I’ve only gone and done it, haven’t I… I’m now writing on Substack.
Whether or not you’ve heard of Substack yet, if you want more writing (ramblings) from me, I’VE GOT YOU COVERED. I know that’s more than a little presumptuous of me – that you’d want even more ramblings from me than you’re already getting, that is – but I’m going to work my chutzpah and assume that you’re here, so of course you want more.
(All of that was just a test to see if you’d switch off, because if you haven’t by now then you are a HARDCORE reader. And I love you for it. And don’t worry, ye shall be rewarded.)
[Reading time: 5 mins]
Okay, enough gibberish for a moment. To backtrack a little:
I wrote about my financial and general life/health/career woes a couple of months ago. I poured my guts out in terms of how much I’d been struggling to make ends meet due to my income taking a dive during the pandemic and then, instead of picking up last year, it took a complete and utter death dive into an abyss of savings obliteration and forced credit card debt.
Which is a fancy way of saying, “I had ZERO work coming in and we literally had no money to buy food” (hence the credit card debt which although it’s all on 0% interest for X number of months, it’s still debt that has to be paid back eventually).
The response I got in the comments from you, dear readers, was nothing short of extraordinary – and deeply humbling. The empathy and the tales of similar situations hit me hard. As one of the longest posts I’d ever written (it was a freakin’ essay at 4,500 words), I realised that blogs are NOT dead, despite what social media would make you believe. People DO want to read stuff-what-you-have-written.
(I wrote “stuff” and immediately thought of the “Lumpy blue sweater” scene in The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly (our lord and saviour Meryl Streep) says to Andy (Anne Hathaway), “You’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of… stuff.” There you go, I’ve likened my writing to the collection of cerulean gowns that Oscar de la Renta designed in 2002. So yeah, I write “stuff”.)
To write or not to write on Substack?
Back to STUFF. Stuff what I write [so eloquently].
What several people suggested to me – in the comments and via email – was, had I considered writing on a paid subscription platform like Patreon or Substack? Because apparently, a not-quite-double-figures number of people boldly declared they would PAY to read what I wrote. That they would happily pay a small fee to read my “stuff”. (I didn’t ask, they kindly offered.)
My response was Noooooo, nope, no. I always said I wouldn’t charge people to read what I wrote. The blog would always be free.
AND SO THE BLOG SHALL REMAIN. Free, that is.
What I knew, however, was that I had to not only find ways of being able to pay for food that we needed in order to be able to continue to live, but I also knew I needed money to pay off the credit card bills that came as a result of needing to eat every day for the last 12 months or so. (Yeah, I know, how dare I 😉 .)
It may come as a shock to some brands – and some influencer-hating keyboard warriors – that some of us need to eat, and by that I mean eat food. Not clothes, jewellery, skincare, makeup, menopause supplements or anything else I’ve been offered in exchange for helping brands make money by advertising their wares on my platforms (that I’ve spent 12 years building into a business). So, to the PR agency being paid by the brand but who doesn’t want to pay me: clothes don’t pay the bills or put food on my table. And ah don’t work fo’ free [gifts].
I mean, menopause supplements might be enough to keep me going for 24 hours or so, but it’s not something I’d recommend. (Please note that was written with a heavy dose of sarcasm.) I need food, and unless they’re offering a live-in chef with all-inclusive meals for 12 months, it’s not a fair trade. Anyway, I’ve moaned often enough about how being offered “free gifts” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so I need to nip this moaning in the bud and get to the point.
Therefore, after a little more thinking about the whole “paid content” thing, I realised that maybe – MAYBE – I could at least consider signing up to Substack, writing more there, and giving people the option to pay a small fee to have even more writings of mine made available to them to read. And then, almost immediately after that realisation, I read this post on Substack:
‘The blogging boom is back — and it’s happening on Substack’
– which made me go, “Ohhhhhhhhhhh. Oh, NOW I get it.” In a nutshell, and the way I understand it, Substack is essentially a social media platform for old-school bloggers (and writers generally). Like a photographer has their own website and can utilise Instagram as a social media platform to reach a larger audience, bloggers have their own blogs and can then utilise Substack as a [social media] platform to reach a larger audience.
Substack is where writers can write newsletters. They can write mini-blogs. They can write short stories. Those things make me ooh and aah and rub my hands with glee.
I signed up on the spot.
(You’ll need to subscribe to me on Substack if you don’t already receive my blog posts by email but DO want the jazzy new content…)
To get to the point…
Here’s a quick summary of the point I am trying to make here:
- The blog will continue, and it will continue to be free/nada/nothing to read. Income will come from brand partnerships (that are thankfully picking up for me) and affiliate income (which still costs you nothing).
