Why Substack?

The Internet is a pretty big and wide place, right? More often than not, treading through Instagram or Facebook for my interests feels like trying to find a particular drop of water in an ocean. An ocean with way too many angry sharks and scamming jellyfish.

My friend has been using Substack for a while for her thoughts on writing and for her poetry workshops. I’d started a MailChimp newsletter to minimal success, and finally took a look at Substack.

Who Am I?

I’m Chris M. Arnone. I write novels like The Hermes Protocol and its forthcoming sequel. Think Catwoman with an AI sidekick while exploring gender and sexuality in a cyberpunk universe. I also write poetry, plays, and have an unending list of stories that I want to tell.

I’m intersex. Expect me to write a lot about that.

I have an MFA in Creative Writing and Media Arts from the University of Kansas City. I’m also an actor, having recently made my Off-Broadway debut last summer. I live just outside of KC with my wife and our cats.

What Makes Substack Different?

Substack feels like it’s a space made for writers. Instagram is made for everybody, sure, but the young and beautiful tend to do best. Or at the very least, those making regular and witty video content. TikTok? Same, but younger. Patreon has some writers doing well, but the platform feels like it’s geared more toward visual mediums.

Then, there’s Substack. So many writers are creating great content. Essays, AMAs, sharing thoughts on the writing industry or their own writing process. Seeing a poem go from handwritten draft to published work does a lot to kill imposter syndrome. Understanding how an author drew inspiration for a character gives great perspective.

And more than any of that, there’s no algorithm. No social media AI is determining who sees my Substack posts. You want to read my posts? Just subscribe. You’ll see them. Not having to tailor my content to work correctly in an ever-changing algorithm sounds like writerly heaven.

What am I writing here?

So, you know my books are available (with a new one coming in January!). I also write articles for Book Riot. What type of content can you expect from me here on Substack?

Free content:

·        Monthly newsletter

·        Updates on published work

·        Writing advice

Paid Content:

·        Essays about writing, including first-to-final draft process

·        Ask me anything (AMA) sessions

·        Reflections on my past writing

·        Essays on science fiction, poetry, playwriting, and my other genres

·        Exclusive, online writing workshop

·        Subscriber chats

Ultimately, I want to know what kinds of content you’d like to see, and I really want to get the writing workshop up and running. I have an MFA in Creative Writing and Media Arts, so I have a lot of knowledge to share. Writers aren’t competitors. We all do better when we all do better.

Really. Why Substack?

I want to engage with you, my readers and my fellow writers. And…I kind of hate social media. But if you want to be a writer and have people actually read your work, you need to use it. Fine. But this feels more like me. In-depth chats, long-form reflections and essays, maybe the occasional video. Substack is the place to be for all things Chris M. Arnone.