I read that Loechner piece when it first came out and while I'm always here to cheer on tech boundaries the whole thing rubbed me the wrong way. I liked a lot of her writing when I came across it a few years ago, wasn't very wild about her book, but was happy for her that she had the clarity to walk away from something that wasn't working for her anymore. This essay seemed like an odd slightly holier than thou nudge to her (clearly very online) email newsletter list - a sort of pitying look down at the masses still so tethered to the web. I think the elephant in the room as you point out is that her entire career is based on *having an online audience* - apparently this was okay for a while, until it wasn't, and now it is okay again to tap into the audience because... you need to sell a book. Well then!
I was also just quite personally offended at the insinuations about Substack. My husband said he thinks of Substack as many 'individual publishing houses' - and I think that's a great way to look at it. It gives authors so much control and a direct way to interact with their audiences who lo and behold, are even willing to contribute a little bit of money to creative efforts (no small thing!). For those of us who do truly feel like writing is a vocation (not just a chance to 'sell ourselves') being able to make some money doing the thing we are meant to do is a true gift. There is also just the fact of the world we live in. Good writing is thriving here on Substack at the moment. I'm sorry it doesn't pass Loechner's apparently quite rigid morality test! (Which I'm confused about - are companies not allowed to make any money at all for having a hosting platform? are artists only 'pure' when they never make a dime off their work?)
I also completely relate to when you say you are a 'written processor.' I am exactly the same. I often think of Joan Didion's great essay, On Keeping a Notebook, when she explains how she writes 'in order to remember what it is to be me.' There is a very big part of me that simply cannot grapple with my life - the narrative I'm living - until it is written down. And as you say, some of that is public, in essays that I share, but much of it is hidden away in journals or private letters for my kids or simply in the endless Notes drafts on my phone. If Loechner has an issue with any amount of vulnerability or sharing via the written word... Whether that is on Substack or anywhere else... Well, I just have to say that I disagree. I don't find it disingenuous. I find it incredibly human and ultimately very important to want to connect with others. Some of us do that through writing, but others will have different ways. That's completely fine.
I could keep going, but basically, yes I think the online world can be tough to navigate. I agree. Most of us could spend much less time on the internet and probably be better off for it. But we also live in an economy that doesn't give us *too much choice*. I have made personal decisions about what platforms I use, even if it means a loss or a more uphill battle with certain aspects of my writing or podcasting or whatever, but I've accepted that. Meanwhile in the more 'professional' business I run in audio consulting, if you're not online, if you're not engaging with SEO, or networking, or on LinkedIn, YOU DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS. So either I make a living, or I don't. And ultimately that is a choice that Loechner, who already has a built in massive audience ONLINE, seems completely tone deaf to.
Yes. Agree, agree, agree. I've long thought of substack as self-publishing, not a social media platform--it just has almost nothing in common with something like Instagram. And also, Instagram is not moral or immoral! It's *how you use these things*. Do I have huge issues with how a lot of people use Instagram? Yup. But I'm also not Jesus. I can't know someone's heart. I have more of a "good for you, not for me" attitude towards it if it isn't actively engaged with sin.
I think it was on a Jen Fulwiler ep. where she talked about how she had all her nice Christian friends praising her for lowering herself to go into comedy clubs and interact with all these sinful people, as if she was Jesus in that situation! Jesus with the prostitutes, Jesus with the tax collectors! And she was like, guys, no, I am NOT Jesus in that situation, I am the tax collector/prostitute, etc. - and sometimes the atheist at the bar is a lot kinder and closer to God than I am. Just check yourself, ha.
Sam from FemCatholic and I used to joke that whenever we'd chat, my business advice to her was always about statistics and marketing plans and project development and hers was typically just telling me "you're not Jesus" over and over. 😂
Very true. I don't think social media is entirely morally neutral (in much the same way I don't think gambling is morally neutral, for similar reasons), as in the users are heavily manipulated and it is *incredibly* difficult to use in a healthy way (and actually, using Instagram in a healthy way, i.e. minimally, goes against the way they make money, so that will always be an issue - the app will never 'help' you, so you have to be very proactive to basically fight against the nature of the thing).
