My Slightly Scary Substack Plan for 2024
And why you might want to choose a star to follow too
Yesterday I was deep in the belly of a conundrum.
I had just attended
’s workshop on Substack planning for 20241. She had asked us to choose five goals for the year, and then to narrow these down to just one. This goal would become the star that guided us ⭐During the workshop I thought that I had chosen my star. I currently have 99 lovely Supporters (paid subscribers), and I wanted 300 by the end of the year. This made various parts of me2 happy - the part that loves money, the part that wants me to value my writing, the part that wants me to reduce my other work so I get more time to write.
I sat with it for a while, but something was niggling me, like when you sit on a dog toy by mistake and the discomfort only surfaces slowly3. It’s true that I do want to make a portion of my living through Substack, but what is my main reason for writing? I write because I want to be read.
I switched my goal to getting new free subscribers - 5000 by the end of 2024, up from the current 1500. This felt better. It expanded the focus to include my reader’s needs as well as mine. But something was still irritating me. My thoughts turned to the title of my Substack.
I have been bothered by two things recently. One is that writing two pieces a week doesn’t always feel like going gently to me, and if I’m not role-modeling a less driven life then what good am I to you? The second is that expecting Supporters to read two pieces a week also seems like a bit much (it would be a bit much for me).
The word ‘quality’ appeared. Could I prioritise the quality of my work rather than the quantity or frequency of it? It was close, but it wasn’t quite there - ‘quality’ has slightly corporate associations to me, and there was still something important missing. What is at the heart of these writing shenanigans of mine? Another word floated up from the depths:
Care.
I want to care deeply about my writing, taking time to craft these strings of word-beads. I want to care deeply for myself, as I continue to find a less strivey and more easeful way of living. I want to care deeply about you, dear reader, and honour the time and attention you offer me in this crowded world.
I trust that everything else will fall into place.
Well - I trust that everything else will fall into some kind of place. This is the bit that feels slightly scary. Having ‘care’ as my star has led me to a decision to write less frequently, and make my Supporters my main focus. This may well mean that I lose free subscribers, or that it takes way longer to reach my goal of being properly paid for the time I put into writing.
I’d prefer those things not to happen, but if they do then it’s okay. My guiding star will lead me, and I can find ways of dealing with everything else.
So - the plan!
I’ll whittle my current at-least-two-posts-a-week schedule down to a weekly post just for my Supporters, and switch them onto Tuesdays which is the heart of my week. I’ll also send a couple of posts a month out to everyone on Fridays. If you are a free subscriber with not-much-time, less frequent posts probably won’t be a great disappointment to you!
This means I’ll mostly be writing for a smaller audience, and this feels okay, because my Supporters especially want to hear about going gently, and are in the best position to receive and benefit from my care. Maybe you'll join us on Tuesdays? As always, if you want to be a Supporter but can’t afford the full subscription fee, let me know and we’ll work something out - satya@satyarobyn.com.
What about you?
Will you chose a star to guide you over the following year? A star that relates to your writing, or your wellbeing, or your career, or your relationships, or your creative work?
Here are a few pointers:
⭐ Begin with a pinch of craziness. Don’t limit yourself at the start. What feels exciting but totally out of reach? Add it to your list. Think sideways and backwards - do you really want this thing, or is something hidden actually more important? Get it all out onto paper.
⭐ Narrow it down. Be ruthless about crossing out the things that are less important until there is just one goal left. A Sarah said, this doesn’t mean you don’t also get to keep those other sub-goals too, but they won’t be your first priority.
⭐ See how it feels to sit with it for a while. How do all your different parts feel about this goal? What are the pros and cons? Do you feel like you’ve still got a little stone in your shoe, or do you get a whole-bodied ‘yes’?
⭐ Do a reality check. Based on your current rates of growth or your current situation, will your goal be a comfortable stretch, or will it drive you up the wall and make you miserable?
⭐ Make it measurable. My goal isn’t massively measurable and so I’m not setting a good example here, but I will be setting regular time aside so I can plan ahead and also reflect on how well I’ve looked after my writing, myself, and you.
⭐ Do a joy-check. When you’ve settled on a goal, does it bring you a spark of joy when you consider it? If not, you may need to go back to the drawing board. Stars are beautiful things to follow!
When I do a joy-check on my goal of care, my whole body glows and shivers.
Go gently,
Satya <3
Tell me: If you write a Substack, what might your one goal for next year be? Your goal might be financial, numerical, writing regularly, getting an agent etc. - whatever will most serve you & your current life over the coming year. Otherwise (or as well) what one goal might you have for your career, your creative work, your wellbeing etc…? I’d love to hear them.
PS Look out for my Anti-New Year’s Resolution Challenge piece next Friday. I hope that it will bring you comfort & joy.
PPS Happy holidays! I love it that you are here.
Parts = Internal Family Systems (here’s my introduction with puppies)
Or is that just me??
My goal is to keep writing, staying true to my vision for my Substack ... I decided against growth even though I would love it if people read my fiction. If I may, focusing on subscriber/supporter posts do not seem to focus on boosting free subscribers. I wonder if the inverse of your plan (a couple of supporter posts a month) might better help achieve your 5k goal? Having found you via Notes I am off to check your posts, because your content sounds lovely.
Such a word, Care. I took the same workshop with Sarah and hired her for her 3 session consult. During this week between Christmas and New Year I've been in bed with a cold - and my laptop. Mostly writing, sleeping, writing, and popping ideas for 2024 that come from that place where dreamtime shifts to awake. I started my Substack because I wanted a place to write from the heart without seeking a "result." I have other places for that. Yet I found myself hooked into the possibility of having my SS produce income to support my writing. I try not to look at the metrics too much. This past week I unhooked myself from the need to validate my writing through income and metrics and was able to recover the feeling of joy in writing. I had lost that when I focused on the business of writing. I remembered that I initially sought a place to hone the craft and also to share thoughts and insights that may at some point cause a reader to pause and reflect. I do write to be read - and - I feel the need to detach from the idea that to be successful my material must be read by thousands. Perhaps it's enough that one person reads one thing I wrote from the heart and is changed by it. I am sitting with this thought this week as I enter the new year. More questions than answers. But as Rilke wrote, we must love the questions. Thank you Satya for this space to think aloud.