Wow Amanda! 800! I'm both envious and happy for you. Thank you for sharing your strategy and for being honest about what it took to grow! Getting featured is HUGE! I remember that Note you shared too! I believe in doing the work and making sure it's GOOD, plus a little luck too. Thrilled for your continued success! :)
Well done Amanda, and thoroughly deserved. You're a beacon for me a l wrestle to get my own unruly thoughts written down. Looking forward to writing seasons!
Oh boy, I feel this part very deeply: “All these years, I had been angry that Luck wasn’t landing in the field of my fitful writing habits and self doubts, when perhaps Luck was hovering, like, “Give me a landing spot, lady.”
Aug 17, 2023·edited Aug 17, 2023Liked by Amanda B. Hinton
I'm truly happy that you're seeing such success in such a short amount of time on this platform! Not only are you doing great work here, but you're a great example of what this community is all about!
As an autistic woman/writer, I feel like others come with an innate ability to "play the game" (eg. networking, marketing) that I don't possess. So I'm grateful for and somewhat mystified by growth when it happens. Still, I try not to get hung up on numbers and instead focus on being authentic. I'm fairly new to this Substack but Amanda's authenticity shines through in this post and others I've read, so that may well be the key to success.
This Substack newsletter is mostly an experiment of seeing whether I can be online exactly as I am. So much about myself seems to disqualify me in other areas of life, business, marketing, etc. And so far, I'm discovering that literalist thinking, getting stuck in cognitive race tracks and the inability to "play the game," are quite possibly exactly what the world is longing for. I’d surmise the parts that you question most about yourself are also what the world needs most, too.
I do think inside me, inside autistic and neurodiverse people everywhere, is this indelible gift of being ready to offer friendship. And that is such a needed gift in the world. I receive the friendship of your comments and I hope others receive them as well. 🫶
I love that you say you need an editor even though you’re an excellent editor. Kind a like surgeons don’t operate on themselves. You touch on a long term shame I have there - I can do this for you, why can’t I do this for me? And does that mean I am not really good enough.
Amanda, this is great. Thank you for sharing. I always tell myself that I'm not going to look at my subscriber numbers, but I know the number and there's always that tiny rush when I see the words "new subscriber" in my email inbox. Break out the ice cream! If I haven't interacted with that person, I rush to look them up. How did they find me? Did they read something they liked or did the photo of Bodhi (dog) entice them? (Thank you, Bodhi, I owe you at least 1/2 my subscribers.) I experienced a crazy bump after the "12 Days" piece I wrote a few weeks ago on a whim. From seven then to 71 now. I had no clue what was happening. Then I realized -- connection. It's all about connection. If I get subscriber per day now, that's more than enough to make me more than happy. I love interacting with my "close circle" of readers, and there really is one. I love complimenting them (friendship pins :) ) and seeing what's on their minds. Maybe the circle will get bigger, but who's counting noses.
I loved this part --
"It was mind-boggling, but also not: I’ve been a damn good editor and storyteller for a long time. And I know my writing is a veritable buffet of good rhythms, insights and questions. This was just the first time in my life that an actual spotlight shone on my garden."
Ben, I think you do such a lovely job of scooping up readers, writers and friends wherever you go. I remember this friendship pin!! And I do love the energy that goes into looking at email addresses and acknowledging there was some point of connection that brought them to you. ☀️
Hi Amanda, thank you for sharing this post! I love reading your newsletters and find them truly inspiring. You said one of your strategies was to submit your info to a handful of newsletter directories. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know this, but what is a newsletter directory? I'm working hard to increase my subscribers as well and would love to use some of the tips you'd mentioned but am not sure where to start. Thanks for the help!
I didn't know what they were before either! But they are apparently A THING people use to find new information! The one I keep updated the most is inboxreads.co. I haven't checked lately, but it has maybe brought over five or six readers? Nothing earth-shattering, but those readers matter to me. ☀️
Always love reading about others' processes and what worked. We're all learning here in the space, which is one of the many things I love about Substack. There's a general humility among Substack writers that just feels so genuine. And that quote of yours about luck needing a place to land -- that is perfection.
Thank you, Amanda, for your honesty and sharing your journey and thought processes. Inspiring to read how you reflected on yourself and your writing, and realised how important it was to you. I think we have to learn to get out of our own way and do what we love and just write. Much love.
I just love so much that a heart centred writer who has so much light to shine and things to teach, who is working her buns off and who is a mighty fine writer is seeing and sharing her success.
And clearly I need my own editor because all of that was one sentence🤣.
Oof, the part about giving luck a place to land is just what I need to hear. For me it's also giving grace to my ADHD brain and not trying to force myself into models that don't work. Thanks for sharing your process with such careful generosity!
Really live this article Amanda! Especially the part about leaving luck a place to land. For me that also means to show up for myself, if I want this I need to make it a priority, just like you also writes. As important as being a mother, my other work commitments, wifing and all else. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Wow Amanda! 800! I'm both envious and happy for you. Thank you for sharing your strategy and for being honest about what it took to grow! Getting featured is HUGE! I remember that Note you shared too! I believe in doing the work and making sure it's GOOD, plus a little luck too. Thrilled for your continued success! :)
Thanks, friend! ☀️
Well done Amanda, and thoroughly deserved. You're a beacon for me a l wrestle to get my own unruly thoughts written down. Looking forward to writing seasons!
