Top 5 Reasons NOT to Write on Substack

Wrestling with the Inner Critic

In November, I created my Substack account, fully intent on resuming my public writing efforts after an eight-year pause. For months now, I have come to my computer fully intending to share a post, and for months, the “coming soon” sign has remained on my publication.

I first began writing in 2003 for the 70 members of my community-based women’s ministry Quest. Through those early writings, I discovered that my own questions, struggles, hopes, and dreams were shared by others. In our collective stories, we found support, connection, and the courage to make our dreams a reality. What started as a newsletter became a blog, and then in 2010, I published my first book, From the Sanctuary to the Street. In 2020, I wrote my second book, Power Shift: A Field Guide for Community Cultivators Everywhere, which is used as the curriculum for our Power Shift training program.

I’m no stranger to writing, so why is publishing my first post on Substack proving to be so difficult?

It is not that I don’t have content I would like to share – I have eight years of articles collecting dust in my journals, on my computer, and in the dark corners of my mind. It is not that I can’t figure out the technology or that I have been too busy, though those excuses have been what I have been telling myself.

The truth is that there are two equally powerful voices in my head. One sounds a lot like my friend Jill Hames, the other sounds exactly opposite; we will call that voice Judas. This morning, Jill and Judas had a discussion in my head that went something like this:

You can do this!, said Jill.

No one cares what you have to say!, responded Judas

That negative voice of Judas has been lurking in the corners of my mind for a long time. So I tried to recall how I defeated him in the past.

When I was working on my first book over a decade ago, I was introduced to kathy escobar. When I reached out to her for advice as an author, she not only encouraged me, but she also invited me to stay at her home in Colorado and took me on a tour of The Refuge, her beautiful community. Her words of encouragement silenced Judas.

You would think that once you overcome the fear of writing publicly, that would be it – the fear would die. But my Judas is zombie-like. He keeps coming back with every new project, and the longer the time between projects, the stronger he grows!

I lost touch with Kathy for many years, but was elated to discover that she is now sharing here on Substack. In a recent post, she shared her Top 5 lists of 2025 and asked her readers to share theirs. She had sparked my creative energies in the past. Why not give it a try?

Judas was quick to respond to Kathy’s invitation, rattling off 5 excellent reasons NOT to write, with Jill countering every point.

Judas’ Top 5 reasons NOT to write on Substack.

1. You don’t have time for this.

Jill: You don’t have the time NOT to write. You’re pushing 60, get on with it!

2. You’re not talented enough.

Jill: Talent is not everything. You have heart. If people see your heart, they will give you grace. Besides, how will you ever improve if you don’t try?

3. No one cares what you have to say.

Jill: Many will not care, but some will.

4. You’re not strong enough to take criticism.

Jill: This might be true. However, in the past, the amount of positive feedback has far outweighed the negative. You are tougher than you give yourself credit for.

5. People will take your words and twist them to hurt you or worse, your family. Don’t be so selfish! Don’t risk it!

Jill: Yes, it could happen. There are no guarantees.

Final score Jill 4, Judas 1. Oh, how I wish it were that easy! A simple pros and cons list, and voila, like magic, I overcome all my doubts and fears.

I gave Judas his Top 5 list. Now let’s hear from Jill.

Jill’s Top 5 reasons TO write on Substack:

1. It could be fun.

2. Writing helps you make sense of a senseless time. That is enough.

3. Something you write might be what someone else needs to hear.

4. Writing is a way to build connections and encourage other writers.

5. If you push the publish button enough, you might kill Judas once and for all!

Jill makes a pretty strong argument! Perhaps I should take the advice of others who have found the courage to do hard things. The bravest people I know are those in recovery. Something they have taught me is to take life one day at a time. What if I added, just for today?

Just for today, I can overcome my fears and publish on Substack. I know, I know, all the authorities on this kind of writing will say, I have to commit to 3 posts a week. But Jill says, one is better than none.

OK, now the hard part: pushing the publish button for the first time!

If you identify with this inner dialog, or if your inner voices are standing in the way of you doing what you set out to do in this new year, please share in the comments.

If you want to echo the voice of Jill and share a few words of encouragement, please leave your comments below. All Judas types…go haunt someone else, please.

If you really want to encourage me, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Substack.

If you found this through Facebook or Mighty Network and are new to Substack, just a quick note. If you subscribe, Substack will automatically send you an email letting you know I have put up a new post. You don’t have to remember to come check the site or do anything other than sign up and subscribe.

I began writing because stories build connections, and I believe connections can change the world. That is my hope for this publication. All my content is free. All I ask is that if a post was meaningful to you, that you share a few words or hit the like button or restack for others to discover.

Please visit the About page to learn more about the types of content I will be sharing. Thanks for reading. I hope you will join me on this new adventure.

UPDATE: Six Weeks Later

Well, I have been pushing the publish button weekly for six weeks and here are the top five things that surprised me so far.

1. I have enjoyed connecting directly with other writers and friends, especially those I had lost touch with over the years.

2. I have discovered writers who are new to me and enjoy learning about a broader range of topics at a deeper level than I did before I joined Substack.

3. I am a bit disappointed that posts with hundreds of views get so little interaction in the form of likes and comments. I am not sure if that is a commentary on my posts or on the nature of the relationship that is still forming with readers.

4. I am still struggling to figure out how to make my own feed more of the kinds of posts I want to read and less sales pitches on how to grow Substack into a money-making machine, which is not my goal.

5. I am proud of myself for sticking with it for six weeks. I feel like I deserve a chip or badge for posting new content every week for six weeks. For me, that is a huge achievement, and I am finding that Judas is getting quieter and quieter every time someone hits the like button on my post or leaves a comment. Many thanks to those who have done so over the past six weeks.

I am glad I listened to Jill’s positive words of encouragement over Juda’s fear-laden words of doubt. I am still in the honeymoon phase of my Substack relationship, but so far, I am glad I gave it a try.

Help keep Judas locked in the closet, share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Any advice for the next six weeks?

Which of the posts have you enjoyed most?

What kinds of posts would you most enjoy going forward?

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