I was so excited when I saw Glennon here, and I gobbled up everything she posted, and I’m devastated to hear that she’s left.
There is room for all of us here, which you’ve mentioned in your post and I appreciate that. I also appreciate you being transparent about how you felt.
But I’m gonna reiterate what I tell a lot of people that get upset or worried or jealous when big names come on Substack with hundreds of thousands of followers. *****They uploaded their list.***** They didn’t amass thousands of followers overnight. All they did was import their newsletter list to Substack. It took them years and years and years to develop that list. They put in the time and the effort, unless of course there are a Kardashian. And I really want people to understand this! I know because I have a different account, and I uploaded my list that took me 10+ years to gather. It’s small in comparison, but if someone looked and saw that on day one I had 6500 followers, they might be upset.
I really am devastated to hear that Glennon was bullied off this platform, especially since it’s the only place that I’ve ever felt safe.
It is awful that she felt compelled to leave, especially since Liz convinced her this was a nice place. And yes, she brought her hard-earned list here, as I did with my 100 or so people when I started. Under my envy, I was impressed that so many people converted to paid subscribers in such a short time. I shouldn't be surprised since she is so beloved. I hope we can be a part of Glennon's fan club if she decides to try again somewhere else.
Hi Rachel, I didn't know that within 24 hours Glennon had over $50k a year in new paid subscribers, I just read that yesterday and wow, yeah, now I get it. Not that anyone should be bullied off Substack, but for those trying to earn here I could see that as a rub. I wish she had chosen not put her work behind a paywall. I chose not to put my writing behind a paywall and believe me, I need the money!! Instead I ask for donations and am grateful that some do donate. I understand people who put the ability to comment behind a paywall if they're super popular or have trolls and I don't judge people for putting their content behind a paywall either but for me, it doesn't feel right.
Oh and absolutely, we can still be part of Glennon's fan club!
Exactly! I follow an influencer who actually wrote in one of her first Substack articles “if you’re noticing things look different around here, it’s because I’m now hosting my blog / newsletter on Substack!”, acknowledging that she uploaded her entire email life & giving them an explanation about the platform & letting them know how to unsubscribe. It’s not threatening imo.
It speaks so highly of this platform that long-hauler bloggers have moved their blogs and/or email lists here. Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen comes to mind. It makes me feel like we're doing something right if these successful folks are here or want to be here.
I really appreciated this, Rachel. Especially this:
"Women hold each other to impossible standards while men fail upward. We earned exactly the president we deserve because we love the schadenfreude of tearing successful women down more than we love lifting each other up."
That is a very hard pill to swallow, isn't it? How I wish people were different.
As a man who likes but doesn't like Glennon Doyle, my reactions were similar to yours: "Oh shit, no cake for me." Not that I'm competing with Glennon, mind you, but I imagine you don't see yourself as doing that either. Which is exactly the problem: Do we really need to create a sense of scarcity where one isn't warranted? I think that that is what we really need to focus on here on Substack if we are to stay sane.
Once regular people become famous and rich I think most of them lose some reality and feel like everyone owes them something. I’ve read a few of her books and don’t consider her a genius - she just put life and words on paper before anyone else. It’s pretty much common sense.
Writers have been putting their lives on paper since we've been able although she's one of the first women in our generation to do so about parenting and addiction recovery. But I know what you mean. I was so captivated by her simple writing style and thought: "That's so easy." Now that I write more, I know that it's much harder than it looks.
Wow this was such a great read, Rachel. Well done you for being able to take a hard look at your actions and not only see things differently, but write about it (and so eloquently). I never heard of Glennon before. Did she really leave just from feeling shunned? That is really a shame. But again, good for you for speaking out about it.
Thank you. It was the first time Substack showed me the “hey this might be cut off in an email” warning when I got near 2,000 words 🙃 I think you’d love her work, given your very open-hearted and honest writing style Kaila
I was so excited when I saw Glennon here, and I gobbled up everything she posted, and I’m devastated to hear that she’s left.
