Congratulations, you’ve launched a Substack. I look forward to learning what interests you, but I’m equally eager to discover your nonfiction style and voice. Those also say a lot about who you are and what you’re trying to do.
Substack writing is nonfiction writing. There are rare exceptions; a handful of writers work in serialized fiction, poetry, or short story. But for most publishers, the newsletter is not a fictive project but instead a vehicle for sharing truth: news, insights, advice, criticism, commentary, and more.
Nonfiction writing has many sub-genres, each with its own norms. Writers on Substack may use a mix of narrative techniques, switching from one piece to the next or applying a specific approach to one site section. And of course it’s possible to blend sub-genres artfully in a single piece.
Regardless of approach, it’s important to remain mindful that your choice of genre itself conveys something about how you position yourself relative to your material. Know also that your reader is making inferences based on those choices, and they’ll need cues to know when you’re writing, say, journalistically versus offering a piece of satire.
Below I’ve listed some of the most common nonfiction forms, ordered from most objective to most subjective (a sequence I call the continuum of truth). Within the broader categories of Journalism, Criticism, and Creative Nonfiction I’ve listed various sub-categories often used for newsletter writing, along with their specific implications and outcomes.
As you read through the list, reflect on what kind of truth-telling feels like a good fit for you. Which best suits your material? Which sounds most like your voice? Which suits your research, reporting, and editorial style? Which seems like the most fun, or the most interesting, way to work?
This upstream selection will guide your narrative and stylistic choices, and may also dictate a handful of ethical and structural procedures you won’t want to skip.
The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. Subscribe to read the list of nonfiction writing strategies and choose one that feels right for your Substack.
