I think this is well said, and very important stuff to think about.
I might describe what I do as "both", meaning I meet my readers where they are, but write about the stuff I want to write (and talk!) about. I really think that's the key to doing this for the long haul.
Thanks so much! You too, dude. You are here to help folks and to exchange ideas, and that's really cool (both on Substack and in the classroom of life).
For me, writing is mostly a way to express "my journey": things I've been doing and found interesting and things I've learned and were interesting too. There is part of a teaching side too, like "here, listen to this cool thing I've just learned about". So my writing comes in bursts: sometimes I'm all-in in writing and publishing, and other times I have to set this aside to work on side projects (which in turn make me want to go back to writing to share the "results").
Years ago, I tried to set up a publishing schedule in an attempt to increase readership, but it led to anxiety so eventually I had to give it up. Nowadays, I'm finding the opposite though: the lack of a schedule has made me publish too frequently, which has been cool but has also left me exhausted due to the lack of "free time" in-between articles. So now I'm trying to add a schedule back into the mix, but this time to pace myself. There is the risk that I'll run out of energy/interest and drop some of the articles though.
Lastly, as I'm on Substack now and have gotten a handful of paid subscribers... the need to post frequently feels real "These people are paying me for content; I can't let them down!" This is very new to me, so we'll see how it plays out.
I think this is well said, and very important stuff to think about.
I might describe what I do as "both", meaning I meet my readers where they are, but write about the stuff I want to write (and talk!) about. I really think that's the key to doing this for the long haul.
Yeah man you're one of the most genuine voices around here, it's refreshing.
Thanks so much! You too, dude. You are here to help folks and to exchange ideas, and that's really cool (both on Substack and in the classroom of life).
❤️❤️❤️
This is a great piece!
For me, writing is mostly a way to express "my journey": things I've been doing and found interesting and things I've learned and were interesting too. There is part of a teaching side too, like "here, listen to this cool thing I've just learned about". So my writing comes in bursts: sometimes I'm all-in in writing and publishing, and other times I have to set this aside to work on side projects (which in turn make me want to go back to writing to share the "results").
Years ago, I tried to set up a publishing schedule in an attempt to increase readership, but it led to anxiety so eventually I had to give it up. Nowadays, I'm finding the opposite though: the lack of a schedule has made me publish too frequently, which has been cool but has also left me exhausted due to the lack of "free time" in-between articles. So now I'm trying to add a schedule back into the mix, but this time to pace myself. There is the risk that I'll run out of energy/interest and drop some of the articles though.
Lastly, as I'm on Substack now and have gotten a handful of paid subscribers... the need to post frequently feels real "These people are paying me for content; I can't let them down!" This is very new to me, so we'll see how it plays out.
But as you said: do whatever works for you!