My days are spent talking with writers and creators, and I often hear about the challenges they face when they consider sharing their work. This year, I’ve watched writers change their strategy in how they reach readers, focusing less on social media and more on Substack and email newsletters. But when they consider sharing on these platforms, they tell me about their concerns. Perhaps some of these feel familiar to you:
- “What do I talk about?”
- “I don’t think anyone really cares.”
- “I’m worried I will run out of things to say.”
- “I don’t have the time for anything new!”
- “How do I stay consistent?”
- “I worry about how I should come across, and then procrastinate because I need to get it right.”
These writers are so passionate about their writing, but face challenges when considering how to share that work regularly via Substack, newsletters, and social media. The result? They miss opportunities to develop their audience of ideal readers — those who will love what they write.
I’m excited to announce my next workshop, meant to address these challenges that writers face. The workshop is called “Find Your Voice and Get Into Your Groove on Substack (and Beyond)” and it will take place on Friday December 15, 2023, at 12:30pm ET. Of course, a full recording will be sent to all who register, so if you can’t make it that day, please consider registering anyway. The cost is $49, and it’s packed with practical solutions, including:
- How to confidently know what to share that reflects what you write and why.
- How to identify the themes you want to write about consistently in a newsletter (or social media), so that everything you share feels authentic and cohesive.
- How to clearly define your identity on Substack and beyond, including the branding and design elements you use.
- My process for never running out of ideas for what to share, regardless of how often you want to share.
- How to create simple repeatable system to ensure you share consistently, using up less of your creative energy or time.
All of this is about you sharing what you create with authenticity. Fellow introverts: this is definitely for you! I have spent years developing this system for replacing fear and overwhelm with a clear path to sharing that actually feels good!
You can register for the workshop here.
What you create matters, and what you share matters. Developing the habit of creating and sharing is about honoring your voice, developing your readership, and filling your days with moments that matter.
Attending to this work is a craft. Sharing is a craft that takes time to develop. I encourage you to invest in that craft. Learn how to express what you write about consistently, and fill your life with meaningful moments with readers and other writers.
This year I have been focusing on simplifying. Like so many writers and creators I speak with, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities and opportunities we face each day. As I considered this, I kept having a single image in my head — a bakery I remember walking past many times. When I looked it up, I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was still there on Prince Street in New York City:
Why this image? As a writer and creator, it is so easy to constantly feel pressure to focus on growth. We worry that we need to do more, that we aren’t doing enough, or that we aren’t doing the correct thing.
But when I consider my creative work akin to the ethos of a small bakery that has endured for more than a century, it encourages me to:
- Focus on what I truly love doing.
- Do less, but with a heightened sense of craft and detail.
- Embrace limits as a way of honoring my creative vision, and the experiences
- I hope to have with readers and writers.
- Be satisfied with the work I do, instead of being distracted by trends, what others are doing, or succumbing to the ‘fear of missing out.’
These are all themes communicated in one of my favorite movies — the documentary film, Jiro Dreams of Sushi. It tells the story of a tiny sushi shop with only ten seats at the counter and a few small booths, which has thrived for more than 50 years. Today, Jiro Ono is 98 years old and still runs the restaurant:
He and his staff focus on honing their craft and sharing it as an experience with their customers. They aren’t just making a product — they’re considering the best ways that someone can experience their work. How they share what they create is a critical part of this process.
Now, I am never opening a bakery or restaurant. But these inspirations make me consider: how can I best express my creative vision? How can I attend to the craft of sharing what I create? How can this be measured not in hollow numbers, but in moments that truly matter: when our ideas inspire others, help others, and create conversations and relationships that make life feel meaningful.
If you want to attend to this work for yourself in how you approach Substack, email newsletters, or anywhere you share online, please register for my upcoming workshop here.
Thank you for being here with me.
-Dan