Helpful resources for new writers

Shout out to MJWA's newbies!

Oct 28, 2024

To all the new readers who subscribed this month (and everyone who reads my newsletters), thank you so much.

Honestly, I’m always a bit surprised when I get new subscribers because I don’t post as often as I used to (or would like to). I have to keep reminding myself that just because I don’t post every single week doesn’t mean people won’t subscribe. 😃

Each time I get a new email alert that says I have a new subscriber, I always read the “About me” blurb that is underneath their (your?) profile photo. I get a kick out of seeing who you are, your interests, and how many other Substacks you subscribe to.

This month, I’ve gotten some comments that my newer readers just started writing or are new to Substack, so I wanted to dedicate today’s newsletter to providing quick tips and helpful links about writing. ‘Cuz we all know… writing can be a beast.

Feel free to comment below if there’s anything specific you’d like me to write about.

Strategies to help you write consistently on Substack and grow your audience

Some of the newsletters below are what I call “pillar” posts that speak to writing regularly and gaining followers along the way.

Creating sustainable growth (part 1)
Writing consistently without burning out (part 2)
Time-saving strategies to create great content on Substack
What a 15-minutes-a-day writing routine is showing me
What’s your author ecosystem? It might help you gain more subscribers
New subscribers, likes, and comments and the tiny rush of dopamine
I joined Substack 8 months ago. Here’s the one thing that helped me grow my email list

Stories About My Brother

Ahem, I thought I’d take this moment to do a little shameless cross-promotion for my other Substack. Many of you already subscribe to Stories About My Brother (thank you), but if you’re new, SAMB is about my younger brother, who is a decade younger than me. He’s serving a 19-year prison sentence in Central California.

I started SAMB as a way to share his stories (he’s got some crazy ones that any true crime junkie would appreciate), but since I started it a few years ago, it has evolved.

Looking back, the real reason I started SAMB was to work through my feelings about his incarceration—and, I want to point out to the folks who are new to writing—this is why writing is so awesome.

SAMB helped me work out the gooey bits inside of me that were complicated and messy. They’re still there, but I’m less afraid to talk about it, think about it, and write about it.

In writing his stories, I’ve learned how much guilt, anger, and shame I was harboring. It also made me realize how resentful I was towards my parents for raising him the way they did. I guess that’s why they say writing is so healing.

The takeaway here is to keep writing, even when you’re not sure what you’re trying to say or how you feel about it. Keep going because it matters and you may even find some kind of peace along the way.

The links below are some posts from SAMB that helped me work some sh*t out.

Work. Train. Yoga.
My brother’s first letter from prison
Letting go of the last bits of shame
The ticks, the bullying, and a new school

Subscribe to Stories About My Bro

(Side note, and, I’ll probably write about this in a future newsletter, but I don’t recommend starting a second Substack unless you truly have the time and energy. 🫣)

The Creative Shift by Dan Blank
Dan Blank

I can’t recall how I stumbled upon Dan’s Substack, but he’s fantastic. I follow him because I love the way he writes about writing.

As someone who has been in marketing for the last 15 years, I can wholeheartedly say Dan’s content has tons of great advice and isn’t jargon-y or filled with platitudes. His newsletters are meaty and packed with so much useful info for new and seasoned writers.

Every time I read them, I’m always reminded that writing is a human process that involves other humans. 🫶

These are my recent favs.