“It’s about the way my parents absolutely adore the newsletter.”
This really hit home. My newsletter is scheduled for 5am every Tuesday, a few hours before I actually wake up. Whenever I check my email though, there’s atleast one like - from my mom. Every single time. No matter how the post performs I just know that she read it and it means the world to me.
I totally relate. I’ve been on substack over a year and haven’t even reached 300 subs. (I am still so thankful for the 200 something I have because once upon a time I only had 6 subs). I post consistently and I write what I want to write without any expectation of what people need and that’s enough for me. Great post!
Your substack is one of my favourites in here and it is such a relief for a fellow reader/writer to see that others also have "failed" with hitting their goals. Playing the metrics game feels a lot like a losing game, at least it does most of the time and can kill the motivation or passion. What I have learned over the year I have been here, is to let it go - and focus on what I want to do, what I want to read and connect with people that way.
Instagram made me realise I did not want to be a huge bookstagrammer, as it just seemed to me, that it was more stressful than fun. Substack, I have not really figured it out yet, but I am experimenting and see where it takes me. I really love that you follow what you want - it gives you authenticity and makes you stand out. It makes me want to follow your journey.
All the best in the coming year! I am sure it will be great ✨
Gabby we are so similar! I wrote this to help turn success away from metrics. I have fun here and on instagram and realizing that that is what matters has lifted pressure off myself that I didn’t know existed.
I'm enjoying your newsletter, too, and now that's two of us that have spoken up about that. I'm sure there are many more. But Dan Blank says to write to one reader--your ideal reader--only anyway. (If you don't follow him, he's great--the real deal on marketing, not some flash in the pan.) I vote for you doing whatever the heck you want to do on here. Being yourself is a sure way to succeed.
The Sunday Reads is one of the first newsletters I subscribed to, and remains one of my favourites. I know this wasn't the point of your post, but please know that I see you as much more than a mutual and if you ever want a chit chat my DMs are alwayssss open!
Congratulations on your first year on Substack, the metrics are nice but knowing your parents wholeheartedly support this venture is more than any paid sub IMO. Keep doing you Izzy <3
Your Substack is easily one of my favourites, and I look forward to your beautifully put-together posts each week. (My TBR is wildly long thanks to your recommendations!) Success is a funny ol' thing with no real metrics: I've written a blog for 15 years now and it's no longer at its peak, nor has it ever won awards or become my career. But the people I've met through it have made things so worthwhile. I think you're pretty damn successful, Izzy!~
It's okay you will succeed. I've been doing it for 25 years and I'm still a successful failure. Nothing has succeeded but I believe it will happen. Keep working hard you will succeed. We all need to help each other and post each others works.
Happy anniversary! I really enjoy The Sunday Reads and think the format you use is unique. Speaking for myself but probably others-- I'm just not in a financial situation to have a lot of paid subscriptions at this phase of my life. Of course you and everyone else deserve to be paid for your work, so I'll read what I can for free for now.
Thanks! And of course - I’m in no financial position either! More so meant in terms of how everyone measures success through metrics but I’m learning that it’s more so through my personal growth!
I love that this comments section has become a warm, snug place where so many of us can say we're having the same experience. I diligently write every week even though my readership is small, but I did it when my readership was 4 people and I figure I'll carry on forever because I like to do it. The subs that get 10000s of readers in 3 months are sexy so they get all the publicity, but I suspect that for most of us, the wheels turn slowly.
“It’s about the way my parents absolutely adore the newsletter.”
This really hit home. My newsletter is scheduled for 5am every Tuesday, a few hours before I actually wake up. Whenever I check my email though, there’s atleast one like - from my mom. Every single time. No matter how the post performs I just know that she read it and it means the world to me.
Thank you fir sharing this beautiful piece 💛
Same here!! For the first three months, my mom and I were the only likes on my posts LOL. Glad you can relate!
