14 Comments
User's avatar
Caz Hart's avatar

Blocking only works prospectively, not retrospectively, and only for the person doing the blocking. This is true for any platform.

Blocking means that neither the reader nor the writer will see each other's offerings in future, whether a newsletter, a Note, a comment, or a Chat. There's nothing peculiar or deceptive about that.

Expand full comment
Gary Varner's avatar

Substack must have changed all this since OP. I have neither option in my settings, thus continue only seeing a narrow topic list in my feed with seemingly no way to alter. Bummer.

Expand full comment
That Is Priceless's avatar

I don't have it either.

Expand full comment
Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Substack changed their settings, now they control what you see based on your recommendations and subscriptions, and perhaps, follows.

Expand full comment
Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Good catch - this is an issue.

Expand full comment
Chris Johnson's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

You are welcome.

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

I didn't even know there was a function to select my interests. No wonder my feed is often random rubbish. 🤣🤦‍♀️

Expand full comment
Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

lol, let me know if this works better!

Expand full comment
biren shah's avatar

not the perfect place for this question and request... and that IS the point of this question:

is there a way to either chat (one-on-one) with you and other writers? or send a personal email?

the other aspect of this question was also about an extension of the first part - since you seem "at home" with substack, which I am struggling with: that... i need/want help in making substack a kind of "delivery system" for my work, AND a place where my work can rest and grow.

i was able to write this to you because I saw that something about my work (through some post of mine) might have piqued your interest.

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

Substack has started testing direct messages.

You can email a writer directly by responding to their email newsletter; so you would need to be a subscriber.

You can initiate a group chat on any newsletter you subscribe to, but it does go to the whole group, not only the writer.

When you publish, I understand there's a tick box if you want to both send an email and publish your newsletter on the app. Would that not meet your criteria?

Expand full comment
biren shah's avatar

no caz. i want to be able to talk directly, one-on-one (not because of the privacy, but... personal communication) with a writer (and sometimes a subscriber)

Expand full comment
Caz Hart's avatar

I don't know anything about the direct messaging that Substack is testing with some writers, but I saw a comment that seemed to suggest that it would be for DMs between writers, rather than everyone being able to DM anyone,.

Expand full comment