Writing About The Bear - My Writing Process
Talking about my writing process and my experiences of posting on Substack
It seems to be the done thing.
Eventually, everyone who is writing on Substack will write a piece on...how they write on Substack; I am no exception.
However, other than looking for fresh subscribers this piece does have a point; I did actually want to write about how I write on Substack and my own experiences of it these last 6 months of doing it regularly.
I hope this will be actually useful for those reading, instead of an over-hyped word-salad (there are enough of those).
Why are you writing on Substack?
As I said in this piece, I was lost for a while and unsure what I was doing. Others were writing on Substack with better articles and better backgrounds, so I wasn't sure where I fitted in.
Then I posted my first ‘Bear' related article and it got a pretty good reception. Encouraged, I kept going, writing up articles on the Russian Army, Navy and Air force.
I was neither expert in my field, nor someone with no knowledge at all. So the way I write my articles is sort of like a middle man.
I know more than the average joe, so I know enough to educate said average-joe and direct them to better educated and more experienced posters (see my recommendations).
That’s why my links aren't just randomly selected ‘this will prove my point' onward reading, but articles and posts by individuals and organisations who actually have the education and experience to speak with the necessary authority.
I’m hoping in that regard, I’m useful to readers.
How do you find the time?
I actually do a lot of my writing on my phone. Either via voice-to-text or the touch screen keyboard.
I then tidy things up at a later time on the computer or tablet.
So whilst others are browsing TikTok or Facebook, I’m sorry, I’m writing; it helps me relax and I enjoy it.
And if I’m not writing, I’m reading. My list of recommendations isn’t just for show. Any chance I get I’m reading through reports, articles, news etc to help inform the next article, as well as liking and restacking.
How do you come up with an article?
This happens when I'm out for a walk.
I am blessed to live near a very good walking area that is relatively private.
There, I get to let my brain wander and, it comes up with the articles.
Sometimes just the one, which I kick off with some typing or voice-to-text, or I might come up with 3 x articles in a row and have to hurriedly start them on my cloud drive.
Typically my articles will be in line with what is being reported in the news / Open source Intelligence. 9th May was a good example, as was the fall-back from Kursk.
Others come out as just ones I wanted to write about because they interest me.
My recent piece on Pro-Russian Analysis is a good example; I had wanted to write that for a while.
How do you use Substack?
My substack ‘audience' shall we say really sky-rocketed after I reposted this piece by Lesia Dubenko.
Little did I know that it would go viral and pull me along with it.
Suddenly people started following my substack and I realized I would actually need to give them something to read!
Since then, I have a fairly standard routine for my daily and weekly work on Substack.
Daily work
Read up latest articles from my recommendations (I can usually find time for this during the day). Like, Comment and Restack as necessary. I don't restack or comment on every single article, but I will usually do so for a couple per day. That seems to keep the algorithm happy.
Post up a note. I don't always get a chance to do this, I don't see it as a priority, but if I come across something I find interesting I will fire up a note. This note is a good example.
Weekly work
Monday, 12 noon = my weekly article comes out, like clock work, every week. I’ll have spent the previous days or even hours reviewing it and getting it ready. I will then restack the article as well with a note about its content.
Tuesday = As daily, reading and reviewing notes and articles on substack.
Wednesday = typically I will advertise the next weeks article, if I have it ready. Alternatively if its not ready it might be a few days before I post up something.
Thursday / Friday = my chat channel will get a post detailing more information on future articles.
What’s the future look like?
I have a list of potential articles that might branch out into aspects other than the modern Russian military.
I want to take a look and summarize the War in Ukraine in 2022, 2023 and 2024, as well as Russia’s other wars before Ukraine.
I also want to write on the Chinese military (moving from ‘The Bear’ to ‘The Dragon’) and maybe move on to Britain and America sometime in the future (‘The Eagle’ and ‘The Loin’ , keeping the animal theme going)
I’m also working on a bit of an ‘outside my comfort zone’ piece on Donald Trump, specifically on how he became President...twice. It’ll likely be a multiple part effort so I’ll see how I get on. It’s been interesting cutting through both the over done Love/Hate aspect of his existence and go into detail on ‘well how did he actually do it?’.
I’ll admit I don’t like the man myself and I hate how he’s treated Ukraine; but I want to know, just how this man managed to become the American President.
Will you ever go for paid subscriptions?
I don’t think so.
Right now, this Substack is a ‘hobby’ and one I use to hopefully inform, educate and update people.
It’s not my job or even a second job. It’s just a hobby for me so why would I charge for it?
Instead, I’ll use it to direct people to others for whom this is actually a proper source of income, or those I feel need financially support for the very good work they do.
The likes of ‘Researching Ukraine’ is a good example, as well as the funding drives of Sarcastosaurus.
Hope this has been an interesting read for you.
Thank you all for your continued support.
