Did a quick-glance read and I feel you … but the predicament that at least I am in is that every writer wants their readers to sign up for a paid subscription. I’m on a budget. I can only afford a very few. So, I set myself up for the free version and take my time figuring out who I want to pay to read their stuff. It’s not something I can know, up-front.
I suppose, this is why newspapers did so well for so long: One, low price for everyone, and all the authors included. I believe Medium was set up for one-subscription that included many authors, but the quality within? Some of it is beyond ridiculous, so I cancelled my subscription. At this point, there is only one author at Medium that I still follow, a medical doctor, and I wish he was elsewhere. As for substack: It is not user-friendly or intuitive, it’s borderline spammy, and it feels insane that every subscription is by author. Makes me want to become a publisher of great journalism, myself. A non-profit that has high standards and doesn’t leave the majority out by being too high-fallutin’ or too trashy. Moderation really does have the most benefits. So, do what you have to do. These are difficult times.
Thank you for your comment! I’ve hoped from the beginning that Substack would develop tools so that readers could sort of put together their own newspaper/magazines from different parts. It’s a complicated technical problem and it brings down the receipts for each contributor, but it seems like a more realistic future than expecting readers to support all the writers who interest them individually.
Best wishes for your short retreat for reflection! I love reading Book Post in all its variety, and hope you find a way to keep it going, especially in this moment when I am in despair over the destruction of my country. Book Post offers me a little oasis of thoughtful writing, introduction to new ideas and books. Recently you have also looked more at what is threatening the culture, so it is not always a tranquil place, but it always remains a place where I find nourishment.
I had a brief panic seeing this headline in my inbox, and was relieved to see it was not of the "shutting down" variety. Hope your sojourn is inspiring, truly. Is there a different platform? More options? Updated pricing? Wider partnerships? I have no idea. It's a lot to chew on.
Anyway, I've been following along since the Little Star days, and I will continue to do so (& to pay for the privilege) as long as you're corralling whatever it is you happen to be corralling. I appreciate the variety, and your perspective (& that of Book Post writ large), and all of the work you do here!
Ann, I'm sorry Book Post is struggling to grow its audience. Book Post was one of the first Substacks I subscribed to years ago, and I was just thinking about it how it's one of the few I'd recommend to other readers. Your combination of thoughtful, meticulously researched journalism and original criticism from some of our best writers is really special (and rare on this platform). Where else can I read Jamaica Kincaid and Joy Williams *and* learn about what's happening in publishing and libraries? There are plenty of reader-influencers and social media-inspired book talk on Substack, but there's only one Book Post. I hope you enjoy the well-deserved break!
Liz, thank you so much, I am so grateful to have you as a reader and frequent commenter. I just learned at a Substack thing last night that I was one of the first Substacks! I had no idea. Gives me some oomph to carry on.
Would it make sense to create an advisory board, so you're not shouldering this entirely alone? I would ardently agree with some of the earlier posters that the blend of offerings on BP seems exactly right to me. But, yes, it's more like Dr. Johnson's coffee house than a reader-growing engine. And, that, too, is why I like it, and read each issue.
An advisory board! Probably a good idea for me not to be listening only to my own advice! I *love* the Dr. Johnson’s coffee house comparison. That is the dream, maybe. So grateful to have you with us, Jean, as a reader and a writer.
With the advisory board, I wasn't thinking that you'd have to take the advice. You would still be the executive, and the AB would be there as a sounding board.
Just to note as a frequent contributor: one of the reasons Ann is able to bring so many great writers to this page is that she pays us well. My pieces for Bookforum are seen by many more pairs of eyes, but I actually make less money there. There are lots of reasons for this—Bookforum has to cover print costs. But this place is a special haven for those of us who make our living by the word. And it's only $6 a month to subscribe.
Ooof, this is really tough. I do appreciate what you are doing here, and the fact that it is creating paying opportunities for writers. I wish I had the budget to subscribe to more worthy outlets, but I do tend to prioritize paying for print media because I prefer to read in print. There is only so much time I want to spend on a screen, you know? Substack is a bit of a trap; because they work to make the platform sticky, you end up competing with a lot of other folks for the same audience. I don't think it's going to be sustainable for most in the long run. When I worked at Etsy, I saw a similar dynamic play out; the cost of doing business there just got too high for the mid-level folks. And like Etsy, Substack has this sheen of idealism that sort of obscures the fact that it is not just about giving creative people tools; they are in it to make money and will ultimately prioritize their money-makers. (This is another thing that gives me pause about paying for Substack-supported newsletters; I'm somewhat wary of the way the folks at the top seem to want to evolve and not sure I want to contribute to that.)
Thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. I do share your concerns. I’ve stayed around partly out of inertia, probably, and an awareness that I lack the skills and the time to fill in the infrastructure that Substack makes so easy. The “platform problem,” of how you make a platform that is not just a club for the like-minded while knowing where to draw the line on material that really is objectionable is kind of insoluble, especially at scale, but it could probably be done better here. That a bunch of people I respect who are pretty cognizant of media issues are still here indicates to me that they are falling around where I am on that question. Something to think about on my increasingly crowded and short-seeming “retreat”! Meanwhile I so appreciate having you as a reader and a like-minded presence. Thank you so much.
I have wondered if there is a publisher who would like to aggregate some of the book writing happening on Substack, to create a kind of co-op among some of the best independent writers here, who have built small audiences from their communities. I know your vision was to publish distinguished writers in this forum, and perhaps what I wish for is perhaps the exact opposite of what interests you. It is a conundrum, when those who are distinguished may not have much motive to commit to a civic movement and those who have been doing something similar as civic expression already don’t have the individual clout to really attract attention.
This is really a wonderful idea. I feel like publishers are scrambling to respond to social media and the opportunities there, and they have not figured out how to leverage more considered responses to books like Substacks into growing the readership. I wonder how to put this in motion.
Maybe your retreat will provide a path forward. And of course I would be happy to chat once this book festival I am working on for March 15-16 is over!
I'm relieved you are only taking a pause to reflect, not shutting down. I would miss what you do here—both the reviews you commission and the insights you share about the publishing scene and beyond. It feels essential, truly. Worth the subscription $$ and then some.
Thank you so much! I didn’t realize I set this up so it would look so much like I’m shutting down! Not quite there yet. I do love doing this, I gotta admit. Nice to be editing in a room where no one is throwing ashtrays 😉
Just a note to say how grateful I am to write for and read Book Post. And to agree with Michael: $6 a month to read Joy Williams, Kathryn Davis, and others is well worth it. Thanks for everything you do, Ann.
There’s a difference between numbers and reach. For instance, your review of a Belt book is what I believe led it to be read by smart readers and critics, and to be found by more of such people. Book Post is influential beyond numbers.
That’s now how Substack works, or quantifies, though. But you know as well as I do that prestige and circulation numbers, in cultural fields specifically, do not often correlate. That’s why outlets like yours have historically (and currently!) had rich patrons or moved to a nonprofit model.
How to square this circle right now I don’t know. But I do know that the value of your specific readership far outstrips the value of others whose numbers are larger.
Anne you are a hero to me and this is music to my ears. What you have done with Belt is such a model for our times, with all the hardships. I think those of us who try to make it through as a “business” know we do it to remain in service to readers rather than donors. It feels like honest work, but that doesn’t make it a winning strategy! So very grateful to think that you all, the readers, make this and other still-struggling cultural endeavors trying to find a place in these chaotic times more than the sum of our parts.
I can say that Belt has only survived against every and all odds, and to great diminishment of my personal finances. I also think endeavors like this don't need to last forever, and having a plan for when and why to wind down should always be on the table, and not seen as some terrible, handwringing fate (I was in the process of winding down Belt when we were approached re: acquisition). So if you decide that Book Post isn't what you, personally, want to continue doing, for whatever reason, do it! The beauty of the gig economy is you have the freedom to walk away. And if you do want to continue with it, and that means finding more, different ways to make the numbers work, then maybe Substack isn't going to be the place for it, or maybe you will have to pay the critics less (certainly a road many other review outlets have gone down before!), or publish less often, or whatever. Guess what I'm saying is that I so understand how hard it is, and you don't owe anyone anything, and I hope you make decisions that are best for you, personally. And thank you for what you have created!
Did a quick-glance read and I feel you … but the predicament that at least I am in is that every writer wants their readers to sign up for a paid subscription. I’m on a budget. I can only afford a very few. So, I set myself up for the free version and take my time figuring out who I want to pay to read their stuff. It’s not something I can know, up-front.
