Why Many Writers Are Moving to Substack (And Why You Might Want to, Too) by Todd Burleson

If you're a writer, blogger, or storyteller looking for a better way to connect with your readers, Substack might be exactly what you need. It is more than just a blogging platform that combines newsletter functionality, a website for your writing, and built-in community tools. This makes it easier for writers to grow their audience without the frustrations of traditional blogging.

The GROG is exploring Substack as a new home for its content, though we will continue to post on Blogger as we transition. In the meantime, we want to introduce our readers to Substack and explain why so many writers are making the move.

What Makes Substack Different?

At its core, Substack is about direct connection. Instead of relying on algorithms or hoping people find your latest post through social media or search engines, your writing goes straight to subscribers’ inboxes. This direct approach gives writers more control over their audience and engagement.

Here are some of the features that set Substack apart:

• A clean, easy-to-use writing space without the distractions of ads or complex site management

• A built-in recommendation system that helps readers discover new writers

• Support for multiple content formats, including writing, podcasts, and video

• No costs for free publications, with the option to introduce paid subscriptions if desired

Why Writers Are Choosing Substack Over Traditional Blogs

Many writers who have used platforms like Blogger and WordPress are moving to Substack. Here are a few of the reasons why:

Writers Own Their Audience

Social media platforms control visibility through algorithms, and traditional blogs can be difficult to promote without external traffic sources. On Substack, writers fully own their subscriber lists. Every time a writer publishes, their work goes directly to their readers' inboxes. There is no need to rely on social media algorithms, and if a writer ever decides to leave Substack, they can export their entire subscriber list.

Less Time Managing a Website, More Time Writing

Maintaining a traditional blog can take significant effort, from managing hosting and updates to formatting posts and troubleshooting technical issues. Substack removes those barriers by handling the infrastructure so writers can focus on their content.

With Substack:

• There are no hosting fees

• There are no charges for email distribution to subscribers

• There are no plugins or technical maintenance required

For many writers, Substack simplifies their publishing process. Instead of managing a website, they can devote more energy to writing and engaging with their readers.

Substack Helps Writers Get Discovered

Publishing on a personal blog can sometimes feel like sending work into the void. Without an existing audience, it can be difficult to attract new readers. Substack has a built-in discovery system that helps writers expand their reach.

• Writers can recommend other publications, creating opportunities for cross-promotion

• Readers who subscribe to similar newsletters receive personalized recommendations

• Featured sections on Substack highlight engaging content, allowing new writers to gain visibility

Instead of relying solely on social media or search engine traffic, Substack creates pathways for writers to be discovered organically.

A Single Platform for Blogging and Newsletters

Most writers today use multiple platforms to connect with their audience:

• A blog for long-form content

• An email newsletter to reach subscribers directly

• Social media to engage with readers

Substack simplifies this process by combining all of these elements in one place. Every post is automatically sent as an email to subscribers while also living on the writer’s Substack website. This means there is no need to maintain separate platforms for blogging and newsletters.

Writers benefit from:

• Less duplication of effort

• More direct engagement with readers

• A streamlined workflow that reduces administrative tasks

Why the GROG is Exploring Substack

The GROG is committed to supporting writers, and we believe Substack provides exciting opportunities to connect with our readers. As we explore this new platform, we are looking forward to:

• Reaching readers more directly through email distribution

• Reducing the need for technical maintenance

• Taking advantage of Substack’s built-in recommendation features

• Streamlining our publishing process so we can focus on quality content

We will continue posting on Blogger as we transition, and we look forward to sharing more details about our Substack plans in the future.

Join Us for Our Webinar on Substack

To introduce our community to Substack, we will be hosting a webinar on March 26. This session will provide an overview of Substack’s features, explain how writers can use the platform effectively, and answer questions from attendees.

This Webinar is FREE, but limited to the first 100 attendees.

HERE is a short form to sign up.

GROG Webinar on Substack

Wednesday, March 26 · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Time zone: America/Chicago

The webinar will cover:

• The basics of setting up a Substack publication

• Best practices for growing an audience

• How writers can use Substack to build community

• A preview of the GROG’s plans for Substack

If you are curious about Substack and how it might benefit your writing, we invite you to join the conversation.

We look forward to exploring this platform together and continuing to support writers in finding new ways to connect with their audience.

