389: How to Create a Substack that Delivers (for you and your readers) Episode 389 with Dan Blank

#AmWriting

Wanna start—or fix—your email/Substack? We GOT YOU. Dan Blank is, truly, THE GUY when it comes to helping writers identify our audience, find ways to reach them and also feel great about the process. Before you do anything else, go subscribe to his Substack. I’ll wait.
The Creative Shift by Dan Blank
Helping writers and creators share their work and connect with readers in meaningful ways. Digging deep into marketing, book launches, and platform development. Get my weekly newsletter every Friday.
Ok, those Substack links are BIG. But brace yourself, there’s more of them. In this episode, which you must go listen to, Dan, Jennie and KJ talk about the three ways to approach a Substack, why you should have an email list no matter what, finding your role (inspiring, entertaining, teaching) and—most importantly—not heading out there with something that’s half baked.
Our message today is: BAKE THE THING.
What do you believe above all? What do you want to explore? What do you want to share? Who do you want to come hang? Answer those questions, and Substack—some version of it, which may or may not involve $$ and trust me we get into that—is YOURS.
Today instead of books, we have Substack follow recommendations! (and you DO NOT have to use Substack to get these emails. If you don’t, they’re just emails. Subscribe!)
KJ’s REC’s

Free and gonna stay that way:
Welcomes $$, plenty that is free and lovely
Crone Sandwich
A weird newsletter about all the midlife things: kids, parents, food, sex, holidays, rage, and sweating at night, by the author of Waiting for Birdy and We All Want Impossible Things.
By Catherine Newman
★ I would do it differently. ★
A newsletter about design and life by design journalist Emily Grosvenor, author of Find Yourself At Home: A Conscious Approach to Shaping Your Space and Your Life.
By Emily Grosvenor
Worth every $$
Publishing Confidential
News and analysis about the book publishing industry that you won't read anywhere else.
By Kathleen Schmidt
Dinner: A Love Story
A newsletter devoted to the family meal, however you define "family" and however you define “meal.” Written by the NY Times bestselling author of the Dinner: A Love Story book series including, most recently "The Weekday Vegetarians."
By Jenny Rosenstrach
Vanderhacks
Little ways to take your day from great to awesome
By Laura
Jennie’s RECS

Inkygirl by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people. Her posts include nuts & bolts tips about the craft and biz, behind-the-scenes process, bibliophile comics.
Austin Kleon
Weekly art, writing, and creative inspiration from the author of Steal Like an Artist and other bestsellers.
Dan’s RECS

Dear Somebody
A short weekly note chronicling five things worth remembering, including a look into my process, reflections on motherhood, and creative inspiration.
By Meera Lee Patel
Draw Your World
I believe everyone is an artist, including you. I share motivation & inspiration to look at the world around you to find the perfect thing to draw to express who you are and the moment you are in. From bestselling author of the Draw Your Day book series.
By Samantha Dion Baker
Create Me Free
Writing about the complex relationship between art and mental health, not just art as therapy, but also the myriad ways mental health symptoms impact artistic process, content, medium, and productivity.
By Kathryn Vercillo
The Art & Business of Book Coaching
Helping book coaches build effective businesses so they can give writers a fighting chance in an unpredictable marketplace. (Secretly great for writers to learn how to level up, too.) Posts every Friday.
By Jennie Nash
During the pandemic, there was an explosion of people who wanted to write memoir, and many of those writers are now struggling to make sense of their drafts and figure out how to approach the marketplace. It's a great time to be a book coach who specializes in memoir, and in March 2024, Author Accelerator is launching a certification course to give memoir coaches the skills, tools, and experience to meet writers where they are.
Our year-long program is robust and intense. I'm inviting any listeners of this show who are interested in our coaching program to sign up for a one-on-one session with me to strategize about whether or not this course is right for you. Just go to bookcoaches.com/amwriting to sign up for a time that works for you.

Find out more here!