This was a fascinating read. Thank you! I only started my Substack in January (along with the rest of the world...), & my readership is still tiny. I love your point about how much your writing has improved through doing your newsletter. I’m always reminding myself it’s writing practice, as much as anything else (for example building subscribers & engagement).
Very true. When I was younger, I thought writing was more of a talent and less of a skill, and it was demoralising. I've certainly found writing a newletter consistently to be a big help (just passed 3 years).
Thank you for showing how the evolution of a newsletter can look. Mine has already taken so many different directions as I’ve followed my various interests!
I joined just a few months before you announced you were quitting, so I didn't have the greatest timing. I very much enjoyed the few things I read before you stopped, though.
Really interesting stuff, generously shared. I hopped onto Substack as an aspirant writer looking for a place to lodge some words and to seek out encouragement for the imposter in me. So far, so good. We too started a Mailchimp newsletter in 2017 (43 folk in the April keen to find what JoJo was going to bake for our deli/coffee shop or excited to be in with a chance to win the bottle of wine I dangled as a temptation to sign up). We're still there with a weekly curation and we haven't hit the 2000-subscriber threshold that might make me move. But I am curious about the newsletter experience here in Substack so your evolution is interesting. And the pressures - it feels - when there's a price tag to the offering. Thank you so much for sharing. Excited to peek in on your writing from now on.
Always love seeing your name in my inbox!! I can't even remember how long I've been subscribed now, but I'll follow your prose through all its iterations.
Once again, I truly value your honesty. In a world where all that glitters is not gold, I really appreciate accounts like this. It’s a rare gem!!
I don’t know how I found you but in the Substack era- though I didn’t know Substack as a thing then.
What’s really interesting reading this is how you talk about the newsletter first approach vs the ‘writer ego’ that needs the byline. I “gave up” on writing for a while as I thought I needed permission etc - someone to grant me a byline or verify my writer status. But, like your newsletter first approach, you’re a writer because you write. End of. It’s only lately I’ve realised this.
I inhale pieces like this. Its definitely part of your magic. The writing world can sometimes feel like a club you don’t belong to but I feel you’re there, opening the door wide.
Hey Anna! I think I discovered you when I was doing my pre-launch research into Substack, so that's - late 2019, I think? You were one of those cool, interesting voices I wanted to emulate in some way. So it's really nice to see you're back. :)
Have you thought of doing a short "book"? I don't mean all the exhausting rigour of a fullsize book, but a short thing, in the same style that Steven Johnson is writing here? https://adjacentpossible.substack.com/p/immortality-a-users-guide It's basically a limited series with a specific focus on a theme, running behind the paywall, organised like chapters of a short book, which you can turn into an *actual* short book at the end? It feels like a really fun way to explore topics and have something self-contained that you can use as an asset afterwards. (I'm half-doing this right now with my paywalled stuff, and it seems to be working nicely...)
I think I must have joined you shortly after you rebranded from The Professional Freelancer to Lance, when I was trying to build a sustainable writing/journalism career and was looking for All The Content on that topic! I'm pretty sure I found your newsletter through your podcast, but I've been trying to remember and I have no idea how I came across Is This Working? in the first place!
I really love the idea of having a 'newsletter first' approach to what you want to write. Thank you for this behind the scenes look at your newsletter journey so far.
Thanks so much for sharing this. Learning more about your journey was insightful, and honest. The growth, being comfortable in the growth, was what I personally needed to read. Excited to see your newsletter continue to evolve.
This was a fascinating read. Thank you! I only started my Substack in January (along with the rest of the world...), & my readership is still tiny. I love your point about how much your writing has improved through doing your newsletter. I’m always reminding myself it’s writing practice, as much as anything else (for example building subscribers & engagement).
Very true. When I was younger, I thought writing was more of a talent and less of a skill, and it was demoralising. I've certainly found writing a newletter consistently to be a big help (just passed 3 years).
3 years! Well done to you.
Thank you for showing how the evolution of a newsletter can look. Mine has already taken so many different directions as I’ve followed my various interests!
I'd loved watching yours evolve!!
Aww thanks!!!!!
I joined just a few months before you announced you were quitting, so I didn't have the greatest timing. I very much enjoyed the few things I read before you stopped, though.
Really interesting stuff, generously shared. I hopped onto Substack as an aspirant writer looking for a place to lodge some words and to seek out encouragement for the imposter in me. So far, so good. We too started a Mailchimp newsletter in 2017 (43 folk in the April keen to find what JoJo was going to bake for our deli/coffee shop or excited to be in with a chance to win the bottle of wine I dangled as a temptation to sign up). We're still there with a weekly curation and we haven't hit the 2000-subscriber threshold that might make me move. But I am curious about the newsletter experience here in Substack so your evolution is interesting. And the pressures - it feels - when there's a price tag to the offering. Thank you so much for sharing. Excited to peek in on your writing from now on.
I only joined you in the Substack era, but I follow you with great interest. You're one of the OG's!
😎 so glad to have you here!!
Always love seeing your name in my inbox!! I can't even remember how long I've been subscribed now, but I'll follow your prose through all its iterations.
If you’re a dinosaur, you’re a T-Rex of the newsletter world - small arms but big ideas that bite! 🦖✍️ Keep roaring with your awesome content!
Love the honesty here. I sometimes think about quitting too but keep coming back. It’s refreshing to hear that I’m not the only one!
Once again, I truly value your honesty. In a world where all that glitters is not gold, I really appreciate accounts like this. It’s a rare gem!!
I don’t know how I found you but in the Substack era- though I didn’t know Substack as a thing then.
What’s really interesting reading this is how you talk about the newsletter first approach vs the ‘writer ego’ that needs the byline. I “gave up” on writing for a while as I thought I needed permission etc - someone to grant me a byline or verify my writer status. But, like your newsletter first approach, you’re a writer because you write. End of. It’s only lately I’ve realised this.
I inhale pieces like this. Its definitely part of your magic. The writing world can sometimes feel like a club you don’t belong to but I feel you’re there, opening the door wide.
Hey Anna! I think I discovered you when I was doing my pre-launch research into Substack, so that's - late 2019, I think? You were one of those cool, interesting voices I wanted to emulate in some way. So it's really nice to see you're back. :)
Have you thought of doing a short "book"? I don't mean all the exhausting rigour of a fullsize book, but a short thing, in the same style that Steven Johnson is writing here? https://adjacentpossible.substack.com/p/immortality-a-users-guide It's basically a limited series with a specific focus on a theme, running behind the paywall, organised like chapters of a short book, which you can turn into an *actual* short book at the end? It feels like a really fun way to explore topics and have something self-contained that you can use as an asset afterwards. (I'm half-doing this right now with my paywalled stuff, and it seems to be working nicely...)
I think I must have joined you shortly after you rebranded from The Professional Freelancer to Lance, when I was trying to build a sustainable writing/journalism career and was looking for All The Content on that topic! I'm pretty sure I found your newsletter through your podcast, but I've been trying to remember and I have no idea how I came across Is This Working? in the first place!
I really love the idea of having a 'newsletter first' approach to what you want to write. Thank you for this behind the scenes look at your newsletter journey so far.
Thanks so much for sharing this. Learning more about your journey was insightful, and honest. The growth, being comfortable in the growth, was what I personally needed to read. Excited to see your newsletter continue to evolve.