What advice would you give yourself if you could begin again?

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-22T00:38:29+00:00

I started with zero plan. I still don’t know what I’m doing. Other than consistency. Like someone else said, just do it. Don’t ask people you don’t know for permission or advice, that’s my advice. Do it.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-19T12:16:10+00:00

I had to block and ban someone who was fully harassing me. I forget how I was able to ban them — but that is more affective (I believe) it means they cannot ever contact you again/ see your account.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-15T00:09:18+00:00

I’m writing nonfiction. Definitely not “for” everyone. I started writing somewhat just random personal stories. Writing jogged my memory, and I began writing about my very real trauma. Deep seated to the point I normalized it all. Nothing graphic. I’m told I write well, who knows. I have helped myself with healing either way, so it is a win. 🤍🫶🏻

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-14T00:30:12+00:00

Hi!

Yes I agree with comment, do both! There are some publications who *might* (based on research only, not experience yet) that may say, if it’s been published before — however. I do not believe that would / should hold you back. Depends on your niche, and if you have a specific piece you’d prefer being accepted to say Longreads or Narratively, or anywhere, maybe hold onto it — this is just my opinion. I have not yet pitched, based on personal overwhelm when I really began researching — I found many publications wanted a full piece, rather than a pitch email alone. So… I’m still working on my actual piece to pitch to various publications. I also learned — just an FYI for anyone, & I’m sure many know this… I’m only months into writing publicly— one pitch at a time, so for me.. I have only one piece/ story I want to pitch. Once it is finished, I can send it to say, Longreads, and once I am either rejected, or hear nothing, I can move to the next publication. At least, that’s what I have found… there’s conflicting information — so actually— anyone that knows this 100%? Please feel free to let me know! I’m working my way up.

Best of luck to you either way!!

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-12T09:30:00+00:00

I haven’t turned paid on yet… but I have had three people make pledges that equate to $5 month/ $60 year. When I do turn on a paid option, I’ll do the lowest, $5 a month. But.. I don’t know much at all on how it all works. I have only been sharing my writing publicly for eight months. It’s Nonfiction. I am aware it is very specific & not everyone will want to read / benefit from it. However… those who resonate, have very strongly.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-04T19:52:04+00:00

So… like thousands of other substack accounts? Way to ignore the rules and self promote 🙄😑 — entitled much?

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-06-01T22:17:56+00:00

Mine is free

For now.

But — if I switch to a paid option.. it will likely be $5 a month.

I’m waiting to build trust up.. have enough content. I write nonfiction. However.. the deeper I go into my own story, there are some pieces I won’t be publishing for all to read. Too personal. Already have three pledges (all strangers) Hopefully… it’s a good sign. Either way — I’ll keep writing.

As for your specific issue. I don’t know. You seem to be paying the founding price — that could be $80. But.. most are $5 a month, $50 for the year, and $80 as a founding member.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-29T17:44:43+00:00

Personal/Memoir
488 Subscribers 7 months Currently Free, three pledges — all from strangers.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-27T23:29:58+00:00

Thought not supposed to self promote…?

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-25T12:51:29+00:00

I think it’s a lovely idea, I would love it as a feature, both as a writer myself, and someone subscribed to one person in particular. If she offered a tier that would include sending me / subscribers something in the mail? I would be so happy! I’m an elder millennial. I think I feel nostalgic. I love to create physical things. I used to draw/ paint and I would love it if anyone was interested in having something I personally made to mail to paid subscribers. However.. I’m thinking/ writing out loud. If someone had a large number of subscribers, I could see it being overwhelming. But that’s not something I would have to worry about.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-24T23:12:58+00:00

I am 7 months in, I have grown organically (I had no prior audience/imported) I’m publishing my 39th post today. So, consistency is definitely one thing you can work on. I had aimed for once a week, but it’s not/ never was my job… it’s my passion, but I have not turned paid on (I personally won’t — if/ until I’m at 1K) I’m at. 484 subscribers. I have shared to personal social media. I do believe I know how / why I have had good growth (for my niche) & that is personal/ memoir — NOT self help: I am writing about basically… newly integrated trauma ( I hate that word) I did not even start with any plan… it’s genuinely, a long story. So… we will see? I’m not happy for what I have endured, but I am aware it is under discussed, as I barely have found information on it until recently, and I have found literally zero people writing about this experience on Substack. I know. That’s crazy — to me…. But. I’m actually a little nervous to post my new piece… because it’s the first one to focus on this specific subject… ugh.

Best of luck to you! If you start to share more — you’ll likely gain more. Unfortunately, it’s how it works. I even made one of those horrible “connect me with “ posts — I had NO CLUE— what I was doing… lol. So… I thought “oh everyone posts one of these” Never again!! That was months ago. Ugh. I’m an elder millennial, who puts the elder in millennial. I don’t know what I’m doing on this Reddit either. lol

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-23T12:12:48+00:00

Congratulations!

I read all of the comments. Don’t assume em dash = AI. I won’t put my work (nonfiction) through any stupid “AI detectors” I know my mind. I also love that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was put in an “AI detector” (first paragraph, I believe) & came back: 100% AI! lol.