There is room for all of us here, which you’ve mentioned in your post and I appreciate that. I also appreciate you being transparent about how you felt.
But I’m gonna reiterate what I tell a lot of people that get upset or worried or jealous when big names come on Substack with hundreds of thousands of followers. *****They uploaded their list.***** They didn’t amass thousands of followers overnight. All they did was import their newsletter list to Substack. It took them years and years and years to develop that list. They put in the time and the effort, unless of course there are a Kardashian. And I really want people to understand this! I know because I have a different account, and I uploaded my list that took me 10+ years to gather. It’s small in comparison, but if someone looked and saw that on day one I had 6500 followers, they might be upset.
I really am devastated to hear that Glennon was bullied off this platform, especially since it’s the only place that I’ve ever felt safe.
It is awful that she felt compelled to leave, especially since Liz convinced her this was a nice place. And yes, she brought her hard-earned list here, as I did with my 100 or so people when I started. Under my envy, I was impressed that so many people converted to paid subscribers in such a short time. I shouldn't be surprised since she is so beloved. I hope we can be a part of Glennon's fan club if she decides to try again somewhere else.
Hi Rachel, I didn't know that within 24 hours Glennon had over $50k a year in new paid subscribers, I just read that yesterday and wow, yeah, now I get it. Not that anyone should be bullied off Substack, but for those trying to earn here I could see that as a rub. I wish she had chosen not put her work behind a paywall. I chose not to put my writing behind a paywall and believe me, I need the money!! Instead I ask for donations and am grateful that some do donate. I understand people who put the ability to comment behind a paywall if they're super popular or have trolls and I don't judge people for putting their content behind a paywall either but for me, it doesn't feel right.
Oh and absolutely, we can still be part of Glennon's fan club!
Exactly! I follow an influencer who actually wrote in one of her first Substack articles “if you’re noticing things look different around here, it’s because I’m now hosting my blog / newsletter on Substack!”, acknowledging that she uploaded her entire email life & giving them an explanation about the platform & letting them know how to unsubscribe. It’s not threatening imo.
It speaks so highly of this platform that long-hauler bloggers have moved their blogs and/or email lists here. Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen comes to mind. It makes me feel like we're doing something right if these successful folks are here or want to be here.
Oh that's awesome that influencer explained what happened!!!
I really appreciated this, Rachel. Especially this:
"Women hold each other to impossible standards while men fail upward. We earned exactly the president we deserve because we love the schadenfreude of tearing successful women down more than we love lifting each other up."
That is a very hard pill to swallow, isn't it? How I wish people were different.
As a man who likes but doesn't like Glennon Doyle, my reactions were similar to yours: "Oh shit, no cake for me." Not that I'm competing with Glennon, mind you, but I imagine you don't see yourself as doing that either. Which is exactly the problem: Do we really need to create a sense of scarcity where one isn't warranted? I think that that is what we really need to focus on here on Substack if we are to stay sane.
Thanks for your honesty Gregory. I think it’s an interesting examine our reactions to her arrival and departure.
Once regular people become famous and rich I think most of them lose some reality and feel like everyone owes them something. I’ve read a few of her books and don’t consider her a genius - she just put life and words on paper before anyone else. It’s pretty much common sense.
Writers have been putting their lives on paper since we've been able although she's one of the first women in our generation to do so about parenting and addiction recovery. But I know what you mean. I was so captivated by her simple writing style and thought: "That's so easy." Now that I write more, I know that it's much harder than it looks.
Wow this was such a great read, Rachel. Well done you for being able to take a hard look at your actions and not only see things differently, but write about it (and so eloquently). I never heard of Glennon before. Did she really leave just from feeling shunned? That is really a shame. But again, good for you for speaking out about it.
Thank you. It was the first time Substack showed me the “hey this might be cut off in an email” warning when I got near 2,000 words 🙃 I think you’d love her work, given your very open-hearted and honest writing style Kaila
I'll check her out! Thanks Rachel.