Ok, so this is absolutely brilliant, deeply insightful, and tremendously helpful. Everyone on Substack has gotta read this. The whole thing - which is why I'm not gonna quote my favorite line and say what I think of it.
In case anyone's interested, I think that I'm almost finishing graduating from stage 2 to 3.
It’s very obvious your passion for what you do but it’s your kindness towards others that’s a big part of your success. Congratulations on the ride so far.
Thanks for this wonderfully detailed roadmap. It's great to see it broken down like this. It's a model of what a substack post aspires to be. Here's the problem, here's where you are in solving this problem, and here are a ton of really useful, game-chinging things you can do right now to solve the problem. Huge!
What a brilliant assessment of Substack writing I would add no matter what stage you are at enjoy what you do and fall back in love with writing. It’s the love of writing that keeps you going in those difficult times.
I’m pre-stage 1! Having the ‘ladder’ set out like this has already spurred me to jump on it soon - have always hated wobbly ladders but you have to be a long way up before any fall is scary!
Thanks Karen I figure I'm between a 3 and a 4. I was considering quitting or just post on one theme and once a week. The Sample 'appeared' brought 2 subs to my 'Simple As That' site after 3 and a half years. Considered updating my About blurb to reflect my Substack blurb....not sure now. Views went up substantially starting October 2023, but fell from 800 to less than 500 just this past month?? Engagement seems centered around Sunday post theme and my poems and picture stories. I actually enjoy the strategy component to the process. Paid is now on Subs 0....so far. 💰?? but I continue to submit work elsewhere. Free subs Few but steady even after a year off the platform and may have to stop again as moving very soon. I agree with all you have said, and truly appreciate the progress outline as presented😊
Thanks for these encouraging and realistic perspectives. And enjoy your wine - whatever time it is! I'm in the same time zone as you now, in Slovenia. Maybe you are just next door in Italy?
Great read Karen and timely advice for this newbie! Started a week ago with one post and looking forward to wrestling through stage 1.....Back to work to press my next "post." Enjoy your breakfast, wine and cheese....not necessarily in that order.
I think I'm in stages 1, 2 and 3 all at the same time! Very useful, thanks Karen
Terry! How did you steal the words straight from my fingertips!! Definitely not 4, but all the previous and on rinse/repeat.
😂 Rinse/repeat: definitely!
With you on that, Terry... but useful to see it set out like this, Karen, in terms of where I should probably be focusing my time and efforts for now!
Thanks, Rich. Yes, definitely useful
Same!
Ok, so this is absolutely brilliant, deeply insightful, and tremendously helpful. Everyone on Substack has gotta read this. The whole thing - which is why I'm not gonna quote my favorite line and say what I think of it.
In case anyone's interested, I think that I'm almost finishing graduating from stage 2 to 3.
Thats about where I am at :)
Stage 4'er here. This list definitely reflects where I've been over the past couple of years. No matter where you are, enjoy the ride!
It’s very obvious your passion for what you do but it’s your kindness towards others that’s a big part of your success. Congratulations on the ride so far.
Thank you, Nolan!!
Great read as usual, Karen. I think we all have a bit of all of these.🤷
Thanks for this wonderfully detailed roadmap. It's great to see it broken down like this. It's a model of what a substack post aspires to be. Here's the problem, here's where you are in solving this problem, and here are a ton of really useful, game-chinging things you can do right now to solve the problem. Huge!
What a brilliant assessment of Substack writing I would add no matter what stage you are at enjoy what you do and fall back in love with writing. It’s the love of writing that keeps you going in those difficult times.
I love your articles.
I’m pre-stage 1! Having the ‘ladder’ set out like this has already spurred me to jump on it soon - have always hated wobbly ladders but you have to be a long way up before any fall is scary!
I think I've been in Stage 4 since the beginning. What does that mean??
Thanks Karen I figure I'm between a 3 and a 4. I was considering quitting or just post on one theme and once a week. The Sample 'appeared' brought 2 subs to my 'Simple As That' site after 3 and a half years. Considered updating my About blurb to reflect my Substack blurb....not sure now. Views went up substantially starting October 2023, but fell from 800 to less than 500 just this past month?? Engagement seems centered around Sunday post theme and my poems and picture stories. I actually enjoy the strategy component to the process. Paid is now on Subs 0....so far. 💰?? but I continue to submit work elsewhere. Free subs Few but steady even after a year off the platform and may have to stop again as moving very soon. I agree with all you have said, and truly appreciate the progress outline as presented😊
Thanks a lot for this really informed encouragement - one month in and enjoying it!
Somewhere on the early stages of the journey between 2 and 3!!!
Thanks for these encouraging and realistic perspectives. And enjoy your wine - whatever time it is! I'm in the same time zone as you now, in Slovenia. Maybe you are just next door in Italy?
I'm in France, so not too far...
Salut!
Haha I don't think there's a single Substacker (who wasn't a celebrity first) that didn't show up here in stage one 🤣
In stage 1 or even lesser than that but much needed words at this time…thanks for putting it out here.
Great read Karen and timely advice for this newbie! Started a week ago with one post and looking forward to wrestling through stage 1.....Back to work to press my next "post." Enjoy your breakfast, wine and cheese....not necessarily in that order.