I'm fairly new to substack, so any attention I get, I'm grateful for. More would, of course, be appreciated, but I'll have to earn that by producing something others want to read and react to.
I loved reading your post. Thanks for the thoughts.
Who cares how big the group reading fiction is, they are enough to read our work. And with @sereid and @scoot getting notice on the fiction board, that can bring in new eyes to read.
I think we tend to forget that fiction writers usually started out at the back sections of local newspapers and then went on from there.
Another great read, Erica. It's always good to put things into perspective as far as writing here goes. But you're right, it will take decades to decide if 'the grand experiment' works. Personally, I don't have that sort of time left, so I'll hope for the best and see how far I can take this with simply putting out the best stuff I can.
As a fiction writer, I am very grateful to Substack for helping me grow a regular audience, because I certainly didn't have one before I joined. And that people want to PAY me for writing for them is a bonus.
Hey Erica, some remarks on this post. Not ‘comments’ just adding my findings and feelings...
A quick search gave me this: As of April 2023, Substack had more than 35 million active subscribers, of which more than 2 million were paid subscriptions.
Other websites report there are 17.000 active writers.
This means an average 2000 subscribers per Substack. Sounds about right. Any 2k+ is doing good....
And you can expect a € 5000,- yearly income.
Your 300 fiction writers would mean a one in fifty ratio. Which feels very low to me.
In published books about 25% is fiction. Estimates say there are about 20,000 English fiction writers (including the smaller amateurs).
I hope I’m included on your fiction list? Doing serial alongside weekly essays....
The issue is knowledge, I think. Not every fiction writer knows that Substack exists. Or those that do know, have put there stakes so deep in the ground wherever they are, they see no benefit (cost or otherwise) to jump ship. And that is to be expected. I just wanted to lend a little perspective to those who feel "jilted" in some way by Substack not highlighting us all or even a good majority of us. The truth of the matter is, as you pointed out in your lovely stats, the ratio of how many of us there are to how many "other" just doesn't warrant (at least from Substacks POV) mentioning us however often they already do. At some point we have to pick up the slack.
We also need to curb our expectations as Substack is still very much in its infancy. So if we expect more fiction readers to flock here we need to give it time and be patient. Like decades worth of time. Not days or weeks or months or even years...
I'm fairly new to substack, so any attention I get, I'm grateful for. More would, of course, be appreciated, but I'll have to earn that by producing something others want to read and react to.
I loved reading your post. Thanks for the thoughts.
I'm glad my words can help. Let me know if ever I can be of assistance.
John Ward suggested I read your post, You Are Here. Can you point me to it?
Of course! Here you go: https://ericadrayton.substack.com/p/how-to-create-your-own-you-are-here
Who cares how big the group reading fiction is, they are enough to read our work. And with @sereid and @scoot getting notice on the fiction board, that can bring in new eyes to read.
I think we tend to forget that fiction writers usually started out at the back sections of local newspapers and then went on from there.
Another great read, Erica. It's always good to put things into perspective as far as writing here goes. But you're right, it will take decades to decide if 'the grand experiment' works. Personally, I don't have that sort of time left, so I'll hope for the best and see how far I can take this with simply putting out the best stuff I can.
As a fiction writer, I am very grateful to Substack for helping me grow a regular audience, because I certainly didn't have one before I joined. And that people want to PAY me for writing for them is a bonus.
https://substack.com/@bertus/note/c-42859214?r=fcm5o&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Hey Erica, some remarks on this post. Not ‘comments’ just adding my findings and feelings...
A quick search gave me this: As of April 2023, Substack had more than 35 million active subscribers, of which more than 2 million were paid subscriptions.
Other websites report there are 17.000 active writers.
This means an average 2000 subscribers per Substack. Sounds about right. Any 2k+ is doing good....
And you can expect a € 5000,- yearly income.
Your 300 fiction writers would mean a one in fifty ratio. Which feels very low to me.
In published books about 25% is fiction. Estimates say there are about 20,000 English fiction writers (including the smaller amateurs).
I hope I’m included on your fiction list? Doing serial alongside weekly essays....
Also, yes, you are on the list! :-)
The issue is knowledge, I think. Not every fiction writer knows that Substack exists. Or those that do know, have put there stakes so deep in the ground wherever they are, they see no benefit (cost or otherwise) to jump ship. And that is to be expected. I just wanted to lend a little perspective to those who feel "jilted" in some way by Substack not highlighting us all or even a good majority of us. The truth of the matter is, as you pointed out in your lovely stats, the ratio of how many of us there are to how many "other" just doesn't warrant (at least from Substacks POV) mentioning us however often they already do. At some point we have to pick up the slack.
We also need to curb our expectations as Substack is still very much in its infancy. So if we expect more fiction readers to flock here we need to give it time and be patient. Like decades worth of time. Not days or weeks or months or even years...
Thank you for your numbers. Most helpful.
Hi Erica. I hope I'm on your fiction list :)
I assume you mean "the list" that I have on Notion? If so, you've been on the list since its inception. No worries.
Super!