The Real Reason I'm on Substack
I suck at asking for things, but...
Happy Birthday, Hey Eleanor 2.0!
Or should say: Happy Belated Birthday, Hey Eleanor 2.0… because your birthday is February 5. As the mom who threw her daughter a half-birthday party this year because I couldn’t get my shit together last summer, this is the most on brand.
For the last year, I’ve written about one post a week. They aren’t always great, and that’s okay. My entire goal here isn’t to have a bajillion paid subscribers (though please, feel free!), or to sell you a bunch of crap you don’t need from Amazon.
Simply put, I craved a regular writing practice. Even though I always run my essays through my “is this helpful or interesting” filter, my own desire to write sits at the core of every post. It’s how I process things, and where I feel the most flow.
However…
I do have a secondary Substack motivation: To build my “platform.”
If you don’t know, wrote a memoir called Mom Genes in 2020-2021. It’s about my decision to become a mom, despite my family’s generations of trauma around motherhood. I thought writing the book was the hard part, but that simply placed me at Everest’s basecamp.
In the years since, I’ve signed with an agent (twice… read about that here), perfected my book proposal, and am now trying to find a publisher. There are so many things that must happen before your book hits the shelves. I’ve made some progress… but most days, I’m just waiting out storms in my tent, wondering if I’ll even get a crack at the summit.
You see, publishers want writers to have a platform. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means they want assurance that if they publish your book, you will already have a group of people who will want to buy it. Here’s what that might look like:
A follower number at 100,000+ Instagram or TikTok or whatever social media platform you’re on
Website traffic looking like rush hour in NYC on the Friday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend
A number of email list subscribers to rival that of Wimbleton’s seating capacity
You don’t 100% “need” these numbers, but it helps A LOT.
Part of my Substack strategy is to build my subscriber list to show publishers that people like my writing and want to support me.
My goal is to hit 10,000 by the end of the year.
I’m currently at 2,750. Gulp!
Sharing my goal number (one I FULLY admit feels TOO BIG, even though I know it’s possible!) makes my B-hole pucker… because what if I fail, and fail so publicly? But also: I know there are a lot of Hey Eleanor readers who want to see me succeed.
So I shall challenge my inner Eleanor Roosevelt and just ask for what I need, even though asking for what I need is so, so hard for me.
Here’s how you can help:
If you like one of my posts…
Share it with a friend! You can just forward the email from your inbox, or share by clicking on this cute button.
Comment on it! You can even comment on someone else’s comment. The Lords of the Algorithm love to see that.
Restack it! See the little circular arrow thingie? That’s how you restack. You can even leave a comment on your restack.
Tell a friend who might enjoy Hey Eleanor that they can subscribe (and it’s free!)
Also—if you or someone you know has a Substack, podcast, or other “thing” I might be a good guest on, please introduce us! I love talking about facing fears, old houses, writing, food, and making ever day an adventure.
Here are my favorite Hey Eleanor! posts from the last year (maybe you’d like to share one with a friend?):
I Tried It: Date Night at the Vegan/Alcohol-Free Restaurant (RIP to this restaurant)
What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting Your Postpartum Body [or: Maybe this is just middle age] This one seemed to strike a chord with women across the board, whether they’re postpartum or not!
I'm Sorry Taylor Swift, I Cannot Love You Or: a Love Letter to the Chicks
What Might Happen When You Buy the Creepiest House on the Block Sorry I made some of you cry
Dear Minneapolis: Uptown is Dying. Here's What We Should Do About It I’m still fielding emails, texts, and DMs from this one. Be the change!
Who Will I Be on Vacation? This one still makes me lol.
One last note: A big thank you to each and every one of you who’ve supported me and Eleanor over the last 12(!) years. It’s helped with my anxiety, boosted my confidence as a writer, made me feel less self-conscious, and more connected. Thank you x 10000000!
Got questions about publishing a book? Ask away!
That's a lot of subscribers, I think. Also, we represent folks who are already interested in your writing and that means we are people who will buy your book. You can't say the same thing about "followers."
The belated half bday roller party was great and so is your writing. I know there are at least 10,000 people out there clamoring for entry level bidet reviews. You got this!