Let me be clearer. When you sit down at your computer, to read about your favorite writer or catch up on literary news, which media do you prefer to read?

1) Facebook
2) Instagram
3) Substack
4) Website/blog
5) Email newsletter

Over the years, now decades since people began incorporating electronics into their routines, email newsletters were used to communicate news. Then came blogs and social media. Social media exploded. But along with social media came emotional chaos.

Email newsletters have survived all of this screen evolution. Let’s look at the pros and cons of choosing to communicate to your fan base via email newsletter.

Algorithms stop a lot of people from seeing you. They choose what a reader sees. If a reader happens to show an interest in purses and fashion, and you write mystery, you get booted down the list as to what is in a reader’s feed. They may want to read you, but out of sight does mean out of mind. Purses consume them. They forget to read you.

An email newsletter is a commitment, but readers appreciate a newsletter more than social media. They are in a sea of people on social media. An email feels more personal. Also, social media can block you, discipline you, and delete you. You own your email list.

Substack might be more personal, and you might own your own list, but in the way Substack thrusts other Substack owners upon you with strong suggestions you read this person or that, the reader loses a bit of that personal feel with you, the author.

Finally, you can say, sell, and promote what you like. It’s solely up to the reader to decide to keep you or delete you. Nobody else.

Emails have lasted through all the changes of online media. Consider them in your marketing and evolvement. You can find ideas on how to create and maintain one at Fractured Atlas below. They are a very reputable entity, often times representing grants for writers.

https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/an-artists-guide-to-mailing-lists