On Substack and CEOs and Letters
An open letter to those writings open letters to CEO
Thank you to Robert M. Hamburger for doing the thing. And also to H. E. Tobe (Literary Fiction) as well for the inspiration for this piece. Also obligatory hi at Chris Best (love what you’ve done with the place, kisses)
As one of these ‘voices’ for lack of a better word that everyone keeps clamouring about that needs considering and thinking of. I do not blame the algorithm for anything, as far as I can tell it works as intended, I should know, mine ‘for you’ has warped three times and I’ve juuuuuust about got it where I want it. Thriving.
I also do not blame the community either, I am willing to stake that despite mentioning the three who seem to be doing anything of note regarding this directly, I am going to get a grand total of zero popping in to say hello.
In fact I would honestly be surprised if anyone turned up.
Why?
Because I’m angrily vibrating in a fucking corner and one that even the majority of people that I have made connections to in these seven months seem to register with an ‘Oh she’s at it again’ kind of attitude. The minority of these connections are my people and I am here for them day in, day out.
I am truly appreciative of those who do help me show my work off to other people, truly, deeply. You all mean the world to me and sometimes I have a little cry about it. However, I am also aware that outside of me and the respective ‘you’ no one really seems to be as interested in joining us waving our arms around. Comparatively speaking when everyone else does a thing, everyone turns out in droves.
TLDR
I have a superpower and I am invisible.
On Robert M. Hamburger’s letter first.
I am flattered that other content creators give a shit about people like me.
Another concern creators discuss constantly is discoverability, especially for smaller writers. The platform increasingly moves in circles. Large newsletters recommend other large newsletters. Established writers elevate established writers. Paid tiers get prioritized. Growth becomes dependent on proximity to existing networks rather than the resonance of the work itself. Emerging voices, doing original work, often describe the experience the same way: shouting into the void. Robert M. Hamburger
I am very discoverable on my own as it happens. Just the almost overwhelming majority doesn’t care.
I have never once thought of myself as screaming into an empty room. I have thought of myself screaming into a very crowded room full of people who are also screaming. Which is fair. We're all hoarse. I'm not owed a turned head from someone who can't hear themselves think. Except a handful of them climbed onto chairs, cupped their hands, and screamed that somebody really ought to start listening to the quiet ones and then got straight back to screaming.
I have made what I would call a reasonable effort to be a good community member.
I have -
Up until recently ran a weekly newsletter celebrating other writers on Tuesday, which had a number of people telling me that they found value in the lists I was bringing forward.
Conducted interviews with a number of other creators, both similar sized and bigger than myself.
Taken part in large group mandatory fun projects, which were fun. I was commended for my input. Sometimes a bit too much commendation and it went to my head.
Worked with other like-minded people on collaborations, not even for the metrics, because it was a fun thing to do.
Yet outside of those staring at the threshold of my angry corner. Nothing. Nada. All those very concerned creators, and by proxy their audience who should be frothing at the teeth for something new. Didn’t care. Why would they? What would they get out of reading the flavour of angst I’ve served on any given day apart from a ‘WOW OK?’
Ultimately I don't blame the algorithm, because the algorithm never promised me anything. You (the royal you, not you personally) did. And I get to see it every fucking day.
It’s flattering it really is, that I have been part of a cohort of consideration, as sarcastic and borderline condescending as this likely reads. It is sincere. My issue is more to do with the apathy of these concerned creators for the virtues they are championing.
On H. E. Tobe (Literary Fiction)’s letter.
Yes. Actually. I agree, the bullshit is bad. Noted. But not being rude or anything. It’s a social media platform. What were you expecting? For the short form not to be a weird hybrid of reddit and twitter meets people who think that typewriters need to make a comeback and we should all roll around in the grass drinking coffee?
The answers to both of these concepts is of course. Fuck yes.
I agree with you. I do. I just think, that in this mid 2026 situationship we all find ourselves in. Of course the entire thing is over saturated by engagement farmers. Internet Dopamine Points are a serious drug. I for one am a recovering almost addict.
On reflection, actually I don’t think I am invisible. I think I might have a bit worse. I get seen and skipped. Being walked past is a decision. I’ll keep angrily vibrating in my corner, because the day I stop is the day I disappear and I think right now? I’m too angsty for that.
Yours Sincerely.
Kayleigh Thorpe
Very interesting article. I've sort of started to enjoy making dumb notes more than serious posts, and I feel that's by design. But I've also thought about quitting the whole site because I've let my shitty jokes become my whole personality here. But it's the only way I have fun at the same time.
They intentionally make learning the algo as difficult as possible.
It's not right.