593 Comments
User's avatar
Andrew Knapp's avatar

I’m so tired of this type of content.

Wes Pearce's avatar

I'm tired of people who have nothing better to do than troll the comment section and share their unsolicited negative opinions.

D. S. Black's avatar

That's a tough comment to receive, Wes, and the instinct to see it as a personal attack is a real one. We all feel that sting.

I think it's crucial, though, to distinguish between a troll and a critic. A troll is a storm with no purpose, just mindless destruction. A critic, even a blunt one, is more like a lookout's cry in a thick fog: "Breakers ahead!"

The sound is jarring. It's not what you want to hear. It means the chart you're sailing by might be wrong. But that voice isn't a "troll." It's the most valuable person on the ship, because they're the one telling you about the danger you can't see yet. "I'm tired of this content" is a warning that you're sailing into the rocks of audience fatigue.

A room full of nothing but praise is a calm sea, but it's where a ship's timbers rot. That one harsh warning is the friction that keeps the blade sharp. It's a tough, but necessary, gift.

Dave Puckett's avatar

No, I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Unless you know this critic personally and know exactly what his intentions were? Maybe there's deeper intensions less ethical, like "I'm tired of other people having the success I'm dreaming about" in other words: "Jealousy" it comes in many forms always disguised as innocent honest criticism.

D. S. Black's avatar

I'm not sure I'd call selling generic formula without first establishing authority 'success'.

But more to the point--your framework is unfalsifiable. If any critique can be dismissed as hidden jealousy, then no feedback is ever actionable and no one learns anything. That's not wisdom, it's a defence mechanism dressed as insight.

I saw OP get defensive. I saw someone still learning. So I offered what I've found useful as someone who's experienced both critics and fans: the ability to distinguish signal from noise without assuming everyone's out to wound you.

That skill is learned, not inherited. And it's not learned by having strangers filter your comments for you weeks after the fact.

D. S. Black's avatar

Just gonna leave this here before anyone tries to say what's already been said and contested. https://open.substack.com/pub/deadstarlogbook/p/how-to-take-criticism-without-crumbling

Deborah Widdifield's avatar

While I can appreciate what you're saying, there was no constructive criticism in that comment. It was merely a statement of discontent.

D. S. Black's avatar

I understand. But sometimes consumers don't owe creators constructive effort. Sometimes “I don't like this” is actually enough. Expecting consumers to be able to articulate how you can do a better job isn't really their job. And I'm also not saying that every criticism or negative comment needs to be actioned on. Ultimately, I think it shouldn't be taken personally as hard as that is for some. Because once you can separate your worth as a Creator from feedback that doesn't make you sing, you've developed an invaluable filtering skill that will ultimately always serve to improve your work. Does that make sense?

No one likes it when someone is mean to them. But when you put your work out there in the public, simply telling people that they don't get to have negative opinions about your work signals that you're never going to take anything seriously except glowing praise. Creators like that, I would argue, create work that will never stick long term. Creators that can take the most scathing criticism and actually turn their own work over in their head and decide whether it's valuable or not without becoming defensive or instantly dismissive are the ones that will create things that worm into people's heads and get repeated and shared for the right reasons.

Maybe it's an ideology thing, but it's definitely a pattern I've recognized.

This isn't prescriptive, if you want to protect yourself from all negative feelings, please go ahead and make an attempt and see how long you can keep it up.

Master Peter's avatar

He couldn't keep up.

I understand most of the controversy, but am limited in articulation.

Thanks. Hearts.

Jeremy Cook 🤖🪚's avatar

Trolling? IDK, seems like a normal sentiment.

Justin Horton's avatar

How about unsolicited positive opinions?

AJ's avatar

It’s just trolls hating a good thing😊

Fulmen's avatar

He's also written this clearly with AI. If you ask Chatgpt for example how to make money on substack the section before his accidental discovery is written by it. It's just to sell his over priced pdf

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Scarlet Black's avatar

Fascinating darling, I love your enthiasum.

Todd Tamayo's avatar

You should read my stuff

After Dinner Conversation's avatar

You mean content whose main push is that the way to make money on substack is to sell people how to make money on substack?

Wes Pearce's avatar

and yet here you are

The Globo Hobo's avatar

Oh my god, I'm so with you! My next post should how I consistently post to make my toilets worth the price I paid for

Celebrate Everything's avatar

same. i’ve been writing on here since 2021 and have seen it take over in the past 9 months.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Irony Kumar's avatar

I am new here and I am already getting tired with all the click-baity content marketing stuff. I was hoping to find writers.

isha 💌's avatar

if you want to read some bashing against self help, i published an article yesterday. check it out.

