I’m Starting a Substack Chat for Writers (Come Join Us!)

I don’t want this to be just another newsletter. So I’m creating a space for writers building their audience, improving their content, and exploring monetization.

I’ve been busy building the foundation of my Substack in the last 4 months, and now that I feel like I have something stable going on (continuous growth, publishing schedule, solid positioning, content themes defined, paid tier set, paid offer in place, relationships, and engagement habits), it’s time for the next step.

I want this to be more than just a newsletter, and Substack offers one incredible community-driven feature to make that happen - a publication Chat.

I’m already part of some and it’s been one of my favorite things to participate in. It’s where we share our latest content, introduce each other, and connect with one another.

I knew early on that I’d eventually start a Substack chat for my newsletter too, but I thought it would be later this year.

However, there isn’t really a reason to wait. I’m active on the platform daily, and so are all of you, so having another space to connect with each other and share our work can only be a good thing.

The purpose of this new initiative is to build a stronger community, increase engagement, network with each other and grow together.

I’ve already seen some of you connect with each other though comments on some of my posts and Notes. That makes me so happy! Imagine how much more can happen when we’re all in a room designed specifically for that - to share our work, connect, ask questions, and grow on Substack together.

That’s what the 2-Hour Blogger publication Chat will be all about, and it’s officially launching tomorrow.

If you’re subscribed, you’ll see a notification as well as the new thread popping on top of your messages.

If you’re building a Substack, growing an audience, or trying to monetize your writing, I’d love to see you there.

Inside the Chat, you will have weekly opportunities to:

• Introduce yourself and your publication;

• Share what you write about and who you help;

• Link to your latest Note;

• Share your latest post;

• Celebrate our wins;

• Get feedback;

• Connect with other creators building alongside you.

My goal is to keep this community intentional. To let it be a place for meaningful conversations, not just another space to drop links and move on. So there will be some rules to follow in the Chat, and I hope you respect them.

For example, whenever you respond in a thread, you also read other people’s answers, maybe comment on some, check out their profiles, follow or subscribe if it resonates. And who knows, collaborations can come out of this pretty soon.

It’s important to be respectful, kind to each other, and not make it all about you. For example, you can’t just share links to 10 Notes if you’re invited to show us your latest one.

This isn’t my idea, by the way, it’s what so many other creators on the platform are doing, and I can see why.

I joined a few newsletters only because of the engagement going on in their Chats, and it has indeed opened new doors for me.

I hope the community we build here will do the same for you and your writing business.

If you’ve been looking for a circle of writers who genuinely want to help each other grow, this is it.

Watch out for the official Chat opening tomorrow. The first thread will invite you to introduce yourself.

I’m curious to see who shows up.

I have a feeling this could become one of the best parts of this publication.

Maybe I’ll hear from some of you who’ve been quiet so far. Maybe you’ll see familiar faces in there and say hi. Maybe you’ll get new subscribers from the first thread. Anything is possible.

And whatever niche you’re in, don’t forget that even in spaces like that, your ideal reader/subscriber/customer can find you and read your work.

Substack is designed for engagement and connections, and Chats are one of the most intimate and welcoming spaces on the platform.

It’s not just another feature, it can become the sole reason someone subscribes to a publication, remains a subscriber, or becomes a paid one.

There are so many benefits to this.

So, tell me. Are you joining the Chat tomorrow?

Do you have a Chat enabled for your publication, or are you planning to do that any time soon?

PS, As usual, I will report back some time from now to tell you how the new Chat is doing, and what role it plays in my growth on the platform.