Starting soon, FicStack.com submitted publications will have permissions for post display on the site.
By default they will show a brief excerpt, as do now, but much improved, stripping out unnecessary text like 'about this story' 'subscribe because' 'previously in the series' etc (just considers the actual start of story / poem for excerpt) and up to 300 characters.
For poems, it will display the first stanza.
Option 1 will be to show the first paragraph.
Option 2 will be to show the first 2 paragraphs.
Option 3 will be to show full post text.
All posts will have a 'Subscribe on substack' button, as will publication pages where all their posts are listed.
Still working on improving serial detection.
If you have a publication on FicStack.com and want anything other than the default short (fixed) excerpt, drop me a message either here or in the FicStack Discord server. https://discord.gg/4Cvw9bgVq3
The new system is going to be implemented very soon with a much improved backend build.
From my POV, I'd rather keep with excerpts only that will drive people to the platform that (currently) gives me more control over data, my list, and potential monetization.
But I'd love it if excerpts worked better/had more options. Maybe authors could choose between one, three, or five paragraph options, for example. Each of my serial posts starts with a single line specifying the location and day, and right now that's all FicStack picks up as an excerpt. That doesn't give potential readers much to go on!
This is one I really need to think about. One of the advantages of Substack is owning your list. This would create a separate reader community elsewhere. I'm not sure how this aligns with my #1 Substack goal, ie finding my audience. Then again this might be separating casual readers from my base.
Where my posts are part of a serial and start with navigation buttons, no excerpt shows up currently anyway. You can search for The Moon Talker to see what I mean. Is this fixable? Also I noticed that the prologue wasn't included in the series, only the numbered chapters.
I will see what it looks like for others with full text before opting in. Very noble of me I know. Thanks for all the good work as always, and kudos for seeking specific consent.
Yes, you have my permission to display full content from my submitted posts on FicStack. Thanks for building this. Discovery is definitely a challenge and you are helping a lot to make it easier.
I like the idea a lot, and thanks for working so hard on Ficstack, but I think I'd like to see what it looks like first before opting in. Like would the subscribe button still be there and features like that? Otherwise, I'd worry readers would bypass my substack entirely. I also like one commenter's idea of expanding the preview to a couple paragraphs.
Starting soon, FicStack.com submitted publications will have permissions for post display on the site.
By default they will show a brief excerpt, as do now, but much improved, stripping out unnecessary text like 'about this story' 'subscribe because' 'previously in the series' etc (just considers the actual start of story / poem for excerpt) and up to 300 characters.
For poems, it will display the first stanza.
Option 1 will be to show the first paragraph.
Option 2 will be to show the first 2 paragraphs.
Option 3 will be to show full post text.
All posts will have a 'Subscribe on substack' button, as will publication pages where all their posts are listed.
Still working on improving serial detection.
If you have a publication on FicStack.com and want anything other than the default short (fixed) excerpt, drop me a message either here or in the FicStack Discord server. https://discord.gg/4Cvw9bgVq3
The new system is going to be implemented very soon with a much improved backend build.
Glad you're handling this with such respect.
From my POV, I'd rather keep with excerpts only that will drive people to the platform that (currently) gives me more control over data, my list, and potential monetization.
But I'd love it if excerpts worked better/had more options. Maybe authors could choose between one, three, or five paragraph options, for example. Each of my serial posts starts with a single line specifying the location and day, and right now that's all FicStack picks up as an excerpt. That doesn't give potential readers much to go on!
Totally fair, and it is an issue I am addressing.
I am very appreciative of everything that you do to help writers on Substack get more discoverability.
Thanks, that’s appreciated
Gary: I thank you for your work on this FicStack.
I can only add an additional comment about deciphering what the fiction is about.
I would like more of a lead-in about the fiction to make a better choice if this is my jam.
What you can do to address that would make the index more effective.
I will see what I can do over the next week.
I give you full permission to share my works.
Brilliant! Hopefully it makes the site way more useful!
Hi Gary! Great options. What if in the future, we want to change our excerpt choice, will there be a way to do that? Thanks!
Yes, just message me
This is one I really need to think about. One of the advantages of Substack is owning your list. This would create a separate reader community elsewhere. I'm not sure how this aligns with my #1 Substack goal, ie finding my audience. Then again this might be separating casual readers from my base.
Sure, I get it. See one of the responses I made - there are options
https://open.substack.com/pub/ficstack/p/ive-been-holding-ficstack-back?utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=185507953
Hey Gary, just signed up a couple of days ago, I opt in too.
brilliant
Go ahead. You have my permission.
I give you permission to share my work. Of course.
Great, thanks Ben.
Hi Gary,
Where my posts are part of a serial and start with navigation buttons, no excerpt shows up currently anyway. You can search for The Moon Talker to see what I mean. Is this fixable? Also I noticed that the prologue wasn't included in the series, only the numbered chapters.
I will see what it looks like for others with full text before opting in. Very noble of me I know. Thanks for all the good work as always, and kudos for seeking specific consent.
Better excerpts are my priority, as is better series detection.
Yes, you have my permission to display full content from my submitted posts on FicStack. Thanks for building this. Discovery is definitely a challenge and you are helping a lot to make it easier.
Thanks for your kind words.
I like the idea a lot, and thanks for working so hard on Ficstack, but I think I'd like to see what it looks like first before opting in. Like would the subscribe button still be there and features like that? Otherwise, I'd worry readers would bypass my substack entirely. I also like one commenter's idea of expanding the preview to a couple paragraphs.
Hi Siobhan
I can include a subscribe button and I am working on improving the excerpt. This is all opt in of course,and you don't have to decide immediately.
If there's a way you can do a two paragraph excerpt, I'd like to do that.
I love the idea of ficstack, but I would love to have people who are reading it be on my mailing list.
Some of my other stuff isn't available for everybody, just for those on the mailing list.
Sure, that can be an option.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsZ-UtvPmIO_q_YJ1fHvX7PKyRTVdx6Qc
Don't get me started pal.
Don't get me started on rubber chicken songs!!!!!! XDXDXDXD I have playlists!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsZ-UtvPmIO_q_YJ1fHvX7PKyRTVdx6Qc