Substack obviously needs to make money too - but simply because of the nature of what it is and what it offers - it isn't going to rely so much on cheap attention-economy tactics. There are no ads (Instagram's source of revenue) - the Writers *are* the source of revenue so it's always going to be in Substack's best interest to do what is best for the writers who are making some money doing what they do on this platform. So I do think it is slightly different in that way as well.
Not using Instagram/Facebook has been a very personal decision for me and it's a *me* issue - They're gateway drugs for me and I just can't use them. I have friends who are able to post on their business Instagram and sign off for the rest of the week. Or to post every now and then on their personal page and not fall into scrolling. I can't! So yes, at the end of the day, it has to be a very personal decision!
I began reading a couple nutrition-centered blogs many years ago that celebrated their Catholicness openly. I enjoyed and learned from specifically spiritual posts, as well as the food posts. Over time, less was shared about faith, and more sponsored posts about this and that product. Now, I am not a wealthy person financially so I really can’t afford many of all those promoted items. I am not learning from either blog about the connection between faith and body. I am disappointed.
I much prefer being asked upfront to support a writer (or podcaster) by subscription. If I can afford to subscribe, I do. If I can’t, I don’t.
That's totally understandable. Sometimes I get in my head here on The Catholic Feminist about if I have enough theology-centered posts, or justice-centered posts, or personal posts, and what did people originally sign up for?! Have I changed too much?! But then I just remind myself people can always unsubscribe if they want to! No harm, no foul. :)
I love your personal posts. I like backgrounds. Why do you think that… where do your thoughts come from… stuff like that. Your concept of Catholic Feminism seems to agree with my daughter’s one-time comment: “The Catholic Church respects women!”
Just here to raise my hand as a Nat the Fat Rat fan! There was a time in the early/mid 2010s I religiously cycled through her blog, Love Taza, and Camp Patton. I feel Iike in that time, I consumed some of my favorite writing by discovering new blogs/bloggers from link ups and blog rolls (is that what they were called?). Now I’ve discovered some of my favorites through Substack. In both cases, I’m grateful to connect to writing that’s meaningful to me. I’m trying to limit mindless scrolling/internet surfing, but my Substack feed kind of feels like a magazine curated just for me that I can read as I have time.
I got that post i my inbox and was excited to read it during nap time, because, like you said, she is a talented writer! I have enjoyed several of her posts over the years.
The whole post gave me “the ick” as some of my gen z clients say, and that’s honestly the best word I can find for it. So much virtue signaling for things that aren’t even virtues, just personal preference. And then to see at the end that the whole post was in service to the promotion of her book really sealed the deal. God knows I’m guilty of virtue signaling and hypocrisy and a whole slew of other sins and errors, but as you pointed out, one of the most glaring issues with this piece is the complete lack of self-awareness. It gave big “you can’t sit with us” vibes.
I... had thoughts. As a big fan of Erin's writing, this one surprised me and left a bitter taste in my mouth. I took a few days to chew on it and then left a meaty (and bordering on the poetical, ha) comment, which she graciously responded to. Dropping it here for fun :)
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts, Erin! I am always grateful to hear your perspective. This one did land harshly for me. I imagine it’s at least in part because I recently opened a paid Substack after writing regularly on my blog for 15+ years in what I hope was a generous, helpful, and prudent way. (And I’m still writing there, for the “joy, connection, and growth,” with no plans to stop!) While you say that it is not wrong to be paid for your passions, the bulk of this essay does seem to say that there is indeed something seedy about it. (And honestly, I don’t even disagree with you!! I, too, am frustrated by this compulsion for everyone to monetize everything everywhere.) I also agree completely with points 4, 5, 6, and 8. Yikes.
My Substack topic of choice is helping others to build more low-tech, connected families – we have a lot in common :) Just as you spent hours, weeks, months, years compiling and shaping the wisdom you’ll share in your new book (which I can’t wait to read), I, too, am a big believer in using what I know to help someone else. I do it in my local community, and I do it when I’m able online. I suppose I am an optimist at heart, and I can’t bring myself to write off the entire internet while there are still people kindly, gently, and wisely sharing wisdom and beauty on it. (Myself truly the least among them.) Navigating in the gray takes discernment, thoughtfulness, and a whole host of other character virtues, and I think it’s actually a lot more challenging than logging off completely. (I think you might agree.) But there’s beauty and value in being a light where it’s dark. I’ll keep raising my candle where I can.
