Why I’m on Substack

 Why I’m on Substack

This question is one I often ask of anything: How can I align the stars?

I’d like to be a working artist. I’d like to get paid for my content, for being a creative. I’d like to be a real author. If only the universe allowed me. I’ve been doing this shtick for over 35 years and I’m not a spring chicken anymore.

For instance, random strangers ask me if I’m retired.

The answer is no and I often don’t even know what it means to be retired.

But, again, I’d like to. Some days all I want to do is write and feel like I’m reaching an audience, that my work has meaning.

Substack is, hopefully, one more way to engage a reader and grow my audience. It’s about having a platform—something writers are constantly asked about particularly if they want an agent.

It’s a lot like Wordpress.com especially as I’ve noticed at Wordpress more premium options. The difference is Substack is free. Whereas at Wordpress you have to pay—if even just to make sure your site is free of advertisements. At Substack there is the option to make money—if subscribers are willing to dig deeper in order to engage with me and go deeper with the idea od micro memoir.

Here’s what I’d like to offer:

What’s behind the paywall?

--Access to the Substack chat

--Pen to Paper, hour of communal free writing for paid subscribers (opening prompt, bit of an update)

--bi-weekly hot flash newsletter (a bit of this and that, prompts, micro craft essay, places to submit)

--$10 off coaching on your memoir (2,500 word limit, available at $50)

--book club (in the works 

Why should I become a paid subscriber?

If you aren’t already a paying subscriber, please consider becoming one. Not only will you have supported a hard-working teaching author, you’ll help me build this to a place where I can do more ambitious and better things with it.

Go to https://janehertenstein.substack.com/