37 Comments
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Mata Haggis-Burridge's avatar

Thanks - I didn't spot the 'previous' and 'next' option before. This was useful!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

I dont know why substack makes it so hidden

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Brian Martinez's avatar

Wow, that previous and next post tip was huge. I can't believe I never noticed that before. And the cool thing is, it's apparently smart enough to skip between episodes of a serial and ignore the in-between posts that don't pertain to it, I'm guessing so long as you organize your Substack into sections. Majorly helpful for writers, and readers.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Happy to help Brian and thanks for noticing the skipping part - I actually wasn’t aware of that feature! I’ll need to update the post to reflect that. Good one!

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Kiran Blackwell's avatar

I don't see an option to edit recommendation blurbs--is that because I don't have any yet? I think in another comment you recommend reaching out to a friendly to help write some, so I think that's the case but wanted to confirm.

Similarly, I don't see the link to the welcome page under Basics. Am I missing something? My Settings look a little different from what you show.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Probably you don’t have any recommendation blurbs written about you yet. As for welcome page, that’s strange. Are you on desktop or mobile app?

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Kiran Blackwell's avatar

I'm on the desktop. Under Basics I see these headings: Publication logo, Publication name, Publication short description (not "Short description" as shown in your post), Publication introduction, Language, and Categories. There is not small text with the Welcome link below Publication short description. Maybe it's the part under Publication introduction?

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Try under “Branding” —-> “cover photo”

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Kiran Blackwell's avatar

Ah yes, there it is. Thanks.

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Alex Turnbull's avatar

Some good tips, thanks. I hadn't realised how recommendation blurbs work.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Cheers Alex, happy to help

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R. S. Hampton, Thriller Author's avatar

These were very helpful. Thank you!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

No problem! Glad to hear these were helpful :)

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Alison Bull's avatar

Thank you!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

My pleasure Alison

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Rolando Andrade's avatar

very helpful tips.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Great to hear Rolando!

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Darkwald's avatar

Super helpful tips! Thanks for sharing!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

My pleasure Nicolas, glad this was useful to you!

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Jean McKinney's avatar

Very helpful info. The "previous" and "next" post feature is really useful for me since I've been doing serialized stories lately on Black Moon Journal. Thanks!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

glad this was helpful for you Jean! Can you post a link to your publication? Would love to check it out

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Jean McKinney's avatar

Certainly! Here you go:

https://blackmoonjournal.substack.com

Hope you like my weird little tales.

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JAMIE JACKSON's avatar

brillo - ta v much 🏄‍♀️🏄‍♀️🏄‍♀️

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

no problem Jamie :)

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💎 Jaime Buckley's avatar

That was both excellent AND helpful, Niccolò!

...I didn't even notice the AI training aspect -- definitely no for me. NOW it's fixed.

These are most definitely foundational steps all new writers should employ.

...I'm glad you have other recommendations on your work, my friend. You do good work.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Thank you Jaime I appreciate the kind words! When the cyborgs come for us we can take solace in the fact that we didn't contribute to their uprising by allowing AI training on our fiction substacks😂

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Katherine Mansfield's avatar

This was helpful! The blurb part, I didn’t know about, so thank you!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Happy to hear Katherine! The trick is getting people to write the blurb for you in the first place - a lot of people skip that section or also don’t know about it. Sometimes a friendly DM asking for it and offering to do the same can do the trick.

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Katherine Mansfield's avatar

Oh, good idea!!

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Tim Burns's avatar

Great info! Thanks Niccolò!

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Hey Tim great to hear from you! Hope you’re doing well :) and glad this was helpful for you.

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Maurice Clive Bisby's avatar

Ha Niccolo ! As an ex-mineral prospector I recognize that You are a Gem Yourself....

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Great tips - thanks! I don't have the option under "Options" for anything related to AI. I even used the search box and nothing. Also no QR code generator (not a big deal, already did that another way). AND no recommendations setting for home page. Weird.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Are you going first to “dashboard” and then to “settings” from there?

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Yes. It’s how I’ve always accessed “settings.” Is there another way? My sense is that Substack rolls out functionality unevenly, but I'm not sure about that.

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Niccolò Hilgendorf's avatar

Very strange! Never heard of this before

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

🤷🏼‍♀️

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