That is a very generous response! Obviously the internet just isn't made for "navigating in the gray" but that doesn't excuse us from taking the time to do so.
1. Erin who??? GenX here and clearly, I was too busy "not caring" to even notice this person.
2. I'm intrigued by how frequent you talk about justification for your writing career. I appreciate it because it's not a noticeable thing.
3. As a small business owner with less than 10 employees, I am consistently looking for how to be a better leader rather than boss in the workplace. There are numerous books outlining what to do and how to do it but there aren't enough examples on how to make this work and what has worked. I'm tired of employees and the public thinking that business owners have magic trees hidden away that grow 💰. Endless amounts of 💰 💰. Your writings remind me of the ignorance the general public has regarding what it takes to own and operate a business. I feel both seen and frustrated.
Yes, I think as a daughter of an entrepreneur I've always been predisposed to just have an awareness of how much money businesses need to run. Like, when people get annoyed Substack takes 10%--who do you think is maintaining this website? Who's hosting it on the server? Who's processing payments? Who is responding to tech questions? Who's coding out the designs? Not me! All of those people deserve to be paid, too!
I have no serious thoughts other than I just wanted to share that I am also low-key obsessed with the Romanov family. They were the gateway to my obsession with Russian history. And I added your book rec to my Goodreads list 🥰
Emily! Me too!! Seriously, when I was in St Petersburg (before the world exploded), I was a little embarrassing. I loved The Last Grand Duchess too, Claire. I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon was also really good. Have you read it?
“But I’m also not an “internal processor”. Instead, I think of myself as a “written processor”. Writing things—like this very letter!—help me understand how I make sense of the world. The process helps me express myself, stepping further into the fullness of who I am. Not everyone processes things this way, but for me, it’s a healthy way of reflecting and ruminating.”
I’m so glad to see someone put that into words because that is absolutely how I am. While in person talks are the most humane way to communicate, i actually find texting or emailing someone to be most beneficial when I need to talk something out bc I NEED to put my words into writing. It feels compulsive to me at times because it’s such a deeply ingrained need.
Very little of my writing at this time is done on Substack and that makes me sad. I would love to be able to write out more of my own thoughts, but it’s the other writing that pays the Catholic school tuition.
And in terms of navel grazing, I absolutely fall into this, but I think I also recognize it on some level bc it will feel icky for lack of a better word. Not all sharing is just self promoting and self centeredness. I wrote for years about mental health bc when I was suffering the most, I never could find any writing that explained what I was going through. I made sense of my suffering by using it to help others feel less alone. I wasn’t paid for write at that time, but it was the most meaningful writing I ever did. On the flip side, I can see how if I was paid perhaps it would have pigeon holed me and I would have been forced to constantly mine my life for mental health lessons which could prove harmful.
I did just get my first ghost writing gig as well as my first consistently-paid (rather than occasional freelance) Catholic writing job, so I’m super pumped.
But in all honesty, what’s wrong with being a professional writer. It is not the same as being an influencer. (Influencers can do their thing; it’s just not mine.) I don’t get why writing in secret for your own pleasure is always better than writing for people to read. It’s a form of communication. I write in a prayer journal as well as other forms of private writing, but why should I go get a 9-5 I don’t want at this stage of my life because I want to be available to my kids when I can earn a living writing from home on my time? It doesn’t make any sense.
I think the difference is in the payment structure--WordPress and blogger depended on banner ads, while substack can pop in paywalls. Also, Substaack is more of an ecosystem with referrals, leaderboards, etc.
I read that Loechner piece when it first came out and while I'm always here to cheer on tech boundaries the whole thing rubbed me the wrong way. I liked a lot of her writing when I came across it a few years ago, wasn't very wild about her book, but was happy for her that she had the clarity to walk away from something that wasn't working for her anymore. This essay seemed like an odd slightly holier than thou nudge to her (clearly very online) email newsletter list - a sort of pitying look down at the masses still so tethered to the web. I think the elephant in the room as you point out is that her entire career is based on *having an online audience* - apparently this was okay for a while, until it wasn't, and now it is okay again to tap into the audience because... you need to sell a book. Well then!
