Using the Substack platform to publish serialized fiction, writing essays, or build a reader audience through email and web posts.
Substack is a publishing platform that lets writers send email newsletters and host web-based posts, with options for both free and paid subscriptions. For fiction writers, it's become a popular way to serialize novels and short stories, publish craft essays, or build a readership without needing a traditional publisher. The platform handles email delivery, payment processing, and provides a built-in discovery network where readers can find new writers. You keep your subscriber list and can export it anytime.
Substack gives you a way to start publishing your work today, build an audience in real time, and even earn money from subscribers who value what you write. For a creative writing student, it's one of the lowest-friction ways to go from "I write things" to "I'm a published writer with readers." The feedback loop of real readers responding to your work is invaluable for growth.
The "Fight Club" author moved to Substack to serialize new fiction and share unfiltered writing advice, proving established authors see value in the platform.
A masterclass in close reading and craft analysis, where Saunders breaks down classic short stories for a paying audience of writers and readers.
Blends personal essays, poetry, and cultural criticism in a way that showcases Substack's flexibility for literary writers.
Pick a cadence you can sustain - even once a month works. Subscribers need to know when to expect you, and consistency builds trust.
Start free, build a reader base, prove your value, then introduce paid tiers. Most successful Substacks keep some content free to attract new subscribers.
Use Substack as your home base but promote it on social media, at writing events, and through cross-promotion with other Substack writers.
Create a Substack account (it's free) and publish your first post today. Write a 500-word piece introducing yourself as a writer: what you write, why you write it, and what readers can expect if they subscribe. Then share the link with three people whose opinion you trust. The goal isn't perfection - it's getting your voice out into the world and starting the habit of publishing.