Big Changes for 2025 on the Plot Doctor
Happy new year everyone!
In honor of January 2025 and after about 18 months on this platform, I’ve been reflecting on what I like and don’t about substack, and what I’m doing differently from here on out.
I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness too—what makes me happy as a writer and doesn’t, what feels good about publishing books today and doesn’t, how I find joy in the world of writing and reading when it seems to have turned into a world that values self-promotion, influencers, and performance above the actual words on the page.
Substack has been part of my answer. I got on Substack as an experiment and as an alternative to traditional social media, and now that I’ve been on it for over a year, I’ve been:
A) Re-evaluating the experience.
B) Planning changes accordingly.
I (like you probably) am overwhelmed by too much information, too many emails in my inbox, too many things on my To Do list that involve creating content (like new emails—I’m counting those as content). Newsletters I’m meant to read yet don’t have the time to because I’m so overwhelmed by the constant content vying for my attention. Or self-promotion-performances I’m meant to be making to promote my own books. (Bye, bye to those for 2025!)
Upcoming changes for the Plot Doctor:
Fewer articles (1 or 2x per month) so there are fewer emails in your inbox. I don’t want to create pressure-inducing content, and I don’t want to do/create things for the sake of having something to send out. I’m only going to write articles when they burn to be written, and when I have new, valuable writing advice.
Focus on live zoom programming—because that is what I love the most! To actually talk to you people!
I’m also going to focus on posting interviews with other writers, agents, substackers, and interesting readers, because talking with others about writing, reading, creativity, publishing, etc. is what I enjoy and what I think can be the most useful to subscribers.
Upcoming Live Zoom Programs for 2025:
Bi-Weekly Writer Support Group! (Formerly known as the 90-Day Novel Program, for paying subscribers only) This is my absolutely favorite thing I’ve done on Substack so far: meet bi-weekly for a season with writers who want to check in every other week to report how writing is going, to trouble shoot what people are struggling with, and just generally support and get to know one another, so stay tuned about details for when that is starting if this interest you. (I’m thinking the last week of January.)
365 Conversations. I recently told a friend, as we were bemoaning the tyranny of Instagram to the current writerly life that, “I would rather have 365 ono-on-one zoom conversations with people on zoom than do another single Instagram post.” Okay, so 365 conversations are unrealistic, but toward that end, I am going to regularly open up my calendar for private, 15-minute zoom conversations with subscribers (occasional slots will be reserved for free subscribers, and most will be for paying ones) to discuss whatever people want—writing, querying, books they’re reading, it’s up to you!
Occasional Zoom Programs. Live query feedback, publishing Q&As, etc. Maybe a group read of a novel. I’m open to programming requests!
Okay—that’s all for now! Happy January and more soon about the above.
All the best,
Donna
I am doing a personal challenge this year where I pick one joyful thing and do it 52 times; I chose "connection" (phone calls, in-person visits, or handwritten letters) because, like you, I would rather have 365 conversations than post another thing in Instagram! Looking forward to the coming articles and interviews!
Hi Donna! All great ideas. I was thinking of writing a month of daily letters and emails to people I’m not in regular contact with. Your 365 conversations idea—however many you do—is bold!