Ok, you've convinced me to give it a shot. Not to spend all of my time there, but to put in some time there every week. You say that people don't necessarily head over to your Substack. What is your conversion rate of people on Reddit to your other work?
Non fiction is a little different, in that you won’t really need your own subreddit. But you should join groups that are relevant to your niche and allow link/article posting. Comment on other people’s stuff so you’re not just spamming self promo.
I'm pretty much thinking I would call the the sub-Reddit "Sarah's Writing Workshop" or something like that, because it would basically be where I could compile all of my workshopping from all my social media.
I have a Reddit account, but I've never done much with it. A few times I tried to be active, but then life got too busy and it fell by the way side. I haven't had the spare energy to get back into it and try again. That said, I joined your community.
Hooray! Can we party next week and we can double it up with celebrating me being done painting the house (hopefully. Please, let me be done by next week.)
Ok, I'm sold. I don't have the best opinion of Reddit (to put it lightly), but I'll give it a shot lol. I managed to make a sub-reddit though I haven't posted anything there yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/germanicusfiction/
I do agree there are lots of things to hate about Reddit. Much of the discourse is an absolute cesspool. Some communities make my skin crawl. But fiction spaces largely seem immune to the sites worst tendencies.
I joined your sub! Excited to see what you do with your community
Of course! I know I broke this down into quite a few steps, but the process is not horribly time consuming. You can set up your own community in like 15 minutes.
Other than that, it’s just carving out a little time to read other writers.
It sounds good but I really don't like the idea of other "creators" just stealing your stuff. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I know that won't happen all the time but I feel it's something I really need to think about.
this is the first advice piece for social media that i've seen that actually makes sense. converting people who look at pictures on instagram or videos on tiktok to people who read longish stories on substack is just not plausible to me. but people on reddit are already readers, and the communities are so well curated, it feels like a place where planting seeds can actually bear fruit. thanks for the in-depth guide.
Thanks for writing this article. I'm a long time redditor and this exceeded my expectations!
I’m glad you found this useful!
Ok, you've convinced me to give it a shot. Not to spend all of my time there, but to put in some time there every week. You say that people don't necessarily head over to your Substack. What is your conversion rate of people on Reddit to your other work?
If a story on Reddit does very well, I usually net a couple paid subs.
My best conversions have come from when I publish a teaser story that ties into my other work
But I also focus on non fiction, so will it still work for me?
Non fiction is a little different, in that you won’t really need your own subreddit. But you should join groups that are relevant to your niche and allow link/article posting. Comment on other people’s stuff so you’re not just spamming self promo.
But still, I'm tempted to have my own since I'm venturing into fiction too. I guess I figure I might as well see how it goes.
Do ittttttt!
I'm pretty much thinking I would call the the sub-Reddit "Sarah's Writing Workshop" or something like that, because it would basically be where I could compile all of my workshopping from all my social media.
Here's my nearly five year old profile updated: https://www.reddit.com/u/sarahstyf/s/iP7wNumhw5
Thanks for the ICYMI Note, Cole. I don't know how this got past my inbox.
I didn’t email it. I just posted it to notes. It’s for my fellow writers, not readers
I have a Reddit account, but I've never done much with it. A few times I tried to be active, but then life got too busy and it fell by the way side. I haven't had the spare energy to get back into it and try again. That said, I joined your community.
Well congrats, you happen to be member 800!! Welcome to the party 🥹
Hooray! Can we party next week and we can double it up with celebrating me being done painting the house (hopefully. Please, let me be done by next week.)
Yes we can. Fingers crossed for us
Ok, I'm sold. I don't have the best opinion of Reddit (to put it lightly), but I'll give it a shot lol. I managed to make a sub-reddit though I haven't posted anything there yet: https://www.reddit.com/r/germanicusfiction/
I do agree there are lots of things to hate about Reddit. Much of the discourse is an absolute cesspool. Some communities make my skin crawl. But fiction spaces largely seem immune to the sites worst tendencies.
I joined your sub! Excited to see what you do with your community
Thanks. I've been looking through your profile so I can get an idea of what to do. But I'm still figuring it out.
This is really handy. Thank you for sharing. I just need to actually find time for this.
Of course! I know I broke this down into quite a few steps, but the process is not horribly time consuming. You can set up your own community in like 15 minutes.
Other than that, it’s just carving out a little time to read other writers.
It sounds good but I really don't like the idea of other "creators" just stealing your stuff. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I know that won't happen all the time but I feel it's something I really need to think about.
Perhaps, but keep in mind this could happen anywhere. Someone could pop onto your Substack and scrape all the text off of your stories and articles.
Risk tolerance is something every creator needs to consider. I still do think it’s worth it.
Thanks for reading!
this is the first advice piece for social media that i've seen that actually makes sense. converting people who look at pictures on instagram or videos on tiktok to people who read longish stories on substack is just not plausible to me. but people on reddit are already readers, and the communities are so well curated, it feels like a place where planting seeds can actually bear fruit. thanks for the in-depth guide.
This is what my experience has been. There is a ton of existing merit-based infrastructure here that writers can use to succeed.
You’re spot on with your reader assessment: Redditors are readers already. This isn’t a medium shift!
No… your reward is paying subscribers. I understand the promotion side is not for everyone though.