Back when letters came in a heavy canvas mailbag and the Sunday paper arrived with a satisfying thud on the front porch, community was something you could actually touch. You knew the grocer, you chatted with the neighbor over the hedge, and local writers filled the local gazette with stories that made you feel connected to the world outside your door.
Fast forward to today. The internet can feel awfully loud, crowded, and frankly, a bit lonely.
That is, until you stumble onto Substack.
If you haven’t explored it yet, Substack is a modern-day corner store of the mind. It’s a place where everyday people - writers, historians, gardeners, and thinkers - publish essays and articles straight to your email inbox, completely free of glossy advertisements and noisy pop-ups.
It feels intimate, like sitting across the kitchen table with a warm cup of coffee while someone tells you a fascinating story.
And that brings me to something I spend a lot of my time doing: helping other creators on Substack grow!
People often ask me, “Why do you spend your energy promoting the work of other writers? Aren’t they just your competition?”
The answer is simple, and it has very little to do with modern internet “marketing tricks.” It has everything to do with how neighbors used to treat one another.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
In the old days of brick-and-mortar storefronts, merchants knew a secret: if you opened a fish store next to a bakery and a hardware shop, the whole block prospered. People didn’t drive to a strip mall just to visit one store - they went because there were multiple destination’s.
Substack is no different. When I recommend a brilliant essay written by someone else, I’m not giving away my audience. I’m inviting my readers into a richer, more vibrant marketplace of ideas. A reader who loves great writing isn’t going to vanish just because they found a second writer they enjoy - they are simply going to read more.
Sharing the spotlight doesn’t dim yours - it makes the whole room brighter!
Generosity is Growth: Both on Substack & Personal
The internet can feel like a shouting match. Everywhere you look, algorithms are screaming for your attention, trying to sell you something or trick you into clicking a link.
But when you take a moment out of your day to genuinely lift someone else up - to say, “Hey, look at this great piece I just read, you really ought to read it” - you break through that noise.
It’s an act of pure goodwill. In a world that often feels rushed and transactional, taking the time to be generous feels revolutionary. It reminds us that behind every glowing computer screen is a real human heart trying to share a piece of their soul.
Finding Your Circle of Friends
Writing can be a solitary pass time. You sit in a quiet room, tap away at a keyboard, and send your thoughts out into the great digital divide, wondering if anyone is out there listening.
By helping others grow, you stop being an island. You become part of a circle.
When you champion someone else’s work, great things happen: gratitude is returned, friendships are forged, and suddenly you realize you aren’t writing alone anymore.
You are part of a community! A Substack community!
At this stage in life, many of us realize that the most rewarding moments aren’t the ones where we stand alone at the podium. They are the moments where we hand the microphone to someone else, step back, and smile as they find their voice.
That is why I like helping other Substack creators grow. Because the world is always in need of a good story, and the people telling them deserve a fuller house.
Give a helping hand to a fellow Substacker today!
Paul Arino
Helping You Grow
You can always join our Substack Restack Exchange to help another writer!
You are a true soul. Genuíne, empath and respectful. I am honoured to be mentored by you Paul.
This is such a good reminder that community isn’t a growth tactic, it’s the infrastructure behind sustainable growth!