Why Are All the Writer Moms on Substack?

Last year I watched as dozens of writer friends launched Substacks with enthusiasm. Perplexed, I filed it under Shiny New Thing and decided it was not for me, but eventually I got curious and explored Substack as a reader, rather than as a writer. There I discovered hundreds of thoughtful conversations about writing, motherhood, and all the many things that exist in between. So I moved my list over and started Nebula Notebook a little over a year ago.

Then a couple months ago, I posted a Note asking, “Is there something about Substack that’s especially mom friendly? Maybe it’s just my feed, but I’ve met way more writer moms through Substack than I have anywhere else.” The discussion that followed told me I’m not alone. Writer moms are drawn to Substack for many of the same reasons other writers are drawn to Substack. It feels better for creators and consumers. But Substack also fits more easily within the constraints of motherhood than other platforms, and it's offering unique benefits to writer moms. 

Scrolling through Substack is a bit like wandering into a friendly dinner party hosted by your favorite members of the intelligentsia. Or at least that’s the promise. Readers can find election coverage, posts on science, fashion, music, art, health, food, and books, along with many, many writers musing about what it means to be on Substack. Founded in 2017, the number of writers who have joined the new platform has grown steadily since then. Writers of all genres and backgrounds were excited to have a new way to connect with audiences that didn’t depend on spending money on ads, creating trendy videos, or second guessing the latest algorithm. Substack appeared to be built around high-minded goals that promised writers creative freedom and financial rewards that were not available on other platforms. At the same time, national publications that once published pieces on parenting have closed or changed their focus. For writers who are report on parenting trends or want to explore the experience of being a modern parent in detail, more and more, the options are limited to writing a book or starting a Substack.

Today Substack has 20 million active subscribers. In recent months, many of the biggest bloggers like

Joanna Goddard

,

Joy Cho

, and

Alisha Ramos

(all writers who are also mothers), have moved over or launched a Substack like

Big Salad

, Writes Crazy, and

Downtime

. For writers with smaller audiences, Substack is a place to hang out with these big-sister blogs and share their own stories in ways that would never work on Instagram or TikTok. Journalists who often focus on issues that affect parents, like Shasta Kearns Moore, Melinda Wenner Moyer, and Sara Peterson have found a home on Substack too.

Like many other platforms, Substack makes it free and easy to get started. You can import old blog posts and email contacts. Limited design choices make it simple to produce a polished product. There’s a learning curve, but not a lot of overwhelm. Because writers spend less time trying to outsmart an algorithm, they don’t need to rely on hot takes to get noticed and grow. There’s no pressure to publish every day. Instead writers can take time to make their posts honest and personal. At the same time, there’s a built-in level of discoverability. Not everyone wants or needs to publish a newsletter, but many moms enjoy sharing their experiences online, making friends, and building a reputation as a writer.

But what makes Substack especially appealing?

Perhaps the answer lies in what it is not. Instagram tends to present a highly curated view of motherhood. The vibes on X are apocalyptic. Linked In discussions occasionally crossover into motherhood, but the posts tend to read like a series of light think pieces. Most moms I know have passed on TikTok. (Plus it might be dying.) But the longform format of Substack allows for more nuance, and there’s zero pressure to perform aesthetically or pretend to enjoy every aspect of motherhood. Writers save time not trying to style the perfect photo, while still finding a way to express themselves creatively.

Ellen Tate

of I’ve Been Thinking About says, “I joined Substack as a new mom because I wanted a creative outlet. I definitely see some moms being creative through reels or TikToks. I’m not visually creative, so writing long form was a better fit for me.” Substack’s emphasis on language over photos and videos also appeals to parents who are uncomfortable sharing images of their children online.

Substack offers writers the option of setting up different subscription tiers, so they can get paid for their work. (The company earns money by taking a cut of whatever writers make in subscription fees.) It’s unclear how many writers are making a significant income from Substack, but it’s an enticing possibility, however remote, especially for moms who may be struggling to find flexible work that uses their creative talents.

Writer moms also benefit as readers on Substack. The app makes it easy to dip in and out of a curated feed, while the longer format appeals to readers who crave more substance than can be found in an Instagram post. “I have loved the deep dives here,” says

FemTech Future

of Adventures in Vaginas and Other Body Parts. “There’s space for the rage, the daily ins and outs, and the complexity of being a mother, specifically around the push-pull of working motherhood. I feel seen.”

Substack makes it easy to consume and create content while you’re nursing or peeking a look at your phone when you’re in line at Target. The lack of ads feels refreshing. If you subscribe to someone, you can be certain you’ll see their post in a way that you can’t on Instagram or TikTok. Chats, Comments, and the ability to quote posts and reshare in Notes, encourage conversation, which makes it feel more like a community in conversation than a top-down announcement from an influencer. Readers are also able to connect with each other, rather than simply with writers. That translates to moms finding each other, trading stories, and bringing issues like the lack of childcare and the difficulties of attending a residency when you have children to a wider audience.

It’s possible to get to know people in a deeper way when they publish essays week after week

Lori L. Cangilla, Ph.D.

of Singularly Sensitive says, “I’m not a new mom, but I would have loved Substack when I was caring for a baby. I appreciate the right-sized pieces of information, entertainment, and inspiration, without the drama of social media. I feel nurtured and held in community, rather than used for likes or ad revenue. All of me is welcome here, not just a sanitized version of motherhood, being a writer, or whatever other roles I play.”

Writer moms write about a wide variety of topics, from reporting on neurodivergence and climate change to writing personal essays about domestic life, and of course, motherhood, which is so complex that unpacking it requires extended periods of time and attention, both from writers and readers. When much of modern motherhood requires sublimating your own needs and desires, having a public space devoted to taking your own ideas seriously and being part of a conversation that says your experience matters can make the hard parts of being a mom in America a little easier.

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Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌

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✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