That's it, exactly. Substack has started to feel like something I need to "get through." Which is not at ALL what I want it to be! I like the idea of collecting stacks like wine - and then saving them for a rainy day. Thanks for sharing.
I know I love that image also! It’s why I know I’ll probably still be subscribed to more letters than I can read, I just want to cut down on the ones that feel like “work” I need to get through.
I've set my Gmail inbox to direct all Substack emails to my 'social tab' - that way I can subscribe to whatever I like, without it overwhelming my inbox. I also take a "you don't have to read every post" approach to those I subscribe to. if I have a spare few minutes I'll scroll through my social inbox and open whichever newsletters look like they'll resonate that day. It means there's always something interesting waiting for me without the pressure of either clearing my inbox or keeping up with everyone I sub to. It works for me :)
I did this too! Mine are in the “Forum” tab. The issue for me really started when I started subscribing to both publications where I just liked the writing AND ones with instructional content. Mixing work and pleasure a bit too much, you know?
This is a beautiful, reflective read. Thank you for shrimp these different perspective shifts. I’m definitely pulling away a bit due to the overload, though that’s simply allowing for more international time when I’m here 🌼
Thanks Jenna, glad it resonated with you (shrimp and all 😉). I feel like so many of us were really, really excited when Substack got going that we just jumped in on reading ALL OF THE THINGS, and that now many of us are realizing we may have overcommitted a bit.
What a beautiful post... I’ve been writing on this same topic today... I can’t decide where it sits but I’m going to link your post whatever I decide. ✨🫙✨
Oh thank you Claire! It seems like something that's been on a lot of people's mind's lately, I've noticed the same topic popping up in Notes over the last week or so. Looking forward to reading your post!
I think it’s that, I also have a theory that we all got so excited about substack being this new, slower space to connect that many of us overcommitted to the number of letters we subscribe to. Maybe now the honeymoon is a bit over, and we’re starting to acknowledge what our real capacity is?
I admit, I am reading few posts at all! These days, Substack is feeling more like a social network compared with when I started and I only subscribed to a few choice publications. I switched notifications to “smart” so they go to the app instead of email for the most part now.
I also have smart notifications turned on - they help, but I think it also encouraged me to over-subscribed since my brain was like “oh they’re all isolated in the app, I can sign up for as many as I want!” Substack is definitely getting more social-network-y but honestly, I enjoy it most of the time. I really love how I can connect with and find new writers here. It’s just up to me to set some boundaries in place to preserve that quiet feel that it originally had where I can.
Do you have the app set up so that it opens to your inbox instead to the Notes page? That was a big help for me in making it feel less noisy.
I did not know that was an option in the app! Thank you for that. Yes, I’ve been gradually expanding here with the new features, too. I wouldn’t go back, but I agree, but does take more personal effort to keep it all feeling good, fun, and helpful.
Absolutely. I think when substack was quiet before notes, we didn’t have to work to try and set boundaries around keeping our peace. It’s still possible to protect it, but we have to be intentional in a way that we didn’t before.
This conversation is so so important to have, especially with the shift of a lot of people moving into long form content & newsletters again. At the end of the day, protecting our peace allows us to feel more focused on our own work, at ease and ready to engage and share what we create and what inspires us.
I've utilized many of the tips you provided, and even if controversial, I think "following" and engaging with notes is still a way to support, and if in my chapter of life, the newsletter is what I need, then I'll go ahead and click subscribe. I hope there is less shame & guilt around maintaining our boundaries, in this online space. 💗
Love that you callout shame and guilt - I feel like those emotions come up way too much in this space. It’s hard, because we so want to band together as creative, but we also need to be honest what our capacity is. There’s only so much energy we can put out to support others and still have enough to create ourselves.
Thank you. I have been feeling this. Frankly, I'm tired of reading about how to grow your substack. Truly, I'm tired of reading about how to grow anything (other than wildflowers and lettuce and babies). The pure joy of reading and writing immediately gets diminished by the pressure to "succeed". The pure joy of connection immediately gets devalued by making connections for the sake of "growing" on here.
Oh lovely, I feel you in this ♥ online creativity culture has such a tendency to eat up making for joy and turn it into a commodity. I understand the pull - so many people are craving an alternative way to make an income, something other than the corporate grind. There's a real dream in the thought of being able to make art *and* support yourself enough to make ends meet. But it can be exhausting when that's narrative is the only one that seems to be given space. I hope you're able to find some true joy and quiet connection, and redefine what 'success' means for you.