Oh boy, I feel this part very deeply: “All these years, I had been angry that Luck wasn’t landing in the field of my fitful writing habits and self doubts, when perhaps Luck was hovering, like, “Give me a landing spot, lady.”
I'm truly happy that you're seeing such success in such a short amount of time on this platform! Not only are you doing great work here, but you're a great example of what this community is all about!
Appreciate you, Christy! 🫶
As an autistic woman/writer, I feel like others come with an innate ability to "play the game" (eg. networking, marketing) that I don't possess. So I'm grateful for and somewhat mystified by growth when it happens. Still, I try not to get hung up on numbers and instead focus on being authentic. I'm fairly new to this Substack but Amanda's authenticity shines through in this post and others I've read, so that may well be the key to success.
Julie, I feel so much in your comment.
This Substack newsletter is mostly an experiment of seeing whether I can be online exactly as I am. So much about myself seems to disqualify me in other areas of life, business, marketing, etc. And so far, I'm discovering that literalist thinking, getting stuck in cognitive race tracks and the inability to "play the game," are quite possibly exactly what the world is longing for. I’d surmise the parts that you question most about yourself are also what the world needs most, too.
I do think inside me, inside autistic and neurodiverse people everywhere, is this indelible gift of being ready to offer friendship. And that is such a needed gift in the world. I receive the friendship of your comments and I hope others receive them as well. 🫶
I do hope so! :)
I love that you say you need an editor even though you’re an excellent editor. Kind a like surgeons don’t operate on themselves. You touch on a long term shame I have there - I can do this for you, why can’t I do this for me? And does that mean I am not really good enough.
Amanda, this is great. Thank you for sharing. I always tell myself that I'm not going to look at my subscriber numbers, but I know the number and there's always that tiny rush when I see the words "new subscriber" in my email inbox. Break out the ice cream! If I haven't interacted with that person, I rush to look them up. How did they find me? Did they read something they liked or did the photo of Bodhi (dog) entice them? (Thank you, Bodhi, I owe you at least 1/2 my subscribers.) I experienced a crazy bump after the "12 Days" piece I wrote a few weeks ago on a whim. From seven then to 71 now. I had no clue what was happening. Then I realized -- connection. It's all about connection. If I get subscriber per day now, that's more than enough to make me more than happy. I love interacting with my "close circle" of readers, and there really is one. I love complimenting them (friendship pins :) ) and seeing what's on their minds. Maybe the circle will get bigger, but who's counting noses.
I loved this part --
"It was mind-boggling, but also not: I’ve been a damn good editor and storyteller for a long time. And I know my writing is a veritable buffet of good rhythms, insights and questions. This was just the first time in my life that an actual spotlight shone on my garden."
Thank you for sharing your garden.
Ben, I think you do such a lovely job of scooping up readers, writers and friends wherever you go. I remember this friendship pin!! And I do love the energy that goes into looking at email addresses and acknowledging there was some point of connection that brought them to you. ☀️
Super helpful, Amanda…the step by step, ascending with planned objectives moves to goal.
I’m happy for you and oh so glad I happened on to your post today! Thanks
Hi Amanda, thank you for sharing this post! I love reading your newsletters and find them truly inspiring. You said one of your strategies was to submit your info to a handful of newsletter directories. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know this, but what is a newsletter directory? I'm working hard to increase my subscribers as well and would love to use some of the tips you'd mentioned but am not sure where to start. Thanks for the help!
I didn't know what they were before either! But they are apparently A THING people use to find new information! The one I keep updated the most is inboxreads.co. I haven't checked lately, but it has maybe brought over five or six readers? Nothing earth-shattering, but those readers matter to me. ☀️
I will definitely check that out. Thanks so much for passing this info along and getting back to me, I really appreciate it! :)
Thanks so much for sharing your process! This is incredibly helpful and motivational for my small but growing newsletter!
Always love reading about others' processes and what worked. We're all learning here in the space, which is one of the many things I love about Substack. There's a general humility among Substack writers that just feels so genuine. And that quote of yours about luck needing a place to land -- that is perfection.
Thank you, Amanda, for your honesty and sharing your journey and thought processes. Inspiring to read how you reflected on yourself and your writing, and realised how important it was to you. I think we have to learn to get out of our own way and do what we love and just write. Much love.
I just love so much that a heart centred writer who has so much light to shine and things to teach, who is working her buns off and who is a mighty fine writer is seeing and sharing her success.
And clearly I need my own editor because all of that was one sentence🤣.
Well done Amanda, keep it coming!
I loved reading about your journey, Amanda. Thank you for sharing!
Oof, the part about giving luck a place to land is just what I need to hear. For me it's also giving grace to my ADHD brain and not trying to force myself into models that don't work. Thanks for sharing your process with such careful generosity!
Really live this article Amanda! Especially the part about leaving luck a place to land. For me that also means to show up for myself, if I want this I need to make it a priority, just like you also writes. As important as being a mother, my other work commitments, wifing and all else. Thank you for sharing your journey!
It should be love, not live