I read this today, a month after it was posted. My life is in transition. I asked my women friends about my transition. Especially writing. Writing, publishing, and I enjoy a lifetime tug of war. In the 72 hours since I asked my friends that question, a resounding nudge to keep going has popped up from every corner of my life. I never asked those corners that question. Your piece was one of those unexpected pops. With that I am sticking to a plan. It's small, simple and a start. Thank you.
Hi Carrie Lynn! I'm a big believer in signs guiding us and so happy the piece resonated with you. And I love that you have a plan now. Thanks so much for your comment!
I find it hard to focus on one thing - because I feel I have to post on 3 different socials, write 2 newsletters, short stories etc. It is too much but I am having a hard time letting it all go.
Yeah that makes sense. I think most of us are trying to find balance and juggle multiple platforms and our own vision of how many readers we can reach by doing all the things. I like to look at what is doing the best out of all the platforms or where the numbers are good and focus more effort there, then pull back at others. But it's a constant practice of reminding myself doing all the things doesn't necessarily move the needle!
What is doing the best by far is LinkedIn And I find that the easiest because I already have a big following there. I need to figure out a way that converts writing on Substack to be more engaging and less of dragging myself in front of the computer bc clearly it shows!
This is very common, but it’s just not true. Even the best social media barely drives the bottom line. Yes, when you have a huge audience, it might, but really people are just trying to influence the conversation so it drives them to their website or product. It’s not a driving factor of sales by itself.
They also hire people to do it that like social media.
I know people talk about how much money they make from their TikTok shop, but when do you hear anyone talking about making money from any other platform? It’s negligible. There are countless studies that show even viral posts don’t drive much conversion.
Even Tiktok really only drives sales to a very specific type of book.
So, okay, you like Linkedin, and that’s great. It’s moving the needle for you because you probably like it, or liked it at one point, and thus you got followers on it, not the other way around.
People magnetize to you around things that bring you joy, not suffering.
Frankly, if you feel like you are dragging yourself to write a Substack post, why are you doing it?
Because people tell you that you should? That’s a really terrible reason to do anything.
Yes, it’s important to try things, but if you don’t like those things and/or they aren’t moving the needle after a couple months, then you should stop doing them.
That is why the P in the HAPI compass is prioritization. It’s why a huge part of Hapitalist revolves around doing an Eisenhower Matrix.
What you like, you do with ease, and they ease brings people to you. Why? Because you naturally spend time in those places, and that time makes you understand the platform better, try new things, and get ahead of the curve.
If you have to drag yourself to the website, you won’t spend enough time there and you won’t do enough things to win on the margins, which is where that growth happens.
This mindset isn’t just toxic, it’s holding you back from actually doing the things you enjoy, which move the needle, and that people actually want you to do.
Nobody in your audience wants you to suffer. If anyone who cares about you found out that writing a Substack was like pulling teeth, they would tell you to stop doing it because it’s not worth it.
They would probably feel terrible about even subscribing here because it causes you pain.
You don’t have to find a way to convert Substack to be more engaging. You need to stop dragging yourself to do things you hate, and focus on the things that light you up.
Or at the very least you need to find a way to make Substack joyful. If Substack is joyful you will not have to drag yourself to it and then it will be more engaging, and you will be using less energy to do it, and you will get further faster.
So, my question is what about Substack fills you with joy? And how can you expand that bit of it? If it’s nothing, then you need to dump it ASAP. It is not serving you.
I have written so much about this recently in the archives, and in the capitalist book, but you’re thinking about this all wrong.
The thing you’re sounds miserable, so I’m not surprised to see you are struggling with it all.
While reading this, I felt I was reading about myself when you were talking about problems you encountered. I also felt a nudge from every step of the seven you discussed. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this with us! You're a gem.
Protect the work. Or, in my case, protecting when NOT to work. I'm cowriting a romantasy with an author I met on here and even after informing her of my Home Weeks, I've broken that boundary a few times and have paid for it the next day. Gah! I'm one of 3 co-caregivers supporting a parent with dementia and my sister and I trade weeks. When it's my Caregiver Week, there's no writing to be done until we put my Mom to bed. I also have FT Corp HellJob, so staying up late to write is NEVER a good thing for me. :/
Oh Evolet, this is a lot to handle when you have such important family obligations. You said it perfectly - I think for you it would be protect your space. Because you need the time and space in order to bring your best writing, so it may go slower than some others which is fine. We go through different stages of life and sometimes, we are required to go slower because of responsibilities. I'm positive the book will be amazing.
