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:

• Under the Gum Tree: underthegumtree.com

• More to the Story coaching & editing for women: moretothestory.co

• Previous More to the Story episode ”If you want to publish a book, what is it that you actually want?”

• Brooke Warner
  on Substack & her 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

Leave a comment to let me know your thoughts, or just say hello. Questions welcome, too, I will answer in a future episode.

Thanks so much for listening and for being here! xo