The Harsh Reality of Writing on Substack
(And Why We Still Do It)
The Ugly Naked Truth About Writing on Substack
Writing on Substack feels like screaming into the void—at least at first.
Substack is often romanticized as a writer’s haven—a place where anyone with words to share can build an audience, find their community, and maybe even make a living. But behind this idealistic vision lies a harsher reality, one that many writers come to terms with after months (or years) of effort.
The truth? Writing on Substack is not as easy, rewarding, or lucrative as it seems.
I learned this the hard way. I worked as a feature writer for a small publication, mostly writing human-interest pieces and in-depth articles. Every now and then, we were given the chance to publish a short story. It was my favorite part of the job, but my stories—often too dark, too sensual, or just too unconventional—rarely made the cut. So, at 23, I turned to Substack, thinking creative freedom would be enough to find an audience. Spoiler: It wasn’t. My only subscriber was me.
Frustrated, I eventually deleted that account, along with my poems and short stories. At the time, I had zero social media skills—I still don’t, if I’m being honest. I kept second-guessing myself, hitting publish, then unpublish, over and over again. I felt invisible, especially when I saw bios flaunting published author titles while my own words sat unread. Substack, back then, felt like screaming into the void.
Now, I’m a returnee—relearning the curves, finding my footing again, and just getting back to writing. And I’ve realized something: the struggles I faced then? They still exist.
Nobody Cares at First
You can pour your heart into an essay (like this one), craft poetic lines, or weave an immersive short story—then hit publish, expecting readers to flock to it. But unless you already have an audience, the reaction is usually silence. Substack doesn’t hand you readers; you have to go out and find them.
In a sea of newsletters, standing out is a battle most new writers lose before they even begin. And this realization hits like a sucker punch—like that time you bought furniture online because it was cheap and looked easy to assemble in the video ad, only to realize it came with no manual or instructions and muttering to yourself ‘Ahh f*ck!”. Yup! That sounds about right.
Growth is Painfully Slow
There’s no magic formula for success on Substack. Gaining subscribers is a slow, often frustrating process. Unless you have an established audience that already trusts and roots for you, growth is agonizingly slow. Virality is rare, and for every big-name writer making thousands, countless others are stuck wondering where they went wrong.
You’ll see newsletters with enticing titles like “5 Ways to Grow Your Sub” or “7 Perfect Steps to Get Noticed.” But the truth? There’s no shortcut. You have to work for it—if your goal is to grow an audience.
If you're here just for the joy of writing, then none of this really matters.
Side note: The only essay I’ve read that truly helps is
10 Writing Lessons I’ve Learned in 10 Years. Instead of focusing on numbers, it teaches how to write in a way that keeps readers engaged. If you check it out, I highly recommend hitting the heart and subscribing—the man deserves recognition.
Engagement is a Ghost Town
Even when you start building an audience, many subscribers won’t read your emails. Some subscribe and never open another email. Others read silently, never engaging. If you expect an influx of comments, discussion, and community-building, be prepared for disappointment. Many Substack newsletters feel like shouting into the void.
That’s why I started engaging. My grandmother’s words rang in my head: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
So I made a habit of reading, commenting, and interacting—not for the sake of engagement, but because I genuinely wanted to. If you leave half-hearted comments just to get attention, people will see through it, and you’ll lose them just as fast as you gained them.
Bonus: You would have better content to eat through.
Writing is Only Half the Battle
Being a good writer is not enough. Yes, I know—it sucks. Majorly sucks. But that’s reality. The sooner we accept it, the sooner we can start doing what needs to be done.
You have to be a marketer, a promoter, and a networker. If self-promotion makes you cringe, growth will be an uphill battle. You need to be active where potential readers are—Twitter, Instagram, Threads, forums, and other Substacks. But balance is key. Plug your work, but don’t be annoying about it. Be intentional.
Instead of obsessing over promotion, focus on visibility through genuine engagement—interacting with other writers, joining conversations, and showing up consistently. The more people see you as a fellow writer rather than a salesperson, the more likely they are to check out your work.
People Will Unsubscribe—And It Will Sting
This one hurts—bad. You’ll wake up, check your Substack stats, and see that someone unsubscribed. Maybe even multiple people. And no matter how much you tell yourself it’s not personal, it still stings.
