Confessions of a Substack Writer

Substack Feels Like a Safe Space and i'm obsessed

Back in July 2023, I decided to take the plunge into Substack after seeing one of my mutuals start their own account. As a university student in my first years, I already had a blog and a Twitter account where I’d built a small, loving community. I loved inspiring the people who followed me, but creating a Substack was different. The moment I decided to start my own, I was beyond excited. I still remember that day I was at my grandma’s house, bursting with excitement as I posted my very first piece. It was the beginning of a whole new chapter.

The feeling of launching my first newsletter was indescribable, and I couldn’t wait to share it. As I scrolled through other first-time newsletters on Substack notes, I saw the same excitement from girls just starting out, and it made me feel even more connected to this platform. I made it a habit to post weekly, and over time, the joy of sharing my thoughts and creations only grew. It felt like a community of like-minded people, all eager to create and share, and I couldn’t have been happier

My first posts heheee :

Back then, there were very few Substack newsletters compared to now. I remember not even using the notes section I was just there to read or create content. I was subscribed to only 10 newsletters and had 20 followers in my first week. The next week, that grew to 100! Anyway, I won’t dive into my full Substack journey here, but I wanted to share how Substack has replaced my reading books habit and honestly, I'm loving it. I know some might argue nothing can replace books, and I totally get that. But for me, reading mini essays just works better. I can breeze through 300 pages, but these shorter reads fit my routine in the best way possible .

I use Substack just like I use Instagram or TikTok I pick an article, immerse myself in it, and absorb every detail. It makes me so happy! Sometimes, I read personal essays from girls sharing their life lessons, wellness posts, or what’s in their wishlist, I love how these girls share their monthly favorites or their media consumption. I’ve saved over 300 posts since 2023, and I feel this urge to read every single one.

Not only that, but my English has improved so much thanks to Substack. In my country, we mostly speak Arabic and French, but in my master's program, I had friends who spoke English, and I began to speak fluently because of Substack and podcasts. I still remember a moment when I was at the metro with my friend from Nigeria, speaking in English. Some people around us looked at me in awe, thinking I didn’t belong to my country because they were so impressed with how well I spoke English. I was so flattered! It’s amazing how Substack has made me feel like I can become a writer someday. It’s shown me that I can be anything I want to be. And honestly, manifestation works wonders on Substack too! Sometimes, I write about something, and it actually happens—it’s crazy!"

Honestly, Substack has replaced my podcast listening almost completely. I swear, I barely listen to podcasts anymore; I just read articles now. It’s been such a game-changer for me, and I really encourage anyone who struggles to find time for books to give it a try. If you’re ever in a rush, just open the app and read an article instead. I can't even count how many times I've been on the bus, the metro, or hanging out with friends, reading saved Substack articles, and it makes me so happy. It’s such a fulfilling experience!

I remember back in 2023, after a toxicology class, I took the one-hour ride home and read the first article from a girl who was already a writer. I absorbed everything, and it felt so good. Another day, I read a Q&A; another time, it was about things that had improved her life. I love diving into my saved posts, especially when there’s no Wi-Fi available it feels like the perfect way to make the most of my time.

I have to admit, I still love reading books, but I consume so much content now that I feel like essays on different topics resonate with me more. They inspire me, too! I used to hate spending days on a single book, so now, when I read, I finish it in one sitting. Back in 2020, I would have called myself the girl who devoured books on all sorts of topics, and now I’ve found Substack this long-form content app that’s everything I needed and more. It’s even better than Medium, and I love how it feels like a safe space for so many Gen Z girls and millennials. It’s like a community that really gets me

The vibe of the cool girls on Substack is just superior. I see so much intelligence, wisdom, and maturity in their posts, and I absolutely love it. I remember reading an article last June (I wish I could find it!) about why we love looking at old pictures and why nostalgia hits so hard. I was feeling anxious, and reading her perspective completely lifted my spirits it was so therapeutic. I definitely have to admit that another post I read, about how journaling changed someone's life, helped me a lot too. It was such a game-changer for me, and I think I’ve read almost 500 posts since I started maybe even more! I consume so much content heheee

I also read articles from other sites like The New Yorker, Dazed, and The Paris Review, but with Substack, when I read a piece, I feel it. It’s more intimate, somehow. I can relate to the writer on a deeper level, It’s hard to explain, but I’m sure you know what I mean!

