Creating Your Own Substack
With a focus on food and the garden, though widely applicable
Here is a new date for Creating Your Own Substack.
The first four of these gatherings filled in a little more than an hour, so don’t hang about.
I have had to make a change to how these work. To attend, you now have to be a paid subscriber. I’ve had to do this for two reasons.
Firstly, while I wanted them to be open to free subscribers too, the demand means I need to run them frequently rather than once in a while that I’d imagined.
Secondly, these gatherings are for writers - established and aspiring - who are ready to take their creativity and time seriously. It gives me great pleasure being useful. Our first gathering included 9 free subscribers, 7 of whom didn’t show. Those 7 places could’ve been taken by people who were very keen to attend.
Much here will remain accessible for free subscribers, but I don’t want to risk this happening again with gatherings. If the gatherings are full, it maximises their benefit, and that’s what I’m keen to do especially when there is a queue of enthusiastic people waiting. Time is precious and we should value each others.
So, if you would like to attend - and can definitely do so - please read below, and register asap. They shift very quickly.
Is it for you
If you are, as I once was, standing at the side of the Substack pool, wondering how deep the water is, how warm it might be, whether you can swim well enough, and if that ill-fitting costume really was a good idea, I can help.
If you’ve started with Substack but feel adrift, that you’ve added an unwelcome task to your to-do list, I can help.
I’ve been here 20 months, I have a best-selling Substack that has been featured in Substack’s worldwide newsletter, and I love it. And I think I may be able to help you see whether you might too.
I also wrote an award-winning blog from 2002 until 2017, so my experience of writing for an online audience is considerable.
There are many universal truths about writing online, as well as specifics that are relevant to only some, perhaps even just you. This is your chance to explore anything that is on your mind about writing here.
I have much to share, I will tell you all I have discovered, what I think are the crucial things to bear in mind, and the fullness of my experience here, in the hope that it will help you decide whether this might be the place to make the home of your writing.
I am open to questions: this will be as much of a conversation as you like.
There will be other gatherings that focus on specific elements of Substack and also other elements of the writing process - more about that here.
When: Monday 18 March 2024, 9.00am GMT
Format
This will be a Zoom meeting, lasting 50-60 minutes
Cost
It is free.
Attending
To attend, you have to be a paid subscriber to The Imperfect Umbrella.
And once you are subscribed, you have to register (see below) to attend.
Please only register if you are definitely attending - numbers are limited.
How do I register
If you are already a paid subscriber, please reply to this email saying you’d like to attend: if there is a place available, I will reply confirming your registration and send the zoom link.
If you are a free subscriber or not yet a subscriber to The Imperfect Umbrella:
first become a paid subscriber (click the link below)
then email me and I will reply confirming registration if there is space and with the zoom link
Asking questions
If you have any questions there should be chance to ask them on the day, but if you want to be sure that they are covered, please let me know by email
Lastly
In order to protect attendees privacy and encourage relaxed openness, I will not be uploading a film of this after the event.
I hope to see you there.
Mark
I am so sorry to hear that so many people decided not to turn up at your first event. My pen and notebook are at the ready for 7th March 9am.
I would have loved to attend but that is 4am EST. I hope it’s a wonderful conversation!