Apr 15, 2023·edited Apr 15, 2023Liked by Erica Drayton
I do think some readers subscribe to all of the writers they like, then scroll through their Substack app and only read the articles they are interested in (like you would if you were browsing the NYT or something). But I don’t think that dilutes the audience for the writer. Back when someone was only subscribed to 15 publications, they were also reading plenty of other things outside of Substack. I think that now, as people get the app, they are starting to read more Substacks and less of other sources (I’ve largely cut out other publications as Substack has become the main place I read.)
I will speak to my case though because I’m subscribed to an abnormally high number of Substacks right now. I usually subscribe to between 50-60 newsletters. But recently, because of notes and an attempt to find more fiction writers, as well as more writers in the genres I’m studying for my novel (xianxia, Zen Buddhism, Chinese fiction, tea ceremonies, etc.), I looked up a ton of writers in those categories and then subscribed to them.
Now I begin begin the culling process. As I start to receive their newsletters, I read them, and then unsubscribe from the ones I’m not into. I’m sure it will get back down to 60 or so by the time I’ve given them all a try. This is just how I discover new writers: I subscribe to a bunch that seem interesting to me, then only keep my favorites. And yes, I do read almost all of the posts in my feed by my favorites and I hit “inbox zero” by the end of every weekend! You just happened to catch me on a discovery week because notes has helped me find so many new writers I’m excited to read!
I do think some readers subscribe to all of the writers they like, then scroll through their Substack app and only read the articles they are interested in (like you would if you were browsing the NYT or something). But I don’t think that dilutes the audience for the writer. Back when someone was only subscribed to 15 publications, they were also reading plenty of other things outside of Substack. I think that now, as people get the app, they are starting to read more Substacks and less of other sources (I’ve largely cut out other publications as Substack has become the main place I read.)
I will speak to my case though because I’m subscribed to an abnormally high number of Substacks right now. I usually subscribe to between 50-60 newsletters. But recently, because of notes and an attempt to find more fiction writers, as well as more writers in the genres I’m studying for my novel (xianxia, Zen Buddhism, Chinese fiction, tea ceremonies, etc.), I looked up a ton of writers in those categories and then subscribed to them.
Now I begin begin the culling process. As I start to receive their newsletters, I read them, and then unsubscribe from the ones I’m not into. I’m sure it will get back down to 60 or so by the time I’ve given them all a try. This is just how I discover new writers: I subscribe to a bunch that seem interesting to me, then only keep my favorites. And yes, I do read almost all of the posts in my feed by my favorites and I hit “inbox zero” by the end of every weekend! You just happened to catch me on a discovery week because notes has helped me find so many new writers I’m excited to read!