This is a very interesting topic that I often think and write about, and I just published a post about it myself yesterday (sorry for the self-promotion 🫣). I think the key here is finding the balance in creating out of your passion and getting it on the market. In my humble opinion and from my experience, this is not easy, but it is possible!
A few of us here talk about this all the time. It's very clear what "sells," and it's rarely the stuff that moves me to tears or leaves a lasting impression. Not that it's not important, or that I don't enjoy writing it, but if I'm honest, I want to write fantasy and horror and speculative fiction . . . But my audience wants growth hacks. The balance I'm attempting to strike is having my non-fiction self-development pub--which occasionally gets meta about Substack--and which grows with minimal effort, and my personal essays/fiction/magic pub which, just like you say, Veronica, is growing slowly. This way, I get to scratch both itches--doing what I love the most AND making money.
As an aside, I have largely stopped following and reading the posts and pubs that talk about commercializing our writing, but that's not what either of your pubs ever feel like to me. That's because I can FEEL the humanity, or the passion, as you call it here. It's a rare and wonderful combo, so kudos to you both!
I think this is a good solution for the people who have multiple diverging interests. I also have a second publication with topics unrelated to this letter. 😀
Thank you, Jennie and I'm with you. I stopped following creators who only write about Substack and have engagement boosts.
My strategy is to keep a balance. I write a lot about my journey (publishing books, speaking in public, etc) but focus the monetization part on webinars that are more actionable and targeted for growth. I'm always trying new things but I don't want to become someone who is a platform's agent. It's hard to strike a balance.
When I read other's articles, I can really feel their passion shining through and feel compelled to keep on reading. If I see their work pop into my emails or up on the Substack app, I get excited to read the work.
Veronica (and Benjamin!) do a really good job of letting the passion shine through their words and always add value to the reader.
I don't get the same internal response when someone is clearly trying to 'sell' something because they are not leading with a mindset driven from passion.
When I sat down this morning to finish off my article, I wrote in my journal and asked myself if I was leading with passion and adding value to my reader - it felt so good to then sit down and write.
Thanks Veronica (and Benjamin) for another great read!
And there's the rub... I have been contemplating this contradiction too. At first I thought Substack was a Writer's Paradise. Then I saw the amount of pyramid-scheme style monetisation some big names make from their fans (like celebrities selling their merch to their fans). I wanted to create art but I also wanted to be able to afford to buy a laptop and pay my rent. What is a creative to do in this economy? Sell out for monetisation? Or remain stuck in an old purity "high art" mindset that's obsolete? Veronica has found the golden midway. The path to do both and stay honest. I like this down-to-earth approach. You can keep your artistic integrity and make some money, above board always, and there's nothing wrong with that. Kudos to you! Cheers! Thanks for this article.
Thank you for this. I didn't know how it was going to land but I know where it comes from: a place of authenticity and human struggle.
I'm still trying to define what balance looks like for me and I hope this helps normalize the conversation around creativity vs commercialization. We have to remove the shame too that often comes with monetizing our work.
A great read. This is similar to what I want to achieve for the Aspergian Journal, to give encouragement to autistic people to change or reinvent their lives for greatness, as well as being an inspiration or a leading voice on matters and to people of the autistic spectrum.
My boss back in London used to tell me that his success in business was word of mouth: when happy customers recommended the business to their friends. I often think of that.
My business has relied on Word of mouth marketing since it launched in 2006. I’ve always held to the mantra “if you look after the clients, the dollars will look after themselves.” It doesn’t mean there won’t be a few dry times, but dry times end and then the rains come.
I believe it's an option by default. If anyone believes that my work is worth sharing with a wider audience, they're welcome to do it. Thank you for highlighting this 'issue' for me last night. I looked into it.
I should follow my own advice. I do, although I don't have any, none, zero of my out of Substack world friends here (but I exist outside of here, too). I know, emailing my friends would open up the possibility to be seen by their friends and acquaintances, but 1) I don't like to ask favors 2) If I get visible, I want to be visible but not recognized for that other self I lived so far 3) I want to succeed by my own merits 4) friends and everyone else prioritize their own lives over other's success. Selflessness is present but hits a certain point when they'll put your 'issue' aside to deal with their own and then it gets forgotten or pushed away once, twice, three times, until it gets forgotten and it's fine. I just have to learn that I have to be my own biggest cheerleader as everyone else is busy with their own lives. I need to be consistent and seen, shameless in promoting myself on other people's walls, because sitting in the corner talking to myself won't get even the greatest idea through to wide open spaces where there might be someone or someones craving the very thing I have to say.
That balance is very interesting and by framing what works beside our 'why', you present important questions designed to keep us on track. It's a cliché for everyone to live through their passion, but somewhere in that pursuit they lose part of their identity by promoting the platform or following only the metrics. As an inflection point, I think it is really easy to miss when the balance shifts and that is a key part to sustaining the interest and passion that got us started in the first place.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Malick and I totally agree with you. Finding that balance is so hard but at the same time, it’s not realistic to expect to live just out of passion.
We all need to find that sweespot where we are able to mix passion with value for others.
This is a very interesting topic that I often think and write about, and I just published a post about it myself yesterday (sorry for the self-promotion 🫣). I think the key here is finding the balance in creating out of your passion and getting it on the market. In my humble opinion and from my experience, this is not easy, but it is possible!
Thank you for sharing, Nina and that's exactly the balance I'm trying to strike.
It's not easy but I think we can each create our own formula that allows us to stay true to our passion all while making some money out of our work.
Yes I agree. It’s all about finding a balance that feels right for you. That will look different for everyone
Yup.