Thank you for sharing this, Kerani! It makes this new Substacker feel a little less crazy. Yes, I want my work to reach a wider audience, but I also want that audience to feel a genuine connection. Something I’m reminding myself of is that twenty or thirty people who eagerly await your work is worth far more (to me anyway) than hundreds of subscribers who never open up your posts to read. I really appreciate the reminder. 🥰
Ps: thank you for the “save” tip! I didn’t know that one!
I love that reminder Sara ♥ it's so true, and something I like to think about is imagining those people physically sitting in a room with me. We're so used to these huge, mind-bending numbers of followings on social media - but if I had 30 people in a room with me who genuinely LOVED my work and eagerly awaited it, I'd be over-the-moon thrilled.
My email inbox is overloaded as we speak. I've been doing the "follow" bit, just to get back to the place you describe where it feels fun to dive in - not overwhelming! Timely post for me. ☺️
Same Hannah! I’ve seen a lot of Notes popping up on this topics lately - seems like a lot of us are feeling that email overwhelm. I initially resisted “following” because it felt too much like instagram, but now I can see a value in it
Thank you! This feels like a breath of fresh air to read. I've been on Substack for 6+ months and I can feel the shift of energy and frenzy around growth which has felt a little overwhelming. I love the energy of drinking slow sips while reading our favorite writers. I like to save posts to visit when I have the time and space for it. I chose the option to only have posts come up on my app instead of filling up my inbox which feels good. Also, I'd rather choose quality over quantity in terms of subscribers.
I loved this! Thank you. I've been feeling major inbox overwhelm and super guilty about unsubscribing all at the same time, but I think I needed a little permission slip. Thank you <3
Thanks Kerani, this is such a helpful way to look at things. I’ve really looked at my mindset since the beginning of the year. I want meaningful connections, conversations and community. Of course I’d like my newsletter to grow, but like anything else I do if I push that it just feels icky. I’ve had an audit of what I’ve subscribed to and if it doesn’t give me an oooh when they publish then I’m letting them go with ease and grace. I want it to feel good and that’s the main thing. 💫🙏
I love hearing how you're following your intuition here ♥️ I'm all for listening to the body and paying attention when we notice that things make us feel off (or the flip-side, really excited). We can absolutely tell the difference between those two things, we just have to slow down and listen
Such valuable tips, thank you for sharing! 🤍 Going deeper on what I mentioned the other day on Notes, and what you touched on here, I too find myself excitedly anticipating certain newsletters coming in from writers I love most. Whereas, I’m starting to feel exhausted by the ones who post daily, or some even multiple times a day. I physically cannot keep up, and have said to myself recently that I may have to unsubscribe from some soon because it’s leading me to feeling guilty about not reading their work.
Ooooof daily is a lot! I wouldn’t be able to keep up with that for sure. I wonder if some people are so used to the pressures of needing to post everyday on Instagram that they’re bringing those habits over here?
I think it was someone Sarah and Keeley said in the Substack Soirée, but the idea of not creating extra work for your readers really resonated with me. We have this tendency to this that more is always better, but in this case giving our audience less might actually be what they’re hoping for.
Oh yes! Perhaps that is very true.. I’ve never thought of it that way. For me, even posting 3 times a week on Instagram feels a lot!
One of the things I’ve always liked about Substack is the somewhat slower pace. That’s such a great way of seeing it.. Especially in this modern world where everyone around us seems to want more and more.
I've honestly given up on posting regularly to IG 😂 I just share there now when I have something I want to say or something I'm excited about.
The slower pace of Substack is absolutely what draws me to it and it's why I'm focusing my efforts more here. There's an opportunity for deeper connection, but only if we're realistic about our bandwidth and protect our ability to go deeper
I wish I could do the same, but right now I’m still trying to grow again after losing my account just over a year ago.. And I’m also using it to promote my next book that’s out in April, which is a collaborative poetry book between myself and six photographers on there, so I feel without it I would struggle. But I’m definitely loving the community and healthier boundaries I’m setting myself on here.
Oh that’s so rough, I’m sorry you lost your account 😞 it’s a hard spot, because it’s a tool that can be useful for sure. We just have to make sure the tool is working for US, not the other way around
Thank you.. It was strange because at the time I lost it, it was the worst, but then so many wonderful things have happened on my new account. So every cloud and all that.
That’s a really great way of looking at it, thank you!
I feel the same way; I have learned so much about writing and self-publishing from the generous writers who share their stories and successes. It’s so easy to get caught in that when you’re subscribed to so many newsletters, as you mentioned.
I love the slow inbox feed feature... versus opening to notes, that one really made it feel better for me.