Tina's avatar

I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels like this

Nicholas's avatar

unbelievable slop by this guy like unfathomable. i "created a digital product" a PDF with no good information made by AI is not a digitial product its just digital garbage

Andrinique Marie's avatar

This comment took the entire article into a IG thread.. Not good

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

John Burbage's avatar

Just had a look; is called “Show less”

John Burbage's avatar

Don't read it 😃

Tour Swings Tommy's avatar

Same haha. Thought I was the only one

marina colerato's avatar

oh no, the digital products gurus of Instagram are now coming for substack 🆘

Wes Pearce's avatar

I don't have Instagram?

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Romeo Castro's avatar

I'm excited to read….

Romeo Castro's avatar

just enjoy…. ja ha…ha…

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Sunila's avatar

too late, they're already here!

Gaia's avatar

This works if you have a Substack that teaches something. What about people who just write? It’s the same amount of work, it’s even harder in my opinion, and no digital product to sell.

Elohor Eva Alordiah ☥'s avatar

Honestly, selling digital products is not just about “teaching something..” — it’s about delivering value digitally. There are endless ways to create and sell profitable digital products (not just teaching courses) — templates, planners, audio files, full guides on processes, fiction— anything can be a digital product if we think on it clearly.

I created printable artworks of my Handwritting. Yes! No kidding. People buy the large pdf file of the wall art and frame it themselves.

That wasn’t teaching anythingggg. You see? Hope this helps today 🌸🦋

Roy's avatar

This is my motivation to help fellow writers with my new app that aims to enhance their engagement. I truly don’t understand the negativity surrounding it because that article provided me with value, and I know it has helped others, too. I just wish people had a more positive outlook before they judge and spread hate. What can you do?

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

khayaalat's avatar

Hi! Thank you for the reply. does this actually work? I see this on gimmicky YouTube vids. But I’ll believe it from a real substack stranger

Kelly Brito's avatar

I'm confused. Why are you writing? Is it to share fiction, life lessons, thoughts... Why can you not turn it into a system? A framework? A product?

Even if you were writing an online diary, you could teach people how to create a successful online diary. Entrepreneurship is a mindset.

Birgitte Rasine's avatar

This is the typical “write about writing instead of writing” business model

Abdihamid Mohamed Alio's avatar

Incredible hard indeed, never stop growing and learning and improving your life,

1% at a time,

Roy's avatar

For me, it's about becoming one percent better every day, at the bare minimum. The recent Stan challenge I participated in helped me realize that.

Gracieeee's avatar

I am a new creator on Substack and I am currently on a challenge to post regularly throughout the month of December.

I'd really appreciate it if you read my work and engage them

John Letterdust's avatar

People by short stories and all other books that are just from writers what's the difference

Lisa E's avatar

I hear you. I'm writing travel stories and sharing photography. Not sure how this could monetize. Last year, I was heavily into AI--teaching teachers how to manage it. I should have come here then. I had solutions, etc. I could have sold ebooks.

But now, I'm just sharing stories and providing vicarious travel experiences.I don't write guides and I'm not teaching people how to travel.

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Johny M.'s avatar

It’s difficult to monetize opinions, there are too many of them. I agree with the basic premises of this article, general information should be free, charge for solving a particular problem and people will pay.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Lisa Hart's avatar

Why is this on here so many times?

Eren's avatar

Yuck, I come to Substack to avoid ai slop. Not to be convinced to buy your workshop clearly written and fueled by it. This isn’t LinkedIn.com.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

George Ziogas's avatar

Given Substack does not have the digital selling options yet: How difficult is it to set up a digital product (e.g. eBook, etc) for sale on Substack ? How can newbies to Substack go about selling a digital product on Substack?

Wes Pearce's avatar

George you can use something like Stan Store or Gumroad. I break it all down in the masterclass and also have several posts under “Create Digital Products” on my Substack.

George Ziogas's avatar

Thank you Wes for your encouraging reply. I will look into these options for creating digital products on Substack. Appreciated, G

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

YourHealthAdvocate's avatar

Grateful for your time, energy, and work. Can you explain more specifically what the masterclass is and what the 30-day implementation plan is, Wes?

Carrie Scharf's avatar

I use fourthwall to sell products and like it.

Sandy Fisher Ageless in Motion's avatar

I have mixed feelings about charging, when I spend hours doing research based on scientific facts. I've wasted too much time on other platforms where people want everything for free, that's where FB doctors come into play. I've never walked into a holistic clinic where I expect free information. If people are serious about their health, they'll invest into it, otherwise they'll keep getting misinformation and wonder why they don't get better and the needle on the clock never moves.

