I think I went for art and health and wellness, but like many none really fit. I would like to see categories for personal development/growth and memoir. These in Substack writers hour, months ago and there were lots of similar requests, so maybe one day...
I have parenting and humour, I think I did wellness prior to humour. I don’t like being boxed in and it doesn’t feel like a “parenting” get your tips here blog it’s also not always very funny. I’m missing a personal essay type or journal category. I know it’s broad but that feels more right for me. Also would love a women’s experience category or feminism which I touch on. I follow a lot of newsletters in that space and goodness knows what categories they put.
I don’t think so but if I search in my explore for “honest motherhood” my substack doesn’t come up and not all those that do are relevant so I’m hoping it’s just because I’m searching my own but if not I probs need some SEO help 😂
I don’t know how you tell if it comes through explore
I chose Health & Wellness as I write about mental and physical health in midlife (sometimes!) and Literature because I'm a life writer/memoirist/novelist, too. But yep, not entirely satisfied with the categories. Would like to see something more nuanced but get the need for broad groupings...
I have the same issue, Lindsay. None of them are quite right for me so I went for Health & Wellness and Philosophy. I'd like a Personal Development category. Love the suggestion of Being Human too.
As we discussed I’m business and design! But I would love a nature category given my work is part-based on the seasons and nature also influences my work. I think a lot of people would benefit from that!
Great question. I went for Art and Design then Health and Wellness but none seemed to really fit. I like the idea of changing them up every few months though and will definitely try that.
It's very odd that Health appears twice – on its own and as Health and Wellness, but lots of other categories are missing, such as nature and wildlife, fiction and narrative non-fiction (I thought one of Substack's aims was to attract writers!).
Art & Illustration (which was a no-brainer) & culture (though I’m not sure that really fits?) It’s so difficult sometimes, choosing categories, isn’t it?
Where do you sit on the “education” one? I’ve used that a few times for sparkle but I don’t know if they mean traditional teaching or soulful education like we do?!
I was curious about this too, because there’s an educational side to some of my posts, but it’s more about branding and business! Not traditional teaching!
I’m going to have a dig about - I mean part of it is we have permission and part of it is in the leaderboard discovery tool it’s which one we’re more likely to be discovered in? Not a science more a feeling and I definitely need to interview someone from Substack! ✨✨
Honestly, no! But I would really love there to be more options in case it does make a difference. I don’t mind being ‘in a box’ but I just want it to be the one/s of my choosing! Great topic, thanks Claire. Lots of people wanting more choice in this!
Yes and after changing my job title so many times in my career I don’t even know what category I’d ask for. Creativity I think but then it’s too broad?
Thank you for sharing this! It's something I've struggled with. Since poetry isn't a category option, I've had to go for literature and fiction, as it feels like those are the closest I guess. But still, I'm not sure if they fit quite well enough!
I went for health and spirituality. Does it apply to each substack or to me though? I was thinking of bringing business writings etc under here too eventually?
It definitely had me stumped because none of them felt quite right.
I’d love to see options for Being Human, Living Mindfully and Getting Older 👵🏻
Lovely ideas - I get the feeling they like a short snappy category?
I love Being Human. I vote for that one!
LOVE that one!!
Being Human would be my IDEAL category! What a great idea
I write best selling books about Chinese and western astrology. Why no esoterica category?
I think I went for art and health and wellness, but like many none really fit. I would like to see categories for personal development/growth and memoir. These in Substack writers hour, months ago and there were lots of similar requests, so maybe one day...
Oh memoir yes!!! Loads of folks need that one!!
Missed out half of my sentence! 'These *were suggested *...'
I’m still waiting for the nature category 🍃 🍂 🌲🙏🏼
So many votes for nature!
I have parenting and humour, I think I did wellness prior to humour. I don’t like being boxed in and it doesn’t feel like a “parenting” get your tips here blog it’s also not always very funny. I’m missing a personal essay type or journal category. I know it’s broad but that feels more right for me. Also would love a women’s experience category or feminism which I touch on. I follow a lot of newsletters in that space and goodness knows what categories they put.
