I agree with you and I miss blogging too. I don't know what can be done about it, I don't think we can singlehandedly bring blogging back. I knew substack would eventually try to emulate all kinds of social media platform - that seems to be the destiny of all platforms now. SHORT VIDEO FORMAT is inescapable.
I feel like each time we find a space on the internet we feel fits our needs and temperament we need to cherish it because it's so fleeting. Before you know it, it morphs into something else, something more unsavoury, full of empty calories and cheap thrills.
You’re totally right, some things are out of our control. A huge one that saddens me is how even Google SEO is broken now.
I do plan to continue sending a newsletter, just likely not using Substack. Then I can at least link to my site which I’m having a lot of fun building on and adding to! I really missed iterating on it, so this has been a positive sign for me already.
Outside of that, I agree video is inescapable, I even started posting on TikTok. But I feel like I’m fine with using social media for more “loud” sharing, I just don’t want my *writing* to be lost to it too.
Thank you! I probably should have clarified I still also plan to send email newsletters, just not through Substack. I'm thinking of switching to Buttondown, which is a very simple email platform. It actually charges money, but I kind of like that, because it means I'm paying for the service, rather than the service trying all kinds of wacko ways to make money.
Yup, I’ve been feeling the same. Thank you for putting this out there. Substack suddenly is just too many things for too many people. No more “a small pond of some fish” they decided I guess!
I share your sentiment that the platforms push writing in a certain direction that drives engagement and monetization. I miss the days when people had all sorts of blogs hosted on different platforms.
Yessss, yes. Not "the power of consistency." Rather: power IS consistency. Goes by other guises — integrity, discipline, character. Too often — almost always — destroyed in the pursuit of . . . money? "Competitiveness"? Is there a silicon Trader Joe's — a startup that never lost itself in expansion?
Thank you for the provocation! And well done on all the deserved attention and acclaim. 🔥
It’s refreshing to read a more negative take on Substack. I too feel that it has changed, although my experience is still positive. Sad to see you go though.
It’s awesome that you’re getting something positive from it, I know many folks are getting a lot of value from this place
I just personally am finding it too distracting, so need to make a change. I’m not sure shifting away it’s the right move but I feel like it’s an investment in the kind of writing and work I want to do—more time writing books (hopefully), building unique experiences on the web, etc. and less time playing catchup to the platform and Notes
I agree with you and I miss blogging too. I don't know what can be done about it, I don't think we can singlehandedly bring blogging back. I knew substack would eventually try to emulate all kinds of social media platform - that seems to be the destiny of all platforms now. SHORT VIDEO FORMAT is inescapable.
I feel like each time we find a space on the internet we feel fits our needs and temperament we need to cherish it because it's so fleeting. Before you know it, it morphs into something else, something more unsavoury, full of empty calories and cheap thrills.
You’re totally right, some things are out of our control. A huge one that saddens me is how even Google SEO is broken now.
I do plan to continue sending a newsletter, just likely not using Substack. Then I can at least link to my site which I’m having a lot of fun building on and adding to! I really missed iterating on it, so this has been a positive sign for me already.
Outside of that, I agree video is inescapable, I even started posting on TikTok. But I feel like I’m fine with using social media for more “loud” sharing, I just don’t want my *writing* to be lost to it too.
I love this. Good for you! I’m one of the handful who still uses an rss reader (even for Substack), so I’ll read wherever you write!
Thank you! I probably should have clarified I still also plan to send email newsletters, just not through Substack. I'm thinking of switching to Buttondown, which is a very simple email platform. It actually charges money, but I kind of like that, because it means I'm paying for the service, rather than the service trying all kinds of wacko ways to make money.
Yup, I’ve been feeling the same. Thank you for putting this out there. Substack suddenly is just too many things for too many people. No more “a small pond of some fish” they decided I guess!
I share your sentiment that the platforms push writing in a certain direction that drives engagement and monetization. I miss the days when people had all sorts of blogs hosted on different platforms.
Yessss, yes. Not "the power of consistency." Rather: power IS consistency. Goes by other guises — integrity, discipline, character. Too often — almost always — destroyed in the pursuit of . . . money? "Competitiveness"? Is there a silicon Trader Joe's — a startup that never lost itself in expansion?
Thank you for the provocation! And well done on all the deserved attention and acclaim. 🔥
It’s refreshing to read a more negative take on Substack. I too feel that it has changed, although my experience is still positive. Sad to see you go though.
It’s awesome that you’re getting something positive from it, I know many folks are getting a lot of value from this place
I just personally am finding it too distracting, so need to make a change. I’m not sure shifting away it’s the right move but I feel like it’s an investment in the kind of writing and work I want to do—more time writing books (hopefully), building unique experiences on the web, etc. and less time playing catchup to the platform and Notes