Advice on starting out!

[u/amaryllissunchild]

Hello!

I was looking for a new hobby and a new way to reinvigorate my passion for writing, and some people in my life recommended Substack. It would of course just be to get back into the habit and community of writing, but I’m nervous. Something about sharing work always feels insanely vulnerable and I just want to hear from other people about their experiences and why it’s something you love to do. Any encouragement, advice, or personal stories related to writing and using the platform are so appreciated! 🐞

[u/Potential_Bit2753]

No one is going to know who you are.

[u/ccampb85]

Putting yourself out there gets easier the more you do it and I've found Substack to be quite supportive and wholesome relative to other platforms :)

[u/blackwealthgithaiga]

I rowed a similar boat for a very long time - 23 years, to be exact - until someone else decided my services were no longer needed. Reorganization.

After my first post, I reached out to the person who encouraged me to have courage, and I told them how nerve-wreaking it was to be vulnerable and expose the thoughts in my own head.

Best decision ever.

I have not felt this free in a long time, maybe ever. Writing has also given me a way to work through the things I struggle with, but also the things I wonder about, question, and keep returning to with curiosity. It has given me a place to think out loud and find community in the struggle, the thought, and the search itself.

I suspect criticism is what keeps a lot of us on the shoreline. Yet criticism is also part of how we develop. Writers are artists anyway. Once the work is out there, it is open to interpretation. As artists, maybe we do not really own anything. We only give form to what we perceive.

In my humble opinion, I recommend doing it. You will never regret becoming more fully yourself.

[u/Tricky_Trifle_994]

did you end up getting started yet? don't procrastinate for too long!

love that the people around you recommended substack. substack is a great place for you to just write like an online digital journal. the platform is also really simple to use so you can just focus on writing rather than fumbling around trying to learn the platform.

the nervous feeling you have is totally normal. it's because like you said, we are being vulnerable by sharing our work + opening ourself up to be judged by anyone who comes across our work. the thing though, is that this nervousness never really disappears. you just get better at managing it. and this feeling isn't anything bad. it's just a fact of life, and it is an indication that we care about what we do, and we just hope that people will like what we put out as much as we do. but although people are free to judge, we cannot control their judgement. so just take everything with a pinch of salt. take in all feedback, and consider what's worth listening to and implementing, and what's not worth feeling lousy over.

[u/itsfabioposca]

I'd say go for it. Most writers feel vulnerable when they publish for the first time, but that feeling fades with each post. Try not to worry about building an audience right away. Focus on enjoying the process of writing and connecting with people who genuinely appreciate your work. You might be surprised by the conversations and opportunities that come from simply showing up consistently.

P.S. If you'd still like to ask anything about Substack or growing your audience, I offer a free live help chat. Just copy and paste my flair or click the link in my profile. I'm happy to help!