As someone trying to write about personal experiences and really struggling to do so, I needed to read this. Expressing emotions has always been a harder task for me than it seems to be for most, so this was helpful to understand the value of doing so. Thank you. I hope this piece helps to improve my work in future :)
I've been writing short stories based on real life events, fiction, AI, mythology, beliefs, and politics since Dec 2021 and have 161 posts to date. I have 49 subscribers and an average of 90 views per lost to date. I just write on any idea or memory that pops up in my mind.
I’ve published so much over the course of my life that the game of fishing for subscribers here holds absolutely no interest for me. I write to help myself think. When I share what I write, if it helps others, I’m glad for it. But writing to get others’ attention is no longer my motivation. I’m glad to discover you writing here
I write for pleasure too and am not seeking to become famous and rich through subscriptions and pledges. Not even a cuppa coffee. Digging into my memory and creating stories out of whatever is hiding in there serves to fulfil my passion for writing in the evening of my life.
“what will resonate?” Such a great question - there are so many writers who write for all sorts or reasons. Also - who would it relate to? my other questions would be - what are you writing for? and for whom? My grey cells started ticking over after reading this. It has certainly stirred some questions in me for my own writing moving forward and what makes me interested or attracted to other writers. Thank you
I remember the day I opened my Substack account. I came here to find myself, because I was drowning on other social media...mainly X and medium. I have been building on medium for a year now.
But I met a different community here, so I started asking questions.
How do I send newsletters that hit?
How do I make use of my subscribers chat?
My mentor just told me to go F*ck around and find out...I guess I can say that's where I'm currently.
I'll try my best to imbibe what you said into my writing-the emotion, the resonance part.
This post aligns with a book I'm reading called "Made to Stick", although you've distilled it down to a much more bite-sized version! I appreciate that, Ben!
I also find it fascinating when the Universe sends me the same message in different versions. It means I need to pay attention!
I write about personal experiences, especially about the recent loss of my father, as well as some traumatic childhood experiences and things I've learned along the way. I'm certain I have undiagnosed ADHD, so I have no attention span to follow formulas or "things that will work." I can't focus long enough to figure those things out so I just write from the heart. The only reason I have 90 percent of my subscribers is because one day I got fed up with the algorithm of Substack and complained about it and that post went viral. It was seen by 33k people. Just because I complained. Lol. Anyway, the point is I write my heart out, but still feel unseen on this platform. That won't deter me by any means, but I do feel that if your voice doesn't get pushed out there by the unseen gods of Substack, even if you write the most raw and real posts, you won't get seen. Just my two cents. 🙄👋😁
Duly noted…but I would say that your “complaint note” hit an emotional nerve…that’s probably why it went viral. You put words to what many people were already feeling…this are things that resonate deeply
So many discussion starters in this piece. I esp like your take on originality. It reminds me of the idea of voice in music.
Some musicians & vocalists have such pure, original tones that even those of us without a trained ear can remember their particular version while being subjected to elevator muzak.
“But the longer I followed that path, the more something began to feel off. My writing was sharp, but hollow. Structured, but forgettable. The metrics were fine, but the work had no weight.” YEP, you nailed that feeling exactly
LOVE this ... so SOUL WEARY from all the 'recreate what works' hype.... I mean ... what about the future of originality and creativity? Doesn't the 'search for the popular, and remake it as your own" brain-pulp advice ultimately lead to a creativity singularity?
It sounds like you’ve really started to figure this thing out now. Congratulations.
There is no class that can help you. No formula that works for everyone.
I offer my readers and my clients personal editing services. This concept was very popular before the age of the internet. Writers understood that every good writer stands in front of a fantastic editor.
A good editor will ask you what you are looking for. Are you looking for someone to proofread and correct errors only? Are you looking for someone to do that, as well as make suggestions? Are you looking for someone who will begin with you on page one, and spend the time helping you to carve out your voice, to help you find your truth and use it to create better writing, evolve your voice, and be who you are and who you want to be on your path to getting paid?
I did editing work at each of these levels. The truth is that, despite some of those options sounding better than another doesn’t mean it’s the choice for you.
Each style of editing is valid, and had its place. And, there are no courses that can teach you what a good editor can.
Everything I do well in life I've done through intuition, from cooking, to dancing, to teaching, to meditation. I've never been inclined to follow how-tos, or use formulas. This goes for writing as well. I write the way I write. And granted it's changed much over the past 35 years, but it's always come from me, never because an external voice said, "this is how you should do it". If my writing resonates, then I've done what I intended to do, but if writing means I have to follow some formula and churn out the same kind of thing every time, well that sounds like Hell, and I'd rather find something else to spend my time on. Honestly, if I wasn't writing to make people feel, and to reach inside their hearts, then I wouldn't care to write.
As someone trying to write about personal experiences and really struggling to do so, I needed to read this. Expressing emotions has always been a harder task for me than it seems to be for most, so this was helpful to understand the value of doing so. Thank you. I hope this piece helps to improve my work in future :)
I do hope so as well :)
I've been writing short stories based on real life events, fiction, AI, mythology, beliefs, and politics since Dec 2021 and have 161 posts to date. I have 49 subscribers and an average of 90 views per lost to date. I just write on any idea or memory that pops up in my mind.