What is an Imprint, Anyway?

 For an aspiring writer, publishing is confusing enough -- so many editors! So many publishing options! And then adding another layer to the confusion cake is the question: What is an imprint, anyway?

Here's my definition, from Fran's Dictionary of Publishing

Terms: An imprint is a little publishing house
inside a big publishing house.

Okay, that might not have helped.

 So let me explain. 

You've probably heard of the Big Five Publishers: Penguin/Random House, Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and  Hatchette. Each of these big houses has many imprints that are grouped with other, similar imprints. 

Here's a look at HarperCollins (visit the interactive image here). This is the children's book group.

 

 Each of these imprints exists for a reason: Because they produce unique books. Heartdrum specializes in books by Native American authors. Another imprint, Allida, which takes its name from the Korean word for "to inform," also focuses on bringing new voices to light, as does Amistad. Harper Alley, meanwhile, focuses on graphic novels.

Even smaller publishers have imprints. Here's a screenshot from the Globe Pequot Press website.

 

Let's take a quick look at two imprints, Globe Pequot and Down East Books. Both were previously independent companies that focused on New England, though Down East was more firmly focused on Maine. Today, Globe Pequot still focuses on New England, but it also publishes books about other parts of the country; the landing page for the imprint includes books such as Austin Food Crawls and Pennsylvania's Coldest Cases. Although there are a couple of kid-centered books on the website, there are no middle-grade novels, picture books, and the like. 

Today, Down East publishes a range of titles, both Maine-centered and not, for adults and children. (Confession: Down East published my first book, The Orphan Seal, and my latest, She Went to Space.)

In short, imprints, like the publishing houses they comprise, have individual personalities. They focus on different parts of the book market. And they can also change over time; for example, Clarion Books used to publish just nonfiction many years ago, but now they offer a wide range of books, fiction and nonfiction, series and stand-alones, for all ages.

So, what does this mean for you as a writer? A couple of things:

1) Find the right fit. Before you submit to any imprint, look at the books the imprint publishes. This will give you a better chance of placing your manuscript.  

2) Visit the website. The world changes fast nowadays, and publishers launch new imprints frequently.

3) Check your resources. Publisher's Weekly and Publishers Marketplace will keep you up to speed, and I strongly recommend Harold Underdown's Purple Crayon website.

It takes time, I know. But it's worth it.

To Quote or Not to Quote: How to Use Quotes Effectively in Nonfiction Picture Book Biographies--guest post by Vivian Kirkfield

Today I (Tina Cho) welcome my critique partner, Vivian Kirkfield, to the Grog Blog. Vivian has so much picture book wisdom to share. Her latest picture book biography, One Girl's Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon, published in February by Calkins Creek. Something that stood out to me as I read this story was the number of quotes that Vivian shared. I thought she should teach us about using quotes. Take it away, Vivian!

I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to share what I know about using quotes…the words of a real person…in narrative nonfiction picture book biographies. I’ve used quotes in several of my books…last year in PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World, illustrated by Alison Jay…and most recently in my newest book, ONE GIRL’S VOICE: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbbon. Both books are published by Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers – and edited by the incredible Carolyn Yoder (who loves quotes!).…

Using the actual words that a person said (or wrote) is a powerful technique that can draw the reader in, and help the reader really get to know the character. And it can show a prospective editor that you have done your research.

There are three questions I will try to answer for you:

1.    Where can you find quotes for the character you are writing about?

2.    Which quotes should you use?

3.    How can you add them to your manuscript?

Finding the quotes is the first challenge. If the person you are writing about is alive, you may be able to find books they’ve written or interviews they’ve done…in magazines, newspapers, and even on YouTube. When I wrote MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, illustrated by Alleanna Harris and published by Little Bee Books, I found quite a few of their interviews on YouTube. ANYTHING a person says or writes can be quoted. I didn’t use any quotations in the text of the book, but I did use them in the back matter when I delved more deeply into the lives of those two icons.

As I researched Annie Londonderry for PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER, I found an article she had written for The World, a New York newspaper, after she returned from her globe-trotting trek in 1895. I snagged a dozen or more wonderful quotes from that column.

And for ONE GIRL’S VOICE, the new book about Lucy Stone, I discovered that Lucy’s daughter had written quite a lot about her mother in several books…and in each chapter, she quotes her mother. Lucy was also a great letter-writer and many of those documents are public record in the Library of Congress. Words written in a letter can also be quoted.

