The SmallStack FAQ
About SmallStack
The SmallStack Library
Featured Posts
SmallStack Support
What is SmallStack?
SmallStack is a list-stack where creators with fewer than 1,000 subscribers can gather and find community. Some folks are here to grow, some are here to stay small, and others may want something entirely different. For readers, SmallStack is a great place to find posts by those who would otherwise be incredibly hard to find on Substack since we are so rarely promoted when our audience is small. For creators, SmallStack helps you feel seen and heard, and might just be the place to help connect you to someone who really wants to see your work.
There are four primary ways you can engage with us here on SmallStack: The SmallStack Library, Featured Posts, The Seed Pod Guide, and SmallTalk.
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What is a list-stack?
List-stacks are any Substacks that have been created as aggregators of other Substacks. SmallStack is a list-stack of the small Substacks out there. Other list-stacks exist or are being made to help folks in specific categories or communities find the work they want to see. We recommend several list-stacks which you can find on the SmallStack home page.
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What is the SmallStack Library?
The SmallStack Library contains a list of stacks with fewer than 1,000 total subscribers. It’s a place to be listed as a small stack yourself, and it is also a place where we can find the smaller stacks on Substack. There is currently no other method to find small stacks (<1000 subs) on this platform.
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How do I use the SmallStack Library?
The SmallStack Library is hosted on a Notion website. Below is a pair of screenshots of the Library home page with three labeled parts: A, B, and C.
Area A provides a link back to our Substack domain as well as links to our forms.
Area B separates publications by category—click on the desired category to see a list of related publications.
Area C has a table of every single listing we have with three different default filters: all, under 500 subs, and over 500 subs. A search bar is also available at the top right of the table. You can search for publication names, descriptions, or tags!
For more in-depth help, you can check out our grand opening post for a video tutorial.
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Just how many stacks are there in the Library?
The SmallStack Library currently has over 1,700 listings across 22 distinct categories. We’re growing and changing all the time, and we do not anticipate a limit to our size.
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How do I get listed in the SmallStack Library?
You can fill out the form linked at the top of the SmallStack Library main page, or use this link right here:
The only criteria to be listed in the SmallStack Library is a total subscriber count of 1,000 or fewer. That’s it. No other hurdles.
Well, one hurdle. If your publication URL (like smallstack.Substack.com), title, or description contains a very clearly racist, sexist, queermisic, etc. word or concept, your listing will be placed on hold while we look into it.
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Are you counting paid or free subscribers?
We would like you to declare your total subscriber numbers, not including “followers,” when you sign up. We care about audience size and the reach of your work, not whether you have paid subs turned on or cash rolling in.
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Can I list more than one Substack?
Yes. With each publication, you will have to submit a new form. Just make sure that you have the right subscriber count for each publication, and remember to inform us of the correct publication if one reaches 1,000 subs.
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Can I email you my information to add to the library?
No. Please use the form provided so that all information is captured correctly.
What do I do if I applied and do not see myself listed?
If you feel you were left out in error, please email us at smallstacklibrary@gmail.com so that we can look into the issue.
If the information you provide in the form simply fails a cursory inspection (like providing a bogus URL), your listing will not be added. Please check that the link you provide is the right one for your stack.
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What if I want to edit my current listing?
No problem! You can fill out this form to update your listing—just remember to fill out the “Update” bubble, it’s the first question!
Once we receive your form, we will be able to update your listing as specified.
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What happens if I outgrow SmallStack?
Let’s remember that you don’t have to be under 1,000 subscribers to be a subscriber to this great community! We have amazing readers here, too! If, however, you do grow bigger than 1,000 subscribers, we have a form where you can request to have your listing removed from the library. You can also select the option to be featured in our Alumni Library.
This will be on the honor system. We do not have the capacity to “big brother” anyone about their numbers. To that end, we hope you all understand that outgrowing SmallStack means making space for others to grow behind you.
The Alumni Library is currently in the works. Please stay tuned for that!
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How does *featuring* a post work?
Featured Posts are a regular series highlighting existing posts that folks listed in the library have created. Those posts will be incorporated into an entirely new SmallStack post with the author listed in the by-line, shared with the entire SmallStack subscriber list.