- Subscribers of the blog (those as of today, 07/10/2023) will also receive a newsletter-style email from me via Substack FOR FREE. They can unsubscribe at any time.
- Substack will NOT replace the blog. (Well, I should never say never as who knows what will happen in the future of digital content creation, but for now and for as long as I can help it, the blog is NOT being replaced, there is zero intention on my part to do that.)
- Substack will be where I share shorter, punchier (we can live in hope…) thoughts and non-fictional stories. Like an Instagram for writing.
- You will be given the option one day soon to upgrade to a paid subscription; we’re talking just a few pounds a month. In the same way that some newspapers give you X free articles a week and then you pay to read more content, that’s my intention. You will still be able to subscribe for free for some content, or you can upgrade for more.
Hopefully I’ve explained what Substack is and what I intend to do with it/use it for – let’s hope I’ve understood the assignment as I’m literally starting from scratch with it! – but I’m actually quite excited about all the writing I’ll get to do.
I have SO many ideas for what I can write about that I’ve started a folder in my Google Drive for Substack ideas, and I’ve added each of them to my Google Calendar (AKA my work diary).
I hope they’ll amuse, entertain and interest you.
I hope they’ll make you stop and think now and then.
I hope they’ll get discussions going.
I hope that the spark they’ve ignited in me will turn into something bigger, better and (maybe even) profitable.
And I hope that they’ll itch the writing scratch I’ve had since the day at primary school I wrote a very long, detailed story about Robin Hood, er, “playing with his merry men” in Nottingham Forest [note: not Sherwood Forest. The Sherriff of Nottingham/Sherwood Forest thing clearly confused the hell out of me as a kid]. My teacher knowingly wrote “Do you mean the football team?” in the margin. He tactfully avoided the whole “Oldy-worldy English outlaw asked his mates if they could come out to play” scenario I had created, much to my mother’s amusement.
So yeah, I’m gonna write stuff. More stuff. I’ve written the first newsletter (aka short story/ramblings/article), and it’ll go out in the next few days. And if you fancy parting with the price of a couple of coffees a month to read even MORE of my stuff in the future, then we can be friends forever because I will be SO grateful, and flattered too.
Bonus: I get to buy stuff. That’s foodstuff I can eat – and I will it eat with joy and gratitude.
Remember, if you’re not already subscribed to Not Dressed As Lamb’s new blog posts by email then you won’t receive the Substack newsletters! So…
(Subscribe to Not Dressed As Lamb blog posts)
Do you think you might subscribe to my Substack newsletters? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
Thanks for reading,
Linking up to… Monday: Stylish Monday (second Monday of the month), Inspire Me Monday, My Glittery Heart, On Mondays We Link Up || Tuesday: Style With a Smile, Trend Spin/Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Turning Heads Tuesday, Confident Twosday, Happy Now Blog Link Up || Wednesday: WowOnWednesday || Thursday: Chic & Stylish, Ageless Style Linkup (third Thursday of the month), || Friday: Neverending Style, Fancy Friday, On the Edge
I’m thinking about starting a substack, too! I need to look into their recent controversy, though. It’s a bit off putting. Thanks for sharing you’re experience.
Author
I don’t know how but that completely passed me by, Courtney: I’ve looked it up and have been having a quick read about the basics of the story – it’s all new to me so will have to have a more in-depth look into it. Thank you for mentioning it otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it I don’t think…! x
I really appreciate what bloggers do for free, but I enjoy reading quite a few different blogs and there’s no way I could pay a sub for them all. I had hoped substack would offer a group sub, to enable readers choice but it seems I’d have to pay separately for each writer. The future does not look good.
Congrats on Substack! I don’t believe blogging will ever go away but it will be increasingly monetized, in the way that quality journalism is. And so it should be. Thanks for linking x
Author
Thank you Gail – I can see that now, after me poo-pooing the idea a little while ago… I thought to myself that authors write books and sell them, why shouldn’t that model work for authors, journalists and bloggers on a subscription basis too?
But I’ll never make it exclusively paid-only content, it’s all about give and take isn’t it! I understand that not everyone can support me in a monetary way, but comments and engagement make it all worthwhile too xx
I just let out a little squeal of excitement when I logged on and saw that had not only you recommended me on Substack that you had now joined, too … woo hoo .. so excited for you.
I so wanted to see some of the OG bloggers over there and you are my OG!!!!
xxxxx
Author
Oh Sharon could I BE more flattered?!! Thank you sooooo much my lovely… you and Amber were the two that really got me into it, so I have you to thank. Exciting times, eh?! Feels very fresh and new (well, to me it is) which is perfect timing for me and, I should imagine, for a lot of others after the past few years xoxo
I am going to have to check you out over there!