I thought it was especially important to use quotations in a book about a woman who used her voice – with each quote, we are ‘hearing’ Lucy Stone’s voice.

The next challenge is to determine which quotes to use. Anyone who writes nonfiction can tell you that one of the problems of doing research is that there always seems to be too much information. What to keep and what to leave out. That same problem can arise when using quotes…not only which quotes to use, but how much of the quote. When I first submitted the Annie Londonderry manuscript, I had not included ANY quotes. But after two R&Rs, I studied other books that the editor had worked on and I discovered that she loved quotes – I added a ton of them – and many of them were LOOOOONG! But the editor acquired the manuscript…and then asked me to trim the quotes to get to the heart of what Annie was saying.

 By the time I sent the Lucy Stone manuscript, I had a more accurate feeling about how many quotes to include – and how long they should be.

My process is to do the research, keeping a VERY careful record of the location of any quotes I might want to use. But I write the rough draft first…and then I see where a quote might strengthen the story or give the reader a deeper understanding of the character.

The final challenge is to decide where the quotes will be placed. Sometimes, a quote might fit perfectly as part of the text.

And other times, a quote might function best when offset, perhaps on the illustration page.

When submitting a manuscript, I think you can always put each quote at the beginning or ending of the text on the spread where you think it will enhance the reader’s experience (in italics) and the editor who acquires your manuscript (let’s think positively!) and/or the illustrator who is hired to do the art will have a vision for how the quotes should be displayed.

To quote or not to quote…if you are writing narrative nonfiction picture book biographies, I encourage you to check out previously published books and study how those authors successfully used quotes. And I hope you check out ONE GIRL’S VOICE…there is a quote on almost every page. At school visits, I encourage the students to raise their hand as soon as they spot the quote – in that book, each quote is offset as part of the illustration – and most of them are written in cursive. It’s a great way to encourage the kids to be observant…and they love to participate!

I hope I’ve helped demystify the use of quotes when writing nonfiction picture book biographies. If you have any questions, please reach out in the comments or contact me via my website: www.viviankirkfield.com.

Writer for children—reader forever…that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. Her bucket list contains many more words – but she’s checked off skydiving, parasailing, and going around the world in less than 80 days. A former educator, Vivian inspires budding writers during classroom visits and shares insights with aspiring authors at conferences and on her blog where she hosts #50PreciousWords and #50PreciousWordsforKids. Her nonfiction narratives bring history alive for young readers and have received the Silver Eureka, Social Studies Notable Trade Book, Best STEM Book K-12, Bank Street College of Education Best Book, and Junior Library Guild Selection.

 

Beyond Silhouettes: A Return to Writing and the Sky

Todd Burleson

Thirteen years ago, I co-founded this blog with a small group of passionate writers. What began as a creative refuge has grown and evolved in ways I could never have imagined, thanks to those who nurtured it while I stepped away. Life swept me into a whirlwind of work, recognition, and personal challenges, leaving little time for fiction. But my love for storytelling—and aviation—never indeed left me. Today, I return to this space with immense gratitude, ready to rekindle my creative fire and share the journey that brought me back to the sky and writing.

1971 Era Thunderbirds

It all began in Bitburg, Germany, in 1972. At four years old, I sat on the cold metal of an Air Force Thunderbird while rain fell around me, mesmerized by the machine that defied gravity. That moment imprinted itself on me, sparking a fascination with flight that has shaped my life ever since.

As an Air Force child, my love for the sky took many forms. My bedroom ceiling became a crowded masterpiece of model airplanes—balsa wood gliders, rubber band-powered crafts, and intricate replicas. I could often be found laying in the grass staring up at the silhouettes of military aircraft and identifying them like some people identified birds. I spent hours flying kites. Once I flew a kite for 14 hours straight, even tying it to a tree overnight so I could continue the following day. It was a pure expression of my connection to the air.

Growing up on military bases, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base, books became my first tools for understanding this connection. I devoured stories of the Wright brothers, marveling at their transformation from bicycle mechanics to aviation pioneers. Their tenacity and creativity inspired me to believe in the impossible.