Thanks for opening up this conversation... it’s a real thing and we aren’t being “negative” as some might say, by setting some boundaries:)
Exactly! It's really helpful information to have and I appreciate the people who are putting out that type of guidance - I just also have to recognize when my brain has had enough.
Changing up the inbox opening page was a game changer. I instantly found myself scrolling less! And yes, I completely agree, it's all just about boundaries and being honest with how much time we truly have to invest in the spaces we read. I'd rather be subscribed to less people and really passionate about their work than skim reading a large number of writers.
Thanks for this post, Kerani. Like everyone else, I've felt the same way about how many newsletters to subscribe to and how much time I have to read. But I'm such a newbie, I'm still exploring exactly what I want my newsletter to be. For now, I write what I feel, experiences I've had trying to publish my stories, etc. I know I need a focus, but one hasn't formed yet. Just now, it's the exploration that excites me. Maybe one day my newsletter will be more than that! Until then, your tips were very helpful for when that day comes. Thank you! (BTW, love your newsletter!)
I think it's absolutely ok for you to give yourself that gift of play ♥️ I'm honestly in the same boat, still trying out different things and seeing what feels good to me. And it's ok if it never settles into one type of thing! I think we're used to feeling like we need to niche down and have a clear 'brand' so that people can understand at a glance what we do - but this is really a form of people pleasing isn't it?
I like to remember that Walt Whitman quote: "I am large, I contain multitudes."
We're allowed to multifaceted and it's ok for our online spaces to reflect that!
Yes yes yes this! All of it. So easy to subscribe in excitement to every interesting writer you come across and realistically you'll never have time to read. Unsubscribing isn't unliking, it's gaining a part of your day back you were never really free to give away, however well intentioned.
YES love that perspective Belinda! It really is taking back part of your time, and I love the point that we didn't really have that time to give away in the first place. Time is one of our most valuable resources, and unsubscribing is really an acknowledgement that we gave away more of it than we could really afford to in the first place.
That's it, exactly. Substack has started to feel like something I need to "get through." Which is not at ALL what I want it to be! I like the idea of collecting stacks like wine - and then saving them for a rainy day. Thanks for sharing.
I know I love that image also! It’s why I know I’ll probably still be subscribed to more letters than I can read, I just want to cut down on the ones that feel like “work” I need to get through.
I've set my Gmail inbox to direct all Substack emails to my 'social tab' - that way I can subscribe to whatever I like, without it overwhelming my inbox. I also take a "you don't have to read every post" approach to those I subscribe to. if I have a spare few minutes I'll scroll through my social inbox and open whichever newsletters look like they'll resonate that day. It means there's always something interesting waiting for me without the pressure of either clearing my inbox or keeping up with everyone I sub to. It works for me :)
That's brilliant. moving substack to 'social tab' - thanks!
I do exactly the same... I don’t read all of the posts, if something does t instantly speak to me I trust I’m not called to read for a reason x
I did this too! Mine are in the “Forum” tab. The issue for me really started when I started subscribing to both publications where I just liked the writing AND ones with instructional content. Mixing work and pleasure a bit too much, you know?
This is a beautiful, reflective read. Thank you for shrimp these different perspective shifts. I’m definitely pulling away a bit due to the overload, though that’s simply allowing for more international time when I’m here 🌼
Ohh *sharing* not shrimp 🙃
Thanks Jenna, glad it resonated with you (shrimp and all 😉). I feel like so many of us were really, really excited when Substack got going that we just jumped in on reading ALL OF THE THINGS, and that now many of us are realizing we may have overcommitted a bit.
What a beautiful post... I’ve been writing on this same topic today... I can’t decide where it sits but I’m going to link your post whatever I decide. ✨🫙✨
Oh thank you Claire! It seems like something that's been on a lot of people's mind's lately, I've noticed the same topic popping up in Notes over the last week or so. Looking forward to reading your post!
Yes... I think we are just at capacity and craving the slower, simpler days?
I think it’s that, I also have a theory that we all got so excited about substack being this new, slower space to connect that many of us overcommitted to the number of letters we subscribe to. Maybe now the honeymoon is a bit over, and we’re starting to acknowledge what our real capacity is?
That's it... and also there does seem a frenzy of writing where as I never felt that before?
I wonder if it's the new year's fervor? I feel like a lot of people are committing to Substack and wanting to make it their priority in 2024
I admit, I am reading few posts at all! These days, Substack is feeling more like a social network compared with when I started and I only subscribed to a few choice publications. I switched notifications to “smart” so they go to the app instead of email for the most part now.