Thanks, Jennifer. #1 on authenticity struck me the most, coupled with #3 on content. On Substack here, writing about the things that really move and inspire me, that go to the heart of who I am, is super important to me, so having you confirm that means a lot. And the same with content. When I comment on other's posts or on FB and in other social media, I want it to be from the heart or the head, something I feel or have thought about a lot. I want that heart-head connection with others, even if it takes more time to do so.
Then "protect the work" is so important. While I'm in the book launch phase for my debut novel When Things Go Missing, I can go off on that tangent too, scrolling through Instagram or FB or wanting to read all this great stuff on Substack, and neglecting the writing/editing of my NEXT novel, which I want to publish in 2026. I feel pulled in two directions. The marketing is so important, but so is working on my next book--so protecting that time to do so is key for me.
So happy some of these resonated with you. Totally agree about the constant struggle to balance all the things that go into a successful writing career. We need the admin and marketing and social media, but the actual book writing is at the very heart of what we really do. The rest is support. That's just my philosophy because I'm a happier, more satisfied writer when I'm making progress on a story than spending endless time desperately focused on gaining likes, shares, reviews, etc. Even when I write a substack post I feel good about I sleep better at night, lol. Thanks tons for reading!
Ah, Jen. I so remember how enthusiastic when I first met you and you came to critique. So glad to see you've kept that joy in writing. I ask you a question. Is there anything more exciting that writing something like Missy looked across the room and saw Him and the story flows from there.
YES it’s truly magical and I cannot imagine anyone else but you being the first person to critique my work. You were both kind and true which is what a young writer really needs!
Protect the work. That is the most important advice of all. Thank you for sharing!
It's so so easy to get sidetracked. I'm sidetracked as I speak lol.
LOL it's a phrase I need to read every day because we are living in such a distracting world! So happy you enjoyed the post.
I read this today, a month after it was posted. My life is in transition. I asked my women friends about my transition. Especially writing. Writing, publishing, and I enjoy a lifetime tug of war. In the 72 hours since I asked my friends that question, a resounding nudge to keep going has popped up from every corner of my life. I never asked those corners that question. Your piece was one of those unexpected pops. With that I am sticking to a plan. It's small, simple and a start. Thank you.
Hi Carrie Lynn! I'm a big believer in signs guiding us and so happy the piece resonated with you. And I love that you have a plan now. Thanks so much for your comment!
Amazing. I love it!
I just finished my daily promise to myself, too.
I find it hard to focus on one thing - because I feel I have to post on 3 different socials, write 2 newsletters, short stories etc. It is too much but I am having a hard time letting it all go.
Yeah that makes sense. I think most of us are trying to find balance and juggle multiple platforms and our own vision of how many readers we can reach by doing all the things. I like to look at what is doing the best out of all the platforms or where the numbers are good and focus more effort there, then pull back at others. But it's a constant practice of reminding myself doing all the things doesn't necessarily move the needle!
What is doing the best by far is LinkedIn And I find that the easiest because I already have a big following there. I need to figure out a way that converts writing on Substack to be more engaging and less of dragging myself in front of the computer bc clearly it shows!
This is very common, but it’s just not true. Even the best social media barely drives the bottom line. Yes, when you have a huge audience, it might, but really people are just trying to influence the conversation so it drives them to their website or product. It’s not a driving factor of sales by itself.
They also hire people to do it that like social media.
I know people talk about how much money they make from their TikTok shop, but when do you hear anyone talking about making money from any other platform? It’s negligible. There are countless studies that show even viral posts don’t drive much conversion.
Even Tiktok really only drives sales to a very specific type of book.
So, okay, you like Linkedin, and that’s great. It’s moving the needle for you because you probably like it, or liked it at one point, and thus you got followers on it, not the other way around.
People magnetize to you around things that bring you joy, not suffering.
Frankly, if you feel like you are dragging yourself to write a Substack post, why are you doing it?
Because people tell you that you should? That’s a really terrible reason to do anything.
