New look, new feel. Same me.
Why I'm switching to Substack and what you can expect.
If you’ve been a long-time subscriber, you may notice things look a little different in today’s newsletter. That’s because…things are different!
I have decided to move my newsletter over to Substack. If you follow other writers on Substack, then this platform will already be familiar to you. If not, let me explain what Substack is and why I made the move.
What is it?
Substack is a platform for writers, bloggers, journalists, and the like. It’s simply a way for me to get newsletters and blog posts out to my readers. Many of my writer-friends and bloggers I follow have been flocking to Substack, as it offers advantages over other platforms.
Why the switch?
Two of the main reasons writers, myself included, like this platform are:
NO ALGORITHMS and NO ADS.
Unlike Facebook and other social media platforms that decide whose posts I want to see or who wants to see mine, Substack allows readers to decide who they will follow. And there’s no need for ads. Excitement about a writer’s work is built from the ground up based solely on the quality of the writing and the interests of the audience they are trying to reach.
Another thing that drew me to Substack is the hope that I won’t feel quite so lonely. Substack offers a quick and easy way to “like” (❤️) or “comment” on the post right through the email message. I really hope to hear a little more from my dear readers (like you!) than the oft-heard crickets. It truly makes my day!
One more thing that makes a writer’s day is to see that her readers value her work. This can be through “likes”, comments, or (as finally happened for me) book sales and reviews. And really, that is enough for me.
But Substack also makes it possible for readers to pay for their subscription (though never required…there’s always a free option). This is nice for those who have the means and want to support a writer’s everyday work in a more tangible way. Think of it as buying your friend a coffee to show you appreciate her time.
You might be wondering…
…how will this change what I’m accustomed to seeing from Linda Hanstra?
My answer: it shouldn’t change much at all!
It’s the same me. Writing the same stuff.
It’s just delivered to your inbox in a slightly different format. And my website will remain where it’s been, with blog posts and Lake Logs going back several years. (My last 20 blog posts have been copied over to Substack to let new readers sample my writing, but the rest of the archives remain at www.lindahanstra.com.)
What about the Resource Library?
I’m still working out the details on that. If you were a subscriber before I moved to Substack, you will continue to get free access. Just click the button below and it will take you to the Library on my website. You’ll have to enter the password you received in all your previous emails from me. (If you’ve deleted them or can’t remember the password, please send me a message and I will get it to you.) Then hang onto it!
From here on out, new subscribers will only get access to all of those perks (which I’ll outline in a future post) by becoming paid subscribers.
If you have questions or comments, let me know! And thanks so much for your patience as I make this transition. Hopefully, it will be fairly seamless…🤞🙏
Writing for you,
Linda
