My First Month on Substack

Just in case you hadn’t heard me banging on about it all month, I’ve officially been on Substack for a whole month! I am usually pretty resistant to change. I’m a creature of habit, which is probably why I continue to post here after 14 wonderful years.

So, why Substack?

I’ve been reading a few Substack newsletters for months now, and had been eyeing up the platform, thinking it a great place to move my Mailchimp emails. So, when the results of my Daisybutter 2023 Reader Survey came in and I realised that soooo many of you wanted me to share more commentary content, heart-to-heart entries, honest conversation about navigating life and vulnerable, personal essays, an idea sparked in my mind.

I can share this content again, but in a different place that feels less vulnerable to me. Perhaps that sounds odd, given this blog is my personal website that I own, but I have found it daunting to share super-personal thoughts ever since the anti-Asian discourse in 2020. Logging in to see thousands of views on Daisybutter is heartwarming and terrifying in equal measure. It’s why I’ve been back-and-forth with posting and not posting, setting my Instagram to private then public again. I’ve felt at war with myself about how or where I share the things that, let’s face it, I’ve already ruminated over and written about.

The first month on Substack

My first month on Substack has been plenty of fun – and I mean that! I really like the novelty of a new-to-me platform and how the empty pages seem to hold so much promise. I’m sticking to a very manageable one-post-per-week for paid subscribers, then free readers can enjoy one personal essay and one monthly newsletter.

I’m impressed by the blend between publishing platform and social media: there’s a feed that you update, but I’ve found that my posts still span a good reach regardless of whether I choose to get involved with this or not. The platform itself is also really slick and easy to use, something to consider if you often feel daunted by WordPress and other more traditional blogging platforms.

Where I hope to take my Substack

Like I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’m really happy with my Substack schedule now. Paid subscribers get at least five posts a month for just £4 a month, while free readers can enjoy two. This feels manageable around my full-time job and other commitments, since I literally write ALL the time. It’s mostly personal essays and social commentary on there, so if you’ve previously enjoyed those sorts of posts on here, then definitely consider supporting me!

Daisybutter will still host some of these, but I’ll prioritise ‘helpful’ content and my cosy, everyday updates here. You’ll also get reminders of what I’m writing on Substack, in my fortnightly Sundaze posts.