15 Comments

Great, thought-provoking word. One question, though. You mention blogs rely so much on social media sharing, which I totally get. But by using Substack, don’t we also share our Substack link on social as well for others to see? If so, how is it any different than a blog other than fees for hosting and whatnot?

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For me, I stopped keeping up with blogs when Google Reader went away. Newsletters feel like a gift. I subscribed! Thank you.

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A nuance to add to points 1 & 2 (perhaps added as a third) is the dominance of video media.

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The internet dumbs down to the lowest common denominator. It is full to the brim of people who have no voice and deserve no voice in the real world, but here these same folks are your peers -- your equals.

Time is so precious so how do you use it wisely to find worthy internet content? A reviewer of books or music or art, etc. can have a following and make a decent living, but not so for that same person who would point us to quality internet subject matter.

And by the way this new freedom and voice of the street has spread beyond the internet walls and permeated our society much to our determent. We have created a mobster and one that will not happily agree to return to those good old pre-internet days.

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Samuel, I don't know if I've corresponded with you before, but I always enjoy your pieces. I've been blogging for 13 years (byfaithweunderstand.com); my presence has fallen off because I've turned to YouTube. I like having a blog for the discoverability of content: anyone interested in one of my categories (mainly "KJV" right now—I write a lot on Bible translation) can do a deep dive. And the main benefit of Substack, email subscription, is something I can handle for free through MailChimp.

But then MailChimp costs money beyond 2k subscribers, and I get a ton of spam registrations that are impossible to weed through. You're making me consider Substack!

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Love this, Samuel. I, too, am finding comfort in the "newsletter world." Though it seems that many other writers are, too. Definitely subscribing though. I always appreciate your "insights." You have to come on my podcast again!

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I have subscribed to your new newsletter. I've just recently found you so it does happen.

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I guess I’m late to the party. What’s a substack and how is it not still blogging?

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Great stuff! I've been having similar thoughts about blogging as well. I've been doing the newsletter thing for a couple months and it's just been so much better than posting to my blog and then playing the social media game. The engagement is through the roof by comparison. Wish I'd done it a while ago.

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I’m one of those old fogeys that mostly visits urls by bookmark each day. Mere Orthodoxy is one of those and that’s where I first read your writing. Looking forward to reading more!

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You are on the scent. I'm also tired of having to pay for hosting, a domain, and manage all that mess, and then share on social. You are making me think!

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