Ten Things I Know About Storytelling

(the Substack edition)

Image from my book Little Stories of Your Life

What’s your story?

Today, I’m offering something a little different to my usual letters. Late last year, I shared a series on Instagram revealing the secrets I’ve learned in ten years of online storytelling (and 100k Instagram followers). It was clear from the comments I received that these posts had resonated far more than I expected, and so when

Kerani Arpaia

kindly requested I share the full list on Substack, I was already in the process of typing it up. I’ve adapted those secrets and gathered them here for you.

Storytelling is universal and so much of this will be true of wherever you tell your stories. If you’re a reader, a writer, or both, I hope there’ll be something that speaks to you…

(If you’d prefer to read a personal essay, last week’s postcard—the people we used to be—is out from behind the paywall and you can read it here.)

Ten Things I Know About (online) Storytelling

—the Substack Edition—

1. Your story is worth telling. You are completely and gloriously unique, and so is your story. Your voice is ready to be heard and there are people out there who want—or need—to hear it. Be true to who you are.

2. Popular isn't the same as perfect. Don’t judge your (or other people’s) work by the online engagement it receives. If a piece that you love and feel proud of doesn't get as many likes, comments or shares as you hoped for, your writing ability is not in question. Growing a readership takes time, and Substack Notes (an element of discoverability on this platform) is governed, like Instagram, by an algorithm—a set of rules followed by a computer. Algorithms are NOT arbiters of talent or taste. Trust your own judgement.

3. YOU choose what to share. You don’t owe anyone your whole story. I live in a chaotic, noisy house but I almost never showcase the mess or the whirlwind of my everyday—I generally choose to share moments of beauty, serenity and meaning. I can't control the chaos, but I can control what I write! Your particular choices may be different, but we do all benefit from establishing clear boundaries about what we are (and are not) willing to offer up online.

4. Use recurring motifs.  There's no need to always produce content that’s fresh, new and different. If an idea has worked for you, consider repeating and developing it into a series of essays or posts. Returning to themes and motifs can actually help you to grow your audience because they will come to know what to expect from you, and if they have liked it once, they will probably like it again. Our lives are filled with endless small repetitions: why shouldn't our storytelling reflect that?

5. Don't fall into the comparison trap. With so much incredible writing (and now so many big name writers) showcased on Substack, we all occasionally fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others and finding our words wanting. If you feel yourself doing this, try to compare your work now with your own previous work, not with other people's—look back through your essays, your camera roll or your notebooks, remind yourself of your story, and see how far you've come. We are each on our own journey here.

6. Choose to step into different worlds. Connect with people whose backgrounds and experiences differ from your own, not just those whose lives mirror yours. Expanding your inbox to discover and read fresh stories will offer you opportunities for empathy and enrichment.

7. Nobody's life is flawless. What you see on screen is always only part of the story. We often share our highlights (and that's okay!) but even people with the most amazing-sounding lives and stories have struggles going on behind the scenes. Off the page, life is messy and complicated—we are all vulnerable. Be kind.

8. Go analogue. When my creativity needs a boost, I step away from my laptop for a while. If you're in need of inspiration, why not shoot a roll of 35mm film, read a poem, visit an exhibition, go for a walk, watch the clouds, bake a cake, pick up a sketchbook and pencil, listen to an album or take a course and learn something new.

9. It's okay to walk away. Any type of social media… yes, even Substack… can become a stressful place to spend time. If you find that you're experiencing envy or dissatisfaction, it's probably time to take a break, or even (sorry!) to unsubscribe from a newsletter or two. Your inbox should always be a positive place for you.

10. Only connect. Be generous with likes, shares, recommendations and comments—not only will you brighten people’s days, but they’ll reciprocate, and engage with you and your work in return. As in the golden days of blogging (was anyone else on Blogger?) you may find that you forge friendships that spread into the physical world beyond the comments section. Reach out and connect!

If you found this post useful, you might enjoy my storytelling book:

Image by Xanthe Berkeley

Thank you for reading,

Laura x

find my instagram here

PS: Did one of the ten things resonate with you? Do let me know—or share some storytelling secrets of your own—in the comments.