Dan, the Halloween photo is adorable! My 5-year-old, Joey, dressed up as a police officer, and he got to meet a real police officer while trick-or-treating last night, so we took a photo of them together.
By the way, THANK YOU for saying this today: "How to be nice online. (Yes, this is a skill to develop.)"
My view is that we need to develop a skill on being nice in general, but online is a different ballgame than in person. Yet it seems we've devolved from both of these as a society.
Agree, Jeannie - and it's so wonderful and surprising when people are nice online (which itself is a pity). Earlier this week I emailed some information to a friend on a deadline. About an hour later I got an email from someone with the same first & last name (& nearly identical gmail) who said, "Wrong Jo Smith." This other "Jo Smith" was pleasant, thoughtful, and funny. I smiled all day just thinking about how there must be so many pleasant strangers out there.
Kelly, it’s funny, because uncertain and unstable times, like what we’re living in, can bring out the best and worst in people—just like at weddings and funerals. Even though I am prone to anxiety and fear, I am intentionally training myself to reframe my perspective and to become more self-aware and a more healed version of myself before responding to others, whether they are strangers or neighbors or friends and family. It’s so crucial, I think, because there truly is this ripple effect of our behavior onto someone else and how something simple like a smile or friendly response can shift someone’s day or deescalate an emotionally activating situation.
I started a Substack newsletter in August and post every week. Part of my skill set development was to come up with ideas each week, track them on a spreadsheet, tie my themes to science fiction books or movies, and have the newsletters scheduled to launch every Friday morning. I have less than 100 subscribers and just over 100 followers, but I reach them every week and don’t have to figure out ever changing algorithms. I’m slowly gaining subscribers and followers. Mostly I focus on just showing up every week. The other thing I do is write comments every day to other people’s posts. This is where I focus on”being nice” online. I read lots of political newsletters and my comments are always kind and measured.
The only other social media site I’m active on is LinkedIn, though there my focus is on my writer professional network. The downside of social media is that it’s time consuming, though I’m accepting that this is part of being an author and reaching an audience. Every day is an opportunity to learn to be better.
Thanks for your regular lessons and prompts to improve this necessary skill.
So many good thoughts here! I have been inspired by writers like Lyndsay Rush and Leigh Stein who start creativity first and almost treat their social media as a type of indie publishing for humor, essays, poems, etc. Also writers like Jason Pargin who have figured out how to use video to tell really interesting thoughts and stories while showing their authorial personality. It can all feel overwhelming but when I think of it simply in terms of either being creative, or being open and emotionally honest about the process/journey/backstory/behind-the-scenes, that feels a little more graspable.
Another great, thoughtful post, Dan. Thank you! I think it's easy to become cynical and frustrated with social media, especially right now with the election looming. But it is a tool and a fact of life, so coming from a positive perspective and honing in on that skill of being nice online so as to foster positive interactions is a worthwhile endeavor.
When you talk about Substack, I would be curious as to your take on "clickbait" posts and in particular the disturbing post from one of the founders yesterday, Hamish McKenzie, entitled "Garbage" that was clearly irresponsible and incited a lot of angry and vitriolic online conversation. It is something that has happened on Twitter/X (obviously), and Facebook in the past.
For me it raises real feelings of internal conflict. I know that these platforms are important for connecting with people and cultivating/maintaining important professional and personal relationships. But I do struggle with relying on them when the leaders/founders at the top behave irresponsibly or immorally. I had spent years cultivating a strong educational network on Twitter and had to completely abandon it once Musk took over. Granted I had a front row seat as a San Franciscan to what was happening, but I do wonder about how to navigate this problem as I use these platforms to connect with readers now and for the future.
For now, I take it one day at a time and focus on the positive. But I do fear what looms around the corner and worry about what to do if things should go sideways.
Thanks Angie. This is part of why I consider the value of having a direct connection to one’s readers/community, and diversifying the channels they use. For instance, I almost included in this essay the story of creators who had success on Vine, when that was a social network. Then — at the time — I noticed them diversifying what channels they were on because Vine was in danger of changing. So I would see these creators encouraging their followers to find them on other social networks. I would see them begin to create interesting content on other channels, etc. It’s really like seeing this from a business perspective, and always calculating risk, with showing up where your readers are, and creating what feels right to you.
