What I've Learned after 3 Years on Substack
And Setting Personal Goals for Growth
In this Substack we celebrate the art and craft of Place Writing. Be informed, be inspired. Join our band of readers and writers who love everything about Home and Place. Subscribe now to get fortnightly posts delivered to your in-box.
How are you getting on with Substack?
It was August 2022 when I published my very first post, ‘What is Place Writing?’ I started with zero subscribers and a fairly clear idea of what I wanted to focus on—it’s all in the title—but I had no inkling of how it would turn out.
Perhaps I’d use the platform to support my social media presence on X and Instagram, perhaps I’d use it as a teaching space and develop my LinkedIn presence at the same time, perhaps I’d find a traditional publisher for my creative writing. These, and many other perhapses crossed my desk and they were predominantly concerned with the way my life was about to pivot at that time.
I’d spent the previous three years working towards a PhD in Place Writing and, knowing that my university study was coming to an end, I wanted a new home for my writing, a place where I could continue to publish work and share my research.
Acknowledging that being in my sixties I’m not likely to ever be employed again and realising that my background in management and interior design was more suited to life outside academia, I decided against trying for a position in an educational slash institutional setting. But I did, and do, need a means of earning income.
Motives and Intentions
A lot of hours have been spent here on Substack over the course of three years. It’s important, then, to review my motives, and consider my intentions for the future.
I wasn’t sure whether to make my thoughts public, but after several subscribers urged me on, saying that my experiences could be useful to them, I gave myself permission to share. Here you are…
Communication
I’m here to inspire other writers by promoting and sharing the art and craft of Place Writing. Communication with readers is a number-one priority for me and from the feedback I’ve received, via comments on posts and in Notes, I think I’m succeeding. I’m motivated to continue.
Clearing the decks
Having reviewed how I spend my time online, especially on social media, I decided to pull back from all my other platforms. Mainly because they didn’t make me feel good.
My stats indicated that new Substack subscribers rarely found me from those sources anyway and I reasoned that time is so precious, and happiness so worth seeking, it was appropriate to close them all down.
I gradually ‘let go’ over the last three years. It was hardest to say good-bye to X because I’d been there from the start and I loved it for a very long time, and it served me well when I was working in interior design. But that was then. This is now. I don’t miss the buzz I got from those platforms—Substack Notes has very much filled that gap. I love Notes!
Making Friends
Through Substack I’ve come into contact with people who appreciate the same things I do, who have similar values, who enjoy reading and writing and discussion. I feel part of a community of intelligent, witty, knowledgeable human beings who care about others, who make the best of life even when things are difficult. And this is a key reason for me being here and wanting to stay.
Change of Name
Place Writing evolved into Home and Place Writing in May 2025 and I think this change of name helped potential subscribers connect more easily to the subjects I cover and the content I publish. It’s hard to support this impression with stats but I’m satisfied that the new title works. I’m also thrilled that 34 other Substack publications now recommend Home and Place Writing.
Bio and Short Description
Even though I might have got the title right, I think I’ve changed my bio and the short description of my Substack a hundred times! It’s so difficult to say who we are and what we do in only a few words.
Currently my bio says: 🌿 Writer and Mentor. Former interior designer with a PhD in Place Writing. Gardening in the Scottish Borders. Interested in creative projects and collaborations.
And my Substack short description says: For new and seasoned writers! Transform your thinking about Home and Place. This publication helps you develop breadth and depth to your writing.
Site Design
I’ve enjoyed adjusting my Substack home page to give it a magazine-style look. And, whilst it’s not fully customisable, the ability to make a publication look professional and be more accessible is quite satisfying.
Subscriber Growth
Subscriber numbers are growing steadily. When I look at my graph since the beginning, it goes up by a 45 degree angle. It gets scary when you look at the numbers day-to-day because clearly there is churn, and I lose a few each time I publish something. (I think this is normal.) Thankfully, the net results trend upward.
I’m wedded to the fact that this is a long-term project and I’m investing my time on this platform in order to see continued subscriber growth. Starting from zero in August 2022, I celebrated 100 subscribers in December 2022. It took forever and seemed like I was never going to reach the next milestone, but then I celebrated 500 subscribers in November 2024. While numbers aren’t the be all and end all, I do want to grow my audience and I continually look for ways to improve my offering so that growth is organic.
Paid Subscribers
I’m grateful for every paid subscriber and I think my stats fit the ‘norm’, being around 1-2% of total subscribers. My first paid subscriber joined me in November 2023. At first I had nothing specific or additional to offer as a way of encouraging people to upgrade. However, since January 2025 paid subscribers receive fortnightly Video Shorts, which gives us a chance to get to know each other better. And since July 2025 paid subscribers have full access to ‘52 Home and Place Writing Prompts’.
I’m currently working on a series of posts—‘Key Criteria for Place Writing’—which will be for paid subscribers who want to dig deeper into the genre.
Post Frequency
All subscribers receive fortnightly posts, a frequency that works for me. I’d like to move to weekly posts for all subscribers but the schedule is busy as it is, what with the Video Shorts going out in between the posts. And I really don’t want to forsake quality for quantity.