When a post is chosen to be featured, the author will receive a Direct Message from us to gather a bit of information. You will, at that point, have the ability to decide if you do or do not wish to be featured (and yes, it is perfectly okay to say “no thanks”).
You’ll be added as a by-line author of your work, receive a draft link to the post before it launches, and the ability to see all the “likes” and comments on your work. Your publication details will also be included so that readers can find you, subscribe, or see more of your stack.
Finally, featured stacks receive a genuine “SmallStack Featured Publication” badge to proudly adorn their stack with!
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How will you choose which posts to feature?
Featured posts are only of stacks with 500 or fewer subscribers at the time of listing (again, there’s that honor system).
SmallStack currently has 22 categories of stacks in our listings. We’ll attempt to strike a balance between category, stack size, and the distribution of those combined attributes across the library catalogue. We are also more likely to feature posts that prioritize accessibility (e.g. alt text), and we will not feature posts behind a paywall.
Note: We communicate with featured authors via DM, so you must have DMs enabled to be eligible to be featured.
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Can I nominate a post to be featured?
Absolutely! We have a form just for that that you can fill out here:
A quick reminder that Featured Posts are from stacks that have 500 or fewer subscribers. You cannot nominate your own posts, but you can nominate a friend. Paywalled posts are not eligible to be featured.
By nominating a post, you will be asked to provide a short paragraph on why you did. This paragraph will also appear on the Featured Post if your nomination gets accepted.
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Can I slip you a $20 and get featured?
Nope. We’re happy to accept Ko-Fi donations to SmallStack, but this will not get your post featured here.
How often will you feature posts?
Featured Posts are published weekly on Fridays. You can find an archive of them at the Featured Posts tab.
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What is a Seed Pod?
A Seed Pod is a group of people who agree to publish articles around a common theme and lift each other up through cross-promotion and engagement. This is a community event that lasts several days and allows submissions in any format you like as long as you can share it here on Substack. Seed Pods initiated by SmallStack are open to anyone who wants to participate, but you can also form a Seed Pod with your own group! We have a free, downloadable guide available on how to do just that.
You can check out past Seed Pods on our main page’s Seed Pods tab.
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What is SmallTalk?
SmallTalk is a special post to meet and talk to one another, share your thoughts on guided topics, and build community with other small stacks. Think of it like a cozy breakfast nook where you can gather with friends to share your thoughts.
These occur occasionally and have a cutoff date for comments. The topics cover a range of things designed to facilitate great conversations with your fellow SmallStackers. When they post something enticing, jump in and share your thoughts!
Fun fact: SmallTalk was originally made with the short-lived Threads feature. We continued to make them even after the feature disappeared, since our community loved the opportunity to connect. If you’re interested in seeing what that looks like, you can view past SmallTalks on our main page’s SmallTalk tab.
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What do I get as a paid subscriber?
Hugs! Virtual hugs mostly. And a very big thank you from all of us here at SmallStack.
The same can be said for those who donate to our Ko-Fi! If you didn’t know that we had one, here’s a link to our page:
Paid subscribers and Ko-Fi donors do not receive recommendations* from the SmallStack page. SmallStack is designed to be a place where small(er)(ish) publications get to appear at the front of the line, and money is not part of that equation.
Donations make a huge difference in our ability to spend time (lots of time) building the SmallStack Library and promoting small publications. However, you are never required to donate or become a paid subscriber. SmallStack will never paywall any content here. You can read a little more about our thoughts on paid subscriptions in this post.
Paid subscribers can join for just $25 per year or $2.50 per month. The founding level is set at $80, and anyone who has already subscribed at the yearly rate is now a founder. Substack allows us to provide this discount permanently. As long as it’s there this rate will not change.
In addition to funding our work, 10% of proceeds from SmallStack will be donated to charitable organizations that uphold values that align with our own.
*Recommendations mentioned here are the embedded Substack feature of recommending another Substack on your home page. This is not the same as being a featured publication.
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What do I get as a free subscriber?
OMG EVERYTHING!! No paywalls, no restrictions, no lack of love, just please don’t double-dip in the nacho cheese.
