Writing Ain't an Exclusive Club, So Stop Acting Like It is

Quick note: I'm just as tired of reading about writing as you are but bear with me for a minute.

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Hey Substack team, just a humble suggestion:

Before anyone can start a publication on this platform, they should be required to present a degree in English or Literature. Maybe even two. If that’s too much, how about at least two published books? And of course, they’d need to pass an intense writing assessment—like a long-form essay titled, "The Existential Dread of My Dead Grandma's Antique Teapot: A Deep Dive Into Life, Time, and the Human Condition." We’re talking metaphors stacked on metaphors, philosophical musings and obviously, no spelling mistakes. And you better have at least 50 drafts to prove your worth!

Because obviously, we can’t let just anybody write on here. You know, heaven forbid someone enjoys writing for fun. Imagine the chaos! Writing without a PhD in Creative Writing? How DARE you! You’re diluting the pool with your mediocre content. Writing about movies? Eww. Lists?! Oh no, the audacity! And you’re mo…monetizing it?! *Faints*

You must know you’re destroying the integrity of this “sacred” platform with your non literary writing. The real writers are probably somewhere weeping over their first editions of Virginia Woolf, wondering how this crime was allowed to happen. People enjoying writing without the need to impress a panel of scholars? Disgraceful! You didn’t even write about “the human condition” or “the oppressive nature of existence” in your grocery list Susan! Tragic, really.

And to top it all off, you’re using Substack’s notes and chat features to actually connect with your readers? Gross. Writers should be “mysterious,” “distant”. I mean, the writers of ancient Mesopotamia didn’t have Notes. So why should we? You should be writing from your ivory tower, not interacting with your audience like you’re some… normal person. Ewww.

(Okay, sarcasm over)

But for real. Those are the actual complaints I’ve been seeing around here. It’s like some of y’all think Substack is an elite members-only club and the rest of us need to stay out. Yesterday, I hit my breaking point. After reading one too many posts whining about “low-quality” writing and how this platform is “ruined”, I almost deleted my entire publication and threw my phone out the window.

Let’s get one thing straight: writing is a form of communication. Nothing more, nothing less. But some people treat it like it’s this sacred act that only a select few should have access to. It used to be the only way to communicate before all this technology came in. People were writing letters. Letters were the only way to talk if you weren’t face to face. Everyone (except illiterates) wrote. It wasn’t some mystical thing reserved for the chosen ones with perfect grammar. Nah, it was just how people communicated.

It’s the same with writing today. If you’re putting thoughts to paper (or typing them out), you’re communicating. Writing is no more sacred than speaking. We don’t need some elite crew deciding who gets to do it or not. It’s literally just like talking—some people ramble, some get to the point, some go deep, some keep it light. Everyone does it their own way and that’s the beauty of it.

Back in the day, nobody cared if your handwriting was ugly or if your grammar was a bit off—you had something to say, so you wrote it. You communicated. Now, people act like writing is this unreachable art form and if you're not doing it "correctly" you should just shut up. How ridiculous is that?

But somehow, a lot of people have taken it upon themselves to police who gets to write and who doesn’t, acting like they’re the literary gatekeepers of Substack.

If you’ve got a PhD in English and a dozen published books, that’s great! Seriously, congrats on your hard work. But that does NOT give you the right to look down on people who didn’t choose the same path. Just because you’ve studied writing or built a career around it doesn’t mean you get to judge others for enjoying the craft on their own terms.

Not everyone has the luxury to pursue writing as a full-time career, and that doesn’t make their writing any less valid. Some of us come from families where we had to prioritize survival over creative aspirations. I study economics but I love writing in my spare time. Does that mean I should be barred from sharing my thoughts on this platform because I don’t have an English degree?

Newsflash: Writing is for everyone.

And let’s talk about the whole 'quality writing' debate. What even is quality writing? Is it endless metaphors? Is it literary theory on every line? No. Quality writing is subjective. One person’s “quality” is another person’s “meh.” Sure, we should strive for clarity and coherence but that’s basic communication. The rest? That’s up for debate.

‘Quality writing' is a concept made up by those looking to capitalize on it. There's no such thing as 'quality writing' if someone simply decides to write. And even if their writing is considered 'mediocre,' if they make money from it, it's because there are people willing to pay. No one's forcing readers at gunpoint to subscribe or pay.

Also, I’ve seen people complain that everyone’s writing about the same things. Yeah, so what? If 10 people write about the same movie, each one brings a unique perspective. Their voices, experiences and viewpoints make each piece different. That's the beauty of writing. We all think and process things in our own way.

Also, since when did writing “lists” become a crime? People love lists because they’re clear, direct and easy to digest. You’re mad because someone’s using their platform to monetize lists or write casual essays instead of philosophical treatises? That says more about your bitterness than their so-called “lack of quality.”

Here’s another thing that really bugs me: the elitism. The lack of support for new writers is honestly disgusting (because apparently on this platform, if you support a fellow writer it means you're only doing it to boost your own subscriber coun they say). I’ve been subscribed to some of the “big names” and let me tell you—those people stick to their circle and rarely, if ever, support new or smaller creators.

There’s a whole hierarchy here. People love talking about community but where’s the support for the writers who put their heart and soul into a post and only get 0 likes? It’s easy to complain but if you actually care about “quality” content, why aren’t you helping to uplift the voices of writers who could use a boost? Stop gatekeeping and start building the community you claim to care about.

At the end of the day, Substack isn’t about “quality.” It’s about engagement. The posts that resonate the most are the ones that spark conversation, regardless of whether they’re long-form essays or top 10 lists. If people are connecting with what someone has written, isn’t that the point?

To wrap this up:

1. Stop acting like writing is some sacred act reserved for an elite few. It’s for everyone.

2. Writing isn’t just about craft; it’s about communication.

3. Gatekeeping sucks. Let people enjoy things whether it's “lists” or whatever.

4. Everyone deserves the right to share their thoughts, whether they have a degree or not.

5. If you “care” about the writing community, show up for others. Share their work.

6. Everyone is a writer. (because most of the average person goes to school and learns basic spelling and how to construct sentences)

7. You're not the Substack CEO!

I’m done with the elitism and just want a platform where everyone can write without fear of judgment.

PS: And if you think connecting with your readers (enabling chat) is a waste of time, let me hit you with some truth real quick. You’re not a celebrity. Sorry, not sorry. Your readers aren’t some faceless, irrelevant crowd you can just ignore. These are actual people taking time out of their day to subscribe to you, read your words and engage with your content. The least you could do is acknowledge them. It shows that you’re a decent human being.

Let me remind you, the world of writing isn’t about staying hidden behind some mysterious persona like a 19th-century poet who only surfaces once in a decade. We live in a time where connection and engagement matter. You’re not getting a Nobel Prize for sitting on a throne of “mystery.” Writing isn’t some sacred ritual that only a chosen few can partake in. It’s a conversation. It’s about communicating with others. That’s how writing started back in the day. People wrote letters to communicate, to express, to connect. And nothing has changed except the medium.

You could have the fanciest prose and the most poetic metaphors but if you treat your audience like they don’t exist, you're missing the whole point of why we write in the first place. Writing isn't a one way street; it's a dialogue. So yeah, maybe drop the attitude and remember: you’re only here because readers choose to engage with you.