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👋 Welcome 👋

We’d love to know a bit about you! Share a link to your Substack and let us know: what are you a superfan of and why?

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❓What are the opportunity areas to strengthen your Substack community?

Which steps in building community do you excel at? What can you improve on?

Hit reply and share your reflections in the thread👇.

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💡 Got an idea for a shared activity.

Leave it here👇

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💡 Who does your community bring together? List 3+ possible “Whos.”

Thing to think about:

1️⃣ Name this group of people (e.g.)

2️⃣ Describe them in 1-2 sentences. Include the key traits they bring to the community (e.g. relevant skills, interests, experiences, or backgrounds)

3️⃣ Add specific names/personas to us visualize these readers.

Share your WHO in the thread👇.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson

Hi! I'm Megan – I write weekly short/medium/long little essays usually about being trans or childhood https://meganpope.substack.com/ - I'm a superfan of cinnamon rolls lol

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Kevin Huynh, Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

Hi! My name is Eric, I write HERE FOR IT, a humor/pop culture newsletter https://rericthomas.substack.com/. I am a superfan of the 80s Muppet movies.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

Hi Everyone - I am writing a Substack on Teaching, for teachers of all stripes. http://thechalkboard.substack.com I have been teaching for nearly 30 years, from kindergarten to University. My newsletter is about the heart of teaching, the essence of what it means to be a teacher of students. I am a superfan of lapsang souchong smokey black tea.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

Someone wrote me today, "Although I delete so much email, unread, I almost always read yours. I greatly appreciate your insights, your asking important questions about the political system, your humor, and your savoring the beauty in your own life. And yes, we do need a new year."

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

I'm Jackie and I write Sunshine + Microbes, a newsletter about how food connects us to the world around us. Lots of fermentation, plus culture, climate, and justice. https://sunshineandmicrobes.substack.com/

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

Hello, I'm Emilie Filou, I write Buzzing, a fortnightly newsletter that chronicles the growing use of insects as food and feed. https://buzzing.substack.com/ I am a super-fan of travelling and food. And I am in awe of your digital beret!!

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🔥 Why will these people come together? For your Who, choose 2-3 Why themes.

Consider:

➡️ What does this group of people need more of?

➡️ What’s the change we desire?

➡️ What’s the problem only we can solve together?

Share your WHY in the thread👇.

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Hi! My name is Yi Shun Lai. My Substack is yishunlai.substack.com, and it's a newsletter about food written entirely by paid marginalized writers. I'm a superfan of fig beetles, whose carapaces are too heavy for them: they always look drunk.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Kevin Huynh, Katie O'Connell

Greetings from Aotearoa New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud. I'm one of the editors of Creative Dharma – https://creativedharma.substack.com

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Hey guys, I'm Rohan and I'm a college student that writes about personal development and shares interesting media finds every week at https://rohanant.substack.com. I'm a superfan of Madam Secretary on Netflix and CBS. Henry McCord is the GOAT

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hey y'all! I'm Shelby. My newsletter explores emotions through cultural and entertainment touchstones. She Thought She Newsome: https://shethoughtshenewsome.substack.com/ I'm a superfan of books.

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Hi! I'm Hurley, author of https://lonelyvictories.substack.com/ and a superfan of the writing process!

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Hello from Delhi! I write two substacks:

1. https://mediabuddhi.substack.com - on being safe and sane in an age of information overload

2. https://thebetterman.substack.com - on masculinity, solidarity and allyship

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I'm a superfan of philosophy. I realized a little late that we all need to know how to live and practice it!

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Hi! I'm David, author of https://whattheluxe.substack.com/ and superfan of digital marketing for luxury/beauty/fashion brands !

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Hey I'm Blake, I use newsnarrativedesign.substack.com to teach an intro-level undergraduate course in Journalism + Design, where students prototype their own newsletters. I'm a superfan of the BBC Radio 4 podcast In Our Time

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi there. I'm Crystal and I write about bridging our divides, how to actually operationalize diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in our daily lives (https://crystalwilliams.substack.com/). Superfan of chocolate.

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Hi all! I’m Stephanie Tillman (she/her) and I write https://feministmidwife.substack.com about feminism, racism, and healthcare. In my day job I’m a Midwife at University of Illinois. Nice to be in community with you all!

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi everyone! I'm Colleen, and I write My World's on Fire, a newsletter about disasters based on my journalism in that realm: https://myworldsonfire.substack.com/

I'm currently a superfan of a cheap milk frother I recently bought, which has made my at-home coffee routine 100% better!