I was also just quite personally offended at the insinuations about Substack. My husband said he thinks of Substack as many 'individual publishing houses' - and I think that's a great way to look at it. It gives authors so much control and a direct way to interact with their audiences who lo and behold, are even willing to contribute a little bit of money to creative efforts (no small thing!). For those of us who do truly feel like writing is a vocation (not just a chance to 'sell ourselves') being able to make some money doing the thing we are meant to do is a true gift. There is also just the fact of the world we live in. Good writing is thriving here on Substack at the moment. I'm sorry it doesn't pass Loechner's apparently quite rigid morality test! (Which I'm confused about - are companies not allowed to make any money at all for having a hosting platform? are artists only 'pure' when they never make a dime off their work?)
I also completely relate to when you say you are a 'written processor.' I am exactly the same. I often think of Joan Didion's great essay, On Keeping a Notebook, when she explains how she writes 'in order to remember what it is to be me.' There is a very big part of me that simply cannot grapple with my life - the narrative I'm living - until it is written down. And as you say, some of that is public, in essays that I share, but much of it is hidden away in journals or private letters for my kids or simply in the endless Notes drafts on my phone. If Loechner has an issue with any amount of vulnerability or sharing via the written word... Whether that is on Substack or anywhere else... Well, I just have to say that I disagree. I don't find it disingenuous. I find it incredibly human and ultimately very important to want to connect with others. Some of us do that through writing, but others will have different ways. That's completely fine.
I could keep going, but basically, yes I think the online world can be tough to navigate. I agree. Most of us could spend much less time on the internet and probably be better off for it. But we also live in an economy that doesn't give us *too much choice*. I have made personal decisions about what platforms I use, even if it means a loss or a more uphill battle with certain aspects of my writing or podcasting or whatever, but I've accepted that. Meanwhile in the more 'professional' business I run in audio consulting, if you're not online, if you're not engaging with SEO, or networking, or on LinkedIn, YOU DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS. So either I make a living, or I don't. And ultimately that is a choice that Loechner, who already has a built in massive audience ONLINE, seems completely tone deaf to.
Anyway. I'll stop!
Yes. Agree, agree, agree. I've long thought of substack as self-publishing, not a social media platform--it just has almost nothing in common with something like Instagram. And also, Instagram is not moral or immoral! It's *how you use these things*. Do I have huge issues with how a lot of people use Instagram? Yup. But I'm also not Jesus. I can't know someone's heart. I have more of a "good for you, not for me" attitude towards it if it isn't actively engaged with sin.
I think it was on a Jen Fulwiler ep. where she talked about how she had all her nice Christian friends praising her for lowering herself to go into comedy clubs and interact with all these sinful people, as if she was Jesus in that situation! Jesus with the prostitutes, Jesus with the tax collectors! And she was like, guys, no, I am NOT Jesus in that situation, I am the tax collector/prostitute, etc. - and sometimes the atheist at the bar is a lot kinder and closer to God than I am. Just check yourself, ha.
Sam from FemCatholic and I used to joke that whenever we'd chat, my business advice to her was always about statistics and marketing plans and project development and hers was typically just telling me "you're not Jesus" over and over. 😂
A reminder we all need 😂
oh boy, the comedy club!! i'll have to add wanting a laugh to the list of sins to look out for, lol.
Very true. I don't think social media is entirely morally neutral (in much the same way I don't think gambling is morally neutral, for similar reasons), as in the users are heavily manipulated and it is *incredibly* difficult to use in a healthy way (and actually, using Instagram in a healthy way, i.e. minimally, goes against the way they make money, so that will always be an issue - the app will never 'help' you, so you have to be very proactive to basically fight against the nature of the thing).
Substack obviously needs to make money too - but simply because of the nature of what it is and what it offers - it isn't going to rely so much on cheap attention-economy tactics. There are no ads (Instagram's source of revenue) - the Writers *are* the source of revenue so it's always going to be in Substack's best interest to do what is best for the writers who are making some money doing what they do on this platform. So I do think it is slightly different in that way as well.
