Dec 30, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
It's funny how blogs were so hot for a while, then (mostly) crumbled in the face of social media that had more of an emphasis on pictures, GIFs, short posts, and reposts.
Yet there's obviously a hunger for the longer form, blog-style post, as Substackers are discovering ...
Dec 28, 2022·edited Dec 28, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
So very much with you on this, Brent.
I also see Substack, and the newsletter subscription model as a whole, as a corrective for the stuff I was seeing in blogging, circa 2012-ish: approaching-100% reliant on advertising, plus sponsorships and PR handouts and the rest of it, turning reader attention from a mutual source of empowerment into a tradable resource, a virtual currency made of eyeballs (what a horrifying thought) that you could maybe, maybe exchange for actual money at some point? Maybe? So, this all feels like a rebalancing, a simplifying and - a de-hoodwinking? I don't quite know what to call it - I just know it's making people happy (myself included) in a way I hoped blogging would.
Also? Thank you to you & Michael for your generosity of spirit and your open-hearted work ethic with all this stuff. It has made a big difference to so many, and it's appreciated.
But I'll call you out on one thing. Writing is actually easy. EASY. It's SUUUUPER easy. And I say this because I have something I'm procrastinating on starting to write, and the only thing that will actually finally get me started on it this evening with the deadline quickly approaching is the knowledge that actually writing is easy and I will be finished in, oh I dunno, ten minutes? Maybe less. It'll be a breeze. But if writing was *hard* - like literally all the other times I've done it, which I'm refusing to think about right now - then I'd never even start. I'd just watch Netflix while rocking back and forth. So writing's easy. Nothing easier. OK?
I am enjoying your substack adventures and wonder if you might like to read my weekly essay from time to time, also on substack- free- it’s called Mostly Martha’s Musings. This week, my dog, Stuart, visited a Hospice with interesting results. Thanks for your time. Martha Johnson
Dec 28, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
This was a blessing to read. As someone who once was a full-time writer and consciously left that life, I feel your pain. I'm overjoyed that Substack has been such a boon for both of you! You're certainly an encouragement for lil ole me as I write my 3rd book (a memoir), try to shop it around, and build to being worthy of turning on a Substack paywall.
Congratulations! You both are outstanding writers and deserve the success. I agree about institutionalized journalism today. It's hypocritical how they point out some lies but propagate others. They seem to enjoy expressing their opinions more than doing the behind-the-scenes work of reporting.
Have you seen Una Great Movie? Search "Una gran película (2020) | Película completa" from the channel Indie Rights Movies For Free. It's a fun, fresh comedy about writing a screenplay by Jennifer Sharp.
Brent, I am a grump, and I don't claim to not grump about Substack. But yes, to all of this. I could restate it, but it wouldn't add anything at all. Thank you.
I so agree with everything here - I find myself heading to instagram less and less, because what I see being built here is a return to the golden age of blogging. When the words mattered, and we were not trying to constrain our ideas into 2200 characters. I come here to read good writing, to encounter new ideas. I'm slowly retraining my brain that I don't just have to feed the content machine for free in perpetuity in order to make a living as a writer. Right now, truthfully, I've got hard core Substack warm fuzzies, and as more of my favorite writers find their way here, that just continues to grow.
I have not yet figured out the golden ticket for paid subscriptions, but I'm writing again, in ways I have not written in years. And that feels damn good.
Also, you're really really good at this substack thing. You've got the right recipe for making it work. Writing super interesting pieces, entertaining at the same time as educating. Consistency. And if I knew everything else it is you're doing that is working so well I would be doing it too, except I do substack my way and I'm happy with that too, and that is another reason substack is great, because we don't all have to do the same thing, and that helps diamonds like you guys shine out of the pile !
Keep enjoying life and everything will always work out :))
So happy for you. . . I think I alternate reading your work on a few platforms. AND, I have discovered other writers I enjoy on Substack as well. I have been encouraged to do a blog or something by friends who enjoy my FB page (and, due to high profile jobs, I have 5000 friends! So there’s a start for a subscription base). I have contemplated Wordpress, Medium and others. Your endorsement of SubStack has me thinking. Thanks. And in 2023, let’s try to meet in person. We’re just over here in Gig Harbor if our 2-3 months here ever overlap with your time in Seattle. Happy New Year.
Yes, yes, yes. All of this. My goal for 2023 in addition to self-publishing a book of essays (and going with self-publishing for many of the reasons you listed), is growing my community here and figuring out how to best serve a paying audience.
It's funny how blogs were so hot for a while, then (mostly) crumbled in the face of social media that had more of an emphasis on pictures, GIFs, short posts, and reposts.
