If you aren’t recommending others, you should start.

Am I the only one who ends up writing full post-length reflections… for what was supposed to be a simple note?

I’ve been thinking about the difference between notes and long-form posts. In theory, notes are simple. One idea shared quickly. And I love that about them. It’s probably why I share so many. But I’ve realized something about how I use Substack that’s a little different.

I don’t really think about notes as a growth tool. I know every feature can be used that way, but I’m just not wired around metrics. What I want most is for the things I write to reach the people already here. And sadly, notes don’t always do that.

Posts are the only real guarantee.

But even then… I don’t email everything out. I’ve always wanted this space to let me write freely about what matters to me, without overwhelming people’s inboxes. Which, to be fair, is not exactly the strategy for maximum visibility. But I don’t care. Because for me, this space is first something I write for myself—with the added gift of a community alongside it.

The downside is that a lot of the smaller insights get lost. There’s no easy way (that I know of) to search through someone’s notes, and the more I write, the more I realize how many of those quick thoughts just disappear. Not to mention, Substack has made changes this past year that seem to favor quick, viral content and make depth a little harder to surface. (More on that in coming posts.)

So, I’m trying something a little different.

I’m going to start sharing more of those actual notes here in my Publish It Yourself section. Shorter, simpler, and a bit more in the moment. That we can all easily find because they’re not notes in the wind, but gathered and kept in one place. My brain is already breathing easier.

(You’ll only get these by email if you update your settings. Here’s how.)

When I first started recommending others, it wasn’t thought out. I’d read something I liked, restack it, and say a little about them.

And as with most things on Substack, I did it my own way first… then realized there’s actually a built-in feature that supports this really well.

Cue: Recommendations.

You can go into your dashboard and recommend other publications. Here’s how.

From that point forward, anyone new who subscribes to you is also prompted to subscribe to those publications too.

The reason I’m emphasizing this now is because early on, a lot of my growth came from reading and commenting on other publications.

But life picked up, and I’ve had less time to be as active here.

And yet… new people are still finding their way in.

A big part of that has been through others recommending me. Which means the work someone else is doing is, in a way, lifting me up too.

That’s what makes this feature so meaningful.

If you’ve been following along, you know I care about growing in a sustainable way. I don’t think we’re meant to push hard 12 months out of the year. And this is one of those ways we can keep momentum without constant output—by helping each other’s work get seen.

To be fair, cold recommendations will lead to unsubscribes. But that’s not a bad thing, so don’t let it discourage you. The goal isn’t to have everyone subscribe. It’s to make real connections.

Also, I’ve never direct messaged someone asking them to recommend me. But I’ve had others ask me—and honestly, I’ve really enjoyed getting to read their work and write something thoughtful in return. It makes me want to help us all overcome that hesitation that can keep us from reaching out. Someone else’s courage makes the little things feel more doable. We can be that for each other.

So, four things:

First, if you enjoy my publication and haven’t recommended it yet… here’s a small, shameless plug to make up for my complete lack of asking.

Second, I have a Substack insights post coming next month. It’ll be very practical—sharing lessons learned, what’s made things smoother, and any updates Substack has rolled out. If there’s anything you’d want me to cover, feel free to fill out this survey or leave a question in the comments.

Third, if you are new here, I’ve been writing through a Substack growth series. It’s helped demystify the platform, humanize growth, and keep the focus on community over optimization—learning how to build something meaningful without losing what matters most. Start here with part 1.

And lastly, I’ve begun building Community Directories—so you can plug in wherever it fits and start building your own community.

• Faith + Formation – Theology, Jesus-first reflections, Biblical study, Everyday discipleship, Faith in motion

• Church Leadership + Ministry – Pastors, Elders, Ministry leaders, Sermon writers, Church planters, Staff teams

• Family + Home Life – Marriage, Parenting, Motherhood, Fatherhood, Family discipleship, Education

• Care + Inner Life – Counseling, Grief, Healing, Health

• Writing + Creative Work – Writing support, Publishing journey

• Fantasy / Speculative Storytelling – Worldbuilding, Allegory, Imaginative fiction

• Children’s Books / Kidlit – Picture books, Early readers, Middle grade, Faith-based children’s resources

• Poetry – Devotional poetry, Literary poetry, Spoken word, Short-form reflection

• Platform + Community – Substack (community building and real-time discovery), Community Highlighters

I’m thankful you’re writing here, and I’m cheering you on as you find your people and keep going.

I write about prayer, becoming more whole in Christ, everyday discipleship, and family life. Alongside essays, you’ll also find free kid’s Bible studies, and a living conversation about Substack and Community. Outside of Substack, I also create speech-sound story quests, whimsical allegories, and early-reader adventure stories for families.

At the heart of it all is a story of God bringing me from darkness to light, so I can’t help but write about hope, transformation, grace, and the reality that no person is too far gone for God to reach. More than anything, my passion is sharing Jesus with my whole heart.

You can generally expect to hear from me every other Tuesday at 7:07am, with occasional bonus posts and resources sprinkled in when time and life allow.

I also occasionally host Virtual Substack meetups for thoughtful conversation, and encouragement. Sign up here if you’d like to hear about future gatherings as dates open up.

And for those wanting to dive deeper into Substack and community, here’s the full series:

Part 1 — Notes
Part 2 — Restacks
Part 3 — Subscribers, Recommendations, Bios, Posting Rhythm, Paid Subscriptions
Part 4 — Collaborations, Subscriber Chat, Direct Messages
Part 5 — Attention, Boundaries, Inner Life
Part 6 — Encouragement, Collaboration, Community Directories
Part 7 — Metrics, Platforms
Part 8 — Creativity in the Age of AI
Part 9 — Marketing, Visual Media
Part 10 — Comparison, Mental Health, Sleep
Part 11 — Coaching, Editing, Peer Review
Bonus: Practical Substack How To’s
Bonus: Community Directories — Find Your People

I would love it if you filled out this anonymoussurvey to share your questions, frustrations, and all the “wait… nobody told me that” parts of Substack.

I would love it if you filled out this anonymous survey to share your real questions, frustrations, and all the “wait… nobody told me that” parts of Substack.

Glad you’re here,

—AJ