Every few months, I get to spend some time in New York, and I use it to meet with as many writers as I can. I cajole them over beers to start a substack. I ask them over lunch how I can make their lives better. Sometimes, I just want to hang out with them because I like their work.
I learned quite a bit from reading this. Thanks for opening the window. Substack has changed my relationship to publishing in 20 months. I typed 20 moths. So that, too. --Laurie
Some people will complain regardless of what you do. I'd be selective about what criticism to take to heart. From my perspective, Substack is doing a great job overall and I think the vast majority of writers are happy with the platform.
Come to Dunedin next time your in NZ! None of us poets are making any money; but we’ll take you surfing.(We have salmon here too). Thanks for giving us a safe space to create. Grateful. 🪁
Great post, Hamish. I really appreciate your candor, instead of making this a post about how all the writers you met with just raved about Substack.
I feel I’m doing the best writing of my 20-year career right now. And I’m also earning more than I’ve ever earned from my writing. So thanks to you and your entire team at Substack.
I do agree with the point about the revenue share being high. Maybe it could be a changing percentage, e.g., 10 percent on the first $50k, 7.5 percent on the next $100k, and 5 percent on everything over $150k.
You do want to keep your most lucrative writers. And they’re the ones most likely to leave as their revenue grows.
This was a great read Hamish. Could really picture it. Appreciate the use of ‘snafu’ (such a good word). But I think it’s the working for the crazy dream I relate to the most. Thanks for sharing!
ps Still blown away by what you & Chris been able to create with Substack, the fact it creates such amazing live events too. Thanks for chasing dream down for us.
You give me a place to write about kinship with nature without an editor saying to me ~ you can't say that...just so refreshing. And I have so much gratitude for the Substack community. I'm hoping that this is a forever thing but I also hope you have time to write and read and raise your family. Oh, and rest! in kinship, Katharine
Hamish, my activity on digital self-publishing platforms extends over twenty years, hundreds of feature length articles, and hundreds of thousands of views. I struggled on LinkedIn with their algorithmic choking of distribution which, contrary to their representations, failed to deliver my work to even as many as 10% of my self-elected subscribers. I tried Medium, but they too diddled editorially with distribution control and their paywall partnership terms suck big time. I tried Facebook, Thrive Global, and beBee. The best of the lot was probably FB. Until a writer-friend and a former magazine editor of mine put me onto Substack.
.
Let me say clearly, you have nothing to apologize for. Substack is the only platform that delivers what I call the Distribution Tri-Fecta — delivery of 100% of my published work to 100% of my subscribers 100% of the time. All bolstered by a generous, flexible, and adaptable policy re author monetization. Not to mention a useful editor and library of formatting tools and buttons. Kudos to you and your crew, Keep up the good work. Cheers! (Https://www.prg-marketing.com).
I think you owe your readers and writers a real accounting of why you have repeatedly and consistently boosted far right voices and outright conspiracy theorists through your personal recommendations and the site's algorithms. Until you do that, your self hagiography and self pity are going to come off as even worse than they otherwise would.
Keep it up man, you can't please all the people all of the time but you are pleasing a lot - myself included. Let me know if you ever make it over for beers in Singapore!
Hamish, I am a small fish in a big sea of talent but I am so grateful to be here. I know that the work you do is not easy. There will always be critics. There will always be things that could have been done better. I believe in what Substack represents and have faith that you will make every effort to continue providing a platform for voices like mine.
I am retiring from the Navy after 24 years of active duty and am embarking on writing as my second career. Substack is my home for that. I am giving my all to this and I know that you and the team are as well.
I learned quite a bit from reading this. Thanks for opening the window. Substack has changed my relationship to publishing in 20 months. I typed 20 moths. So that, too. --Laurie
Some people will complain regardless of what you do. I'd be selective about what criticism to take to heart. From my perspective, Substack is doing a great job overall and I think the vast majority of writers are happy with the platform.
Come to Dunedin next time your in NZ! None of us poets are making any money; but we’ll take you surfing.(We have salmon here too). Thanks for giving us a safe space to create. Grateful. 🪁
Great post, Hamish. I really appreciate your candor, instead of making this a post about how all the writers you met with just raved about Substack.
I feel I’m doing the best writing of my 20-year career right now. And I’m also earning more than I’ve ever earned from my writing. So thanks to you and your entire team at Substack.
I do agree with the point about the revenue share being high. Maybe it could be a changing percentage, e.g., 10 percent on the first $50k, 7.5 percent on the next $100k, and 5 percent on everything over $150k.
You do want to keep your most lucrative writers. And they’re the ones most likely to leave as their revenue grows.
This was a great read Hamish. Could really picture it. Appreciate the use of ‘snafu’ (such a good word). But I think it’s the working for the crazy dream I relate to the most. Thanks for sharing!
ps Still blown away by what you & Chris been able to create with Substack, the fact it creates such amazing live events too. Thanks for chasing dream down for us.
You give me a place to write about kinship with nature without an editor saying to me ~ you can't say that...just so refreshing. And I have so much gratitude for the Substack community. I'm hoping that this is a forever thing but I also hope you have time to write and read and raise your family. Oh, and rest! in kinship, Katharine
This is killer. Thanks for the intimate and honest walk about through your head today. You are very appreciated!
Hamish, my activity on digital self-publishing platforms extends over twenty years, hundreds of feature length articles, and hundreds of thousands of views. I struggled on LinkedIn with their algorithmic choking of distribution which, contrary to their representations, failed to deliver my work to even as many as 10% of my self-elected subscribers. I tried Medium, but they too diddled editorially with distribution control and their paywall partnership terms suck big time. I tried Facebook, Thrive Global, and beBee. The best of the lot was probably FB. Until a writer-friend and a former magazine editor of mine put me onto Substack.
.
Let me say clearly, you have nothing to apologize for. Substack is the only platform that delivers what I call the Distribution Tri-Fecta — delivery of 100% of my published work to 100% of my subscribers 100% of the time. All bolstered by a generous, flexible, and adaptable policy re author monetization. Not to mention a useful editor and library of formatting tools and buttons. Kudos to you and your crew, Keep up the good work. Cheers! (Https://www.prg-marketing.com).
"I enjoyed the crispy skinned salmon."
talk about burying the lede
[good post]
I think you owe your readers and writers a real accounting of why you have repeatedly and consistently boosted far right voices and outright conspiracy theorists through your personal recommendations and the site's algorithms. Until you do that, your self hagiography and self pity are going to come off as even worse than they otherwise would.
Remember that you have loads of writers NOT in NYC!! Happy to host you just north of DC in Baltimore!
Did not make it past that awful AI header image. Sends a real mixed message about the supposed value of creatives. Reconsider in the future.
Hey, I’m in DC, would love to buy you a cup of coffee at a cafe sometime!
Keep it up man, you can't please all the people all of the time but you are pleasing a lot - myself included. Let me know if you ever make it over for beers in Singapore!
Hamish, I am a small fish in a big sea of talent but I am so grateful to be here. I know that the work you do is not easy. There will always be critics. There will always be things that could have been done better. I believe in what Substack represents and have faith that you will make every effort to continue providing a platform for voices like mine.
I am retiring from the Navy after 24 years of active duty and am embarking on writing as my second career. Substack is my home for that. I am giving my all to this and I know that you and the team are as well.
Thanks, Matthew
Loved reading this. I am in New York for the whole of June, if you’re about, would love to see you!