Do I need 100,000 followers on social to get published?

Someone sent me this question recently, and man did it get me fired up.

Whenever I hear any so-called advice (from anyone) saying you need XYZ specific thing in order to get published, my first response is:

Well, how does saying that benefit THEM?

Here’s the thing: do you need 100,000 followers to get published? NO. Absolutely not. Would it be helpful? Of course.

But (and this is a big BUT), there is a lot of nuance to this question, which I unpack in this episode.

Listen in for:

- thinking through using Substack, making work sustainable, whether or not to turn on paid subscriptions for this podcast, and doing work that’s easy and that I want to do

- why someone would say something like, “you need 100,000 followers to get published”

- what we mean when we say “get published” & the importance of distribution

- how to determine whether going after hundreds of thousands of followers makes sense for YOU

- why your own personal vision + goals are the most important thing to inform your book publishing decisions

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Subscribe to More to the Story podcast in Substack: https://moretothestorypodcast.substack.com/

- Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com

- More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co- Past More to the Story episode ”If you want to publish a book, what is it that you actually want?”

- Brooke Warner’s Substack & post on distribution

- Alt Summit in Palm Springs, March 14-17

- AWP in LA, March 27-29

- follow me on Instagram @jannamarlies

- follow Under the Gum Tree on Instagram @undergumtree

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit moretothestorypodcast.substack.com