Not using Instagram/Facebook has been a very personal decision for me and it's a *me* issue - They're gateway drugs for me and I just can't use them. I have friends who are able to post on their business Instagram and sign off for the rest of the week. Or to post every now and then on their personal page and not fall into scrolling. I can't! So yes, at the end of the day, it has to be a very personal decision!
I began reading a couple nutrition-centered blogs many years ago that celebrated their Catholicness openly. I enjoyed and learned from specifically spiritual posts, as well as the food posts. Over time, less was shared about faith, and more sponsored posts about this and that product. Now, I am not a wealthy person financially so I really can’t afford many of all those promoted items. I am not learning from either blog about the connection between faith and body. I am disappointed.
I much prefer being asked upfront to support a writer (or podcaster) by subscription. If I can afford to subscribe, I do. If I can’t, I don’t.
That's totally understandable. Sometimes I get in my head here on The Catholic Feminist about if I have enough theology-centered posts, or justice-centered posts, or personal posts, and what did people originally sign up for?! Have I changed too much?! But then I just remind myself people can always unsubscribe if they want to! No harm, no foul. :)
I love your personal posts. I like backgrounds. Why do you think that… where do your thoughts come from… stuff like that. Your concept of Catholic Feminism seems to agree with my daughter’s one-time comment: “The Catholic Church respects women!”
Just here to raise my hand as a Nat the Fat Rat fan! There was a time in the early/mid 2010s I religiously cycled through her blog, Love Taza, and Camp Patton. I feel Iike in that time, I consumed some of my favorite writing by discovering new blogs/bloggers from link ups and blog rolls (is that what they were called?). Now I’ve discovered some of my favorites through Substack. In both cases, I’m grateful to connect to writing that’s meaningful to me. I’m trying to limit mindless scrolling/internet surfing, but my Substack feed kind of feels like a magazine curated just for me that I can read as I have time.
I was OBSESSED with all three of those!
I got that post i my inbox and was excited to read it during nap time, because, like you said, she is a talented writer! I have enjoyed several of her posts over the years.
The whole post gave me “the ick” as some of my gen z clients say, and that’s honestly the best word I can find for it. So much virtue signaling for things that aren’t even virtues, just personal preference. And then to see at the end that the whole post was in service to the promotion of her book really sealed the deal. God knows I’m guilty of virtue signaling and hypocrisy and a whole slew of other sins and errors, but as you pointed out, one of the most glaring issues with this piece is the complete lack of self-awareness. It gave big “you can’t sit with us” vibes.
I... had thoughts. As a big fan of Erin's writing, this one surprised me and left a bitter taste in my mouth. I took a few days to chew on it and then left a meaty (and bordering on the poetical, ha) comment, which she graciously responded to. Dropping it here for fun :)
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts, Erin! I am always grateful to hear your perspective. This one did land harshly for me. I imagine it’s at least in part because I recently opened a paid Substack after writing regularly on my blog for 15+ years in what I hope was a generous, helpful, and prudent way. (And I’m still writing there, for the “joy, connection, and growth,” with no plans to stop!) While you say that it is not wrong to be paid for your passions, the bulk of this essay does seem to say that there is indeed something seedy about it. (And honestly, I don’t even disagree with you!! I, too, am frustrated by this compulsion for everyone to monetize everything everywhere.) I also agree completely with points 4, 5, 6, and 8. Yikes.
My Substack topic of choice is helping others to build more low-tech, connected families – we have a lot in common :) Just as you spent hours, weeks, months, years compiling and shaping the wisdom you’ll share in your new book (which I can’t wait to read), I, too, am a big believer in using what I know to help someone else. I do it in my local community, and I do it when I’m able online. I suppose I am an optimist at heart, and I can’t bring myself to write off the entire internet while there are still people kindly, gently, and wisely sharing wisdom and beauty on it. (Myself truly the least among them.) Navigating in the gray takes discernment, thoughtfulness, and a whole host of other character virtues, and I think it’s actually a lot more challenging than logging off completely. (I think you might agree.) But there’s beauty and value in being a light where it’s dark. I’ll keep raising my candle where I can.