I also have smart notifications turned on - they help, but I think it also encouraged me to over-subscribed since my brain was like “oh they’re all isolated in the app, I can sign up for as many as I want!” Substack is definitely getting more social-network-y but honestly, I enjoy it most of the time. I really love how I can connect with and find new writers here. It’s just up to me to set some boundaries in place to preserve that quiet feel that it originally had where I can.
Do you have the app set up so that it opens to your inbox instead to the Notes page? That was a big help for me in making it feel less noisy.
I did not know that was an option in the app! Thank you for that. Yes, I’ve been gradually expanding here with the new features, too. I wouldn’t go back, but I agree, but does take more personal effort to keep it all feeling good, fun, and helpful.
Absolutely. I think when substack was quiet before notes, we didn’t have to work to try and set boundaries around keeping our peace. It’s still possible to protect it, but we have to be intentional in a way that we didn’t before.
This conversation is so so important to have, especially with the shift of a lot of people moving into long form content & newsletters again. At the end of the day, protecting our peace allows us to feel more focused on our own work, at ease and ready to engage and share what we create and what inspires us.
I've utilized many of the tips you provided, and even if controversial, I think "following" and engaging with notes is still a way to support, and if in my chapter of life, the newsletter is what I need, then I'll go ahead and click subscribe. I hope there is less shame & guilt around maintaining our boundaries, in this online space. 💗
Love that you callout shame and guilt - I feel like those emotions come up way too much in this space. It’s hard, because we so want to band together as creative, but we also need to be honest what our capacity is. There’s only so much energy we can put out to support others and still have enough to create ourselves.
Thank you. I have been feeling this. Frankly, I'm tired of reading about how to grow your substack. Truly, I'm tired of reading about how to grow anything (other than wildflowers and lettuce and babies). The pure joy of reading and writing immediately gets diminished by the pressure to "succeed". The pure joy of connection immediately gets devalued by making connections for the sake of "growing" on here.
Oh lovely, I feel you in this ♥ online creativity culture has such a tendency to eat up making for joy and turn it into a commodity. I understand the pull - so many people are craving an alternative way to make an income, something other than the corporate grind. There's a real dream in the thought of being able to make art *and* support yourself enough to make ends meet. But it can be exhausting when that's narrative is the only one that seems to be given space. I hope you're able to find some true joy and quiet connection, and redefine what 'success' means for you.
Thank you for sharing this, Kerani! It makes this new Substacker feel a little less crazy. Yes, I want my work to reach a wider audience, but I also want that audience to feel a genuine connection. Something I’m reminding myself of is that twenty or thirty people who eagerly await your work is worth far more (to me anyway) than hundreds of subscribers who never open up your posts to read. I really appreciate the reminder. 🥰
Ps: thank you for the “save” tip! I didn’t know that one!
I love that reminder Sara ♥ it's so true, and something I like to think about is imagining those people physically sitting in a room with me. We're so used to these huge, mind-bending numbers of followings on social media - but if I had 30 people in a room with me who genuinely LOVED my work and eagerly awaited it, I'd be over-the-moon thrilled.
What a beautiful visual! Sharing with a cohort rather than screaming into the void!
My email inbox is overloaded as we speak. I've been doing the "follow" bit, just to get back to the place you describe where it feels fun to dive in - not overwhelming! Timely post for me. ☺️
Same Hannah! I’ve seen a lot of Notes popping up on this topics lately - seems like a lot of us are feeling that email overwhelm. I initially resisted “following” because it felt too much like instagram, but now I can see a value in it
Thank you! This feels like a breath of fresh air to read. I've been on Substack for 6+ months and I can feel the shift of energy and frenzy around growth which has felt a little overwhelming. I love the energy of drinking slow sips while reading our favorite writers. I like to save posts to visit when I have the time and space for it. I chose the option to only have posts come up on my app instead of filling up my inbox which feels good. Also, I'd rather choose quality over quantity in terms of subscribers.
Slow sips - I love that image Marisa 🥰 like writing is a delicious wine we get to enjoy slowly!
I loved this! Thank you. I've been feeling major inbox overwhelm and super guilty about unsubscribing all at the same time, but I think I needed a little permission slip. Thank you <3
Glad this was helpful for you Cassie 🥰
Thanks Kerani, this is such a helpful way to look at things. I’ve really looked at my mindset since the beginning of the year. I want meaningful connections, conversations and community. Of course I’d like my newsletter to grow, but like anything else I do if I push that it just feels icky. I’ve had an audit of what I’ve subscribed to and if it doesn’t give me an oooh when they publish then I’m letting them go with ease and grace. I want it to feel good and that’s the main thing. 💫🙏
I love hearing how you're following your intuition here ♥️ I'm all for listening to the body and paying attention when we notice that things make us feel off (or the flip-side, really excited). We can absolutely tell the difference between those two things, we just have to slow down and listen
Such valuable tips, thank you for sharing! 🤍 Going deeper on what I mentioned the other day on Notes, and what you touched on here, I too find myself excitedly anticipating certain newsletters coming in from writers I love most. Whereas, I’m starting to feel exhausted by the ones who post daily, or some even multiple times a day. I physically cannot keep up, and have said to myself recently that I may have to unsubscribe from some soon because it’s leading me to feeling guilty about not reading their work.