You’ll wonder—was I posting too much? Not enough? Was my writing not good? Did I say something wrong? Sometimes, someone will leave quietly. Other times, they’ll give a reason, and it won’t always be kind.
But reader churn is inevitable. Not everyone who subscribes is meant to stay, and that’s okay. Instead of obsessing over lost subscribers, focus on the ones who stick around—the ones who genuinely connect with your work. Because at the end of the day, those are the readers who matter.
Substack Favors the Already Established
The platform loves big names. If you already have a following, Substack will amplify you.
Now, don’t go hating on Substack for this—it’s reality. They’re running a business. They have employees to feed. (At least, that’s what I tell myself.)
But if you’re starting from scratch, breaking into their recommendation system is tough. The biggest newsletters keep getting bigger, while smaller writers struggle to be seen.
Does that mean success is impossible? No. It just means you have to work harder for it.
So that ties back to the real question: Why are you here?
Are you here to build a community? To be part of one? To express yourself? And if so—do you want attention with that expression, or are you just trying to declutter your cloud drive?
Or—let’s be real—are you here to make money from your passion?
Monetization is a Mirage for Most
Many writers join Substack, dreaming of making money through paid subscriptions. The harsh reality is that most newsletters don’t generate significant income.
Yes, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news—if you haven’t realized it yet on your own—but making money here is hard. Convincing people to pay for content is difficult, especially in an age where free content is everywhere.
If you have an established audience, you might be able to create exclusive content just for them. But even that requires strategy, marketing, and consistency. Unless you have a deeply engaged readership, turning Substack into a source of income is an uphill battle.
That doesn’t mean writing can’t be profitable—it just means Substack might not be the best (or only) way to do it. Writers have other options, like freelancing, self-publishing, content writing, or even offering courses and consulting. Some use their newsletter as a stepping stone, building credibility before landing book deals or paid gigs elsewhere.
So if money is the goal, it’s time to start diving into all those articles on how to get readers to pay—just, you know, don’t scam anyone, okay?
The Long Game With No Guarantee
Even if you’re consistent, write well, and promote yourself, success is never guaranteed. Some writers spend years growing an audience with little return.
You’ll see writers with 2,000 subscribers yet only 17 likes on a post. Out of those 2,000, maybe only 5 or 10 people are willing to pay for extra content. It all depends on the audience you attract. Some quit before they ever see real traction.
Writing on Substack is a long game, and the harshest truth? Persistence doesn’t always pay off. There’s no guarantee of success, no matter how much effort you put in. That’s the part that stings the most.
So, we circle back to the big question: What is your goal? If your goal is simply the satisfaction of knowing people enjoy your writing, then 2,000 subs—even without paid ones—can be rewarding.
But if not… well, my friend, we might need to start considering other means of making a living.
Why Do Writers Stay?
If all of this is true, why do people keep writing on Substack? Because despite the struggles, writing is worth it. The thrill of expression, the possibility of connection, and the hope of building something meaningful keep writers coming back.
At the end of the day, success isn’t just about numbers. It’s about why we write in the first place—the passion, the connection, the thrill of putting thoughts into words. The ugly truth might be disheartening, yes, but for those who love the craft, the challenge is simply part of the journey.
As I once wrote in another article:
“Recognition may come early, late, or never at all, but success is not about being seen or heard by the world.
It is about being seen and heard by your truest self.”
Writing is a gift—but the real gift is having the courage to keep going, even when no one is listening. So tell me—what keeps you writing?
As someone who managed to hit a spike of growth early on here, I know that I am the exception to the rule. In fact, I’ve published on several other platforms with almost identical types of stories and articles and it took YEARS to see anything worth talking about.
The fact of the matter is that it can be really hard to keep going when you feel like no one’s listening. I’ve spoke to numerous writers here that feel like they’re just shouting into the void.
As I often say, we’re all on our own timeline. Success is different for all of us, and there’s no guarantee when it will arrive, but despite that we have to keep going.
I love how honest and genuine this piece is, but more than that, I love how it finds the hope buried beneath the despair of trying to make it in this world as a writer. What an absolutely phenomenal article. Excellent work!
What keeps me writing is my need to get my creativity out. I love a beautiful sentence. I love something that is said well, whether in poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. I feel so blessed to be able to achieve great moments in my writing from time to time. It is work but its the best work.