In high school, I dreamed of becoming a military pilot. I quickly passed the physical requirements, but a routine colorblindness test ended my aspirations. At the time, I was told I wasn’t colorblind, but the military’s rigid standards left no room for nuance. It wasn’t until much later—about 10 years ago—that I learned the truth. I proudly served, but I was grounded.

Responding to a call from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Flight Science Unit for a study on colorblind individuals, I planned a research trip to Dayton to study the Wright brothers for my book and added the test to my itinerary. The day I spent at the state-of-the-art flight science center was nothing short of remarkable. I underwent rigorous tests and even brain scans. When the results were finally analyzed, the scientists confirmed I had a sporadic and nuanced form of colorblindness—so rare that they had only encountered it a handful of times. I learned I was slightly colorblind in one eye, and while this condition had disqualified me from becoming a pilot, hearing the science behind it was strangely liberating.

My "Challenge Coin."

The day's highlight was flying in a multimillion-dollar flight simulator to train pilots for cutting-edge fighter jets. It was exhilarating and surreal—an opportunity I never thought I’d have. The team gave me a treasured memento: a challenge coin from the Flight Science Unit, a military tradition symbolizing honor and achievement. I carry it as a reminder of my journey, both the setbacks and the incredible opportunities I’ve had along the way.

My co-pilots.

This is the same joy I feel when I think about flight!

As my love for aviation deepened, it became a part of my family’s story. I wanted to share the joy of flight with my children, so we attended airshows at our local airport, marveling together at aerobatic stunts and vintage planes. On one particularly special day, we could take to the skies in a small aircraft. Watching my children gaze down at our community from above was unforgettable. It was a symbolic moment for me—a reminder of the perspective and wonder that flight brings and an inspiration to continue exploring it together.

A photo of me on the wing of the Wright B. Flyer, as well as the patch and certificate I received.

I’ve also had the privilege of experiencing history firsthand. I flew in a reproduction of the 1911 Wright B. Flyer, seated on a simple chair bolted to the wing. Feeling the rush of air and imagining myself in the Wright brothers’ shoes was humbling and exhilarating.

My first time flying and landing a plane!

Then, just seven years ago, I won a raffle for a flight over Chicago. It wasn’t just a sightseeing trip—it was a chance to sit in the cockpit of a small plane. For the first time, I flew the aircraft and landed it. My hands trembled on the controls, but the experience was life-changing. It reawakened my childhood dreams and solidified my connection to the sky in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Orville and Scipio.

Orville Wright became a personal hero—not only for his groundbreaking contributions to flight but also for his love of photography. Like Orville, I found joy in capturing life through a lens. My darkroom became a sanctuary, and I built a professional photography business rooted in storytelling. I was deeply moved to learn that when Orville passed away, the only photograph in his wallet was of his beloved Saint Bernard, Scipio—a simple but profound testament to his love for capturing the world around him.

Orville Wright with General Carol at Wright Field April 26, 1944.

For over a decade, one historical detail captivated my imagination: Orville Wright’s final flight aboard the Constellation. A man who had once flown for 12 seconds in a wood-and-cloth contraption now soared across the country in a modern engineering marvel. That juxtaposition became the seed for my middle-grade historical fiction novel, Beyond the Horizon: Where Friendship Takes Flight.

A few artifacts from my book, and a mockup of the cover.

This book began as a picture book more than 13 years ago. Over time, it has evolved into something more significant—a story rooted in my lifelong passion for aviation and my admiration for the people who shaped its history.

One of my proudest moments as an educator.

While life pulled me away from fiction, it brought incredible experiences. In 2016, I was honored to be named School Library Journal’s School Librarian of the Year. In 2017, I published a nonfiction technical book. But fiction—my first love—remained a dream deferred. I return to it with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement.

My first book was published in 2017.

Thank you to the writers who have nurtured this blog in my absence. Your dedication and creativity kept the spark alive, and I’m humbled to rejoin this community.

As I take this next step, I’m reminded of something Orville Wright once said: “The sky is not the limit. It is just the beginning.” Those words inspired the title of my book, Beyond the Horizon: Where Friendship Takes Flight. The book's theme is that every boundary we encounter—whether in the air or on the page—simply invites us to dream bigger, explore further, and imagine what lies beyond the horizon.

Here’s to where imagination takes flight, and here’s to the stories we’ll continue to share!