I’ve been at this Substack racket for a while now and have thousands of free subscribers and hundreds of paid, and I figure it’s high time I checked in to make sure you’re getting what you came for. After all, the customer is always right... unless they have abhorrently bad opinions, in which case they should be mocked relentlessly (but not publicly; that’s bad for business).
But assuming your opinions aren’t complete garbage, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What type of posts do you enjoy? Is there anything you’d like to see more of? Any topics you’re dying for my take on? General suggestions to make this Substack less of a waste of your time?
Just let me know in the comments anything that comes to mind on how I can better serve you, dear reader. Your feedback is much appreciated… unless it’s like really stupid. But really stupid people wouldn’t have been smart enough to sign up for my Substack. They especially wouldn’t have been smart enough to get a paid subscription, so I know all you paid subscribers especially will have gold suggestions.
I like most of what you've done on Substack (I won't say 'all', because I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting because it was less awesome). The absurdist humor is something I enjoy, and you make it work far better than it should.
I particularly liked Origin Story. I looked forward to seeing those chapters in my inbox.
I also like the short stories you've done based on the worlds you've created (like Hellbender: the Bit). This seems like the right venue for shorter works like that, if they didn't fit into a novel you were writing (or even if they do - sort-of like a sneak peek or teaser). I'd like to see more of those.
I really like the short stories, especially the serial form Origin Story. But if you need your muse to be focused on the last Superego book, that's understandable. You can always add more Winston to the Substack, but you should probably reserve that for the paid subscribers and not the unwashed masses.
I'd like to see you add more subscribers! What works ... I don't know. The folks below have solid insight.
In general, I find Substack a little too vanilla. One writer's site looks and feels like another. And I have lots of people I genuinely enjoy wanting me to subscribe. But I think the business model is broken. How many $20 (pick a number) subscriptions can I afford? And how much time can you, the writer, put into making your site eye-catching, more engaging every x number of days?
Is federation an answer? Is it even possible in Substack?
So I know I'm not really answering your question, Frank. Apologies. But you got me thinking. I'm at least in the neighborhood. :-) You're doing great work. Keep it up.
I keep wondering if Substack will start doing package things so you can subscribe to multiple Substacks at a cheaper price. $5 a month is actually the cheapest they allow, though I can make the yearly pretty cheap.
I enjoy almost everything you put out there. Most everything you publish is "Fun!" I don't like your anti-Trump/pro-DeSantis stuff. The tone is off. It sounds ugly.
I'm a broke college student. Otherwise I'd subscribe. Only critique is sometimes when you post short stories, it's hard to keep up and figure out where it started (maybe I'm not looking hard enough?)
Really, I have only a few subscriptions to internet content, and they are all mass market sites. I also only subscribe at the cheapest rates. If not really cheap I don’t subscribe.
Love your writing and have been a reader of yours almost since you stared, including your novels - so you do have some of my money.
Only thing I don’t like of yours, is the now endless Desantis AI shtick.
I like most of what you've done on Substack (I won't say 'all', because I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting because it was less awesome). The absurdist humor is something I enjoy, and you make it work far better than it should.
I particularly liked Origin Story. I looked forward to seeing those chapters in my inbox.
I also like the short stories you've done based on the worlds you've created (like Hellbender: the Bit). This seems like the right venue for shorter works like that, if they didn't fit into a novel you were writing (or even if they do - sort-of like a sneak peek or teaser). I'd like to see more of those.
I hope to do more long-form short stories, but am trying to get the last Superego done first (which is taking longer than I hoped).
I would like others to comment more so I'm not just HOLDING UP THE COMMENTS SECTION BY MYSELF
Just kidding I would echo more short stories.
I do need to get more active in the comment section. I really love all your feedback and need to encourage more by being more active myself.
Hey, I try my best!
I really like the short stories, especially the serial form Origin Story. But if you need your muse to be focused on the last Superego book, that's understandable. You can always add more Winston to the Substack, but you should probably reserve that for the paid subscribers and not the unwashed masses.
It feels unseemly to me to paywall Winchester, but should add more Winchester.
Pictures of Spider-Man are overrated! Pictures of Winchester are where it's at!
I know it's not helpful, Frank, but just be you. Some of us think you're incredible.
It's helpful to hear.
I loved “Origin Story”. I forget what you titled it, but the stories poking fun at the Star Wars universe were hilarious too.
Yeah, I like making fun of Star Wars.
And I'm glad you liked Origin Story. I was proud of that one, but I wasn't sure how many were reading it.
It wouldn't hurt your writing to dumb it down.
I think it would hurt. The point of writing is to prove to everyone how oh so clever I am.
As a free subscriber, I’m getting my money’s worth...
But you could have so much more!
As any good Chicago boy does, I embrace Mies van der Rohe, “Less is more...”
I'd like to see you add more subscribers! What works ... I don't know. The folks below have solid insight.
In general, I find Substack a little too vanilla. One writer's site looks and feels like another. And I have lots of people I genuinely enjoy wanting me to subscribe. But I think the business model is broken. How many $20 (pick a number) subscriptions can I afford? And how much time can you, the writer, put into making your site eye-catching, more engaging every x number of days?
Is federation an answer? Is it even possible in Substack?
So I know I'm not really answering your question, Frank. Apologies. But you got me thinking. I'm at least in the neighborhood. :-) You're doing great work. Keep it up.
I keep wondering if Substack will start doing package things so you can subscribe to multiple Substacks at a cheaper price. $5 a month is actually the cheapest they allow, though I can make the yearly pretty cheap.
I enjoy almost everything you put out there. Most everything you publish is "Fun!" I don't like your anti-Trump/pro-DeSantis stuff. The tone is off. It sounds ugly.
I can be less pro-DeSantis!
i don't like your riffs on star wars and other tv/movie characters as much as your original characters.
I like making fun of pop culture, but criticism noted.
It's been a little while since the last Short Story/Fun Short. I like those!
Cool! I like doing those and try to do them semi-regularly.
I'm a broke college student. Otherwise I'd subscribe. Only critique is sometimes when you post short stories, it's hard to keep up and figure out where it started (maybe I'm not looking hard enough?)
I only did one short story in parts, and every one of them had a link at the beginning to the first part.
Ah my bad
It’s not you, it’s me.
Really, I have only a few subscriptions to internet content, and they are all mass market sites. I also only subscribe at the cheapest rates. If not really cheap I don’t subscribe.
Love your writing and have been a reader of yours almost since you stared, including your novels - so you do have some of my money.
Only thing I don’t like of yours, is the now endless Desantis AI shtick.
I'm afraid I can't stop the DeSantis AI or I'll lose.
I'll be happy with some of your money (though I always want more).
Victory, but at what price?
Fair enough.
From IMAO I always liked caption this, and straight line of the day.
Those were the things I didn't write!
I like the brief satires on Star Wars, GI Joe, etc. Those are hilarious and why I subscribe.
I enjoy your snarky but subtle comments about day to day current nonsense. Keep that up please; makes my day better. =)