Hi Linda, reading your stuff makes me curious about substack open rates. I read that the norm is 20 to 25%. Four posts in and I'm getting 70 to 80%. Should I be joyous or am I missing something ? I#d value your opinion, ........ even if it's brutal.
I'm with you on this one. I distinguish between "prescriptive" and "descriptive." It's the difference between "I'm anxious" and "Here's how to fix being anxious." A lot of ready-made answers appear on Medium.
Titles remain a problem for me. I need to take a "Fix your title" course, and one of these days, I'd like to write a piece for your woman's history pub. If my title stinks, I know you'll tell me.
I did just have my first "boost," and I was excited... more so than I thought I'd be, but that might be it for a long while. I will, though, make sure not to do your cardinal sins.
Ah, Jill -- one never knows. When I first got boosted there wasn't another for a while. But then there was more. I am really noticing that the ones that are more personal storytelling than factual information are more likely to get that boost.
As for the history pub -- man oh man, if you can think of a way to make history relevant to women today, those are the ones that get boosted. The ones that read like a chapter in a history book never do. And if you can do that -- I will help with every title. lol.
Ok, Linda, here's a tough question: do you consider Pat Summit to be a significant figure in Women's Sports? She was the most winning coach, the most fearless leader, battled Alzheimer at the end I think. I have been wanting to dig into her story--what made her her, how she coached, etc.... Does this fit within the category of women in history?
Wow, Martin. Usually when I see a post with 2K claps I assume it's been boosted. I've already used up my nominations for June but I know there are other nominators who read my Substack so just letting them know I have no nominations left for the month. :)
lol, well last month I'd have grabbed that because I finished the month 2 nominations short of my quota. Around half of nominators don't find their quota every month, so someone may see it and grab. If not, tomorrow is a new month. lol
I’m with you on these! Here are a couple of others that will get an automatic “No” from me:
•Doom porn. Don’t bring me a problem unless you’ve also go a solution.
• Purple prose. I like playing with language, but all things in moderation!
• Excessive sub headers, italics, etc. A well formatted piece goes a long way... as long as it’s done right.
•Not using your own voice. That includes formulaic writing that reads like cardboard or anything with AI.
Lastly, my biggest pet peeve is one you already covered; the Linkapalooza. A piece can check every box, but if it’s got a string of classified ads I’m out.
Meta posts are when people write about a platform on that same platform. Like writing about Medium on Medium or writing LinkedIn success tips on LinkedIn. :)
lol, I read one where the author said omg I am new and I double my views in the first week. So I couldn't resist. And he did. Went from 5 views to 10. Sigh.
Thank you for sharing your pet peeves! I’m glad I don’t trigger any of them lol. Typos also turn me away from a story. It just disrupts your reading rhythm. It’s funny how everyone recommends doing How-Tos to build your audience but I’m finding that it does the opposite effect?
Lol I actually wrote a how-to article for writing dialogue and didn’t get a lot of attention. I should probably change it, see if it makes a difference.
Yup, maybe if you turn the focus around and say this is what helped you, that might make a difference. I did a similar thing last year. Wrote some tips on writing faster and it tanked. So I rewrote it as how a slowpoke like me learned to write a bit faster and it did better.
I sooo despise #3! I love that you state these people are trying to impress not express. So true. They are not writing for a large audience.
#5 is the absolute worst!!!! I co-authored a book with a local author (who has published “over 50 books”) and your advice here: look it over carefully several times (at least 3!) I gave him as instruction for posting and commenting on our book’s Facebook page - the amount of spelling and grammar errors on his posts and responses on another of his book’s facebook pages is just cringy and atrocious!!! If you are a writer and can’t form a proper sentence- nope, I’m not going to buy or read anything you have published.
His writing for the book was just as bad. I had to do some major editing in each of the sections he wrote. It became very clear why most of his published works had been co-written.
Hi Linda, reading your stuff makes me curious about substack open rates. I read that the norm is 20 to 25%. Four posts in and I'm getting 70 to 80%. Should I be joyous or am I missing something ? I#d value your opinion, ........ even if it's brutal.
Peace, Maurice
You should be very proud. Well done!!
I'm with you on this one. I distinguish between "prescriptive" and "descriptive." It's the difference between "I'm anxious" and "Here's how to fix being anxious." A lot of ready-made answers appear on Medium.
Titles remain a problem for me. I need to take a "Fix your title" course, and one of these days, I'd like to write a piece for your woman's history pub. If my title stinks, I know you'll tell me.
I did just have my first "boost," and I was excited... more so than I thought I'd be, but that might be it for a long while. I will, though, make sure not to do your cardinal sins.