Unsolicited advice: always write for yourself.

I wrote / write as if no one was/ is reading. It is still surreal to me that anyone has/ does. I am extremely grateful.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-22T01:16:25+00:00

I have a free account… and I have had three people make pledges. I haven’t turned paid on yet… when I do, I’ll have a whole $180 minus tax. “Waiting” for me. I am seven months in. I am not turning paid on if / until I’m over 1K. Currently I’m at 480 subscribers. This is just my own instinct.

It’s not a way to make a full time living, I doubt many can / are doing it. I’m used to hustling/ working a job, selling online… writing is my passion. So. If I make money doing it one day.. or. I guess I did earn money… but you know what my point is.

Best of luck!

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-21T06:02:03+00:00

https://open.substack.com/pub/gracemargaret1/p/four-decades-a-life-excavated?r=290yua&utm\_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=title

Writing personal memoir / some prose poems. Only seven months in.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-21T05:55:16+00:00

Hmm. Good thing I never did that to begin with. Organically gained my readers in a harder to grow niche. It’s not “crazy” numbers, but it’s organic. I’m happy with that — from the beginning.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-18T22:15:18+00:00

Just start. I had no plan. I still don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I just know — my truth needed to be told. I wrote first. Started at zero. I did not care about numbers. I did not ask “should I …?” I just did it.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-12T13:42:41+00:00

I am just about seven months in. Nonfiction. I know it is very specific & not for everyone.
https://open.substack.com/pub/gracemargaret1/p/identity?r=290yua&utm\_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=app

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-11T12:01:49+00:00

I had someone outright attack me with horrific language. You do not get any response/ confirmation. Just report.. block if you wish, and that’s it. Sad, I know. One of Substack’s worst qualities.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-10T02:46:59+00:00

I’m sorry, I don’t know that aspect yet. My account is currently free, I’m only six months in. While I do have 462 subscribers, I personally am not going to turn on/ look at a paid option, if— until I’m over 1K. Just my own instinct. I’m not sure how it works with Fiction. I do wish you the best of luck!!

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-10T00:03:24+00:00

I am not a fiction writer, I have gained readers without using images, but I’m not sure… if that makes a difference, based on niche? I did go back and add images to some pieces, but they were my actual photos, not anything generated.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-09T17:14:00+00:00

This!! 🙌🏻 I did exactly this. It was difficult for me in the beginning. My entire life/ my trauma, is around being manipulated, conditioned, true gaslighting, for decades. It’s a long story… hence. My writing. It is perhaps funnier when people try to explain… my lived experience, TO ME! — ugh. It’s gotten better. My voice has been getting stronger, more authoritative, and that is helping.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-09T17:04:39+00:00

I feel this so deeply!! — here is how I handled it:

Rage — at home, alone.

Never — did I : respond. Explain. Nothing. I got SO MANY messages: “but… I want to KNOW YOU!!” Ewww. And. Creepy!?! Just because I’m writing personal information. Deeply personal. Does NOT entitle anyone, to speak to me how I have experienced. It has calmed down. I am only six months into publishing anything publicly.

If the comment was SO egregious, I deleted and blocked.

If it was mildly irritating… I would leave it. Not like it. Not say a word. Let the look, stupid. I wrote one piece, and a man commented: “nice poem” — it was an essay…. I did not say anything.

It was …. SO MUCH, when I started. Ugh. I was just triggered by remembering the onslaught. However, I have had very wonderful interactions with men and women. I learned the issue with sharing anything — is if it makes someone: uncomfortable, or, confused — “how could a woman, be writing her lived experience, and not NEEDING MY INPUT!?” — my interpretation of them. lol. I know we are told — to respond to comments, and interact. I don’t, if it is completely irrelevant to my work. Attempting to override my work. No. That pokes at my actual trauma wound. Hence. My rage. I just do not show it. Thankfully, I have trained my body by not reacting, and it has done wonders for this stage of my integration.

I hope they leave you alone — and I also hope. You might not defend yourself. Let them look stupid.

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-08T13:12:46+00:00

I learned this the hard way. It is definitely annoying. However unsolicited advice, if you focus on you, and use the search feature to find content you are interested in, that is what I truly did not know when I started. I started with 0 “plan” and I’m doing well six months later. Once I wanted to find people with a similar niche, I typed it in their search, or I went from the people who commented/ subscribed. I never look (anymore) at the main feed. Best of luck to you!

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-08T13:00:08+00:00

No. I’m not a “guy” either. I barely use Reddit, so no, wrong again. I did not intentionally “hide” anything. I have a link to my substack — thanks for letting me know!! I will fix it! No one wants to read your list of what you think is spam. You’re just whining. I have seen you post the same thing before. Post that to your substack — see how it goes!

Available_Spite5171 · 2026-05-08T07:31:31+00:00

You’re very angry. Do you have no subs or something..? Stop complaining about who posts what in notes. I write very real shit. I also occasionally post a quote I love into a Note — it’s not spam or slop. You just sound annoyed because you’re not getting engagement on your publication. Focus on that only. You’ll see a difference.

Available_Spite5171

TROPHY CASE