For Substack-curious readers and potential writers
Some of you have asked me about Substack as a venue, so I’d like to share some thoughts on this now that I’ve gestated on the process for the past nine months.
First, it seems I arrived about a month before a massive transformation to favor TikTok videos and other clips in Substack Notes instead of links to actual Substack posts. I notice information about posts themselves rarely show up in my Home feed anymore, even when it comes to people I follow.
The platform’s founders are now acknowledging they see Substack as a social media site, as Hamish McKenzie explained in this October 1
post. As such, popularity reigns supreme.
That’s been disappointing to me, as I had initially heard Substack was a platform for writers. I imagined the posts I shared on Substack would reach unknown potential readers on the app. Instead, I get the impression that only my followers and subscribers see what I post, with rare exceptions.
From the perspective of Substack founders, this might make sense in that they want to pull more people from outside the app into the fold rather than have us tap into existing users. But it’s frustrating to me as I have generally shied away from social media. Oh well. I’m gearing up to write more short “Notes” posts beyond Eco-Logic, given the feedback that Substack rewards those who treat it like social media.
On another topic, I had read the app would reward consistency, which is what led me to post on MWF through May and then TTh. Consistently. But now I’m gleaning that the consistency the algorithm rewards relates more to time of day than the day itself. So, I’m aiming to be more consistent about time in the future instead.
While some Substack stars do make good money, my current Substack earnings put me at about $8.20 per post since I started. Luckily, I’m not doing this for the money.
My hope is to create a platform for my next book and to raise issues close to my heart. My new flexibility also should leave me time for seeking and writing paid freelance work.
That said, I am grateful to those who do provide some financial support. I know $50 a year is a lot to ask for a one-person show like mine, especially given that you can subscribe to
The Atlantic, for instance, for $69 a year. So, I thank you from my heart.
I’m also grateful to free subscribers. You help me grow my publication and boost its visibility.
With enough subscribers, I could have the kind of visibility that will help make a difference in protecting forests and rivers and favoring nature-based solutions to climate change.
One of the most exciting things about my time on Substack is that it’s connected me to a community of scientists and writers who recognize the value of untrampled nature for our long-term health as a planet, especially in a warming climate.
All told, I appreciate Substack for getting me back into writing nonfiction consistently after I spent many years focusing on teaching and doing scientific research.
I’m grateful to all of you for sticking with me on this journey.
For those of you who took the time to provide some feedback on this survey, I am especially grateful.