That is a very generous response! Obviously the internet just isn't made for "navigating in the gray" but that doesn't excuse us from taking the time to do so.
Totally saw this comment on her post and loved it!
1. Erin who??? GenX here and clearly, I was too busy "not caring" to even notice this person.
2. I'm intrigued by how frequent you talk about justification for your writing career. I appreciate it because it's not a noticeable thing.
3. As a small business owner with less than 10 employees, I am consistently looking for how to be a better leader rather than boss in the workplace. There are numerous books outlining what to do and how to do it but there aren't enough examples on how to make this work and what has worked. I'm tired of employees and the public thinking that business owners have magic trees hidden away that grow 💰. Endless amounts of 💰 💰. Your writings remind me of the ignorance the general public has regarding what it takes to own and operate a business. I feel both seen and frustrated.
Great job as always!
Yes, I think as a daughter of an entrepreneur I've always been predisposed to just have an awareness of how much money businesses need to run. Like, when people get annoyed Substack takes 10%--who do you think is maintaining this website? Who's hosting it on the server? Who's processing payments? Who is responding to tech questions? Who's coding out the designs? Not me! All of those people deserve to be paid, too!
I have no serious thoughts other than I just wanted to share that I am also low-key obsessed with the Romanov family. They were the gateway to my obsession with Russian history. And I added your book rec to my Goodreads list 🥰
Howwwww did we not discuss this in Poland?! I am such a weirdo about them!!! I can't get enough 🤣Have you watched The Last Czars on Netflix?
Haha I don’t know how we missed this! And I haven’t! I might have to add that to the list as well 👀
It's so good, but fair warning, it's quite nekkid. 🤦🏼♀️
Emily! Me too!! Seriously, when I was in St Petersburg (before the world exploded), I was a little embarrassing. I loved The Last Grand Duchess too, Claire. I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon was also really good. Have you read it?
I'm going to be on Ariel's podcast in April!!! I LOVE that one!
Wow! Jealous! I love her work. I’m 198 in line for her latest book at the library. 🤷♀️. And I’ll definitely be checking out that podcast.
BRB adding that to the Goodreads list too!
“But I’m also not an “internal processor”. Instead, I think of myself as a “written processor”. Writing things—like this very letter!—help me understand how I make sense of the world. The process helps me express myself, stepping further into the fullness of who I am. Not everyone processes things this way, but for me, it’s a healthy way of reflecting and ruminating.”
I’m so glad to see someone put that into words because that is absolutely how I am. While in person talks are the most humane way to communicate, i actually find texting or emailing someone to be most beneficial when I need to talk something out bc I NEED to put my words into writing. It feels compulsive to me at times because it’s such a deeply ingrained need.
Very little of my writing at this time is done on Substack and that makes me sad. I would love to be able to write out more of my own thoughts, but it’s the other writing that pays the Catholic school tuition.
And in terms of navel grazing, I absolutely fall into this, but I think I also recognize it on some level bc it will feel icky for lack of a better word. Not all sharing is just self promoting and self centeredness. I wrote for years about mental health bc when I was suffering the most, I never could find any writing that explained what I was going through. I made sense of my suffering by using it to help others feel less alone. I wasn’t paid for write at that time, but it was the most meaningful writing I ever did. On the flip side, I can see how if I was paid perhaps it would have pigeon holed me and I would have been forced to constantly mine my life for mental health lessons which could prove harmful.
I did just get my first ghost writing gig as well as my first consistently-paid (rather than occasional freelance) Catholic writing job, so I’m super pumped.
But in all honesty, what’s wrong with being a professional writer. It is not the same as being an influencer. (Influencers can do their thing; it’s just not mine.) I don’t get why writing in secret for your own pleasure is always better than writing for people to read. It’s a form of communication. I write in a prayer journal as well as other forms of private writing, but why should I go get a 9-5 I don’t want at this stage of my life because I want to be available to my kids when I can earn a living writing from home on my time? It doesn’t make any sense.
What is the difference between substack and old fashioned blogging, like on WordPress or blogger?
I think the difference is in the payment structure--WordPress and blogger depended on banner ads, while substack can pop in paywalls. Also, Substaack is more of an ecosystem with referrals, leaderboards, etc.