I totally relate. I’ve been on substack over a year and haven’t even reached 300 subs. (I am still so thankful for the 200 something I have because once upon a time I only had 6 subs). I post consistently and I write what I want to write without any expectation of what people need and that’s enough for me. Great post!
thank you so much!! It can be hard to forget why we started writing in the first place :)
Yes! 🫶🏽
Congratulations on a year here! 🥳
Your substack is one of my favourites in here and it is such a relief for a fellow reader/writer to see that others also have "failed" with hitting their goals. Playing the metrics game feels a lot like a losing game, at least it does most of the time and can kill the motivation or passion. What I have learned over the year I have been here, is to let it go - and focus on what I want to do, what I want to read and connect with people that way.
Instagram made me realise I did not want to be a huge bookstagrammer, as it just seemed to me, that it was more stressful than fun. Substack, I have not really figured it out yet, but I am experimenting and see where it takes me. I really love that you follow what you want - it gives you authenticity and makes you stand out. It makes me want to follow your journey.
All the best in the coming year! I am sure it will be great ✨
Gabby we are so similar! I wrote this to help turn success away from metrics. I have fun here and on instagram and realizing that that is what matters has lifted pressure off myself that I didn’t know existed.
I'm enjoying your newsletter, too, and now that's two of us that have spoken up about that. I'm sure there are many more. But Dan Blank says to write to one reader--your ideal reader--only anyway. (If you don't follow him, he's great--the real deal on marketing, not some flash in the pan.) I vote for you doing whatever the heck you want to do on here. Being yourself is a sure way to succeed.
P. S.--I still don't understand Notes yet either.
Thanks! I appreciate that. I’m definitely happy with myself and what I post on here, so that’s all that matters.
The Sunday Reads is one of the first newsletters I subscribed to, and remains one of my favourites. I know this wasn't the point of your post, but please know that I see you as much more than a mutual and if you ever want a chit chat my DMs are alwayssss open!
Congratulations on your first year on Substack, the metrics are nice but knowing your parents wholeheartedly support this venture is more than any paid sub IMO. Keep doing you Izzy <3
Soph you were one of my first mutuals on here too!! 🫶 would love to chat more.
Proud of you 🤍 And I truly enjoy reading what you have to share!
Thanks so much!
Happy anniversary, Izzy! I can relate to this one. Keep posting!
Thanks so much! You keep posting too 🤍
Happy birthday to The Sunday Reads!!
Your Substack is easily one of my favourites, and I look forward to your beautifully put-together posts each week. (My TBR is wildly long thanks to your recommendations!) Success is a funny ol' thing with no real metrics: I've written a blog for 15 years now and it's no longer at its peak, nor has it ever won awards or become my career. But the people I've met through it have made things so worthwhile. I think you're pretty damn successful, Izzy!~
Michelle! Adore you. Success is through messages like this not a subscriber count. Thanks for proving that
Congratulations on a year! I always look forward to your newsletter 🧡
Thanks!
It's okay you will succeed. I've been doing it for 25 years and I'm still a successful failure. Nothing has succeeded but I believe it will happen. Keep working hard you will succeed. We all need to help each other and post each others works.
Thank you! Something that’s been really good for me is practicing failure.
Happy anniversary! I really enjoy The Sunday Reads and think the format you use is unique. Speaking for myself but probably others-- I'm just not in a financial situation to have a lot of paid subscriptions at this phase of my life. Of course you and everyone else deserve to be paid for your work, so I'll read what I can for free for now.
Thanks! And of course - I’m in no financial position either! More so meant in terms of how everyone measures success through metrics but I’m learning that it’s more so through my personal growth!
That’s a great perspective to take. Keep at it!
thanks! You too.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary! I always enjoy making my way through your newsletter!
Thank you, Ingrid!
I love that this comments section has become a warm, snug place where so many of us can say we're having the same experience. I diligently write every week even though my readership is small, but I did it when my readership was 4 people and I figure I'll carry on forever because I like to do it. The subs that get 10000s of readers in 3 months are sexy so they get all the publicity, but I suspect that for most of us, the wheels turn slowly.
Julia, this is amazing. And so true our 20s are often not so fun 😂 but I am learning to enjoy the process for sure.