Let me start by saying: I love that so many writers are finding their people and their voices on Substack. Truly. I cheer for every author who hits “publish” and puts their work into the world. But after a lot of thought, I’ve realized Substack just isn’t the right fit for me—and I wanted to share why, and where I am showing up instead.
First, I already have a website and an email list. They’re mine. I built them. I control the content, the branding, the delivery. No algorithms. No terms suddenly changing overnight. No platform taking center stage over my actual writing. And for me, that kind of ownership and stability matters.
Because here’s the thing: platforms come and go. (TikTok, anyone?) What seems like the new frontier one year can be in courtrooms or government crosshairs the next. I tell my clients this all the time: build your email list first. Social platforms are borrowed space. Your email list? That’s home.
Additionally, I just don’t have the bandwidth—mentally or logistically—to juggle another platform. Every day I juggle them for my clients, but I don’t want to do it for myself. I know that connecting with readers takes intention. I also know that I want to spend my energy on creating work that matters, not managing more logins and trying to build another following from scratch.
So yes, I do use Instagram, mostly as a little “proof of life” – and because it’s the platform I find least annoying at the moment. (This does vary from day-to-day, but for now…Instagram is where I am.)
I also have concerns about some of the voices Substack has chosen to elevate—or, at the very least, not moderate. Of course, I know this is happening everywhere – but I believe platforms have a responsibility to create safe, inclusive spaces. So I’m keeping my social footprint small—or smallish.
If you want to keep up with my writing, book updates, or just peek behind the scenes of the creative process, the best way is through my email list. It’s personal, intentional, and fully mine. No distractions. No noise. Just real connection, one email at a time. (And, currently, I only send out one email per month—and in the summer, it’s every other month—so there’s no real overload with emails either.)
Thanks for reading—and for supporting slow, grounded, meaningful creative work in a world that’s always pushing us to do more faster. I’m so glad you’re here.