🙌 AWESOME, every word. Have had to sit down with a cuppa - giving me, I’m glad to say, the opportunity to give due uninterrupted attention to my proposed response to question 6. 🫖
First, congrats!! You rock! In fact, you rock so much that I officially became a paid subscriber. You’re an inspiration, my Substack hero. (Sing those last two words using the refrain from Jukebox Hero. Lyrics to come.) I found you by clicking on “humor”in the category department of this site. Before that I was a lost Stacker searching for fellow comedians and fake crab aficionados. Can’t wait to read your paywalled goodies since I just developed an intolerance to chocolate.
Damn Alex. I got a notification saying you’d tagged me in your post, and I must have read it three times looking for the mention😂 love the trust fall, gotta use it myself sometime.
1. I really wish I could remember exactly but I'm pretty sure I found you randomly through Twitter. And no, I don't remember who I was before that.
2. The first essay I responded to was your dissection of the Pina Colada song which was hysterical and I laughed the whole way through. Then you responded to my response and assumed I was a dude because my name is Charlie.
4. Publish every week. Lean into who you are. Don't focus on metrics or growing your audience.
I should be mad coz your fun comments cyber-twisted my arm and I have just broken my self-imposed ban on subbing to any more stacks by subbing to yours. I eagerly await your further hilarity landing in my inbox.
1. I can't for the life of me remember how I found you, and given I am in my 70s, that is the 100th time today I start to worry I'm losing my memory, so thanks for that!
2.I had to go back and open up this post in another window to remember what #2 was, (are we seeing a theme) but now I can answer--favorite posts are about your parents (my people) and your kids, so that I can pretend I didn't f' that up as badly 30 some years ago.
3. Really enjoying Get wit Quick, Field Research, The Honest Broker, Situation Normal, , The Hyphen and Unschool for Writers, and Patty Smith and Oldster Magazine, the last 2 because they are the only ones that don't make me feel ancient!
4. Mostly I am glad I have held onto my 3000 who I brought over to my monthly, and the 300 I brought over from Facebook, and I am now ready after a year to figure out how to grow.
5. What I have on my mind is I am so glad I don't have a day job, so writing and marketing are the only thing I need to do (that and keep my body from falling apart!) Oh, and I want staff too!
whoaaaaa thanks for those recs and the kind words and I knew you were a writer but I didn't realize you had written so many books that's so cool!! how did you, um, do that?? lol
And how'd u built a mailing list of 3000 people from your monthly???
Actually in the indie fiction writing world I am a very ho-hum deal, but thanks! I built the 3000 over on mail chimp, then brought them over to substack, and mostly I got that number slowly and organically from the books because as a person finished a book, they would be encouraged to signup so they could get free short story and learn about new publications and discounts. Also participated in BookSweeps and Book Funnel promotions (authors in similar genre cross promote) where people encouraged to sign up to newsletter. The 300 in my daily newsletter I brought over from Face Book, and these people are all pretty much all fans of my books. I have noticed that a lot of the people I subscribe to on substack are using substack to try to get people to read or buy their books, where for indies, it is usually the other way around. Most of the time it is our books driving people to our social media and newsletters, which we use to keep readers engaged, panting for the next book. Self-publishing particularly works for genre fiction, and the actual publishing part is very simple (once my current manuscript is finally proofed in a few weeks it will take me a grand total of a day to get out as ebook and print in multiple stores.) It is the marketing that takes time. And of course writing the books. Be glad to chat about this anytime. And since I live in San Diego, if you are ever down this way, would love to meet up. Meanwhile, keep writing, we all so enjoy reading what comes out of your either/or brain.
What is on my mind is that it is currently 86 degrees in NEW YORK in APRIL and I actually had to cave and turn on the AIR CONDITIONING. This is madness. So thank you for letting me get that off my chest.
we had to turn AC on the other day. A lot of it is just not being prepared for the heat and thus not running fans in the morning, etc. Once the heat is daily we have a system but we had no system and the hot gets hot as balls. no shame in the game
Congrats Alex! Love this and so happy for you. BTW I loved your welcome email and as you know I responded because it was cool that you asked who I was. I loved your response and actually just emailed you back last night -answered your questions :)
Keep doing what you’re doing. Thx for the info about hiring a team- helpful to know how it’s helped you.
How did I find you? I was scrolling Substack as I do every week looking for new writers to meet. I saw your post about your visit to Lil Rhody. Of course I was hooked.
DREAM TEAM COCACOLA MOTHER FUCKERS
DC CC
i did not know balls could be holy
Not all balls
Wiffle balls are holey. Does that count?
it not only counts it IS the count idk what i'm saying
It's cool. I totally know what you're saying.
6. am I right?
ok now i have to do a lawsuit on you
Oh shit. Can I bribe you with gifs?
taylor I know you're reading this hire me pls
ERIN IS AMAZING WE LOVE ERIN
time 2 take telluride down
I’d just like to respond to 6 with:
PS don’t you dare fix number 6 otherwise my joke won’t make any sense and I’ll look like a fool.
PPS congrats
Ditto! 😉
You’re not taking #6 seriously enough
I take the number 6 incredibly seriously
maybe too seriously
🤣
🙌 AWESOME, every word. Have had to sit down with a cuppa - giving me, I’m glad to say, the opportunity to give due uninterrupted attention to my proposed response to question 6. 🫖
There’s a lot more to 6 than you think
🤣
First, congrats!! You rock! In fact, you rock so much that I officially became a paid subscriber. You’re an inspiration, my Substack hero. (Sing those last two words using the refrain from Jukebox Hero. Lyrics to come.) I found you by clicking on “humor”in the category department of this site. Before that I was a lost Stacker searching for fellow comedians and fake crab aficionados. Can’t wait to read your paywalled goodies since I just developed an intolerance to chocolate.
omg thank you so much!!! that means a lot :) I really really really appreciate it and am excited to share more of the paywalled goodies with you !!
