10 Things I've Learnt in My First Month on Substack

From starting as a newbie to connecting with a multi-passionate creative community

When I decided to join Substack a month ago, I was venturing into uncharted waters. All I knew was that I wanted to write again—to recapture the magic of blogging about my passions and connecting with like-minded people. But I was warned: blogging in 2024 isn’t what it used to be. I couldn’t just rely on my past experience and expect everything to work the same way. We’re in the age of TikTok trends and bite-sized content. "People don’t have the appetite for long posts anymore," they said.

But you know what? It didn’t matter. I wanted to dive in anyway, even if it felt like stepping into a wibbly-wobbly time machine with an unknown destination. So, I took the plunge, and here’s what I’ve learnt on my Substack journey so far:

1. Remember the Art of Introduction

Our introduction post is our handshake with potential readers. It's our chance to say, "Hey, this is me, and this is what I'm all about." So, I ended up writing two intro posts—one about my personal journey and another about Story Weavers Society itself. Both posts encouraged new subscribers to sign up, showing that a well-crafted introduction can be a powerful draw. I also made sure to pin the SWS intro as a welcome post.

2. Build the Foundation with Key Posts

Think of key posts as the pillars of our Substack house. They're the evergreen content we can refer back to time and time again. My standout post this past month? "The 100 Things Project," which not only garnered over 260 views, 12 likes, 22 comments, and 5 restacks, but also inspired others like Anna’s Journal to start their own projects. Seeing an idea take flight and inspire others? That's the stuff that makes this journey worthwhile.

3. Consistency is Key (But Don't Beat Ourselves Up)

Balancing Substack with life's other demands isn't easy, but I've found that aiming for 1-2 posts a week helps maintain momentum. In just a month, I've managed to publish 9 posts (5 via the main SWS site and 4 via Shai's Journal), with this post being the 10th. My goal? 100 Substack posts to truly gauge how I feel about this platform. It's about finding a rhythm that works for us. I also tell myself that it's okay to miss a beat sometimes—what matters is getting back on track.

4. Notes: The Unexpected Game-Changer

At first, posting Notes felt like singing in front of a choir of crickets. But instead of giving up (which I was tempted to do), I committed to posting 100 Notes as part of my ‘Quit or Do 100’ approach instead. Surprisingly, my "Note 1/100" exploded—receiving 438 likes, 133 replies, and 17 restacks. While it wasn’t exactly going viral by today’s social media standards, it was the closest I’ve come so far. The lesson? Sometimes, magic happens when you least expect it.

Thankfully, this surge happened during my third week, when I had already published about 8 posts. The timing was great, as many who found my note engaged with my other articles—and some even subscribed. Before Note 1/100 took off, I had 131 subscribers and 154 followers. At the time of writing, I now have 188 subscribers and 226 followers. If you had told me I’d have a 43-46% growth rate in a week, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s a good reminder to keep planting those seeds (and letting those butterfly notes fly) in our Substack garden.

Who knew Note 1/100 would get this much attention?

5. Spread Our Wings

Early on, I learnt that if I wanted growth, I couldn’t rely solely on Substack. Promoting content across multiple platforms can help drive traffic, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. While most of my Substack traffic comes directly from the website, app, or email, a portion has come from platforms like Threads and Facebook, which I’ve been actively using over the past month.

The key is that I was already engaged on these platforms before promoting my Substack. I participated in genuine conversations while sharing links. If I hadn’t been active, I might have come across as a door-to-door salesperson pushing something no one asked for. Because I was already involved, my hope was that my connections might be curious enough to explore what I had to share elsewhere.

6. Embrace the Slow Burn Subscriber Growth

Yes, I was just celebrating growth, but here’s the twist: a lot of it came as unexpectedly as finding a forgotten $20 in my winter coat pocket.

For a week, I was publishing posts with single-digit view counts. When I first promoted my new publication, only one friend subscribed. It felt odd, but I was okay with having a small audience while I figured things out. Then, like a garden coming to life in spring, things slowly began to pick up.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: as the subscriber count rises, so does my anxiety. It’s the same when I teach or present in my day job—the bigger the audience, the higher the stakes. That’s why I feel a bit guilty that I haven’t responded to all the comments and interactions yet. But don’t worry—I’m working on it! My goal is to connect with each of you, even if it takes time.

7. The Readers Who Stay Matter Most

A week into my Substack journey, I decided to revive my old mailing list of 118 emails. Having not sent any emails for over 5 years, I knew I should brace myself for unsubscribes. It turned out that there were a handful of bounces and about 5-7 unsubscribes in total. One of the reasons I used to hate building my subscriber list and sending out emails is seeing those unsubscribe notifications. But thankfully, I’ve decided to shift my perspective. I vowed never to worry about unsubscribes anymore and focus on the subscribers that I do have. The readers who stay are the ones who truly matter. And, I intend to make your stay worthwhile in each post and email I send.

8. Community is Everything

At its core, Substack isn't just about publishing—it's about connection. So, it’s important to take part in any community-building efforts. And that’s why I wanted to host challenges like September Snapshots Prompts Bingo (SSPB). They turn solitary writing into a shared adventure. That’s also why I’m grateful to new Substack connections, Karina and The Moss Journals for taking part in SSPB here. There are a few more of us over at Threads too. Even if there's just a handful of us participating, it makes the journey more interesting and less lonely.

One step at a time, this Substack journey unfolds.

9. Supporting Each Other In Our Unique Journeys

While we’re part of a community, each of our Substack journeys is uniquely our own. As someone once said, it’s important not to let comparison steal our joy. Some may move faster, others slower, but we all follow our own path at our own pace. Even when it feels like our work isn’t being noticed or others seem more successful, it’s worth continuing. Let’s keep writing as long as the process itself brings us joy. In the meantime, let’s support others by liking, commenting, restacking, and more, even if we’re not getting the same in return at the start. Who knows where our genuine support might lead?

10. There's Room for Everyone

From big names to niche experts, Substack has space for all voices. While the most successful publications often come from well-known names or focus on writing tips and Substack itself, I’ve seen thriving communities around topics like homesteading, education, technology, grief, home decorating, poetry, and even serialised novels. Whether you’re writing about a passion or sharing your expertise, there’s an audience waiting to hear from you.

As I reflect on this first month, I’m filled with excitement for what’s to come. To everyone who has supported Story Weavers Society and Shai’s Journal: Thank You. You’re the reason I keep weaving stories, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

Something worth remembering in this process, fellow multi-passionate creatives: Regardless of what the stats and the experts say, our voice matters. Let’s keep writing, keep sharing, and keep believing in the power of our stories. The best chapters are yet to come.

How about you? What’s your Substack journey been like so far?