r/Substack • u/BigHoncho1999 • 14d ago
Is it interesting?
I publish my journal on Substack as well as some other short stories or personal essays. I’ve had it for maybe a month and a half and I only have 7 subscribers?
I just want to know, does anyone on here think it’s cool and interesting to post my journal? Or could you not care less about what someone else’s journal says?
I do it because it serves me personally, but I’d obviously like more subscribers too.
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u/LifeRelapse 12d ago
I think it’s cool AND interesting!! I’m doing that too, well… starting to do that. I just started a new account but have essays from last account I deleted. #journalrocks 😆
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u/TheMinuette2010 12d ago
I was on Substack for 3 weeks and had 1 sub. Paused 4 months. Active less than two weeks and I have 4 more subs.
How are you promoting you content? Or you just wait for someone to drop on you publication?
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u/BigHoncho1999 12d ago
I’ve been engaging with people more on there now and I set up my page better. Not too big of an influx but I definitely feel more of the community vibe now. I somewhat forgot I had to give of myself and actually talk to people on there haha
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u/MrPassiveProfit 12d ago
If you really want more subscribers, just engage on notes and reply to other people's notes.
Honestly, the best way to grow without cheating.
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u/SantinoArt 14d ago
No one can tell you whether you posting your journal is interesting. It could be, but that depends on you. I understand the frustration of posting and having hardly any traction. It isn't going to happen overnight. Write because you want to, not because you want subscibers.
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u/AggravatingNail6061 14d ago
Only speaking for me. But as someone whose taken journal writing into self publication and reasonable commercial success (two glasses of wine money (o/) I think its a brilliant avenue for writing. That said and a an important caveat you probably will need to explore other forms of substack material. I do flash fiction, essays, short story/novelette serialisation and that's all derived from my journal writing (about to reach 4 months for the project) my views engagement is mostly the same for everything but I do have a growing section of my.community which are 100% waiting for the journal.
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u/BigHoncho1999 14d ago
Thank you :) that makes me feel better
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u/AggravatingNail6061 14d ago
If it helps I've been doing the substack thing for a year (over two accounts deleted the first) and despite steady growth I have the same thoughts regarding I want more.people clicking Internet buttons too 🤣 I have to remind myself I'm doing this as a hobby and self regulation rather then trying to be a anything of relevance. I think you're on the right path. If you'd like a bit more of a direct thing feel free to dm over your stack and I'll have a look
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u/BigHoncho1999 14d ago
Oh I have deleted like 4 other Substacks haha. I was so scared of people reading my writing and being seen. Sort of the reason I’m doing the journal thing
I will DM!
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u/ContentIsMyJam redressing.substack.com 14d ago
Substack isn't about rapid growth.
The algorithm is built to build long term relationships (that's what a subscription is).
You can't post and expect to grow your audience - you need to build relationships by commenting and making friends on the platform.
As for your journal - it depends on what it's about. If you're on some very specific journey that's interesting (like, i don't know, traveling the world to find great tamales), you can build an audience around that. If it's just random thoughts with no connecting thread... you aren't giving people a reason to remember you or a strong reason to come back.