I suppose, this is why newspapers did so well for so long: One, low price for everyone, and all the authors included. I believe Medium was set up for one-subscription that included many authors, but the quality within? Some of it is beyond ridiculous, so I cancelled my subscription. At this point, there is only one author at Medium that I still follow, a medical doctor, and I wish he was elsewhere. As for substack: It is not user-friendly or intuitive, it’s borderline spammy, and it feels insane that every subscription is by author. Makes me want to become a publisher of great journalism, myself. A non-profit that has high standards and doesn’t leave the majority out by being too high-fallutin’ or too trashy. Moderation really does have the most benefits. So, do what you have to do. These are difficult times.
Thank you for your comment! I’ve hoped from the beginning that Substack would develop tools so that readers could sort of put together their own newspaper/magazines from different parts. It’s a complicated technical problem and it brings down the receipts for each contributor, but it seems like a more realistic future than expecting readers to support all the writers who interest them individually.
Best wishes for your short retreat for reflection! I love reading Book Post in all its variety, and hope you find a way to keep it going, especially in this moment when I am in despair over the destruction of my country. Book Post offers me a little oasis of thoughtful writing, introduction to new ideas and books. Recently you have also looked more at what is threatening the culture, so it is not always a tranquil place, but it always remains a place where I find nourishment.
Oh this is so encouraging! Thank you so much. Just what I’m striving to do, really.
I had a brief panic seeing this headline in my inbox, and was relieved to see it was not of the "shutting down" variety. Hope your sojourn is inspiring, truly. Is there a different platform? More options? Updated pricing? Wider partnerships? I have no idea. It's a lot to chew on.
Anyway, I've been following along since the Little Star days, and I will continue to do so (& to pay for the privilege) as long as you're corralling whatever it is you happen to be corralling. I appreciate the variety, and your perspective (& that of Book Post writ large), and all of the work you do here!
A Little Star reader! What a thrill! Thank you so much for reading and subscribing and for this note of encouragement.
Ann, I'm sorry Book Post is struggling to grow its audience. Book Post was one of the first Substacks I subscribed to years ago, and I was just thinking about it how it's one of the few I'd recommend to other readers. Your combination of thoughtful, meticulously researched journalism and original criticism from some of our best writers is really special (and rare on this platform). Where else can I read Jamaica Kincaid and Joy Williams *and* learn about what's happening in publishing and libraries? There are plenty of reader-influencers and social media-inspired book talk on Substack, but there's only one Book Post. I hope you enjoy the well-deserved break!
Liz, thank you so much, I am so grateful to have you as a reader and frequent commenter. I just learned at a Substack thing last night that I was one of the first Substacks! I had no idea. Gives me some oomph to carry on.
Thanks for this; I read the entire piece. sorry I cannot afford a paid membership. (. how much is it again?) Julie
I am totally giving you one Julie! Stand by!
I love this business plan.
Rest, reassess, revive. ❤️
Thank you, dear faithful reader!
Would it make sense to create an advisory board, so you're not shouldering this entirely alone? I would ardently agree with some of the earlier posters that the blend of offerings on BP seems exactly right to me. But, yes, it's more like Dr. Johnson's coffee house than a reader-growing engine. And, that, too, is why I like it, and read each issue.
An advisory board! Probably a good idea for me not to be listening only to my own advice! I *love* the Dr. Johnson’s coffee house comparison. That is the dream, maybe. So grateful to have you with us, Jean, as a reader and a writer.
With the advisory board, I wasn't thinking that you'd have to take the advice. You would still be the executive, and the AB would be there as a sounding board.
Keep the faith Ann.
🙏🏼
Just to note as a frequent contributor: one of the reasons Ann is able to bring so many great writers to this page is that she pays us well. My pieces for Bookforum are seen by many more pairs of eyes, but I actually make less money there. There are lots of reasons for this—Bookforum has to cover print costs. But this place is a special haven for those of us who make our living by the word. And it's only $6 a month to subscribe.
Ooof, this is really tough. I do appreciate what you are doing here, and the fact that it is creating paying opportunities for writers. I wish I had the budget to subscribe to more worthy outlets, but I do tend to prioritize paying for print media because I prefer to read in print. There is only so much time I want to spend on a screen, you know? Substack is a bit of a trap; because they work to make the platform sticky, you end up competing with a lot of other folks for the same audience. I don't think it's going to be sustainable for most in the long run. When I worked at Etsy, I saw a similar dynamic play out; the cost of doing business there just got too high for the mid-level folks. And like Etsy, Substack has this sheen of idealism that sort of obscures the fact that it is not just about giving creative people tools; they are in it to make money and will ultimately prioritize their money-makers. (This is another thing that gives me pause about paying for Substack-supported newsletters; I'm somewhat wary of the way the folks at the top seem to want to evolve and not sure I want to contribute to that.)
Thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. I do share your concerns. I’ve stayed around partly out of inertia, probably, and an awareness that I lack the skills and the time to fill in the infrastructure that Substack makes so easy. The “platform problem,” of how you make a platform that is not just a club for the like-minded while knowing where to draw the line on material that really is objectionable is kind of insoluble, especially at scale, but it could probably be done better here. That a bunch of people I respect who are pretty cognizant of media issues are still here indicates to me that they are falling around where I am on that question. Something to think about on my increasingly crowded and short-seeming “retreat”! Meanwhile I so appreciate having you as a reader and a like-minded presence. Thank you so much.
I have wondered if there is a publisher who would like to aggregate some of the book writing happening on Substack, to create a kind of co-op among some of the best independent writers here, who have built small audiences from their communities. I know your vision was to publish distinguished writers in this forum, and perhaps what I wish for is perhaps the exact opposite of what interests you. It is a conundrum, when those who are distinguished may not have much motive to commit to a civic movement and those who have been doing something similar as civic expression already don’t have the individual clout to really attract attention.
This is really a wonderful idea. I feel like publishers are scrambling to respond to social media and the opportunities there, and they have not figured out how to leverage more considered responses to books like Substacks into growing the readership. I wonder how to put this in motion.
Maybe your retreat will provide a path forward. And of course I would be happy to chat once this book festival I am working on for March 15-16 is over!
I'm relieved you are only taking a pause to reflect, not shutting down. I would miss what you do here—both the reviews you commission and the insights you share about the publishing scene and beyond. It feels essential, truly. Worth the subscription $$ and then some.
Thank you so much! I didn’t realize I set this up so it would look so much like I’m shutting down! Not quite there yet. I do love doing this, I gotta admit. Nice to be editing in a room where no one is throwing ashtrays 😉
But do you *really* take your work seriously if you're not throwing things, Ann?
Is this a Brodsky reference
Nope. Close, though!
Thanks so much!
Just a note to say how grateful I am to write for and read Book Post. And to agree with Michael: $6 a month to read Joy Williams, Kathryn Davis, and others is well worth it. Thanks for everything you do, Ann.
Thank you so much Tony! I so did not want to alarm the writers with my fretting …
There’s a difference between numbers and reach. For instance, your review of a Belt book is what I believe led it to be read by smart readers and critics, and to be found by more of such people. Book Post is influential beyond numbers.
That’s now how Substack works, or quantifies, though. But you know as well as I do that prestige and circulation numbers, in cultural fields specifically, do not often correlate. That’s why outlets like yours have historically (and currently!) had rich patrons or moved to a nonprofit model.
How to square this circle right now I don’t know. But I do know that the value of your specific readership far outstrips the value of others whose numbers are larger.
Anne you are a hero to me and this is music to my ears. What you have done with Belt is such a model for our times, with all the hardships. I think those of us who try to make it through as a “business” know we do it to remain in service to readers rather than donors. It feels like honest work, but that doesn’t make it a winning strategy! So very grateful to think that you all, the readers, make this and other still-struggling cultural endeavors trying to find a place in these chaotic times more than the sum of our parts.
Oh golly what a wonderful note.
I can say that Belt has only survived against every and all odds, and to great diminishment of my personal finances. I also think endeavors like this don't need to last forever, and having a plan for when and why to wind down should always be on the table, and not seen as some terrible, handwringing fate (I was in the process of winding down Belt when we were approached re: acquisition). So if you decide that Book Post isn't what you, personally, want to continue doing, for whatever reason, do it! The beauty of the gig economy is you have the freedom to walk away. And if you do want to continue with it, and that means finding more, different ways to make the numbers work, then maybe Substack isn't going to be the place for it, or maybe you will have to pay the critics less (certainly a road many other review outlets have gone down before!), or publish less often, or whatever. Guess what I'm saying is that I so understand how hard it is, and you don't owe anyone anything, and I hope you make decisions that are best for you, personally. And thank you for what you have created!