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What if I can’t (or don’t want to) donate right now/yet/ever?
We all have our own reasons for opting to pay or consume free content. You’ll never see any pressure from us (other than the brief mention) to donate to our Ko-Fi.
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Besides donating, what can I do to help?
We’re so glad you asked! Getting the word out there about SmallStack happens when you like, subscribe, share, and restack posts and notes about this space. Leave comments and engage with one another on our posts. We’re also super happy when you recommend folks our way. This grows the SmallStack community for the better.
Occasionally, we may send out a request for volunteers. We’ll provide a form and some extra information at that time. You can check out the current volunteer team under The Team tab on our Substack.
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How do you feel about content moderation?
Love. It.
Far be it from us to overpromise and under-deliver, but we fully intend to keep this space bully and harassment free to the best of our ability. You can also report poo-poo comments to us or to the Substack overlords. Despite what is stacked against us, we believe in taking our space here on Substack seriously. Please refer to the community rules on our About Page or our declaration on this post for more information.
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What about moderation of the posts to be featured?
While we won’t prevent anyone from being a subscriber here (as long as the community rules are not violated), or from being listed in the Library (again, same rules), we will not feature posts that support hatred or intolerance based on identity or protected class. Basically, all folks deserve to feel welcome and safe here. We like nice people, and this community is full of nice people. We also like diversity, and that includes having a library full of varying interests and viewpoints, some of which you may disagree with. this is a place to promote small, and small will always be the primary category for inclusion.
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What if I don’t want to grow? What if I like staying small?
Outstanding! We love small!
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What is that nonsense? I want to grow!
That’s outstanding, too!
While SmallStack is here to help promote you in the Library and by featuring your work, it’s also up to you to engage with your audience, produce content that aligns with your values, and decide what your Substack will be to your people. There is no guarantee that SmallStack will make you bigger. We hope we can at least feel good about being whatever size we are together.
Wait, is “stack-positive” a thing yet (like body-positive)? Should it be?
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Are you stack-positive?
Yes! From day one!
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Will there be more Guest Posts?
The short answer is no, not for a while. Submissions and pitches are closed indefinitely as we focus our efforts on managing the Library. We had a fantastic experience with publishing our community’s original articles, but the workload was a bit too much for our little team of volunteers. In the future, we would like to take our experience here to experiment with other community events and series, but for now, the Guest Posts must rest.
We’re very proud of what we accomplished, nevertheless! If you haven’t already, why not take a look at our Guest Posts page?
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How can I give back to the SmallStack community?
Being a community means having very clear boundaries, rules, and best practices. Please review our community rules on the About page, and feel free to contribute a comment if you’d like to request a new rule, clarification, or interpretation.
Participate in the comments with one another! This is your community, and the best way to provide support to each other is to interact in the comments.
Report comments that violate our rules or make the community feel unsafe. If someone is targeted, please check on them.
When reading Featured Posts, please refrain from leaving negative (or “constructive”) feedback. SmallStack is not a writers group to critique one another. Nothing nice to say? Walk away.
Pay attention to your subscriber numbers and notify the SmallStack Team by filling out a form when you cross the 1,000 subscriber threshold. If that’s what you’re currently looking for, here’s a link to that form.
Consider donating to our Ko-Fi or restacking our community posts and events. These actions support the vital work being done behind the scenes, as well as create better visibility. Better visibility for SmallStack means more for this entire community.
Will you be using the Chat feature?
No, we will not. For a community of over 5,000 people, an ongoing Chat would be overwhelming to manage.
Alternatively, things like SmallTalk and Seed Pods are much more manageable to moderate since they present a clear topic and period of engagement. We hope that you can connect with one another through those community events instead!
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What if I disagree with you on something?
That’s cool. Meet us out back by the dumpsters at 7:30. Robin’s got the water balloons (which one? You’ll find out).
Joking aside, conflicts are a reality of communities, and they are best met with honest conversation. You’re free to express your disagreement and concerns so long as it is done in good faith. That way, we can discuss it together.
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What if I have a question I don’t want others to see?
Email us at smallstacklibrary@gmail.com with questions that feel like they don’t belong in the comments.
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