When the Algorithm Finally Decides You Exist (Part Two)

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Substack

If you’re going to write publicly, you have to be out in the open. This was a big adjustment for me.

I didn’t realize at first that Substack doesn’t treat anything you write like it’s “in the past.” Nope. It’s not like other places.

Substack is way more community-focused.

Everything lives in the open, and everything can be pulled forward again.

Having your words stick around forever and being this visible felt uncomfortable at first. But this is actually where your voice gets stronger and takes shape. Once I got over that initial weirdness, it actually became helpful. It reframes being seen as a good thing, made sense of why Restacking exists, and helped me realize the whole place works through this idea of shared sharpening.

Because we all make each other better.

Once you’re comfortable with the visibility, start pulling up your old stuff on purpose. You’ll have a huge pile of Note material (check out the first post in this series).

1. The Archive is a Real Find

We spend too much time only looking at a writer’s newest piece. But their history is where the real value is. Treat Substack like a treasure hunt and you’ll be amazed at what you discover. Scroll back. Look through the archives. Read the early posts. Find the threads. That’s how a writer’s voice and growth really shows up.

I mean, who wants to write something just for it to vanish? I know we have to feed the algorithm by constantly posting new things, but honestly, I wish we could slow down and treat the whole platform like a library—just sitting with the really good stuff for a while.

Knowing your archive matters is hugely encouraging. As a writer, you will have seasons of time, energy, ideas, and other priorities. You don’t always have to push for new and more. You have permission to write in cycles. Go dust off that old post you loved—Substack encourages you to lean on your history. (here’s one of my older posts I deeply love)

2. Pull People Into the Conversation

A lot of how we move around Substack can accidentally limit what we see and how we contribute.

Substack is definitely a place to share your work, but it’s also functioning as an open-source writer’s development group. Where else do you have this kind of direct, public access to other writers and their raw thoughts? So yes, use your newsletter to share your posts—but the real fun happens when you engage, explore, and lift up the voices around you. You won’t agree with everything you read, but you can almost always find something worth noticing. Other viewpoints make our own sharper. And not only does your thinking get better, your writing craft grows too.

Engagement is a two-way street. Don’t comment just to get something back; comment because being kind multiplies. Invite people to the table. You’ll be surprised how much opens up when you do. And the easiest place to start? Your notifications. Those people are already talking to you—go talk back.

3. Restack. Restack. Restack.

I didn’t understand the point of Restacking until recently. Restacking is the unwritten rule of the Notes feed: You find the gem, I help you show it to the next person.

It’s so simple: when you restack someone’s Note or Post, you:

1. Bring new readers to their work.

2. Bring something old back to life.

3. Offer instant encouragement.

4. And yes—you also save it for yourself. I love saving evergreen posts that shift my perspective.

Restack other people’s work, but keep posting your own stuff too. If you only restack and never write, the algorithm won’t consider you a real part of the conversation. But if you restack generously and show up with your own voice—those two things together build momentum.

Here’s one last heads up: when you’re starting with a tiny audience, most “grow your platform” advice feels impossible.

Here’s the shortcut: lean on the Restacks of people who really show up for others. Use mine, use

Paul Christopher

’s, use

The Narrow Path Collective

’s, use anyone who makes a point to find and lift up other stacks.

I curate intentionally and highlight great writers. I’m currently spending about one to five hours a day reading through others, so let me do the heavy lifting. If you’re writing in a similar lane, my feed can fast-track your community. More on this in part 3 but I wanted to share this early because it can save you so much frustration in the beginning.

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I’ll pause here for now. My “quick note” has, predictably, turned into a full series — a step-by-step guide to actually thriving on this platform and facing the hardest part head-on: building your writer network.

If you haven’t yet, I would love it if you filled out this anonymous survey to hear your real questions, frustrations, and the things you wish someone would explain clearly about this platform. I update this series continually based on what you share.

Here’s where we’re headed:

Part 1 — Notes (Bonus: If Real Life Worked Like Substack)

Part 2 — Restacks (Using Your Archive & Bringing Old Work Back to Life)

Part 3 — Subscribing (Starting From Zero When Your Network Is Tiny)

Part 4 — From Lone Writer to Connected Writer (What Makes A Great Community?)

Part 5 — Writing in a Library, Living in a Feed (The Creative Paradox)

Part 6 — Becoming the Writer You Didn’t Know You Were Becoming (The Development Paradox)

Part 7 — The More You Give Away, the More You Grow (The Growth Paradox)

Part 8 — Becoming a Writer People Pay (The Marketing Paradox)

Important note if you’re new here:

Subscribing gains you the singly monthly digest by default.
If you’d like the weekly posts too, I write in three lanes — family, spiritual reflections, and the writing community — and you can individually select which ones you want.
Just adjust your email settings and choose your lanes.

Feel free to share how you’re needing support right now, or anything you’ve discovered on your own journey with Substack.

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And just like in Part One, I’m adding the same little bonus at the end — mostly because these metaphors still make me laugh, and they fit perfectly with today’s theme.

Bonus: If Real Life Worked Like Substack…

Here’s a tongue-in-cheek guide to Substack, based entirely on imagining how chaotic it would be if these features happened in real life:

1. Restacks

Imagine if people could grab one of your old moments, hold it up, and say, “Let’s bring this back into the chat.” That’s restacks.

In other words, restack for: boomerang energy, flashlight moments, and the classier side of good gossip.

2. Notes

Imagine if the sentence you scribbled on a napkin in a café somehow made its way to every table. That’s notes.

In other words, post a note for: quick pings, half-thoughts, and the friendly chaos that makes this place feel alive.

3. Subscriptions

Imagine if people showed support by tapping your shoulder and whispering, “I’m with you—keep going.” That’s a subscriptions.

In other words, subscribe for: good taste, questionable boundaries, and a healthy attachment to your writing.

4. Recommendations

Imagine if your aunt kept introducing you to strangers she swears you’ll love. That’s recommendations.

In other words, recommend for: thoughtful curation, gentle matchmaking, and widening someone’s circle.

(This one isn’t intuitive. I update it every month or so, noticing who keeps showing up with presence and generosity.)

5. The Algorithm:

Imagine if the crowd only turned toward you when everyone else did first. That’s the algorithm.

In other words, work with the algorithm for: visibility bumps, human patterns, and the ripple effect of attention. Because underneath the mystery, it’s mostly psychology—the same way people look up just because everyone else is looking up. And like humans, the algorithm is distractible, moody, and occasionally delighted for reasons no one can explain.

Thanks for walking through this with me — the real, the practical, and the slightly unhinged. I’m cheering for you as you write your way forward.

— AJ