I wonder how many substackers are...
just posters, just readers, both? I *think* I may be the only ONE with a unique goal.
I am quite new to substack—my substack birthday was Jul 10 2025. A newborn. Novice. Apprentice. I’m stumbling my way around.
Looks like lots of writers here. Everybody that posts [stories, poems, essays, articles, etc.] is a writer, right?
What is the percentage of ‘writer substackers’ that are sucessful at monitizing?
I’m not sure how to evaluate how many substackers are “just” readers. Consuming what writers [want-to, hope-to, have] monitized? Or to just be read?
Oh, and there are visual artist of all sorts. And tutorials. Video content on various subjects. Workshops and live-events. And on and on…
So much…
Maybe I’m a standout alternative? I remind people to step away from the screen and GO OUTSIDE. Plant your feet firmly on the ground; to be grounded, in the moment, breathing deeply and specifically choose to focus your attention on nature and connect with nature. At least for a short time.
I’d love to monetize something. But I’m asking people to read less, spend less time on various social media, including substack. Simply go outside. To be curious about the natural world. Awe of nature. To forge your own journey of discovery. Like people use to do before the internet. How could I ask for subscriptions for that? To ask for money, to coach people to go outside and breathe? Pppfff! Pa-lease.
I’m a nature journaler. Nature Journaling saved my life from a deep grief. It lifted me up and away from a great loss. Now, I spend less time on my computer. More time in nature. I find that I am happier. Relate to people better. Grounded in the moment. I enjoy recording my observations on paper—artistically and with words, stories. I contribute to iNaturalist—“citizen science.”
If you are interested in gentle reminders, inspiration to looking closely at nature, consider following or subscribing… I’d appreciate the feedback that there are people that want to, need to, will go, outside to look closely.
If not, please make a point to go outside. See. Hear. Touch. Smell. Nature!
Hey Terri! I actually followed you over here from your WonderLand post (and after hearing of Substack a couple other times that week).
I applaud your goal! I think your purpose has merit (obviously, it does), you just need the right way to package and ‘sell’ your invitations away from the screen!
My recommendation is going paid, and offering prompts. Give people the tools and encouragement to explore nature through your free posting, but only offer your short-worded prompt, or a scavenger hunt, or some other way to think/journal about the day/week, via your paid post.
(P.S. I can’t tell you how many users are writers alone, and how many only read, but I would guess there’s a mix as well: creators who read around to support each other and look for encouragement.)
Love nature journaling! 💙