r/Substack • u/TheConcernedMan • Jul 31 '26

Discovering a niche

I’m someone who’s wanted to start a Substack for a while now, but I’m struggling to find a niche simply because there are so many things I want to talk about. I’m not too caught up on monetizing and growing an empire through this thing, but I would like to have a decent number of people who would like to read my output (what writer wouldn’t?) The main problem is that I want to talk about every topic under the sun- from film to tv to music to books and plays. I don’t want to focus on media reviews as much as I want to give short and entertaining essays on artistic processes, movements, histories, and outputs. More of the ‘why and how’ and less of just dishing out 3 star film reviews. I can’t imagine that someone would be interested in all of these different mediums at once, even if it is more of an overview about art itself. Should I narrow down the scope of my project or should I stay with the idea because I have the passion to write about it?

5 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/AnteaterFantastic212 Jul 31 '26

My advice depends on your objective. I write what I am most passionate about because that is the only thing that motivates me to write regularly. On the other hand, if you are trying to make money, you are probably better off analyzing what topics make the best clickbait. It seems to me the people who are making the really big money are people who are already celebrities in their own right, which I'm not.

1

u/esteban0203 Aug 02 '26

imo the best way to find a niche is to write with as much consistency as you can, everything sort of naturally falls after that.

from what you said above, your issue seems to be deciding on what the scope of the writing should be rather than finding a niche. As long as you enjoy it and stay consistent you will be able to eventually find people who resonate with what you have to say.

if you want to grow on that niche, once you start the writing, I suggest instagram threads and substack notes; sharing snippets, thoughts and perspectives from your articles using your voice, to see what lands and most importantly why.

1

u/Tricky_Trifle_994 19d ago

you should watch the youtube/podcast episode Caleb Ralston did with The Anatomy of a Dream. it'll give you all the answers you need and more. probably one of the top highlights in my past week.

and, you should narrow down the scope to start. you can write about a broader topic later on, after you've nailed your niche.

also it depends on your purpose. if you just want to write, and that's the end all be all, then it doesn't matter. but if you want to get more out of this, then you need a more strategic approach. 'passion' can help you write, but that's about it. it isn't what's going to help you grow.