I really appreciate this grounding perspective, Dan. And loved the story about the author who went bookstore to bookstore to sign books. Thanks for putting this together for us!
100% Brianne. I always feel better, more sane, and like human connections matter after reading Dan's newsletters.
It would be interesting to test what the current day version of bookstore-to-bookstore would be. Yesterday a librarian mentioned the "book in a bag" program libraries sometimes offer (i.e., a bag or box of 15 copies checked out to one patron for a bookclub). There was a time when I would have thought chatting up a librarian in my home system about something like that would have been unthinkable. Now I'm thinking, 'I'm in there all the time. They recognize me. It wouldn't hurt to *ask* how that works.'
Funny, Kelly, I was wondering the same thing — what would the 2024 version look like? I haven't heard of the bookclub bag option at libraries. Really interesting to think of them buying 15 copies of a book for such a purpose.
One recent example that comes to mind is how Jami Attenberg asked if any other Substack writers would be interested in asking her 3 questions — writers were thrilled and it ended up being a ton of promotion in other newsletters about her upcoming book. So smart and fun for everyone!
Oh, this is just brilliant. I'm always telling author clients that they really can't do without social media (at least one platform) -- but you've made me realize that what I really mean is that they need a way to maintain connectivity and MY default is social media, but it doesn't have to be THEIR default. Interesting ah-ha moment for me. :) And truthfully, I'm loving the way I can connect and interact on Substack over all other channels these days because I'm able to curate the content I receive here in a way that's reminiscent of the early social media days. And doesn't that make me sound old ?? ha ha -- back in the olden days when social media was invented blah blah blah. :)
Your questions are really good! They invite me to dig deeper and do so in a friendly way. I'm going to draw curly lines and colorful clouds around them and have some fun thinking about how people might find me, what I want them to find, how they can connect and stay connected, and am I acting in such a way as to be a good community member and partner? Thank you!!
I have quite a big following on Instagram, close to 73k now, but as you say, not many of my followers there see what I share. I still get a 2-5 new subscribers from there when I create new content here and share some snippets there. Slowly I grow a community here with real people who are interested in my stuff for real.
This was so helpful, thank you! I've always felt a little bit overwhelmed/confused about how to approach social media as a writer. This felt like a super non-judgmental exploration of what my options are
Great insights! As a non fiction agent the demand for social media is high. Editors want over 100k min but I’ve always defined platform as a multifaceted lens beyond social. If you know who your reader is great. If you know how to reach them, even better. If you can prove you’ve sold them something before (a class, a poster, an article)—-gold!
Additionally, I would like to say that Chicago Sun Times Architecture critic Lee Bey said he went to a local book store recently to see how his book, published five years ago, was doing. He found copies of his book and the book shop asked him to sign them. I thought that was pretty neat.
Thank you so much for this post, Dan! I've been rummaging around SM (not to be confused with S&M, though they are similar in too many ways), trying to figure out where and how to get some traction. Through your several suggestions, I've already come up with a couple of concrete steps I can take to become a real person in this virtual world.
Anyhow, I'm little confused on why 'no comment' on Twitter/X. Is it because it's owned by Elon Musk? Is it because it's now called X? I don't really use it myself but it still drives traffic for a growing conservative news-aggregator alternative to the Drudge Report: Citizen Press, a great source of under-the-radar news with Election Day around the corner. If one growing news site is using it hugely, I'm guessing others are too and it's still a viable way to share a Substack, etc.
Dan, the Halloween photo is adorable! My 5-year-old, Joey, dressed up as a police officer, and he got to meet a real police officer while trick-or-treating last night, so we took a photo of them together.
By the way, THANK YOU for saying this today: "How to be nice online. (Yes, this is a skill to develop.)"
My view is that we need to develop a skill on being nice in general, but online is a different ballgame than in person. Yet it seems we've devolved from both of these as a society.
Aw, thank you Jeannie!