Feminism yes!! We need to request that!! Like yesterday! Have you found readers coming through explore Kylie-Ann? Can you tell?
I don’t think so but if I search in my explore for “honest motherhood” my substack doesn’t come up and not all those that do are relevant so I’m hoping it’s just because I’m searching my own but if not I probs need some SEO help 😂
I don’t know how you tell if it comes through explore
I've tried 'motherhood' and I used to always search 'slow living' but unless it's in the publication title nothing comes up...
Yes, the categories feel rather crude and clunky. I think psychology and memoir both deserve categories of their own.....
Memoir would be beautiful I’d be so lost in there.
I chose Health & Wellness as I write about mental and physical health in midlife (sometimes!) and Literature because I'm a life writer/memoirist/novelist, too. But yep, not entirely satisfied with the categories. Would like to see something more nuanced but get the need for broad groupings...
What would you suggest? It’s hard isn’t it! They like a short snappy category!
Hmmmm... Mental health? Life writing?
I have the same issue, Lindsay. None of them are quite right for me so I went for Health & Wellness and Philosophy. I'd like a Personal Development category. Love the suggestion of Being Human too.
Personal development and being human sound brilliant! And I am really up for a coffee over the festive break if we can make it happen, Caroline!
Creative Non-fiction would be a welcome category.
My first one is Travel and I had to choose Culture as my second one because nothing else really fits.
Yep I’ve had culture for a while although not sure it serves me? It is too confused?
Oh my gosh are there categories 😂 I need to go and have a look at this now!
Did you choose some Tiffany?
As we discussed I’m business and design! But I would love a nature category given my work is part-based on the seasons and nature also influences my work. I think a lot of people would benefit from that!
Yes!! I’d love nature for Creatively Conscious too Sarah! I think we all need 3 if I’m honest! ?!?
Great question. I went for Art and Design then Health and Wellness but none seemed to really fit. I like the idea of changing them up every few months though and will definitely try that.
Did you try switching Louise?
Not yet but I'll be doing it next week
It's very odd that Health appears twice – on its own and as Health and Wellness, but lots of other categories are missing, such as nature and wildlife, fiction and narrative non-fiction (I thought one of Substack's aims was to attract writers!).
Very odd! Let’s tell them!
Art & Illustration (which was a no-brainer) & culture (though I’m not sure that really fits?) It’s so difficult sometimes, choosing categories, isn’t it?
Where do you sit on the “education” one? I’ve used that a few times for sparkle but I don’t know if they mean traditional teaching or soulful education like we do?!
I was curious about this too, because there’s an educational side to some of my posts, but it’s more about branding and business! Not traditional teaching!
I’m going to have a dig about - I mean part of it is we have permission and part of it is in the leaderboard discovery tool it’s which one we’re more likely to be discovered in? Not a science more a feeling and I definitely need to interview someone from Substack! ✨✨
I’m not sure, but I think there’s no harm playing around with the second category? It can all be a nice experiment!
That would be my question!
Travel and Design. I started with Travel and International. May revert to that to see if it will attract more US readers.
Here we are peering in at the graphs every few months 😆 only Substack knows!!
But I also keep changing mine @clairevenus to see what works. I don’t really know where I fit at the moment!
Have you noticed anything Jo?
Honestly, no! But I would really love there to be more options in case it does make a difference. I don’t mind being ‘in a box’ but I just want it to be the one/s of my choosing! Great topic, thanks Claire. Lots of people wanting more choice in this!
Yes and after changing my job title so many times in my career I don’t even know what category I’d ask for. Creativity I think but then it’s too broad?
Thank you for sharing this! It's something I've struggled with. Since poetry isn't a category option, I've had to go for literature and fiction, as it feels like those are the closest I guess. But still, I'm not sure if they fit quite well enough!
Literature is good but yes there’s a big campaign for a poetry category!
I went for health and spirituality. Does it apply to each substack or to me though? I was thinking of bringing business writings etc under here too eventually?
Each Substack Elly.