A few of us here talk about this all the time. It's very clear what "sells," and it's rarely the stuff that moves me to tears or leaves a lasting impression. Not that it's not important, or that I don't enjoy writing it, but if I'm honest, I want to write fantasy and horror and speculative fiction . . . But my audience wants growth hacks. The balance I'm attempting to strike is having my non-fiction self-development pub--which occasionally gets meta about Substack--and which grows with minimal effort, and my personal essays/fiction/magic pub which, just like you say, Veronica, is growing slowly. This way, I get to scratch both itches--doing what I love the most AND making money.
As an aside, I have largely stopped following and reading the posts and pubs that talk about commercializing our writing, but that's not what either of your pubs ever feel like to me. That's because I can FEEL the humanity, or the passion, as you call it here. It's a rare and wonderful combo, so kudos to you both!
I think this is a good solution for the people who have multiple diverging interests. I also have a second publication with topics unrelated to this letter. 😀
Thank you, Jennie and I'm with you. I stopped following creators who only write about Substack and have engagement boosts.
My strategy is to keep a balance. I write a lot about my journey (publishing books, speaking in public, etc) but focus the monetization part on webinars that are more actionable and targeted for growth. I'm always trying new things but I don't want to become someone who is a platform's agent. It's hard to strike a balance.
I really appreciate you and your nice words ❤️
When I read other's articles, I can really feel their passion shining through and feel compelled to keep on reading. If I see their work pop into my emails or up on the Substack app, I get excited to read the work.
Veronica (and Benjamin!) do a really good job of letting the passion shine through their words and always add value to the reader.
I don't get the same internal response when someone is clearly trying to 'sell' something because they are not leading with a mindset driven from passion.
When I sat down this morning to finish off my article, I wrote in my journal and asked myself if I was leading with passion and adding value to my reader - it felt so good to then sit down and write.
Thanks Veronica (and Benjamin) for another great read!
Thank you Tom!
Echoing what Benjamin is saying, I'm really touched by your words.
It's wonderful when you can turn your passion into value for others. That's the goal!
Wow Tom. Thank you for your generosity with this comment. That really means a lot. And what a great journaling prompt. Thanks for sharing
And there's the rub... I have been contemplating this contradiction too. At first I thought Substack was a Writer's Paradise. Then I saw the amount of pyramid-scheme style monetisation some big names make from their fans (like celebrities selling their merch to their fans). I wanted to create art but I also wanted to be able to afford to buy a laptop and pay my rent. What is a creative to do in this economy? Sell out for monetisation? Or remain stuck in an old purity "high art" mindset that's obsolete? Veronica has found the golden midway. The path to do both and stay honest. I like this down-to-earth approach. You can keep your artistic integrity and make some money, above board always, and there's nothing wrong with that. Kudos to you! Cheers! Thanks for this article.
Hi Yvette,
Thank you for this. I didn't know how it was going to land but I know where it comes from: a place of authenticity and human struggle.
I'm still trying to define what balance looks like for me and I hope this helps normalize the conversation around creativity vs commercialization. We have to remove the shame too that often comes with monetizing our work.
Good luck with your own journey!
Yes exactly. I think there is a middle ground that is built on authenticity, connection and community 😀
A great read. This is similar to what I want to achieve for the Aspergian Journal, to give encouragement to autistic people to change or reinvent their lives for greatness, as well as being an inspiration or a leading voice on matters and to people of the autistic spectrum.
That's such a great topic, Connor, and one where you can really merge passion and expertise to add value and monetize your work.
Good luck and thank you for your kind words!
Thank you, Veronica.
That’s great goal to have Connor. It all stays with a single step forward😀
My boss back in London used to tell me that his success in business was word of mouth: when happy customers recommended the business to their friends. I often think of that.
It still holds true today. Even with digital online businesses. Word of mouth is important
My business has relied on Word of mouth marketing since it launched in 2006. I’ve always held to the mantra “if you look after the clients, the dollars will look after themselves.” It doesn’t mean there won’t be a few dry times, but dry times end and then the rains come.
That's the best way to grow and the most authentic: do a good job and let others recommend you.
I believe it's an option by default. If anyone believes that my work is worth sharing with a wider audience, they're welcome to do it. Thank you for highlighting this 'issue' for me last night. I looked into it.
Thanks. I’ll look into that tomorrow. :) Now ready to get some 💤. ;)
I should follow my own advice. I do, although I don't have any, none, zero of my out of Substack world friends here (but I exist outside of here, too). I know, emailing my friends would open up the possibility to be seen by their friends and acquaintances, but 1) I don't like to ask favors 2) If I get visible, I want to be visible but not recognized for that other self I lived so far 3) I want to succeed by my own merits 4) friends and everyone else prioritize their own lives over other's success. Selflessness is present but hits a certain point when they'll put your 'issue' aside to deal with their own and then it gets forgotten or pushed away once, twice, three times, until it gets forgotten and it's fine. I just have to learn that I have to be my own biggest cheerleader as everyone else is busy with their own lives. I need to be consistent and seen, shameless in promoting myself on other people's walls, because sitting in the corner talking to myself won't get even the greatest idea through to wide open spaces where there might be someone or someones craving the very thing I have to say.
That balance is very interesting and by framing what works beside our 'why', you present important questions designed to keep us on track. It's a cliché for everyone to live through their passion, but somewhere in that pursuit they lose part of their identity by promoting the platform or following only the metrics. As an inflection point, I think it is really easy to miss when the balance shifts and that is a key part to sustaining the interest and passion that got us started in the first place.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Malick and I totally agree with you. Finding that balance is so hard but at the same time, it’s not realistic to expect to live just out of passion.
We all need to find that sweespot where we are able to mix passion with value for others.
I’m still searching ;)
I'm going to have a seat at my own Godamn table and go get my "own" muthafucking French fries 🍟🍟🍟! Faction Guaranteed! No following:), Just leading.