You’ve got 50 subscribers now, @fazli sameer
Thank you. Every single one matters.
I’ve published so much over the course of my life that the game of fishing for subscribers here holds absolutely no interest for me. I write to help myself think. When I share what I write, if it helps others, I’m glad for it. But writing to get others’ attention is no longer my motivation. I’m glad to discover you writing here
I write for pleasure too and am not seeking to become famous and rich through subscriptions and pledges. Not even a cuppa coffee. Digging into my memory and creating stories out of whatever is hiding in there serves to fulfil my passion for writing in the evening of my life.
How delightful to hear we share this intention.
This was helpful and thought-provoking. Would love to hear more about limbic resonance in writing.
“what will resonate?” Such a great question - there are so many writers who write for all sorts or reasons. Also - who would it relate to? my other questions would be - what are you writing for? and for whom? My grey cells started ticking over after reading this. It has certainly stirred some questions in me for my own writing moving forward and what makes me interested or attracted to other writers. Thank you
Yes. I am convinced that we need to ask ourselves better questions
I remember the day I opened my Substack account. I came here to find myself, because I was drowning on other social media...mainly X and medium. I have been building on medium for a year now.
But I met a different community here, so I started asking questions.
How do I send newsletters that hit?
How do I make use of my subscribers chat?
My mentor just told me to go F*ck around and find out...I guess I can say that's where I'm currently.
I'll try my best to imbibe what you said into my writing-the emotion, the resonance part.
Thanks for this post, I just love it.
Thanks and I think your mentor was pretty spot on. I always say the first six months is for you, not your audience
Right?
That's true.
I am still finding my audience.
This is one of those rare posts which every writer should come back to time and time again.
Appreciate that Abhi🙏
This post aligns with a book I'm reading called "Made to Stick", although you've distilled it down to a much more bite-sized version! I appreciate that, Ben!
I also find it fascinating when the Universe sends me the same message in different versions. It means I need to pay attention!
Those synchronicities seem to be signaling something 😀👍🏻
I write about personal experiences, especially about the recent loss of my father, as well as some traumatic childhood experiences and things I've learned along the way. I'm certain I have undiagnosed ADHD, so I have no attention span to follow formulas or "things that will work." I can't focus long enough to figure those things out so I just write from the heart. The only reason I have 90 percent of my subscribers is because one day I got fed up with the algorithm of Substack and complained about it and that post went viral. It was seen by 33k people. Just because I complained. Lol. Anyway, the point is I write my heart out, but still feel unseen on this platform. That won't deter me by any means, but I do feel that if your voice doesn't get pushed out there by the unseen gods of Substack, even if you write the most raw and real posts, you won't get seen. Just my two cents. 🙄👋😁
Duly noted…but I would say that your “complaint note” hit an emotional nerve…that’s probably why it went viral. You put words to what many people were already feeling…this are things that resonate deeply
So many discussion starters in this piece. I esp like your take on originality. It reminds me of the idea of voice in music.
Some musicians & vocalists have such pure, original tones that even those of us without a trained ear can remember their particular version while being subjected to elevator muzak.
“But the longer I followed that path, the more something began to feel off. My writing was sharp, but hollow. Structured, but forgettable. The metrics were fine, but the work had no weight.” YEP, you nailed that feeling exactly
LOVE this ... so SOUL WEARY from all the 'recreate what works' hype.... I mean ... what about the future of originality and creativity? Doesn't the 'search for the popular, and remake it as your own" brain-pulp advice ultimately lead to a creativity singularity?
Such a Masterpiece!
It sounds like you’ve really started to figure this thing out now. Congratulations.
There is no class that can help you. No formula that works for everyone.
I offer my readers and my clients personal editing services. This concept was very popular before the age of the internet. Writers understood that every good writer stands in front of a fantastic editor.
A good editor will ask you what you are looking for. Are you looking for someone to proofread and correct errors only? Are you looking for someone to do that, as well as make suggestions? Are you looking for someone who will begin with you on page one, and spend the time helping you to carve out your voice, to help you find your truth and use it to create better writing, evolve your voice, and be who you are and who you want to be on your path to getting paid?
I did editing work at each of these levels. The truth is that, despite some of those options sounding better than another doesn’t mean it’s the choice for you.
Each style of editing is valid, and had its place. And, there are no courses that can teach you what a good editor can.
I write only for my favourite reader: me
Such a great read.
Everything I do well in life I've done through intuition, from cooking, to dancing, to teaching, to meditation. I've never been inclined to follow how-tos, or use formulas. This goes for writing as well. I write the way I write. And granted it's changed much over the past 35 years, but it's always come from me, never because an external voice said, "this is how you should do it". If my writing resonates, then I've done what I intended to do, but if writing means I have to follow some formula and churn out the same kind of thing every time, well that sounds like Hell, and I'd rather find something else to spend my time on. Honestly, if I wasn't writing to make people feel, and to reach inside their hearts, then I wouldn't care to write.