For the last month, I have been noticing a trend on Substack: people expressing frustration with the platform, namely fiction writers.
There are two camps:
The platform isn’t working in my favor.
Stop moping and work.
I believe that both these perspectives have merit. Complaining (without positive action—that is, toward a solution) often leads us nowhere and is bad for the spirit. At the same time, it is completely fair to look at “Top in Fiction” and see that… well, most of posts listed are:
a. non-fiction about how to write fiction or
b. have absolutely nothing to do with fiction whatsoever.
This is bad for morale!
Yet there are options. Macabre Monday by Jeff Kinnard, The Library(highly recommend), Sci-Friday started by Andrew Smith, S.E. Reid’s Talebones 🔭, and Fictionistas provide outlets for fiction writers. In addition, creatives have joined together in world-building prompts to expand the visibility of their work (see the Suff or Blackwater). Despite the obstacles, writers built communities open for all to congregate, build their platforms, and be seen! It’s been so much fun.
But I want to do more.
I am a writer of fiction, yes, but I am also a reader; a reader frustrated with the lack of books on the shelves in Barnes and Nobles, a reader disinterested in the YA genre pushed toward me on social media, a reader who is ready to fall in love with your work here on Substack. There are many dissatisfied readers just like me. Perhaps you are one of them.
If I ever engaged with your writing here on Substack, I want you to know that each comment I’ve left on a work, each restack, each recommendation has been genuine. It has been years since I’ve enjoyed reading outside of academia and you provided escape. I want to give back!
When a writer rejoices over the views they’re getting, I rejoice with them. After all, we write for people to read our work. Storytelling since the dawn of time has been (or should be) a social activity. It isn’t wrong that an author pines for their self-knitted universes see the light of day.
So, this Substack is dedicated to that problem.
I will be providing only positive recommendations. This is for a few reasons. One, my father taught me if I have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. Two, I’d rather this space be dedicated to uplifting authors.
I’m not sure how often I’ll post. I would like to do a bi-monthly or monthly newsletter.
I have a couple wonderful serials, novels, and shorts that I’m excited to share with you. For now, I shall dive back into the waters seeking the best and brightest.
Wish me happy hunting!
Much love,
M.E. Beckley
This! This is why I joined Substack: to read fiction and to write fiction. I thought there’d be a lot more of it, and maybe I just haven’t been on the platform long enough to burrow into the niches, but I didn’t actually think burrowing would be necessary. Now, maybe it won’t be if I check in here often. Thank you for doing this.
This is the way. I am a long-from, historical fiction writer and reader. In the few months I've been on Substack, I've read two excellent, memorable, full-length novels found in The Library and written enthusiastic articles about them for my newsletter. I will continue to weave the reading of Substack novels between my over-loaded hardback pile. I am eyeing my next target.