The Reluctant Blogger | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
Author
I hope you like what you read, Danielle! TY xx
Greetings from inland Australia. I have never yet paid for blog content nor have I seen anything on Substack but my heart aches for everyone who was so cruelly impacted by the pandemic, and I love your work, so I will subscribe.
Author
Oh my goodness Pauline that’s beyond generous of you – thank you!! I hope to make it very worthwhile for you, as it were xx
Oh yes! I already read several blogs on Substack (some paid, some free.) You are so prolific and I’m looking forward to it. Great move! It is very easy to share on Substack too and they will suggest your blog to other readers. You’ll get a lot of new subscribers. (I pray they never take Substack down because it’s a goldmine of writers with a full range of subject matter and opinions. It’s a good idea to keep your blog going as a back up too, just in case.)
Author
So many positive reviews of Substack, Liz – and another from you! Thank you for your support, it means a lot… and I don’t intend at ALL to get rid of the blog, but my goodness it’s expensive to run. All the time it’s still feasible I fully intend to keep it: I’ve had my baby for 12 years now, I won’t let go of it easily! 😉
Good luck on the new gig and turning your hand to storytelling.
Curious if you’ve thought about Patreon or KoFi? Not saying you should, more a case of if you had looked at them.
Author
Thank you Lynn so much!!
I had considered Patreon but it didn’t really appeal for some reason – I guess because I started following others on Substack it seemed the natural choice for me. And I have to admit I hadn’t even heard of KoFi…!
Congratulations on this big decision! I am very excited for even more content for you. There is never a post that doesn’t make me laugh, inspires me or teaches me a new perspective. So I can’t wait for more. And I am so glad that platforms like Substack allow also international readers to support you. A lot of the affiliate links are unfortunately not really an option for me because it’s UK-based brands and even if they offer delivery to Germany it’s at horrendous fees. But Substack is very comfortable in that regards, it even converts the currency.
Author
Oh Frieda I’m so flattered, thank you ever so much ♥️♥️♥️
I guess that is a point I’d not thought of before – the fact that readers outside the UK don’t necessarily “contribute” (I want a better word than that but I can’t think of one) towards any sort of financial compensation as you say. BUT – all the support you give in terms of engagement with leaving comments, reading all the posts, [upping my page views] etc. really DO make a difference so I appreciate every interaction, whether it’s via affiliate links or not.
I’m glad you have a positive view of Substack, I’m still not that familiar with it and I’m not really sure what I’m doing atm. Hopefully the more I post the more I’ll get to grips with it – it’s quite exciting to be honest…!
Dear Catherine, As a 93 year old, hat loving, NDAL ardent follower of fashion, I congratulate you on your decision to use Substack and wish you every possible success in your new venture. Can’t wait to hear more !
Author
Oh my goodness Pamela – I have a 93 year old reader?! That’s amazing!! Thank you so much for those kind words and the support, that’s made me really happy xx 🙂
substack seems to be hitting the ground running. I have been asked by quite a number of my fave bloggers to sign up. This could result in a hefty sum monthly or annually and so I shall be waiting a while to work out what to do. Its a pity substack cant offer one fee to cover a number of blogs! Ps I do understand that what we readers is valuable and worth paying for.
Author
Mary I TOTALLY get it – just subscribing to one is doable for most people, but when there are lots I completely understand that it’s just not feasible. I myself only pay a subscription for just one blogger I’ve followed for years, I can’t afford more than that! I guess if I become one of the writers (am I a Substacker now?!) that people subscribe to (or the ONLY one) then I’d be incredibly flattered and very, very grateful… I also agree with you that Substack should have some sort of option for subscribing to several newsletters by different writers, I’d definitely consider it myself.
But of course, I don’t expect people to subscribe to everybody they want to subscribe to as times are harder than they were a few years ago. I’m more than happy to write for free, but if there are a few people who subscribe and pay a little for some extra stuff then that’s just the cherry on top. Thank you for being so honest, I really appreciate your thoughts! xx
Signed up to Substack……only because it’s YOU❤️
Author
Oh Christina THANK YOU!! You’re so lovely to say that! xx
Well done on your new adventure. That’s a big step for you! Hope it goes well, I’m sure it will as you write SO well xx. Glad you hear you’ll still be blogging. Have a lovely weekend C. Jacqui xx
Author
Jacqui thank you SO much – after me constantly saying I wasn’t going to do it, I finally caved! That post about blogging having a renaissance and it happening on Substack really opened my eyes 😀