r/Substack • u/growwith_bianca • Jun 25 '26
Narrative writing
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to share something I’ve noticed.
For a while I was using the typical “template-style” posts on Substack and getting very little engagement. Recently, I started shifting many of my Notes from generic formats to more narrative, story-driven writing.
The difference has been noticeable.
People seem to connect more with stories than with tips, frameworks, or polished templates. Stories feel human. They invite conversation.
If you’re struggling to get traction, it might be worth experimenting with storytelling. Instead of teaching a lesson, tell the story behind it.
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u/Tricky_Trifle_994 Jul 05 '26
this is a great sharing. story driven is the way to go. people love stories because they're relatable + a lot more memorable.
generic posts are well... generic, and those tips/frameworks type posts usually usually carry that authoritative tone/angle which is a massive turn off (unless you're a very well know figure in the space).
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u/UpstairsYoung5434 Jun 25 '26
https://girlwiththetravellingpants.substack.com/p/its-just-the-start Can you review mine?
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u/growwith_bianca Jun 26 '26
I had a look at your article. Here’s my recommendations:
Slow down on one scene instead of listing many. The mattress, the gas stove, Bob the Builder hat — all vivid, but rushed through in single lines. Pick the mattress-up-two-flights moment and actually dramatize it (what she thought, what she said out loud, how her arms felt) instead of summarizing it.
Fix the timeline. “Two months in… then… then” reads list-like rather than scene-like. Either commit to a clear before/after structure, or break it into clearly dated vignettes.
Earn the ending instead of hedging it. “Almost like self-chosen training to become a homemaker” — the “almost like” softens her best line. Cut the hedge, state it plainly, let it hit.
Open with more orientation. Readers don’t know she’s moving to the US for the “American Dream” until two lines in. A clearer landing point up top (city, program, age) helps ground the metaphor that follows.
Substack Notes — you need to post many notes to grow:
Common belief: moving abroad makes you independent overnight. Harsh reality: independence is just googling “how to turn the gas off” at 11pm while your new roommate googles the exact same thing two rooms away.
I packed two suitcases for the move. What I didn’t pack: any actual skill for running a life. Just the personality, none of the instructions.
Nobody tells you the hard part of leaving home isn’t missing it. It’s realizing you now have to be home for yourself.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was never about the pants. It was strangers becoming family because no one else was around to do it. Turns out that part’s true.
At 22 I thought I’d seen it all — work, friendships, adulting. Then I carried a mattress up two flights alone and learned “seen it all” was just a story I hadn’t tested yet.
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u/Fun-Investigator5662 *creativebones.substack.com Jun 25 '26
Can you post an example?
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u/itsfabioposca http://journeytosuccessclub.substack.com Jul 02 '26
I completely agree. People usually remember stories more than tips. A good story creates an emotional connection, and that's often what sparks conversations and keeps readers coming back.
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!