All posts go out on a Wednesday, in the afternoon UK time. Roughly half my subscribers are UK-based with the other half being in the rest of the world, the majority of those in the USA. I try to keep this in mind when scheduling my posts, and I always schedule rather than publish immediately (because I have a habit of tweaking things!).
Collaboration
Collaboration on Substack is one of the most joyful things anyone can do here. In November 2024 I featured as a guest on The Postcard Club. In June 2025 I published the first of a series of collaborative posts with the Lay it on the Line collective. And also in July 2025 I published the first of a series of prompt posts with Jennifer Zarin from Journal your Path. I’d like to continue working with other creatives on Substack. It’s certainly fun and it helps me experiment with new formats and topics.
Worldwide Exposure
International exposure on Substack means that my writing travels all around the world, and that I get to meet lovely writers who see Home and Place from different perspectives. I think Substack has more work to do before it becomes truly representative of the diversity of writers out there, but I’m thrilled to have readers in 44 countries worldwide, including 34 States of America.
Recommendations
Since the beginning, I’ve noticed a steady flow of subscribers coming in as a result of Recommendations. And I understand that the algorithm has changed in recent months. Previously, Substack gave more visibility to the larger ’stacks and now things have turned about, and I think that since July 2025 I’ve gained more new subscribers from Recommendations than ever before.
Notes
My first Note was published in April 2023 and, in December 2024, I decided to maintain a daily presence on Notes. Besides it being a friendly place to hang out, there’s been a noticeable increase in the growth of people who follow my Substack. The Followers graph has risen sharply this year.
Choices
Substack is evolving and so we have to evolve with it. I’ve embraced Notes. I’ve stepped my toe into recording videos for my Substack this year with Video Shorts, and I’ll keep these going through 2025.
I dabbled in Chat but gave up on that. It doesn’t seem to work for my audience, but I like to participate in other Substack chats.
I’ve recorded voice-overs on some of my posts and I think I ought to do more because I know lots of people listen to their posts while on the move.
Perhaps I might even try a LIVE one day; I have to build up some courage for that!
I also enjoy learning more about what Substack has to offer from some of the gurus on here. They help me keep up with what’s happening and give me ideas on how to grow Home and Place Writing. I’m not a ‘marketeer’ but I am keen to develop as a person and my Substack needs to represent that.
Public-Private
When I first started my Substack I wasn’t sure how much to divulge of my personal life. After all, this is a public platform and there are some strange people out there (and they get blocked straight away!). But I think subscribers want to connect with us as individuals, so we need to present our authentic selves and give as much as we feel comfortable with. I believe I’ve found a balance between the information I project and the information I withhold.
Changes
It’s clear that life changes—getting older, family situations, health, work-life balance, travel, domestic arrangements—all affect the topics you address on Substack. I’ve noticed some people need to take a break when ‘life gets in the way’. I haven’t had to do so yet even though I’m in the midst of moving house right now, having unexpectedly found myself spending a lot of time in the Scottish Borders. My way of living is changing, and I’m very happy with how it’s going, and it’s all being mirrored in my Notes and posts.
Results
There is no doubt that as long as we are consistent and produce quality work, what we do here will always produce results, but never overnight. Patience and persistence are two ‘p’s that resonate here.
Future Growth - how does it look?
My ambition is modest—I want to develop a spirit of community and support within the field of creative writing through connection and personal development.
My earnings come from paid Subscribers and from providing personal guidance to new writers who want to take their practice to the next level through my bespoke writing and mentoring service.
I hope that Followers will become Subscribers, and that Subscribers will upgrade to paid. And if you, or someone you know, would like to discuss how I can help them develop their writing practice, please get in touch.
I’m honoured to share my opinions and ideas through this Substack—Home and Place Writing—and I appreciate your presence in this community.
In the coming months I look forward to celebrating new milestones: 2000 Followers, 1000 Subscribers, 10 paid Subscribers?!
Ding that bell for me!
🙏Thank you for being here!
Credits & Links:
The photo is my own, taken at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025. Showing two works of sculpture. The first, by Ryan Gander RA, WHEN DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT?, made from Pvc and ink, with dimensions 300 x 300 x 300 cm. The second by Alice Channer, BODY SHOP, made from Ostrich feather, car body cleaning discs, stainless steel chains, and mirror-polished and lazer-cut stainless steel, with dimensions 640 x 300 x 300 cm.
Lay it on the Line is a collaboration of seven women around the world. See our latest work here.
How are you getting on with Substack? I look forward to chatting with you in the comments.
A Resource
Home and Place Writing is more than just a newsletter publication, it’s a resource. I went into the archive and found these two posts which I think you’ll enjoy.
The first is a Discussion post and it asks you to recommend your favourite places to go, and find new contacts by chatting with other contributors. The second is about my move north from Cambridgeshire, and how I’m getting to know my new environment, by the sea!
So what did you think of this year’s RA Summer Show?
Lovely reflections, Yasmin. Thank you for sharing them. I hope Substack continues to be a place to thrive, to connect and find moments of joy! You seem to have found a lovely balance.