Join us on January 8th, 2021
You’re invited to join us for a one-day virtual conference bringing together the growing community of independent writers on Substack.
Watch a talk, participate in a workshop, meet other writers in our café, or join a table discussion. We’ll have different venues aimed at whichever level of interactivity you’re feeling that day.
More than 25 writers are confirmed to present at Substack On! We’ve highlighted a few featured speakers below.
Watch a talk, participate in a workshop, meet other writers in our café, or join a table discussion. We’ll have different venues aimed at whichever level of interactivity you’re feeling that day.
More than 25 writers are confirmed to present at Substack On! We’ve highlighted a few featured speakers below.
Main Stage Speakers
Chris Best
Co-founder / CEO of Substack
In his keynote talk, Chris shares how the last three years building Substack will shape the future of independent publishing.
Lyz Lenz
Author of Men Yell at Me
Lyz Lenz examines her time in media to argue for the integration of identity, politics, and parenting into all of our writing.
Bill Bishop
Author of Sinocism
Three years ago, Bill Bishop became the first writer on Substack. In this talk, he shares stories of his and Substack’s growth.
Safy-Hallan Farah
Author of Hip to Waste
Emerging Substack writer, Safy-Hallan Farah, offers a critique of the concept of taste and what it means for the future of media.
Casey Newton
Author of Platformer
After leaving his job at The Verge, Casey Newton launched Platformer, a daily newsletter covering the inner working of social networks.
Cheryl Strayed
Author of Dear Sugar
Having reignited her world-renowned advice column on Substack, Cheryl shares stories from the last decade and future of Dear Sugar.
Zeynep Tufekci
Author of Insight
Focusing on the social implications of new technologies, Zeynep joins us for a fireside chat with Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie.
Gabe Schneider
Author of The Objective
Gabe Schneider discusses how The Objective and other Substack publications are making the jump to nonprofit status.
Judd Legum
Author of Popular Information
Creative independence has allowed top writer Judd Legum to take on powerful institutions through a reader-supported ad-free newsletter.
Andrew Janjigian
Author of Wordloaf
Andrew Janjigian left a lucrative career to launch a bread baking newsletter during a global pandemic, growing it into his full-time gig.
Vanessa Mason
Author of Future of Belonging
Vanessa launched her Substack after setting an intention at the start of 2020 to learn in public. In her talk, she shares tips and pitfalls.
Thao Nguyen
Author of For the Record
Thao is the leader of the venerable indie outfit Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. She joins us for an exclusive peek into her new Substack.
Program
Library
Join us in The Library for interactive and tactical workshops, led by writers like you. Whether you're just getting started on Substack or are looking for new ways to grow your readership, each of these mini-classes is designed to help you succeed.
Café
The Café is an interactive space to meet other writers and join impromptu discussions and panels exclusive to the Substack community. You must be a writer on Substack to enter; request an invite here.
Café open!
Grab a virtual croissant and say hello to other writers and the Substack team
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Table discussions
Join other writers for ad-hoc chats around specific topics
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Petition hidden transmission
Operating 100% anonymously, Petition shares how they became a top Substack
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM
Panel: Getting Out of a Creative Slump
Clara Parkes, Abigail Koffler, and Nisha Chittal
Social hour
Toast new friends and old, as we wrap up our day together
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Main Stage
Watch bold talks from celebrated Substack writers live on the main stage starting at 9am (PST) on YouTube
The Future of Independent Publishing
Chris Best, CEO at Substack
9:00 AM
Why Isn't There a Men's Media?
Lyz Lenz, Men Yell at Me
9:30 AM
The First Writer on Substack
Bill Bishop, Sinocism
10:00 AM
What's Taste and Does It Even Exist Anymore?
Safy-Hallan Farah, Hip to Waste
10:30 AM
How to Do a Job For Your Readers
Casey Newton, Platformer
11:00 AM
Dear Sugar: From 2010 - 2020
Cheryl Strayed, Dear Sugar
11:30 AM
In Conversation with Hamish, Substack Co-founder and COO
Zeynep Tufekci, Insight
1:00 PM
Substack for Non-Profit Newsrooms
Gabe Schneider, The Objective
2:00 PM
The Power of Independence
Judd Legum, Popular Information
2:30 PM
Loaves in a Time of Coronavirus
Andrew Janjigian, Wordloaf
3:00 PM
Learning in Public: Building the Future of Belonging
Vanessa Mason, The Future of Belonging
3:30 PM
A Musical Talk
Thao Nguyen, For the Record
4:00 PM
Join us on January 8th
Substack On! is free to attend and open to any writer. Workshops are limited capacity and exclusively for writers on Substack.
Illustrations by Jordan McMahon
Illustrations by Jordan McMahon
Substack is the home for great writing.
© 2021 Substack Inc.