Agree, Jeannie - and it's so wonderful and surprising when people are nice online (which itself is a pity). Earlier this week I emailed some information to a friend on a deadline. About an hour later I got an email from someone with the same first & last name (& nearly identical gmail) who said, "Wrong Jo Smith." This other "Jo Smith" was pleasant, thoughtful, and funny. I smiled all day just thinking about how there must be so many pleasant strangers out there.
Kelly, it’s funny, because uncertain and unstable times, like what we’re living in, can bring out the best and worst in people—just like at weddings and funerals. Even though I am prone to anxiety and fear, I am intentionally training myself to reframe my perspective and to become more self-aware and a more healed version of myself before responding to others, whether they are strangers or neighbors or friends and family. It’s so crucial, I think, because there truly is this ripple effect of our behavior onto someone else and how something simple like a smile or friendly response can shift someone’s day or deescalate an emotionally activating situation.
So well said. I haven’t thought about it like that before but you’re right, showing up as our best self can set things on a better course. 💖
Thanks Kelly!
I started a Substack newsletter in August and post every week. Part of my skill set development was to come up with ideas each week, track them on a spreadsheet, tie my themes to science fiction books or movies, and have the newsletters scheduled to launch every Friday morning. I have less than 100 subscribers and just over 100 followers, but I reach them every week and don’t have to figure out ever changing algorithms. I’m slowly gaining subscribers and followers. Mostly I focus on just showing up every week. The other thing I do is write comments every day to other people’s posts. This is where I focus on”being nice” online. I read lots of political newsletters and my comments are always kind and measured.
The only other social media site I’m active on is LinkedIn, though there my focus is on my writer professional network. The downside of social media is that it’s time consuming, though I’m accepting that this is part of being an author and reaching an audience. Every day is an opportunity to learn to be better.
Thanks for your regular lessons and prompts to improve this necessary skill.
Thank you Bruce!
Wow. So many great insights in here, Dan. And some laughs: "Twitter/X: No comment" And your son in front of the mail truck is precious!
Thank you K.!
So many good thoughts here! I have been inspired by writers like Lyndsay Rush and Leigh Stein who start creativity first and almost treat their social media as a type of indie publishing for humor, essays, poems, etc. Also writers like Jason Pargin who have figured out how to use video to tell really interesting thoughts and stories while showing their authorial personality. It can all feel overwhelming but when I think of it simply in terms of either being creative, or being open and emotionally honest about the process/journey/backstory/behind-the-scenes, that feels a little more graspable.
And what an adorable mailman!!!
Thank you Sarah!
Another great, thoughtful post, Dan. Thank you! I think it's easy to become cynical and frustrated with social media, especially right now with the election looming. But it is a tool and a fact of life, so coming from a positive perspective and honing in on that skill of being nice online so as to foster positive interactions is a worthwhile endeavor.
When you talk about Substack, I would be curious as to your take on "clickbait" posts and in particular the disturbing post from one of the founders yesterday, Hamish McKenzie, entitled "Garbage" that was clearly irresponsible and incited a lot of angry and vitriolic online conversation. It is something that has happened on Twitter/X (obviously), and Facebook in the past.
For me it raises real feelings of internal conflict. I know that these platforms are important for connecting with people and cultivating/maintaining important professional and personal relationships. But I do struggle with relying on them when the leaders/founders at the top behave irresponsibly or immorally. I had spent years cultivating a strong educational network on Twitter and had to completely abandon it once Musk took over. Granted I had a front row seat as a San Franciscan to what was happening, but I do wonder about how to navigate this problem as I use these platforms to connect with readers now and for the future.
For now, I take it one day at a time and focus on the positive. But I do fear what looms around the corner and worry about what to do if things should go sideways.
Thanks Angie. This is part of why I consider the value of having a direct connection to one’s readers/community, and diversifying the channels they use. For instance, I almost included in this essay the story of creators who had success on Vine, when that was a social network. Then — at the time — I noticed them diversifying what channels they were on because Vine was in danger of changing. So I would see these creators encouraging their followers to find them on other social networks. I would see them begin to create interesting content on other channels, etc. It’s really like seeing this from a business perspective, and always calculating risk, with showing up where your readers are, and creating what feels right to you.
Thanks for sharing this, Dan, and for the thoughtful reply. It is definitely that tightrope walk between creative and business.
