I love this and your brain. I think it's actually pretty unique for a writer to have both the passion/motivation to write but also the business acumen to see where the holes are in the way of getting readers. You show us though how to be both. Thanks for being an inspiration!
I so appreciate the transparency here! I think it's one of Elle's greatest strengths as a journalist AND a fiction writer. As someone who spent many years working on the creative side of writing books but having no idea about the business, this kind of information is invaluable to those of us who need the little extra push to think of building our audience authentically but also in a professional way.
I’m so glad it’s helpful! Every time I post something like this I wonder if it’s only me that geeks out so hard on the strategy 🤓 But, strategy really helps me believe in my dreams, so it’s important to me!
Hey Elle! Thanks so much for openly sharing your plan, process and advice. I too have the dream of writing full time and have just made the decision to start working on that through Substack, so I’m still in that first phase of just getting into consistently writing and building up my free subscribers. I’m curious to know how you got those first 4000 subscribers? Have you perhaps written on that previously?
I’m also looking forward to reading more about your Utopian future - sounds like we have a few things in common!
Just had a read through, thank you for sharing! I’m intrigued by the idea of serialising your novel on Substack as I’ve heard of people doing this and am considering it as an option. I want to continue writing my newsletter (non-fiction social observation and commentary with a metaphysical slant) but am ready to get stuck into my first fiction novel (my dream since age 9!) My question is, are you hoping to use this method as a platform to get noticed and be picked up by a big publishing house, or is this your opt out of that system? Reason I ask is because I have already self published one non-fiction book (on healthy eating and mind/body relationship, along with recipes) and through that process I learnt that the biggest publisher in my country (South Africa) will not consider a book which has previously been self-published. Is it the same in US? Would this method of serialising your novel count as self-publication? Would love to know your thoughts and thank you so much for your time and expertise- seems you’re very knowledgeable on the industry (tbh that newsletter made my head spin, I’m a typical artist in that regard LOL!)
In the US, almost all publishing houses are ok with authors who self-publish first—at least if they are successful doing it. In fact, this often means the author comes with a built-in audience which is very important to publishing houses.
I would consider working with a traditional publishing house after my books are done serializing on Substack (only if the terms were extremely good and I retained ownership and creative control over my work), but never instead of doing that.
Substack is how I plan on earning a living as an author and I know that no traditional publishing contract could provide me with that level of income and control over my work. Still, there are some publishing houses that work solely with serially published authors. Aethon, for one, has helped Zogarth and Shirtaloon (two authors who earn $20,000/month writing fantasy on Patreon) distribute their work traditionally after they have published their stories (and earned money from them) on Patreon. Here are their stories if you want to learn more about that:
Elle has a lot of experience and the knowledge to give an honest perspective on self-publishing. I can add that my sales on Amazon over the past couple of years have been less than $500/year. Serial publication is likely the best course of action for any writer (irrespective of genre) whether signed or self published. Amazon also knows this and created Kindle Vella to start competing in the market. But no one understands how it should work yet, so it's a pioneering moment for writers and publishing outlets. Good luck! Follow Elle...
To go into a bit more detail: this is extremely useful. I'm in a similar position, albeit earlier on in the journey and with far fewer numbers. Free subscriber growth has been really positive, but conversions to paid are few and far between. The tips in the report you shared are very useful indeed.
Great tips. I've only recently started my Substack and not ready to consider adding a paid option yet, but I've wondered about how and when to do that (or if). Thanks for this. Oh, and I'm now a subscriber to your 'stack (free for now).
Yeah--agreed: love the honesty and upfront transparency! And also: thanks for breaking that all down. Very interesting and as a fellow SS writer I’m taking it all in! I thoroughly enjoy your writing, I must say. Clear, succinct, to the point.
Really great to know that Substack offers those resources to writers hoping to improve their business strategy (when the time comes...) Will definitely peruse those links later for some tips on improving my own presentation. Thanks and best of luck with your projects!
Thank you for sharing so generously Elle (as always)! I am such a fan of applying intentional strategy to creative pursuits. It's so empowering and takes away that throw-a-fistful-of-spaghetti-against-the-wall-and-cross-your-fingers-something-sticks feeling. Breaking it down into small, tactical steps makes it feel so much more possible.
Fascinating!! I’m relatively new here but decided to move my mailchimp monthly newsletter here and try out podcasting - it’s all just so available and exciting!
Glad to see the discussion regarding souping up your About Page. We talked about the importance of that at length during the September Fictionistas Zoom, so good to know we were on the right track!
Thanks Devon ☺️
Fascinating peek into the business of writing. Ive been thinking about this but didnt realize substack offers so much!! Thank you for this!
Glad it was helpful!
I love this and your brain. I think it's actually pretty unique for a writer to have both the passion/motivation to write but also the business acumen to see where the holes are in the way of getting readers. You show us though how to be both. Thanks for being an inspiration!
Well thank you! 🥰
I so appreciate the transparency here! I think it's one of Elle's greatest strengths as a journalist AND a fiction writer. As someone who spent many years working on the creative side of writing books but having no idea about the business, this kind of information is invaluable to those of us who need the little extra push to think of building our audience authentically but also in a professional way.
