Dear Substack
This is fun, but...
First of all, this is great.
A platform that allows writers and readers to gather in one place, with no charge for entry? Brilliant.
Substack feels like those worldly coffee shops of old, where people would gather to discuss current events, catch up with old friends, or plot world takeovers. Just imagine..anarchy before lunch!
Within this past month alone, I’ve discovered an interest in flash fiction, horror (the non-paranormal kind), and spreading sunshine (and possibly annoyance) by commenting on notes and articles that I’ve enjoyed.
Yet…
I wonder about the sustainability of this crazy, wonderful place being built and rebuilt every day.
I’ve only written weekly fictional serials on this platform for roughly five months. Compared to many who have published to Substack for years, I’m Just Here for BOOKS is a baby stack; all uncoordinated limbs, goofy smiles, and a couple of real stinkers.
I’m learning things accidentally on purpose (Oh! That box in the corner is for archiving?), while figuring out how serialization works, and learning how to record an audio serial podcast. It’s simultaneously giving 1920s and 2020s.1
Yes, it’s a lot of work—make no mistake about it—but, I’m happy to do it. And, I plan to go on publishing my serials here into the foreseeable future.
I just wonder how Substack will continue supporting writers, who like me, keep an infinitesimal number of free subscribers entertained (I hope!), without generating revenue.
Don’t get me wrong!
Substack’s ‘If you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid’ model works a treat. I just worry that someone will someday realize little old me is using up a lot of resources, without drawing in paying subscribers, and flip the switch.
You know, the big red switch that says, why don’t we charge creators a negligible amount to host their newsletters?
After all, how many corporations can we list who have gone from great to being evil? I’m not saying Substack is or will be one of them, but should they decide a different path forward, it would leave many creators scrambling to shift gears.
Then, what do we do?
The takeaway…
In perusing a number of Substack articles on the subject, the general consensus seems to be, Substack is the best landing space for what most creators want to do—at least for now.
I hope it remains that way, and continues looking for ways to make itself a better place. A sort of, free, online world cultural center is a cool gambit. A meeting place of humanity—albeit, the humanity that can afford to publish on the internet despite the cost of time, electricity, internet, and hardware.
Little old me would be quite happy with that indeed.
Until Next Time,
Bon Appétit!
EB
Not that I have the audacity or talent to try something like a one woman radio drama, but it’s surprising how far we have come and what we’ve fallen back on. 100 years ago, some of our relatives were crowded around the radio at night, listening to someone narrate or perform a serial. Wild.
Substack feels like a true creative café. 🙏🤗✌️