I really appreciate this grounding perspective, Dan. And loved the story about the author who went bookstore to bookstore to sign books. Thanks for putting this together for us!
100% Brianne. I always feel better, more sane, and like human connections matter after reading Dan's newsletters.
It would be interesting to test what the current day version of bookstore-to-bookstore would be. Yesterday a librarian mentioned the "book in a bag" program libraries sometimes offer (i.e., a bag or box of 15 copies checked out to one patron for a bookclub). There was a time when I would have thought chatting up a librarian in my home system about something like that would have been unthinkable. Now I'm thinking, 'I'm in there all the time. They recognize me. It wouldn't hurt to *ask* how that works.'
Funny, Kelly, I was wondering the same thing — what would the 2024 version look like? I haven't heard of the bookclub bag option at libraries. Really interesting to think of them buying 15 copies of a book for such a purpose.
One recent example that comes to mind is how Jami Attenberg asked if any other Substack writers would be interested in asking her 3 questions — writers were thrilled and it ended up being a ton of promotion in other newsletters about her upcoming book. So smart and fun for everyone!
Here's how it started...
https://substack.com/@1000wordsofsummer/note/c-65619586
Thanks Brianne!
Oh, this is just brilliant. I'm always telling author clients that they really can't do without social media (at least one platform) -- but you've made me realize that what I really mean is that they need a way to maintain connectivity and MY default is social media, but it doesn't have to be THEIR default. Interesting ah-ha moment for me. :) And truthfully, I'm loving the way I can connect and interact on Substack over all other channels these days because I'm able to curate the content I receive here in a way that's reminiscent of the early social media days. And doesn't that make me sound old ?? ha ha -- back in the olden days when social media was invented blah blah blah. :)
Thank you Valerie!!!
Your questions are really good! They invite me to dig deeper and do so in a friendly way. I'm going to draw curly lines and colorful clouds around them and have some fun thinking about how people might find me, what I want them to find, how they can connect and stay connected, and am I acting in such a way as to be a good community member and partner? Thank you!!
Aw, thanks Sarah!
I have quite a big following on Instagram, close to 73k now, but as you say, not many of my followers there see what I share. I still get a 2-5 new subscribers from there when I create new content here and share some snippets there. Slowly I grow a community here with real people who are interested in my stuff for real.
Nice! Thank you such much Rune.
This was so helpful, thank you! I've always felt a little bit overwhelmed/confused about how to approach social media as a writer. This felt like a super non-judgmental exploration of what my options are
Aw, thank you Zoe!
Great insights! As a non fiction agent the demand for social media is high. Editors want over 100k min but I’ve always defined platform as a multifaceted lens beyond social. If you know who your reader is great. If you know how to reach them, even better. If you can prove you’ve sold them something before (a class, a poster, an article)—-gold!
Thank you so much Sally!!!
I need a huge porcelain yellow smiley face as a coffee mug! To cheer me on, ya know?
Yes! Thank you Kaitlyn.
Great post with such good info,Dan. Sharing to my writers group. Thanks!
Thank you Jeanine!
Additionally, I would like to say that Chicago Sun Times Architecture critic Lee Bey said he went to a local book store recently to see how his book, published five years ago, was doing. He found copies of his book and the book shop asked him to sign them. I thought that was pretty neat.
Nice! Thank you Mary Beth.
Thank you so much for this post, Dan! I've been rummaging around SM (not to be confused with S&M, though they are similar in too many ways), trying to figure out where and how to get some traction. Through your several suggestions, I've already come up with a couple of concrete steps I can take to become a real person in this virtual world.
Thanks Ken!
The little guy is adorable as a USPS mailman!
Anyhow, I'm little confused on why 'no comment' on Twitter/X. Is it because it's owned by Elon Musk? Is it because it's now called X? I don't really use it myself but it still drives traffic for a growing conservative news-aggregator alternative to the Drudge Report: Citizen Press, a great source of under-the-radar news with Election Day around the corner. If one growing news site is using it hugely, I'm guessing others are too and it's still a viable way to share a Substack, etc.
Indeed! It’s complex and evolving, so I didn’t have a succinct way to characterize that. Thanks Mary Beth.