Ooooof daily is a lot! I wouldn’t be able to keep up with that for sure. I wonder if some people are so used to the pressures of needing to post everyday on Instagram that they’re bringing those habits over here?
I think it was someone Sarah and Keeley said in the Substack Soirée, but the idea of not creating extra work for your readers really resonated with me. We have this tendency to this that more is always better, but in this case giving our audience less might actually be what they’re hoping for.
*something, not someone. Late night nursing typos 😆
Oh yes! Perhaps that is very true.. I’ve never thought of it that way. For me, even posting 3 times a week on Instagram feels a lot!
One of the things I’ve always liked about Substack is the somewhat slower pace. That’s such a great way of seeing it.. Especially in this modern world where everyone around us seems to want more and more.
I've honestly given up on posting regularly to IG 😂 I just share there now when I have something I want to say or something I'm excited about.
The slower pace of Substack is absolutely what draws me to it and it's why I'm focusing my efforts more here. There's an opportunity for deeper connection, but only if we're realistic about our bandwidth and protect our ability to go deeper
I wish I could do the same, but right now I’m still trying to grow again after losing my account just over a year ago.. And I’m also using it to promote my next book that’s out in April, which is a collaborative poetry book between myself and six photographers on there, so I feel without it I would struggle. But I’m definitely loving the community and healthier boundaries I’m setting myself on here.
Oh that’s so rough, I’m sorry you lost your account 😞 it’s a hard spot, because it’s a tool that can be useful for sure. We just have to make sure the tool is working for US, not the other way around
Thank you.. It was strange because at the time I lost it, it was the worst, but then so many wonderful things have happened on my new account. So every cloud and all that.
That’s a really great way of looking at it, thank you!
I feel the same way; I have learned so much about writing and self-publishing from the generous writers who share their stories and successes. It’s so easy to get caught in that when you’re subscribed to so many newsletters, as you mentioned.
I love the slow inbox feed feature... versus opening to notes, that one really made it feel better for me.
Thanks for opening up this conversation... it’s a real thing and we aren’t being “negative” as some might say, by setting some boundaries:)
Exactly! It's really helpful information to have and I appreciate the people who are putting out that type of guidance - I just also have to recognize when my brain has had enough.
Changing up the inbox opening page was a game changer. I instantly found myself scrolling less! And yes, I completely agree, it's all just about boundaries and being honest with how much time we truly have to invest in the spaces we read. I'd rather be subscribed to less people and really passionate about their work than skim reading a large number of writers.
Thanks for this post, Kerani. Like everyone else, I've felt the same way about how many newsletters to subscribe to and how much time I have to read. But I'm such a newbie, I'm still exploring exactly what I want my newsletter to be. For now, I write what I feel, experiences I've had trying to publish my stories, etc. I know I need a focus, but one hasn't formed yet. Just now, it's the exploration that excites me. Maybe one day my newsletter will be more than that! Until then, your tips were very helpful for when that day comes. Thank you! (BTW, love your newsletter!)
I think it's absolutely ok for you to give yourself that gift of play ♥️ I'm honestly in the same boat, still trying out different things and seeing what feels good to me. And it's ok if it never settles into one type of thing! I think we're used to feeling like we need to niche down and have a clear 'brand' so that people can understand at a glance what we do - but this is really a form of people pleasing isn't it?
I like to remember that Walt Whitman quote: "I am large, I contain multitudes."
We're allowed to multifaceted and it's ok for our online spaces to reflect that!
I love that, thank you so much for your response. I never thought of it like that, and play is such an important part of creativity!
Yes yes yes this! All of it. So easy to subscribe in excitement to every interesting writer you come across and realistically you'll never have time to read. Unsubscribing isn't unliking, it's gaining a part of your day back you were never really free to give away, however well intentioned.
YES love that perspective Belinda! It really is taking back part of your time, and I love the point that we didn't really have that time to give away in the first place. Time is one of our most valuable resources, and unsubscribing is really an acknowledgement that we gave away more of it than we could really afford to in the first place.