Yes, it’s important to try things, but if you don’t like those things and/or they aren’t moving the needle after a couple months, then you should stop doing them.
That is why the P in the HAPI compass is prioritization. It’s why a huge part of Hapitalist revolves around doing an Eisenhower Matrix.
What you like, you do with ease, and they ease brings people to you. Why? Because you naturally spend time in those places, and that time makes you understand the platform better, try new things, and get ahead of the curve.
If you have to drag yourself to the website, you won’t spend enough time there and you won’t do enough things to win on the margins, which is where that growth happens.
This mindset isn’t just toxic, it’s holding you back from actually doing the things you enjoy, which move the needle, and that people actually want you to do.
Nobody in your audience wants you to suffer. If anyone who cares about you found out that writing a Substack was like pulling teeth, they would tell you to stop doing it because it’s not worth it.
They would probably feel terrible about even subscribing here because it causes you pain.
You don’t have to find a way to convert Substack to be more engaging. You need to stop dragging yourself to do things you hate, and focus on the things that light you up.
Or at the very least you need to find a way to make Substack joyful. If Substack is joyful you will not have to drag yourself to it and then it will be more engaging, and you will be using less energy to do it, and you will get further faster.
So, my question is what about Substack fills you with joy? And how can you expand that bit of it? If it’s nothing, then you need to dump it ASAP. It is not serving you.
I have written so much about this recently in the archives, and in the capitalist book, but you’re thinking about this all wrong.
The thing you’re sounds miserable, so I’m not surprised to see you are struggling with it all.
Great points, I will think about the Substack comments and make a decision. Thx for your thoughts!
While reading this, I felt I was reading about myself when you were talking about problems you encountered. I also felt a nudge from every step of the seven you discussed. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this with us! You're a gem.
Thank you SO much! I'm thrilled the piece resonated with you and I feel so many of us go through a similar journey. Appreciate your response!
Protect the work. Or, in my case, protecting when NOT to work. I'm cowriting a romantasy with an author I met on here and even after informing her of my Home Weeks, I've broken that boundary a few times and have paid for it the next day. Gah! I'm one of 3 co-caregivers supporting a parent with dementia and my sister and I trade weeks. When it's my Caregiver Week, there's no writing to be done until we put my Mom to bed. I also have FT Corp HellJob, so staying up late to write is NEVER a good thing for me. :/
Oh Evolet, this is a lot to handle when you have such important family obligations. You said it perfectly - I think for you it would be protect your space. Because you need the time and space in order to bring your best writing, so it may go slower than some others which is fine. We go through different stages of life and sometimes, we are required to go slower because of responsibilities. I'm positive the book will be amazing.
Yes, protecting the space. That seems more fitting.
Thanks, Jennifer. #1 on authenticity struck me the most, coupled with #3 on content. On Substack here, writing about the things that really move and inspire me, that go to the heart of who I am, is super important to me, so having you confirm that means a lot. And the same with content. When I comment on other's posts or on FB and in other social media, I want it to be from the heart or the head, something I feel or have thought about a lot. I want that heart-head connection with others, even if it takes more time to do so.
Then "protect the work" is so important. While I'm in the book launch phase for my debut novel When Things Go Missing, I can go off on that tangent too, scrolling through Instagram or FB or wanting to read all this great stuff on Substack, and neglecting the writing/editing of my NEXT novel, which I want to publish in 2026. I feel pulled in two directions. The marketing is so important, but so is working on my next book--so protecting that time to do so is key for me.
So happy some of these resonated with you. Totally agree about the constant struggle to balance all the things that go into a successful writing career. We need the admin and marketing and social media, but the actual book writing is at the very heart of what we really do. The rest is support. That's just my philosophy because I'm a happier, more satisfied writer when I'm making progress on a story than spending endless time desperately focused on gaining likes, shares, reviews, etc. Even when I write a substack post I feel good about I sleep better at night, lol. Thanks tons for reading!
Ah, Jen. I so remember how enthusiastic when I first met you and you came to critique. So glad to see you've kept that joy in writing. I ask you a question. Is there anything more exciting that writing something like Missy looked across the room and saw Him and the story flows from there.
YES it’s truly magical and I cannot imagine anyone else but you being the first person to critique my work. You were both kind and true which is what a young writer really needs!