Since there are quite a few more of you new here, I thought I might help you around the architecture of Substack, which seems to be building itself into more of a social network, not just a newsletter platform.
Besides the newsletters you receive in your email and that are posted to movableworlds.co, Substack has also enabled “Notes” and “Chat”.
This risks sounding reductive, but Substack Notes works a bit like a Twitter feed. And anyone can see my Notes, whether or not you are a subscriber (free or paid) to Movable Worlds. You can read them here or sign up for a Substack account to read Notes from all Substack writers you subscribe to—and also share your own Notes. I hate spam, so as a Movable Worlds reader, you will never receive separate email notifications for my Notes.
Substack Chat is a messaging tool, though my Movable Worlds Chat is only accessible by newsletter subscribers (free or paid). I’ve used it as a mini travelogue, asked you to share your worlds with me, and linked to stories I’ve published elsewhere. As with Notes, I have never sent separate email notifications for Chat and will only ever make rare exceptions to this rule. Mostly, you will only get notifications of new Chats when you’re logged into the Substack dashboard—via your web browser or the Substack app. I will not bombard you!
I’m still figuring out how to use both Notes and Chats in different and complementary ways, but I usually post more private or casual asides in Chat. I haven't actually been using either of them very actively, but I just wanted to let you know they exist and that I’ll be experimenting with them.
However, and it should go without saying: feel free to just stick with the newsletter—which you will receive via email, either in full or as part of a digest—and ignore everything else.
The letters are the main thing!
Ok, this is getting long, but a couple more tips if you’re new to Substack:
You can adjust your profile settings to determine how you receive newsletter notifications for Movable Worlds (and other Substack newsletters you subscribe to)—whether by email only, or also on the Substack app. I would not recommend turning on “smart notifications”, as I’m not sure how it works; it seems to have led to some people missing out on new letters.
If you don’t remember ever signing up properly for a Substack account but have previously subscribed to a Substack newsletter, then you already have an account. On the login page, just enter your email address and a log-in link will be sent to you. If you know your password, click “Sign in with password”.
I hope that’s all clear. If you have any questions, reply to this email (you’ll reach me at movableworlds-AT-gmail.com) or comment on this thread.
Introducing Substack Notes
Introducing Substack Notes
Introducing Substack Notes
So, Substack as social network?
Dear readers,
Since there are quite a few more of you new here, I thought I might help you around the architecture of Substack, which seems to be building itself into more of a social network, not just a newsletter platform.
Besides the newsletters you receive in your email and that are posted to movableworlds.co, Substack has also enabled “Notes” and “Chat”.
This risks sounding reductive, but Substack Notes works a bit like a Twitter feed. And anyone can see my Notes, whether or not you are a subscriber (free or paid) to Movable Worlds. You can read them here or sign up for a Substack account to read Notes from all Substack writers you subscribe to—and also share your own Notes. I hate spam, so as a Movable Worlds reader, you will never receive separate email notifications for my Notes.
Substack Chat is a messaging tool, though my Movable Worlds Chat is only accessible by newsletter subscribers (free or paid). I’ve used it as a mini travelogue, asked you to share your worlds with me, and linked to stories I’ve published elsewhere. As with Notes, I have never sent separate email notifications for Chat and will only ever make rare exceptions to this rule. Mostly, you will only get notifications of new Chats when you’re logged into the Substack dashboard—via your web browser or the Substack app. I will not bombard you!
I’m still figuring out how to use both Notes and Chats in different and complementary ways, but I usually post more private or casual asides in Chat. I haven't actually been using either of them very actively, but I just wanted to let you know they exist and that I’ll be experimenting with them.
However, and it should go without saying: feel free to just stick with the newsletter—which you will receive via email, either in full or as part of a digest—and ignore everything else.
The letters are the main thing!
Ok, this is getting long, but a couple more tips if you’re new to Substack:
You can adjust your profile settings to determine how you receive newsletter notifications for Movable Worlds (and other Substack newsletters you subscribe to)—whether by email only, or also on the Substack app. I would not recommend turning on “smart notifications”, as I’m not sure how it works; it seems to have led to some people missing out on new letters.
If you don’t remember ever signing up properly for a Substack account but have previously subscribed to a Substack newsletter, then you already have an account. On the login page, just enter your email address and a log-in link will be sent to you. If you know your password, click “Sign in with password”.
I hope that’s all clear. If you have any questions, reply to this email (you’ll reach me at movableworlds-AT-gmail.com) or comment on this thread.
Thanks for sticking around!