I do not agree with this take. When we started this company in 2017, a well-known newsletter writer who charged for her pre-Substack newsletter said: “Well, I got in early and I don’t really think this will work for others now.” Turns out she was quite wrong about that.
The market for substacks is growing and it’s only just getting started. The percentage of the world that subscribes to an independent writer or creator right now is the lowest it will ever be.
Emily’s take here is so refreshing. She identifies how she has benefitted from Substack (and being an early user), but also calls out that this success isn’t realistic for everyone, given their current model.
In my POV, sponsorships are likely the best way forward for more than a small fraction of writers to make a living here.