Alejandro's avatar

Booklinker is a free service for authors that uses smart links and a cool collections feature.

Mastermind Hustlers's avatar

You can apply as an affiliate for a product and you get paid when someone buys, they're many platform you can join as an affiliate.

Platform like clickbank, Shareasale, Warrior Plus, Jvzoo and so many more.

Chrysa Ake's avatar

@ George, Give Solo Shannon a look. She’s been testing this - https://soloshannon.substack.com

DarylAnn's avatar

I offer a free digital planner to new subscribers and I host it on Gumroad. Pretty easy to set up. I’m new to all of this. 😊

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

The Millennial View's avatar

These always seem too good to be true.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Jul 4, 2025
Comment deleted
BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Tracy Bellevue's avatar

I feel like there is a growing fatigue with the “buy my course” route. Even myself, I feel like everybody has a class, course, or pdf for sale. How does anyone stand out or differentiate from the many and how even to reach an audience that’s not exhausted with that option?

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Tracy Bellevue's avatar

No truly, you get it!! 😂😂 thank you

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Kate Riser's avatar

The fatigue makes sense. These buy my “whatever” are almost always cheap enough to reel you in and rarely do they provide anything you can’t research and get for free. It’s all a big grift.

Dan Cashion's avatar

Kate I'm providing retirement information for individuals and small businesses. My information comes from years of continuing education, keeping up with IRS regulations and having the ability to explain it in a straight forward and understandable way. I believe I can add real value to people just starting to think about retirement savings and people that are about to transition into retirement or are already retired. In your opinion would you pay 5 bucks a month to read my daily content or would you pay 49 - 99 dollars to download a PDF that explains how something works without you having to decode the IRS language or researching it yourself and potentially saving you several hours? I'm curious how creators feel about this. I just started my Substack last week and could use the input of creators with experience.

Jennifer Klemp Artist's avatar

This sounds like something solid that people would want Dan. I am new to Substack also. I purchased the 50.00 notes accelerator thing (at around 2:00 a.m.) because we all want to make this work. Now did Wes use AI to create some of the content … I just read that part. I’ll have to ask him about that.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Lady Prospère's avatar

I am so glad to read this because I have absolutely no intention of ever starting a paid subscription. Why? Because I'm not willing to lose the 10% to substack and the 5% to stripe for the fees. I'm not willing to lose the 15%. My goal is to send them to my website, where I don't lose 10%. I'd rather lose 5% than 15%.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

BM's avatar

as with anything of this sort, writing on Substack about how to make money with Substack sounds a bit too chaotic or self-referential to me… (but that’s just me, and that’s why I’m poor).

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Dedria Kolb's avatar

This comment section has me thinking Substack is just the regular old internets. Yall way harsh to come up here just to write negative comments!

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

KaZ Writes Quiet Horror's avatar

This is a very lovely, somewhat informative, and long and drawn out sales pitch. I mean, I get it, everybody's gotta eat.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Kevin Salveson's avatar

That’s nothing! I don’t make a red cent with my crappy writing because I don’t try to pretend that I am already successful in order to hawk do it yourself money-making bad advice on stubstack! So cheers for me too!

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

AJ Solaris's avatar

I'm curious about the circular nature of writing about how to make money writing without a deeper idea underneath it. Beyond the monetization strategy, what's the core insight you're exploring? How to make it writing? Writing about writing? And if content is built around platform algorithms, what happens when those algorithms suddenly change? Thousands of people emigrated from other platforms because of algorithmic change.

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

Mark Williams's avatar

Whilst I understand the maths, I think there’s another factor to consider. Being as George says, atm there’s no “product” sale option from Substack. But I gather there will be. If everyone didn’t turn on paid, then there’d be no Substack. So for me, I think there’s a balance to be had between paid and off Substack sale. Each to his own tho.

BD Gordon's avatar

In only six months so far on Substack, I’ve already dropped 122 short-stories

I publish about 20 stories a month, or about one every other day or so

Easy 6-8 mins. length reads, bite off a few each day

My range and style truly offers something for everyone

Humor, irony, spooky, drama, nostalgia, and some series historical fiction

Take the stories with you on your summer vacation and to the pool

I’m campaigning to be one of your favorite Substacks

All of my writing is still fully-free at this time, subscribe today

Come along

@the smell of smoke

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Jun 5, 2025
Comment deleted
Mark Williams's avatar

Yes. I’ve listened to an interview on here with a couple of senior people from Substack. Likely to be when not if.

Mahedi Shayek's avatar

I liked the step-by-step explanations.

Jiby's world's avatar

please subscribe mine i shall subscribe back