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Hello! I'm Sara Zarr, and I'm a novelist and podcaster. I am bringing my newsletter and podcast and probably some of my Medium writing all under the banner of Substack. For now, my newsletter is The Inbox Variations at http://sarazarr.substack.com and my podcast is This Creative Life at http://thiscreativelife.substack.com In 2021 I'm trying to do premium podcast content for the first time using Substack paid subscriptions.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi everyone from Australia, I'm the person behind, https://localx.substack.com and a new one in the pipeline. Also one of the the humans behind #linkedinlocal. I'm a superfan of communities, and people's stories.

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Hi, I'm Marsha. I write story & spark (https://marshamcspadden.substack.com/) a bi-monthly story and writing prompt for creative writers. I'm a superfan of cocker spaniels.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

I'm Veronica, author of a newsletter for community organizing -50thwan.substack.com/ . I am a superfan of stickers, bullet journals, and too many other things to list.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi there! I write tiny driver (https://tinydriver.substack.com/), a weekly newsletter about research, pedagogy, culture & their intersections in the humanities!

Oh man, I'm a superfan of so many things, but currently I think I'm obsessed with my re-watch of Veronica Mars. :) (sorry for the repost--I replied to the original q instead of just posting to the thread)

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Very helpful Activity section - I have a couple of new ideas that build upon what I've been hearing from the first community members. Thanks!

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

For me, the "why" is the difficult part. My instinct has been to gather people and then see what happens. I still plan to do that to a significant extent. I want to let the community determine much of the "why." But maybe I need to think more about this...

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Bailey Richardson, Katie O'Connell

skill development (get smarter about strategy)

inspiration (discover new ideas from each other)

achieve their goals / outcomes

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I'm Meredith, I haven't started my Substack newsletter yet. I'm a superfan of moss and lichen.

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https://havervwillski.substack.com/ This about the ski industry and specifically how to use an RV for downhill skiing. Also reviewing specific ski areas with that perspective in mind.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

👋 lulu here! i'm a product manager turned coach. i write about personal growth, creative practices, and my journey from the corporate world to working for myself: https://lulu.substack.com/

i'm a superfan of nonviolent communication and swimming in the rain💧

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Hey everyone, I'm Lauren (https://getittogether.substack.com) and from some of my writing on there you can probably tell I'm a big fan of the band Muna 😂

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Hi, I'm Kristel and my substack is https://crateofcurios.substack.com/. It's a newsletter of 5 eclectic internet finds that's sent out every Sunday. I'm a superfan of note-taking and list-making.

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Hi, I'm Lauren. My substack is https://laurenchanlee.substack.com/. I'm a superfan of spy thrillers... the latest is Tehran.

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Sabina from Argentina. I have just launched https://sabinapeskincoach.substack.com on Coaching and Leadership in Spanish. Looking forward to create a Spanish speaking community.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hello! I'm Hira, I am the editor of this newsletter:

https://theglobaltiller.substack.com/

I'm a superfan of reading.

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I write about community, and politics, and pea shoots: https://karenchristensen.substack.com/p/how-about-a-new-new-year

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi I'm Erik, Substack is Burning Shore, https://www.BurningShore.com (I snagged the url). I'm a fan of good writing.

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Jan 24, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi I'm Mil from Malaysia. I'm a beginner writer on Medium and recently joined Substack. I hope to get to know you guys better. Right now I'm not in the midst of searching for subscribers. Just to familiarize with this platform and join some communities here.

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How do you all feel about _Slack_ or _Discord_ as platforms for developing a community?

When COVID-19 became a more known issue around March 2020, I decided to email my list and invite them to a private slack group. I've done a pretty poor job at adding a ton of value there, but it seemed like a way to get everyone pretty close together pretty quickly.

Has anyone else done this (or something similar) successfully?

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Why they need to not feel they are alone in their struggle to obtain their dream into a reality.

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I think I need an illustrator from nerdfighters.

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https://dhausam.substack.com/

I like/ love HCR’s substack political nwslttr and writings of Tristan Gooley.

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Hi I’m a new Substack writer -kimmanleyort.substack.com - about seeing more clearly in 2021. I’m passionate about walking in the woods and photographing lichens, missed, and fungi.

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Jan 8, 2021Liked by Katie O'Connell

Hi I'm Necole! Atlanta based entrepreneur. My substack is a personal blog -- daily musings from a former celebrity gossip blogger. http://necolekane.substack.com

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hi, seeley, just getting started with https://questletters.substack.com/ --i'm esp. into the new issue of https://branch.climateaction.tech --interested in ecological practices everywhere, and esp. how to integrate them into digital publishing.

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