Should Authors Use Substack?

from The Wordslinger Podcast · host J. Kevin Tumlinson

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT Should authors use Substack? I’ve been using Substack for several years now, and I’ve come to see it as something more useful than just another social media platform. For writers, it can be a blog, newsletter, community, podcast platform, and—most importantly—a way to build an audience you actually own. In this episode, I break down how I use Substack as an author, how recommendations and Notes can help grow your readership, how often I think writers should post, what kinds of content work, and how Substack can ultimately help you build an email list and sell more books. You don’t need to master everything on day one. Start publishing, participate in the community, experiment with your content, and figure out what your readers respond to. And remember: unlike your followers on most social platforms, your email list can go with you. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Why I’m talking about Substack 00:59 What Substack actually is 02:31 Blogs, newsletters, Notes, video, and podcasts 03:28 How Substack helps grow your mailing list 04:51 Recommendations and sharing audiences with other writers 05:44 How often should authors post? 07:06 What should writers publish on Substack? 08:37 Writing for your readers—and for yourself 09:28 Fiction, paid subscriptions, and monetization 10:27 Podcasts, livestreams, and video 10:54 Why owning your mailing list matters 11:28 The posting schedule I recommend 12:12 My concern about Substack and AI 13:07 Can Substack actually help sell books? If you’re a writer trying to navigate writing, publishing, book marketing, building an audience, and making a living from your work, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is where we talk about the practical side of becoming a better writer, reaching more readers, and building a sustainable author career. FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books: https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack: https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page: https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid: https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor: https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 7, 2026

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What this episode covers

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin looks at how authors can use Substack to build an audience they actually own. He covers newsletters, Notes, recommendations, posting frequency, content strategy, monetization, and the value of growing an email list outside traditional social media platforms. He also shares how he uses Substack in his own author business, along with practical advice for writers who want to start building stronger, more direct relationships with readers.