My Final Plea to Fiction Writers on Substack
Because I’ve got my own work to do.
Full disclosure: This was not what I planned on writing and sharing this week. In fact, I have a post dedicated to creating a public domain serial on Substack which I now don’t know when I’ll be able to share it. Oh well. Here I am at 615am on the Sunday prior, writing this instead…
I’m angry. I’m more than angry actually, I’m disappointed. For the better part of this year I’ve spent (wasted?) countless posts trying to point out ways for fiction writers on Substack to improve. To get better. And by doing so, bring in more readers, not confuse the hell out of them!
Substack can only do so much to help us. At some point we have to help ourselves. What’s that cliche saying about a horse and water?
Suffice it to say I’m tired and in 2024 I’m choosing fiction. This means I can’t help you anymore. At this point I am left to (try and) lead by example instead. My work in this department must come to an end and I truly hope you figure it out.
Maybe I’ve been too vague with my frustrations? Maybe I’m expecting too much of you? Of myself? How hard is it to do better with organization and navigation of our work on Substack? Does it really require moving the proverbial mountain? Having an About page, a welcoming email with usable and understandable information, being consistent, proper labels. These are all things I take for granted that everyone will do, and when I don’t see it done “en masse” it kills me straight to my core and I can’t do it anymore.
You could say it’s a self inflicted wound. After all, no one asked me to create “the list” and devote countless hours of my life poring through hundreds of Substacks, figure out how to fix them and help in the best way I can. I put that on my own shoulders. That’s definitely a “me” problem and I realize that. I’m working to heal (fix? adjust? change?) that about myself. The desire to do more than just see the problem but want to diagnose and help on a regular (weekly) basis has sadly run its course.
But fear not! As often as you choose to ignore my pleas to do better, there are countless other Substack fiction writers whose advice you seem to resonate with and even follow much more readily. And I have no doubt that these heroes will continue to urge you to do better long after I’ve called it quits. To mention but a few, there’s
, , , .If you aren’t already, I suggest you follow them both in their public teachings and in their example. You won’t find a better crew to lead you through the fray of fiction unscathed than them.
So, here is my final plea to fiction writers on Substack everywhere (for what it’s worth):
No one believes in you and your ability to be the best storyteller you can be than me. I see that potential in each and every one of you. I’ve spent time in your Substacks so I know the truth even if you don’t. Believe in yourself more than I do and the difference will show.
Fix your damn Substacks already! I say this with much love, truly. But if you’ve still not personalized your About page or Welcome email you cannot complain about lack of growth or reach.
Find a way to be consistent. Even if that consistency is just once a month. It’s better than nothing. And it’s heaps better than inconsistency, which is the most seen killer of Substacks that could’ve been great.
Organize your Substack! The tools are there and the explanations for how to use those tools are immeasurable! Use them to your advantage and stop being lazy about it!
Lean on each other for support. Sometimes we are all we’ve got. Ask for help and stop waiting for the day when someone else will ask (or answer) that burning question you thought was too dumb to ask. Be brave! Ask the damn question!
If you have a serial, for pity sake, make it easier to navigate. Don’t do silly things like hiding your table of contents post or your “START HERE” Chapter/Episode One post where only a keen eye and super patient person can find it! I never want to stumble upon a post like this ever again. Understood? I am about to dip my toes into that murky water and I can’t begin to tell you how many bad examples I’ve come across to help me know what NOT to do. I’m hoping to be a part of the solution and not add to the problem. It might take work to make up for where the Substack tools are clearly lacking (and perhaps not yet suited for serials), but it can still be done. So do it!
Take care of yourself. This journey is by no means an easy one. Otherwise everyone would be doing it! This is not worth stressing out over, losing sleep over, or self-doubting over. We do it because it’s fun (however challenging it can also be).
Don’t forget the fun. Always have fun.
If this sounds like some “last goodbye” it isn’t. I will still be around. But you will notice a drastic decrease in my weekly Wednesday Editorials. I’m scaling them back to just once a month. Which means I’ll have less time devoted to guiding you.
I knew this day would come. When I’d need to practice what I preach. When I’d need to write more fiction and stop using my desire to help others as a crutch and excuse for why I don’t have time to write as much fiction.
I’m afraid I must leave you now for my storytelling. If you didn’t already know, I’m writing a serial in 2024. It will take most of the year to release. I’m also continuing my 100 words daily journey. But I’m also going to do more to help you, the fiction community, to write more fiction alongside me. So, while I may not be pounding you with guides and how to’s I’ll be around more than ever with prompts and contests and things like that to motivate and inspire you to stretch your imaginations! I hope you’ll join me.
And lastly, in 2024, I’ll be returning to self-publishing. A land I left behind a while ago, thinking I would never look back. I’ve got four books planned in 2024. Three of them will be available for purchase online. Look for my 100 Word Stories (Collections I & II) as well as my first serial (Sleight of Hand) as a novel.
Paid subscribers will receive hardcovers of all three books I just mentioned plus one more. I’m not here to promote myself so I’m not going to say more about that. I just wanted to briefly mention what I’ll be busy doing behind the scenes with my fiction.
ONE MORE THING…
I will still be watching. I will still update the list. I will still be cheering all of you on in my own way. Helping is my nature. I can’t simply flip a switch and turn it off. So, don’t be surprised if you receive a wall of text from me every now and then on your Notes or a comment on your latest post. And don’t be a stranger either!
You’ll find me deep in the recesses of the land of fiction. Where everything is possible if I just imagine it, write it down, and put it out into the world for others to read.
My goal is to have the most esoteric Substack that ever existed. It will be an impenetrable fortress with endless pitfalls and 404 pages. I'm thinking Goblet of Fire maze, with subscribe buttons masquerading as portkeys to other stories and random pages. Will it be frustrating to the reader? Yes. Will it result in more subscriptions? Probably not. Will it be an adventure into the reader's perseverance to solve puzzles and read mediocre fiction? Most certainly.
You, Erica, have been the lighthouse that has steered so many of us away from the rocks as waves of doubt and inexperience have threatened to dash us against them. You have been so generous with your time, advice and inspiration. Very touched that you included us in your list - very. Thank you. And super excited to read your unfolding long form fiction. We’ll be watching and learning.