Damn Alex. I got a notification saying you’d tagged me in your post, and I must have read it three times looking for the mention😂 love the trust fall, gotta use it myself sometime.
The notification was a trust fall
Ooooooh, Alex, this is all so wonderful! And well deserved! Yay! And go, Confabs!! xx
1. I really wish I could remember exactly but I'm pretty sure I found you randomly through Twitter. And no, I don't remember who I was before that.
2. The first essay I responded to was your dissection of the Pina Colada song which was hysterical and I laughed the whole way through. Then you responded to my response and assumed I was a dude because my name is Charlie.
4. Publish every week. Lean into who you are. Don't focus on metrics or growing your audience.
Love all of this. Maybe twitter hasn’t been a complete waste of time lol
dear alex,
one million congrats my friend!
1) How did you find BAT? Do you remember who you were before that? Who?
i think chris duffy told me.
i don't believe in the past.
this is like a zen koan!
2) Any fav moments or essays or anything?
i love the stuff about how you are a parent and also you have parents
and how you have a child and also you are a child
3) What other stuff people newsletters whatever are blowing your mind of late?
i love sophie lucido johnson's "you are doing a good enough job"
i love ND stevenson's "i'm fine i'm fine just understand"
i love george saunders's "story club"
i love a lot more but that's some for now
4) Do you have tips to share with the world about what’s worked (or not worked) in growing your newsletter? Or your vegetables?
water and soil
make sure you drink enough water and eat enough soil
5) What else is on your mind today and if you say a hat I will sue you.
keep it under your hat but i'm thinking about you suing me
love,
myq
I’m doing a law suit
and i'm suing a law DOOT!
I should be mad coz your fun comments cyber-twisted my arm and I have just broken my self-imposed ban on subbing to any more stacks by subbing to yours. I eagerly await your further hilarity landing in my inbox.
Medha be careful. Myq is a dangerous comedic talent
i agree! DO be careful! be full of care! a wonderful way to be!
PS it is ALEX who is the dangerous comedic talent!
im gonna kick ur butt
And I’m gonna butt ur kick!
i thank you for listening to your arm-twisted heart!
happy to have you and your eagerness on board!
the eager has landed!
Gosh, I can’t remember how I found out about BAT, but I’m glad I did!
DITTO so glad we've met Jillian
1. I can't for the life of me remember how I found you, and given I am in my 70s, that is the 100th time today I start to worry I'm losing my memory, so thanks for that!
2.I had to go back and open up this post in another window to remember what #2 was, (are we seeing a theme) but now I can answer--favorite posts are about your parents (my people) and your kids, so that I can pretend I didn't f' that up as badly 30 some years ago.
3. Really enjoying Get wit Quick, Field Research, The Honest Broker, Situation Normal, , The Hyphen and Unschool for Writers, and Patty Smith and Oldster Magazine, the last 2 because they are the only ones that don't make me feel ancient!
4. Mostly I am glad I have held onto my 3000 who I brought over to my monthly, and the 300 I brought over from Facebook, and I am now ready after a year to figure out how to grow.
5. What I have on my mind is I am so glad I don't have a day job, so writing and marketing are the only thing I need to do (that and keep my body from falling apart!) Oh, and I want staff too!
whoaaaaa thanks for those recs and the kind words and I knew you were a writer but I didn't realize you had written so many books that's so cool!! how did you, um, do that?? lol
And how'd u built a mailing list of 3000 people from your monthly???
ur like, a big deal!!
Actually in the indie fiction writing world I am a very ho-hum deal, but thanks! I built the 3000 over on mail chimp, then brought them over to substack, and mostly I got that number slowly and organically from the books because as a person finished a book, they would be encouraged to signup so they could get free short story and learn about new publications and discounts. Also participated in BookSweeps and Book Funnel promotions (authors in similar genre cross promote) where people encouraged to sign up to newsletter. The 300 in my daily newsletter I brought over from Face Book, and these people are all pretty much all fans of my books. I have noticed that a lot of the people I subscribe to on substack are using substack to try to get people to read or buy their books, where for indies, it is usually the other way around. Most of the time it is our books driving people to our social media and newsletters, which we use to keep readers engaged, panting for the next book. Self-publishing particularly works for genre fiction, and the actual publishing part is very simple (once my current manuscript is finally proofed in a few weeks it will take me a grand total of a day to get out as ebook and print in multiple stores.) It is the marketing that takes time. And of course writing the books. Be glad to chat about this anytime. And since I live in San Diego, if you are ever down this way, would love to meet up. Meanwhile, keep writing, we all so enjoy reading what comes out of your either/or brain.
What is on my mind is that it is currently 86 degrees in NEW YORK in APRIL and I actually had to cave and turn on the AIR CONDITIONING. This is madness. So thank you for letting me get that off my chest.
we had to turn AC on the other day. A lot of it is just not being prepared for the heat and thus not running fans in the morning, etc. Once the heat is daily we have a system but we had no system and the hot gets hot as balls. no shame in the game
Congrats Alex! Love this and so happy for you. BTW I loved your welcome email and as you know I responded because it was cool that you asked who I was. I loved your response and actually just emailed you back last night -answered your questions :)
Keep doing what you’re doing. Thx for the info about hiring a team- helpful to know how it’s helped you.
How did I find you? I was scrolling Substack as I do every week looking for new writers to meet. I saw your post about your visit to Lil Rhody. Of course I was hooked.
all rhodes lead back to rhode islandddd! thanks so much Tracy :) excited to check out your response