This is magically well timed for me. I’ve just published my first long essay that I spent many months working on, to... crickets :). I find this account of your experience very encouraging. Thank you!
Totally know the experience haha. But that doesn't make the work less valuable (at all!). I've also found that as my audience grows, certain people rediscover my older, longer pieces and really love them, I mean REALLY love them the way I want them to be loved :).
What we're looking forward to: More of what you feel driven to provide. I'm probably not your expected audience, but I've really connected with some of your stuff. Some of it, I've felt has helped me connect and understand my wife better. Some of it, I didn't feel related to my life, and that was okay too. I love the way you write and capture your feelings and thoughts, and it's clear that I'm not alone.
Wherever your creativity leads you, we'll be there!
Thanks so much. It's especially wonderful to hear from people outside my "expected audience" -- the idea that I might help you understand other people you love is super heartening!
Congratulations on all your incredible work here, Rae - I'm a huge fan and looking forward to seeing what's to come as you usher in the second year! Thanks for sharing your insights too - I'm still grappling with what and how I share here, and learning from others further along in that process is so valuable.
I am brand new to your work (I came here via that notorious troublemaker Dobrenko) and this is the perfect introduction. Thank you and cheering you onwards.
Congratulations and thank you for all that you do here. I’m up for what you choose to provide. You are not a vending machine, you are you: Rae a human who has a wide life experience and writes. Ultimately that is what we’re here for.
I loved your Silicon Valley posts, and would love more on the culture of Tech. It's such a powerful current in society now, and you have a special insight and a flair for storytelling.
Happy one year! What a gift to share your process and what you’ve learned along the way. I so appreciate where you have set clear boundaries for yourself because that is permission giving to others trying to do the same. I love this community you are building and am grateful to be a part of it. Thanks for the mention 🥰 It feels really good to know that my comments matter. I spent so much of my internet life thinking that I shouldn’t comment on things because who has time to care what I have to say. I don’t feel that anymore because I know how much comments mean to me as a writer, but it’s always good to hear it from someone else ☺️
Your comments definitely matter! As I'm sure you've experienced, the comments are one of the most motivating and validating parts of writing on Substack, something unique to this format, not something that's easy to come by even if you've published a book or are writing for The New Yorker! Thank you for all you say and bring here!
One might also conjecture that work on the three-year essay required a certain mastery of the craft and persistence which allowed the off-the-cuff posts to flow breezily and land so well? Great milestone post Rae, thanks for sharing <3
I totally agree. I think that it also goes the other way--ongoing, faster writing provides fertilizer for the longer writing. On the spectrum from everyday journaling to the ten-year masterpiece, all the forms have their place and purpose (IMHO!)
This is an awesome article! Thanks for sharing your initial skepticism and what happened after that. It reads like an entertaining story that we can all relate to and is made that much better because it's your actual Substack story. Yay!
My favorite line is 'Color me shocked.' I think we need that on a T-shirt!
As Josh already mentioned in the comments we are here for all of it, however you are creatively moved we know it will be good.
Haha, I love the idea of a "color me shocked" t-shirt :). And thank you so much for the encouragement and permission! Two things a writer can't get enough of!
My big question is: "How does one get featured by Substack?"
My second questions is: "How'd you get it twice?"
These are great insights that I totally agree with and see in my own writing. I'm not here for the major bumps, I'm here for the slow and steady, but it still makes me curious as to whether I'm overlooking something.
1. Writers can nominate other writers to be featured in Substack Reads. My suggestion is that you don't do this first thing, build up a bit of a cadence and make sure you're feeling good about where you're at. Then pick a good post and have someone nominate it! And if it doesn't work, try again.
2. The second feature was as a "staff pick." I don't know how these get picked, but likely just being on the radar of the staff, which probably happened because of the first feature.
Either way, for the most part it will be slow and steady. But there are some opportunities for bumps. I hope that helps!
I really loved reading this - so genuine, honest and just plain helpful! I think the key is to find the balance that works for you, something that you clearly seem to have done! 💕
What a beautiful generous piece about your process Rae. Congratulations. I resonate with lots of this.
I genuinely love everything you publish - I found you through a Substack feature and couldn’t believe my luck to be honest! See you Thurs! ✨
YOU are one of the people who made me feel like I could apply the word "community" here 😊
✨🥹💕💕🫖🙏
This is magically well timed for me. I’ve just published my first long essay that I spent many months working on, to... crickets :). I find this account of your experience very encouraging. Thank you!
Totally know the experience haha. But that doesn't make the work less valuable (at all!). I've also found that as my audience grows, certain people rediscover my older, longer pieces and really love them, I mean REALLY love them the way I want them to be loved :).
