Substack Go

In February of 2022, I participated in Substack Go. Several hundred Substackers were gathered into small groups of 8 or less. We attended a weekly, themed Zoom call (for 4 weeks total) which were made up of breakout sessions to enhance the optional workshop-like tasks. Depending on your familiarity with Substack, these tasks were either mundane or highly thought-provoking.

We covered everything from creating a compelling About page to how best to interact with subscribers. Since there are many different types of Substacks out there, the event wasn’t designed to benefit any specific category, therefore as a fiction writer I didn’t get a tailored experience.

I’ve tried Wattpad, Medium, Royal Road, and many other sites over the years and they each have their advantages and drawbacks. I’ve gravitated to Substack for a reason, and it may not be the best place for fiction writers currently but that doesn’t mean it can’t be in the future. We’re seeing a shift in the tides when it comes to controlling and monetizing our own work. Just like YouTube enabled the shift in monetizing video, I believe Substack is paving the way for writers to deliver interesting new ways of interacting with readers and fans.

I’d like to explore how Substack has enabled me as a fiction writer to create my own path, the inherent limitations, and the exciting possibilities for the future below. Please consider joining as a member, I’d love to hear from you and what your experience has been like reading and writing on Substack.

Becoming an XPress member means you’ll get access to the following:

• Exclusive original fiction and immersive audio stories

• Private Discord

• Gift Shop discount code

• Extra newsletter each month like this one

• Enhanced fiction submission experience

• Monthly Tele-Prompt writing event

• Our undying gratitude for your support!