossible to win in any real way. Because Substack is a subscriber model vs algorithm based the people who follow you actually see your content and they actually, here’s a novel idea, READ YOUR CONTENT! Wow, what a concept! I never have to fear Substack won’t show me content from people I follow because it all goes right into my inbox to read when I’m ready. Writers know that so they’re able to share what they want when they want it and usually do so in a thoughtful way. I love this.
I am honored by the friends from my Instagram community who are interested in what I have to say in this space and I’m having so much fun connecting with new people over here. I am truly enjoying finding my way to interesting newsletters and chatting in the comment sections.
Overall I’m finding this space fun, refreshing, and liberating in a very invigorating way. Substack reminds me of Ye Olde Internet of Yesteryear (c. 2010), a time dominated by blogs and comment sections and very little video content and I feel very much at home.
Thank you for being here.
Tell me:
Your experience with Substack vs other social media
What you like about newsletters
What you dislike about algorithms
Anything, let’s chat!
What I’m…
Reading
My Husband by Maud Ventura. I very rarely say this, but I think this would have been more impactful for me had it been shorter, more like a short story, or novella. Still, I liked it.
Last Acts by Alexander Sammartino. I’m still digesting this satirical father-son story with guns and opioids blended up with the American Dream, but I quite liked it.
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra. Loved! Best reading experience I’ve had with a thriller in a while!
Listening
Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story by Leslie Jamison. Excellent audiobook read by the author unpacking marriage (the end of) and motherhood (the start of).
10 Things To Tell You: Best Books Lately with Sara Hildreth of Fiction Matters. Really enjoyed this discussion about books, but also about book reviewing/critiquing and discussing books online.
Watching
SAG Awards (Netflix). Netflix has been pissing me off lately, to be frank. We’ve had trouble with the app, which makes me ragey. Don’t get me started. Once we got it working I did appreciate the lack of bleeps. I enjoyed Pedro Pascal winning Best Male Actor in a Drama Series for The Last of Us. I’m not sure he was truly better than the Succession nominees (perhaps they split the vote?) but he was very good in The Last of Us and has definitely been pushed out of awards having to go head to head with Succession. Otherwise, no surprises. Also, loved the Barbra lifetime achievement tribute! I recently read and appreciated her memoir.
The Gilded Age (Max). From the creators of Downton Abbey. Only a few more episodes left to watch and then I’ll be impatiently waiting for season 3. I’m very into this show! While a 3rd season is in the works I think it will be a while until we get it.
Eating & Drinking
All of these are recipes I’ve made many times. We needed an easy, comforting sort of week.
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and steamed veggies
Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup and homemade sourdough bread
Out for burgers to celebrate my oldest turning 14 then home for Cookies and Cream Cake, his most requested birthday treat!
Leftovers! I always build in one leftover night each week, but this week we ended up with more. Leftover night brings me joy on multiple levels, I don’t have to cook and I get way too much satisfaction from cleaning out my fridge.
Links + Loves
I bought myself this very inexpensive wireless charger for the kitchen and it’s very handy as I often pick up my phone to reference recipes, but also like to charge it while I’m cooking.
I was on a mission to replace a couple clocks around the house. I got this one for our living room, I missed having a digital clock where our cable box used to live. And this is my new bedside clock, isn’t she cute? My old one was increasingly bad at keeping time, which is kind of essential.
Banned books are brushing up their resumes.
I love reading before I watch. This list of book to screen adaptations is helping me prepare for 2024 releases!
I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up.
I shared the 14 books on my TBR releasing in March but
has an excellent, comprehensive list of March 2024 book releases you should check out!I already shared this, but it’s worth doing so again: why March 2024 is the best book month in years.
ICYMI
This week’s blog posts:
That’s it for this week’s Weekly What! If you enjoy my rambles please consider subscribing, sharing, liking, or recommending to a friend.
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Until next time!
Can I also join you in that grown up profession? Thank you for including my list!
Love this roundup and your thoughts on Substack! I have only been here a year longer than you, but came for the same reasons and feel the same way you do ~ a breath of fresh air compared to my bookstagram days ❤️ I don’t think I’ll ever hit it really big here, but I have a core group of dedicated readers and enough paid subscribers to keep me afloat, so I’m quite content. It is such a wonderful creative outlet for me and I love the pace ~ I draft pieces weeks ahead and just tweak as needed in the days before publication or add in recent events. That means there’s none of the heated, in-the-moment drama associated with Instagram, especially stories.