Is Substack the Best Platform for Writers? Jane Friedman’s Expert Opinion
Ann Kroeker, Writing CoachShow Notes
Is Substack the best platform for writers? Is it right for you?
In this interview, publishing expert Jane Friedman explores Substack’s social media-like features, blogging-like functionality, podcast-host possibilities…and its implications for writers. From using Substack “Notes” to community cross-promotion, it’s an ecosystem worth understanding.
Substack is more than just newsletters—it’s a blog, social media, podcast host, and email marketing tool all-in-one platform. Perfect for beginners, but should we trust it with all of our content?
Learn the pros and cons of Substack on our latest episode of the “Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach” podcast after skimming the show notes and summary below.
But first…
Meet Jane Friedman:
Jane Friedman has 25 years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in business strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, a paid newsletter about the book publishing industry with over 2,500 subscribers, and has previously worked for Writer’s Digest and the Virginia Quarterly Review. In 2023, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s website, janefriedman.com, offers a wealth of resources for authors. She writes many of the articles herself and also features guest writers who are experts in various aspects of writing and publishing. You may have followed some of the many links I’ve shared in my own newsletter, as Jane’s content and curation of expert input consistently provides top-notch education and encouragement for writers across genres.
Jane’s most recent book is The Business of Being a Writer (sponsored post/affiliate link to Amazon) (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. And a new edition is to be released in Spring 2025.
Jane is everywhere. She’s been in The New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, Wired, BBC, The Guardian, CBC, The Washington Post, Fox News, USA Today, and NPR.
And now she’s here on the “Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach” podcast, discussing Substack for writers.
Mentioned in the show (it’s a lot!):
Read Jane’s thorough and thoughtful analysis of Substack from March 2024: https://janefriedman.com/substack-is-both-great-and-terrible-for-authors/
Sign up for Jane’s free newsletter, Electric Speed, or see if The Hot Sheet, her paid newsletter for publishing professionals, is right for you.
Leigh Stein (switched from offering a free MailChimp newsletter to offering a paid Substack): the website signup page: https://www.leighstein.com/newsletter | direct link to “Attention Economy” substack: https://leighstein.substack.com/
Ann mentions paying for George Saunders’ “Story Club” substack: https://georgesaunders.substack.com/
And paying for Jeannette Ouellette’s “Writing in the Dark” substack: https://writinginthedark.substack.com/
Article in The Verge about the Substack controversy about Nazis using the platform: https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/8/24030756/substack-nazi-newsletter-content-moderation
Alternatives to Substack include Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com/ and Ghost. https://ghost.org/
All the Substack newsletters Jane subscribes to here: https://substack.com/@janefriedman/reads
Courtney Maum’s “Before and After the Book Deal” https://courtneymaum.substack.com/
Elle Griffin’s “Elysian Press” (Jane warned that her decision to unsubscribe from all substacks and only use the app means she’s encouraging others to do the same and will lose all of her own subscribers): https://www.elysian.press/
Dr. Jen Gunter’s “The Vajenda”: https://vajenda.substack.com/
Peter Schoppert’s “AI and Copyright” substack: https://aicopyright.substack.com/
Benedict Evans’ tech analysis newsletter on his own solution (possibly MailChimp with Memberful, a WordPress plugin to manage the subscription version): https://www.ben-evans.com/newsletter
Helen Lewis’s The Bluestocking as patron model substack: https://helenlewis.substack
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