Yet there's obviously a hunger for the longer form, blog-style post, as Substackers are discovering ...
So very much with you on this, Brent.
I also see Substack, and the newsletter subscription model as a whole, as a corrective for the stuff I was seeing in blogging, circa 2012-ish: approaching-100% reliant on advertising, plus sponsorships and PR handouts and the rest of it, turning reader attention from a mutual source of empowerment into a tradable resource, a virtual currency made of eyeballs (what a horrifying thought) that you could maybe, maybe exchange for actual money at some point? Maybe? So, this all feels like a rebalancing, a simplifying and - a de-hoodwinking? I don't quite know what to call it - I just know it's making people happy (myself included) in a way I hoped blogging would.
Also? Thank you to you & Michael for your generosity of spirit and your open-hearted work ethic with all this stuff. It has made a big difference to so many, and it's appreciated.
But I'll call you out on one thing. Writing is actually easy. EASY. It's SUUUUPER easy. And I say this because I have something I'm procrastinating on starting to write, and the only thing that will actually finally get me started on it this evening with the deadline quickly approaching is the knowledge that actually writing is easy and I will be finished in, oh I dunno, ten minutes? Maybe less. It'll be a breeze. But if writing was *hard* - like literally all the other times I've done it, which I'm refusing to think about right now - then I'd never even start. I'd just watch Netflix while rocking back and forth. So writing's easy. Nothing easier. OK?
Thanks.
Thank you for writing on this weird new platform!
I am enjoying your substack adventures and wonder if you might like to read my weekly essay from time to time, also on substack- free- it’s called Mostly Martha’s Musings. This week, my dog, Stuart, visited a Hospice with interesting results. Thanks for your time. Martha Johnson
This was a blessing to read. As someone who once was a full-time writer and consciously left that life, I feel your pain. I'm overjoyed that Substack has been such a boon for both of you! You're certainly an encouragement for lil ole me as I write my 3rd book (a memoir), try to shop it around, and build to being worthy of turning on a Substack paywall.
Congratulations! You both are outstanding writers and deserve the success. I agree about institutionalized journalism today. It's hypocritical how they point out some lies but propagate others. They seem to enjoy expressing their opinions more than doing the behind-the-scenes work of reporting.
Have you seen Una Great Movie? Search "Una gran película (2020) | Película completa" from the channel Indie Rights Movies For Free. It's a fun, fresh comedy about writing a screenplay by Jennifer Sharp.
Brent, I am a grump, and I don't claim to not grump about Substack. But yes, to all of this. I could restate it, but it wouldn't add anything at all. Thank you.
Loved the article. I only subscribe to you and Kareem Abdul jabbar on substack. I enjoy both of you very much!! Happy new year. Don
Excellent piece. Glad for your success. Hard work is giving both of you deserved success.
Congratulations, Brent, love your work!
I so agree with everything here - I find myself heading to instagram less and less, because what I see being built here is a return to the golden age of blogging. When the words mattered, and we were not trying to constrain our ideas into 2200 characters. I come here to read good writing, to encounter new ideas. I'm slowly retraining my brain that I don't just have to feed the content machine for free in perpetuity in order to make a living as a writer. Right now, truthfully, I've got hard core Substack warm fuzzies, and as more of my favorite writers find their way here, that just continues to grow.
I have not yet figured out the golden ticket for paid subscriptions, but I'm writing again, in ways I have not written in years. And that feels damn good.
Also, you're really really good at this substack thing. You've got the right recipe for making it work. Writing super interesting pieces, entertaining at the same time as educating. Consistency. And if I knew everything else it is you're doing that is working so well I would be doing it too, except I do substack my way and I'm happy with that too, and that is another reason substack is great, because we don't all have to do the same thing, and that helps diamonds like you guys shine out of the pile !
Keep enjoying life and everything will always work out :))
So happy for you. . . I think I alternate reading your work on a few platforms. AND, I have discovered other writers I enjoy on Substack as well. I have been encouraged to do a blog or something by friends who enjoy my FB page (and, due to high profile jobs, I have 5000 friends! So there’s a start for a subscription base). I have contemplated Wordpress, Medium and others. Your endorsement of SubStack has me thinking. Thanks. And in 2023, let’s try to meet in person. We’re just over here in Gig Harbor if our 2-3 months here ever overlap with your time in Seattle. Happy New Year.
Bravo 💓
Yes, yes, yes. All of this. My goal for 2023 in addition to self-publishing a book of essays (and going with self-publishing for many of the reasons you listed), is growing my community here and figuring out how to best serve a paying audience.