What we're looking forward to: More of what you feel driven to provide. I'm probably not your expected audience, but I've really connected with some of your stuff. Some of it, I've felt has helped me connect and understand my wife better. Some of it, I didn't feel related to my life, and that was okay too. I love the way you write and capture your feelings and thoughts, and it's clear that I'm not alone.
Wherever your creativity leads you, we'll be there!
Thanks so much. It's especially wonderful to hear from people outside my "expected audience" -- the idea that I might help you understand other people you love is super heartening!
Right!?
Congratulations on all your incredible work here, Rae - I'm a huge fan and looking forward to seeing what's to come as you usher in the second year! Thanks for sharing your insights too - I'm still grappling with what and how I share here, and learning from others further along in that process is so valuable.
I really appreciate your continued support, and here's to ongoing experimentation!
I am brand new to your work (I came here via that notorious troublemaker Dobrenko) and this is the perfect introduction. Thank you and cheering you onwards.
Thanks for being here, Mike :)
ugh
Always with the encouraging words.
With friends like Alex, who needs gnawing imposter syndrome and existential dread.
Congratulations and thank you for all that you do here. I’m up for what you choose to provide. You are not a vending machine, you are you: Rae a human who has a wide life experience and writes. Ultimately that is what we’re here for.
Ack this is so nice I almost can't handle it (I'm sure you get that, haha)
I couldn’t have said this better. I’m here for whatever you put out there, Rae 🧡
What a year one! Can't wait for year two!!
🧡🧡🧡
Happy anniversary and thanks for the mention!
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments!
Well, here's another comment!
I loved your Silicon Valley posts, and would love more on the culture of Tech. It's such a powerful current in society now, and you have a special insight and a flair for storytelling.
I'll read anything you write!
Happy one year! What a gift to share your process and what you’ve learned along the way. I so appreciate where you have set clear boundaries for yourself because that is permission giving to others trying to do the same. I love this community you are building and am grateful to be a part of it. Thanks for the mention 🥰 It feels really good to know that my comments matter. I spent so much of my internet life thinking that I shouldn’t comment on things because who has time to care what I have to say. I don’t feel that anymore because I know how much comments mean to me as a writer, but it’s always good to hear it from someone else ☺️
Your comments definitely matter! As I'm sure you've experienced, the comments are one of the most motivating and validating parts of writing on Substack, something unique to this format, not something that's easy to come by even if you've published a book or are writing for The New Yorker! Thank you for all you say and bring here!
One might also conjecture that work on the three-year essay required a certain mastery of the craft and persistence which allowed the off-the-cuff posts to flow breezily and land so well? Great milestone post Rae, thanks for sharing <3
I totally agree. I think that it also goes the other way--ongoing, faster writing provides fertilizer for the longer writing. On the spectrum from everyday journaling to the ten-year masterpiece, all the forms have their place and purpose (IMHO!)
Congratulations on 1 year Rae! Thank you for sharing your journey, I found it to be very inspiring!
I'm so glad :)
This is an awesome article! Thanks for sharing your initial skepticism and what happened after that. It reads like an entertaining story that we can all relate to and is made that much better because it's your actual Substack story. Yay!
My favorite line is 'Color me shocked.' I think we need that on a T-shirt!
As Josh already mentioned in the comments we are here for all of it, however you are creatively moved we know it will be good.
Haha, I love the idea of a "color me shocked" t-shirt :). And thank you so much for the encouragement and permission! Two things a writer can't get enough of!
Happy 1 year anniversary! 🥳
Thank you!
My big question is: "How does one get featured by Substack?"
My second questions is: "How'd you get it twice?"
These are great insights that I totally agree with and see in my own writing. I'm not here for the major bumps, I'm here for the slow and steady, but it still makes me curious as to whether I'm overlooking something.
Great questions.
1. Writers can nominate other writers to be featured in Substack Reads. My suggestion is that you don't do this first thing, build up a bit of a cadence and make sure you're feeling good about where you're at. Then pick a good post and have someone nominate it! And if it doesn't work, try again.
2. The second feature was as a "staff pick." I don't know how these get picked, but likely just being on the radar of the staff, which probably happened because of the first feature.
Either way, for the most part it will be slow and steady. But there are some opportunities for bumps. I hope that helps!
Well done! Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
I really loved reading this - so genuine, honest and just plain helpful! I think the key is to find the balance that works for you, something that you clearly seem to have done! 💕
Yes! And one thing I wish I had highlighted a little more in the piece is that the balance may be different for everyone.