Ah, Jill -- one never knows. When I first got boosted there wasn't another for a while. But then there was more. I am really noticing that the ones that are more personal storytelling than factual information are more likely to get that boost.
As for the history pub -- man oh man, if you can think of a way to make history relevant to women today, those are the ones that get boosted. The ones that read like a chapter in a history book never do. And if you can do that -- I will help with every title. lol.
Ok, Linda, here's a tough question: do you consider Pat Summit to be a significant figure in Women's Sports? She was the most winning coach, the most fearless leader, battled Alzheimer at the end I think. I have been wanting to dig into her story--what made her her, how she coached, etc.... Does this fit within the category of women in history?
Once again, Ms. Carroll, your writing-for-Medium (and honestly, writing in general) advice is golden.
Thanks, Jan, that's really nice of you. :)
You might find this piece worth boosting. It’s doing pretty well on its own but I’m sharing because I think it fits your criteria: https://martinedic.medium.com/a-huge-part-of-the-country-is-no-longer-safe-to-live-in-6ae92234c4f9
Wow, Martin. Usually when I see a post with 2K claps I assume it's been boosted. I've already used up my nominations for June but I know there are other nominators who read my Substack so just letting them know I have no nominations left for the month. :)
Thanks Linda. I don’t pay too much attention to claps so I had no idea. I guess sharing it on the last day of the month was not a great idea! M
lol, well last month I'd have grabbed that because I finished the month 2 nominations short of my quota. Around half of nominators don't find their quota every month, so someone may see it and grab. If not, tomorrow is a new month. lol
I’m with you on these! Here are a couple of others that will get an automatic “No” from me:
•Doom porn. Don’t bring me a problem unless you’ve also go a solution.
• Purple prose. I like playing with language, but all things in moderation!
• Excessive sub headers, italics, etc. A well formatted piece goes a long way... as long as it’s done right.
•Not using your own voice. That includes formulaic writing that reads like cardboard or anything with AI.
Lastly, my biggest pet peeve is one you already covered; the Linkapalooza. A piece can check every box, but if it’s got a string of classified ads I’m out.
Yup, those are good ones, Kevin. Really good ones.
Thank you for the advice on what to avoid writing about! I love that my publication covers none of these things! 😃
https://substack.com/@chandrahardy
Right? Me, too. I have 2 active publications and one that needs to have life breathed back into it and none of them cover those.
I love your publication that honors women in this woman-hating era. Thank you. 🙏
Well thank you! :)
Thanks. I clicked the heart.
Thank you, that's really sweet of you. I appreciate it. :)
I love the admissions in this post. Honesty is what keeps me reading. Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by ‘meta’ posts?
Meta posts are when people write about a platform on that same platform. Like writing about Medium on Medium or writing LinkedIn success tips on LinkedIn. :)
YES!!!!!!
I don't like titles with subtitles that say "Follow me exactly!" Then there are screenshots of income...$500 a month.
Making $500 a month isn't bad. It's the writer's arrogance that turns me off.
Linda
lol, I read one where the author said omg I am new and I double my views in the first week. So I couldn't resist. And he did. Went from 5 views to 10. Sigh.
Mercy. Next will be the"expert 's" 10 steps to double your views.
Sheesh!
Thank you for sharing your pet peeves! I’m glad I don’t trigger any of them lol. Typos also turn me away from a story. It just disrupts your reading rhythm. It’s funny how everyone recommends doing How-Tos to build your audience but I’m finding that it does the opposite effect?
I agree, for me, how-to posts send me running for the hills.
Lol I actually wrote a how-to article for writing dialogue and didn’t get a lot of attention. I should probably change it, see if it makes a difference.
Yup, maybe if you turn the focus around and say this is what helped you, that might make a difference. I did a similar thing last year. Wrote some tips on writing faster and it tanked. So I rewrote it as how a slowpoke like me learned to write a bit faster and it did better.
Thank you so much for the advice! It’s really helpful!
You're very welcome! :)
I agree 100% on all of this!!
I sooo despise #3! I love that you state these people are trying to impress not express. So true. They are not writing for a large audience.
#5 is the absolute worst!!!! I co-authored a book with a local author (who has published “over 50 books”) and your advice here: look it over carefully several times (at least 3!) I gave him as instruction for posting and commenting on our book’s Facebook page - the amount of spelling and grammar errors on his posts and responses on another of his book’s facebook pages is just cringy and atrocious!!! If you are a writer and can’t form a proper sentence- nope, I’m not going to buy or read anything you have published.
I have run across a few of those, too. lol
His writing for the book was just as bad. I had to do some major editing in each of the sections he wrote. It became very clear why most of his published works had been co-written.
Yup -- somehow I'm not surprised.
"It feels great to be able to help writers get more views."
You've earned a place in heaven for this, Linda. xox