A Nonfiction Author’s Guide to Substack

I am not a big fan of Substack for novelists. Most novelists are better off using the free version of Kit and WordPress. However, Substack is a completely different story for nonfiction authors.
If you’re a nonfiction author who wants to grow your platform without juggling five different tech tools, this week’s Novel Marketing episode is for you.
In this week’s episode, I talk with screenwriter and Substack superuser James Cary about how nonfiction authors can use Substack to attract readers, deepen engagement, and earn recurring income.

You’ll learn:
-When Substack is (and isn’t) a good fit for authors
-How to get your first 100+ subscribers
-When and whether to monetize your Substack

If you’ve been wondering whether you should start a Substack or what to do with the one you already have, listen in or read the blog version to get help on your decision and guidance on your plan.

Times
00:00 Introduction
02:11 What is Substack?
04:53 How does Substack compare to other tools?
08:04 Who is Substack best suited for?
17:55 How are journalists using Substack?
19:35 Who is Substack not a good fit for?
22:32 How long should a Substack post be?
23:53 How can you get more Substack subscribers?
29:56 How does Substack handle SEO?
34:19 How does monetization work on Substack?
39:20 How useful are Substack's analytics?
44:21 How do you decide what to make free vs. paid?
48:22 How much money should writers realistically expect to make on Substack?
58:10 Does Substack insulate you from cancel culture?
01:04:44 Can Substack work for fiction writers?

BLOG VERSION: https://www.authormedia.com/a-nonfict...

PATRON TOOLBOX: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-to...

PATREON:   / novelmarketing