I’m so glad it’s helpful! Every time I post something like this I wonder if it’s only me that geeks out so hard on the strategy 🤓 But, strategy really helps me believe in my dreams, so it’s important to me!
Hey Elle! Thanks so much for openly sharing your plan, process and advice. I too have the dream of writing full time and have just made the decision to start working on that through Substack, so I’m still in that first phase of just getting into consistently writing and building up my free subscribers. I’m curious to know how you got those first 4000 subscribers? Have you perhaps written on that previously?
I’m also looking forward to reading more about your Utopian future - sounds like we have a few things in common!
Yes! This is probably the best essay about that: https://ellegriffin.substack.com/p/full-send-summer
Good luck in pursuit of the Substack dream! It’s a dream worth chasing in my opinion 🤓
Thanks Elle!
Just had a read through, thank you for sharing! I’m intrigued by the idea of serialising your novel on Substack as I’ve heard of people doing this and am considering it as an option. I want to continue writing my newsletter (non-fiction social observation and commentary with a metaphysical slant) but am ready to get stuck into my first fiction novel (my dream since age 9!) My question is, are you hoping to use this method as a platform to get noticed and be picked up by a big publishing house, or is this your opt out of that system? Reason I ask is because I have already self published one non-fiction book (on healthy eating and mind/body relationship, along with recipes) and through that process I learnt that the biggest publisher in my country (South Africa) will not consider a book which has previously been self-published. Is it the same in US? Would this method of serialising your novel count as self-publication? Would love to know your thoughts and thank you so much for your time and expertise- seems you’re very knowledgeable on the industry (tbh that newsletter made my head spin, I’m a typical artist in that regard LOL!)
In the US, almost all publishing houses are ok with authors who self-publish first—at least if they are successful doing it. In fact, this often means the author comes with a built-in audience which is very important to publishing houses.
I would consider working with a traditional publishing house after my books are done serializing on Substack (only if the terms were extremely good and I retained ownership and creative control over my work), but never instead of doing that.
Substack is how I plan on earning a living as an author and I know that no traditional publishing contract could provide me with that level of income and control over my work. Still, there are some publishing houses that work solely with serially published authors. Aethon, for one, has helped Zogarth and Shirtaloon (two authors who earn $20,000/month writing fantasy on Patreon) distribute their work traditionally after they have published their stories (and earned money from them) on Patreon. Here are their stories if you want to learn more about that:
https://ellegriffin.substack.com/p/zogarth
https://ellegriffin.substack.com/p/shirtaloon
Elle has a lot of experience and the knowledge to give an honest perspective on self-publishing. I can add that my sales on Amazon over the past couple of years have been less than $500/year. Serial publication is likely the best course of action for any writer (irrespective of genre) whether signed or self published. Amazon also knows this and created Kindle Vella to start competing in the market. But no one understands how it should work yet, so it's a pioneering moment for writers and publishing outlets. Good luck! Follow Elle...
Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective Teague!
I love that you’re pairing non-fiction with fiction.
Thanks!
Elle, stop melting my brain.
To go into a bit more detail: this is extremely useful. I'm in a similar position, albeit earlier on in the journey and with far fewer numbers. Free subscriber growth has been really positive, but conversions to paid are few and far between. The tips in the report you shared are very useful indeed.
I’m so glad, they were very useful to me too!
Great tips. I've only recently started my Substack and not ready to consider adding a paid option yet, but I've wondered about how and when to do that (or if). Thanks for this. Oh, and I'm now a subscriber to your 'stack (free for now).
Well thank you. And good luck!
Yeah--agreed: love the honesty and upfront transparency! And also: thanks for breaking that all down. Very interesting and as a fellow SS writer I’m taking it all in! I thoroughly enjoy your writing, I must say. Clear, succinct, to the point.
Thank you so much Michael!
Keep up the good work!
Really great to know that Substack offers those resources to writers hoping to improve their business strategy (when the time comes...) Will definitely peruse those links later for some tips on improving my own presentation. Thanks and best of luck with your projects!
Thanks J.M.!
Oh I wish I had a more strategic mind! Thanks so much for sharing these insights. So so helpful.
Thank you for sharing so generously Elle (as always)! I am such a fan of applying intentional strategy to creative pursuits. It's so empowering and takes away that throw-a-fistful-of-spaghetti-against-the-wall-and-cross-your-fingers-something-sticks feeling. Breaking it down into small, tactical steps makes it feel so much more possible.
I so agree!
Fascinating!! I’m relatively new here but decided to move my mailchimp monthly newsletter here and try out podcasting - it’s all just so available and exciting!
It’s soooo exciting. I switched from mailchimp too (tinyletter!) and this is a gamechanger!
I was feeling that too with one or two sign ups a week where as my mailchimp was like maybe one or two a month. Yay!!
Same!
Glad to see the discussion regarding souping up your About Page. We talked about the importance of that at length during the September Fictionistas Zoom, so good to know we were on the right track!
Thanks for sharing with Fictionistas, Elle. Enlightening, as always!
Go get ‘em, tiger. 🤓