The first favorite newsletter I discovered during my early days of posting is

Ella

. Last autumn , I still remember reading her 'Sleepy Time with Ella' on the bus, and the answers she shared were so thoughtful and inspiring. Last year, I found myself reading her posts every time I came back from uni instead of working on my master’s thesis lolll . I’d spend my days having lunch or watching something, but I was more obsessed with reading what everyone wrote. It made me incredibly happy like, a lot! It became my little self-care ritual. I loved doing my skincare or facial while listening to podcasts, and it truly inspired me. I’m thinking of doing a post about self-care rituals soon let me know if you'd be interested!

Ella’s archive

When I started using Substack more, I began tweeting less and less. Twitter feels almost dead now, or maybe it’s just that I’m growing and no longer feel the need to share everything on there. I’ve started sharing my thoughts in the form of monthly FAVS , wishlists, and long posts, and people seem to really enjoy it. Another thing about Substack is that it’s changed my taste, my personal style, and so much more , I could write a whole essay about how amazing it is.

I love how it lets you see a person’s life through what they write and how it inspires me. I’m so grateful for the amazing girls, internet besties, and mutuals I’ve met on Substack. It’s the same with YouTube I’ve become mutuals with so many YouTubers, and it makes me so happy. Just put yourself out there and you never know next year you might find yourself in Paris, having a matcha and pastries with them. Think about all the possibilities!

I adore books, though I don’t want you to think I dislike them! I truly love them, but I’ve got a few waiting for me to finish. The only time I really love reading and buying a book to finish is during summer or vacations. I feel like I can read all of it without the distraction of my phone, and using a book just feels better. Last year, I was reading a book by the pool while everyone else was swimming, and I felt amazing just sitting there, lost in the pages. So yeah, I’ll definitely get a new book this summer don’t know which one yet, but I’ll keep you posted!

I also have to say that Substack is way better than TikTok and Instagram, where it's all about ads. On Substack, there's none of that just pure content. I really hope the platform stays this way in the future because I can't stand all the ads. I just want a platform for reading and getting inspiration!

A girl once said we should treat Substack like our own personal eBook, and honestly, it’s such a perfect idea! Every time I read an article, it’s way better than reading nothing at all. You get new inspiration, learn things, and can personalize your reading experience by following newsletters that truly resonate with you. It's like YouTube, where you have a small community that’s eager for your posts.

The number of movies I've watched thanks to Substack recommendations is insane it's full of hidden gems! My favorite part is discovering a new writer, reading their posts, and diving into everything they’ve shared. I absolutely love it. I highly recommend using this app more; it’s helped me in so many ways. If you love books, it’s perfect, but if you're like me, Substack is amazing.

Oh, and before I go, I forgot to mention that Substack pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I used to be the shy girl, but now I’m the extroverted one! There was an article about why we should talk to strangers, and it motivated me to start more fun conversations with people I don’t know. I’m even dreaming of doing a pop-up event to meet some of my favorite Substack subscribers and writers , if I ever move to New York or Paris or even just visit. It’s my dream, and I know I’ll make it happen one day. It's in the future, but I’m determined to make it a reality!

Maybe one day, we’ll all gather at a location to meet up, share what we love, talk about writing, discuss our favorite books, do a workshop, and more. Honestly, I keep thinking about it, and I truly feel like it’s going to become a reality sooner or later!

See you soon, and hope you enjoyed this post! More posts like this are coming very, very soon, so stay tuned!

My instagram

Podcast ep of the day : Podcast episode I listened to after 3 months of not tuning into Spotify podcasts, lol!