Get a Backstage Pass to SmallStack

see what's happening, and NEW Guest Posts soon!

It’s June, and I bet you’re wondering what’s happening here at SmallStack! Well lucky you, I’m here to update you and give you a quick behind-the-scenes tour. Be sure to stop by the SmallStack home page to see all the ways we are growing and changing.

We’re growing!

SmallStack has only been around for a skosh over two weeks, and we’ve crossed 3000 subscribers. Woohoo! Our library has over 1500 submissions, more than 140 stacks are recommending us, there’s some really great engagement here in the comments and also in Notes, and we’re starting to assemble The Team (more on that below).

Here’s where we want to mention all of our incredible paid subscribers for the support they are providing to get us off the ground and moving toward the Library Launch in September. Your financial support doesn’t just help us build a strong foundation, it also pushes us higher in the leaderboards to get more folks seeing the great community that SmallStack is developing. Thank you!!

If you’re considering becoming a paid subscriber, you can join for just $25 a year or $2.50 a month. That price isn’t going to change. It’s locked in.

We’re listening to you

Whether in Notes, comments, or by reaching out personally, many of you have already started to crowd-source some great ideas and solutions for what SmallStack can become. The alumni library for graduates who pass 1000 subscribers? That was Tony Mars’ idea! A party for launch week in September when the Library opens? That was Sharon Hom’s idea!

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

The SmallStack vision started off as a way for smaller voices to be heard. The Library and other features here are being created to connect you as artists and lovers of art, and we do that best when you share your thoughts. Every comment makes a difference, so please talk to us!

The FAQ is now a page

It started as a post and now it’s a regular page you can find anytime you navigate to the SmallStack site. Our FAQ will grow as we do. If you have questions, stop by the FAQ first to see if they’re in the list. If not, please comment there or drop us a message.

We’re connecting to other list-stacks

As the list of lists grows, SmallStack will be here to shine a light on each of them to help our collective communities flourish. For newer folks to the substack platform, we’re hoping to become a “You are Here” map that gives you the information on where to go next to locate great content, support communities you care about, and find an audience of your own.

This weekend was the launch of Mr. Troy Ford’s Qstack | The LGBTQ+ Directory of Substacks! It’s so exciting to see all of his hard work pay off for the community here who wants to find more queer voices.

Unlocked | BIPOC Reads also announced their start this week! Unlocked is a putting the spotlight on the vast range of works created by the BIPOC community on substack.

Suspension of This Belief is making space for fiction writers to grow in visibility.

We’re accepting volunteers to the Team very soon!

A very big welcome to Robin Cangie (she/her) who is SmallStack’s first Team member. Robin is stepping in to help get foundational things organized alongside this growing community, and we’re so lucky to have her!

Hey, wait a minute. Isn’t my name Robin, too? It’s like a Robin-vasion around here!

If SmallStack is something you feel passionate about, we would love for you to be part of The Team. We’re developing the list of tasks that The Team will be responsible for and how to know if one of these opportunities is right for you. Keep your eyes open for a new page dedicated to The Team very soon.

Guest posts are just around the corner

Guest posts are an opportunity to take the lead in the community conversation here at SmallStack. These will become a monthly feature starting in July, 2024. Our inaugural guest post will be up soon to give you a feeling for what these could look like, but the sky is the limit. Guest posts are not the same as Featured Posts. Let’s look at the differences:

Featured Posts are ones selected from your existing publication by the SmallStack Team to be promoted here for others to enjoy. Featured Posts span a range of topics including fiction, travelogues, book reviews, poetry, sports analysis, parenting, comics, and more! If you posted it to your substack, it’s eligible for consideration as a Featured Post. This is a chance to shine a spotlight on the posts that demonstrate who YOU are.

Guest Posts are written specifically for the entire SmallStack community. When you pitch an idea to us that we select, you get to take center stage in the conversations here that matter most. Guest Posts might be about how you value the connection you have with a small audience, why you think growth is important, or the rewards of being a creator here on substack.

Please note that not all pitches submitted will be selected for Guest Posts. Guest Posts will be scheduled for publishing here on SmallStack once they are complete. All Guest Posts submitted are subject to editing by the SmallStack Team. Guest Post authors will be listed in the byline of their post.

If you are interested in writing a Guest Post for SmallStack, head over to our Guest Post Page to find out more!

Many thanks to all of you for being so patient while SmallStack is building the Library of your amazing work here on substack. We’re excited about having new activity and contributions here. It is so much fun to highlight the outstanding neighborhood of Small we’re all part of here.

Small hugs are not small at all,

Robin