10 Things I Learned by Writing on Substack (Almost) Every Week in 2024
Should we call this "Stacked 2024"?
Welcome to Buhay Copywriter by Regina Peralta! It’s wonderful to meet you.
This newsletter is my way of paying it forward and being the person I needed when I was a young(er) writer.
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And just like that…we’re down to the last few weeks of 2024. Can you believe it?
I, for one, can’t imagine how 2025 is just weeks away. I’ll be 30 next year, and hopefully, I’ll have all my loved ones around me to celebrate that birthday plus some other milestones.
On a more personal note, sometimes it feels like I’m still in 2019, pre-pandemic and pre-Mommy’s cancer, pre-breadwinner mode. A lot of the time it feels like I’m stuck in a loop of chemo cycles and chores, while also feeling guilty about finding it difficult because I shouldn’t, since it means we’re still battling it out, right? If you follow my Substack Notes, you are probably more updated about the non-writer aspects of my life (mainly, Mommy’s illness and my mental health, but also cute pet photos).
2024 brought a lot of feelings, lessons, and realizations, for sure. That’s why, for Buhay Copywriter’s last issue of the year, I wanted to talk about:
10 Things I Learned by Writing on Substack (Almost) Every Week in 2024
Practice and presence matter. Show up, but be a welcome guest bearing gifts, not noise. Keep writing and creating, because these aren’t just skills you’re born with — they’re talents that need practice and exercise to improve. There’s no shortcut, really. Just the good old grind. And the more you get into the rhythm of it, the more results you’ll see. Lightning might even hit and you’ll find that an “ordinary” post you wrote resonates with a couple hundred people!
Some of Buhay Copywriter’s posts from 2023. 100+ views was already pretty good! Open rates were higher because the subscriber count was lower. 
The post about my college org experience that was me unexpectedly “striking gold”. The open rate was pretty good but that view count thanks to Facebook? Wild! Social media platforms are SOCIAL. I need to interact! If you just want to be all uppity and say “I write only for myself” that’s fine. I know a sector of Substack is of that school of thought. But if you want to be a creative who is seen, heard, read? Reach out and listen to others, too.
This year, I gained a lot of new online friends and connections! Shoutout to
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and more.I shouldn’t be shy to talk about other aspects of ME. This reminds me of
’s essay about unbranding yourself. This year, I talked about my experiences as the daughter of a 4-years-and-counting cancer warrior, my dog and my sister’s dog, my other hobbies, and my 9-years-and-counting relationship with my boyfriend. It seems counterintuitive sometimes, as someone working in advertising whose job it is to write things that are “on brand”. But hey, I’m a person. Not a bank or a mall or an appliance brand. And even those things have various aspects and features. And so do I.
Managing my energy when promoting my Substack helps me make it better. Writing content is one thing. But promoting it is another. And some say it’s even more important since otherwise, how will the audience know that you’re out here? I’ve been going back and forth between keeping Buhay Copywriter’s Instagram. Just a few months ago, I decided that it would be best to maximize it since I was making graphics for Facebook and LinkedIn anyway. I also looked for ways to streamline graphics and caption production. I have Canva templates now, and I write caption ideas/prompts along with the outline of each post. And if I decide to pivot from those, that’s okay, too.
It’s okay to take a break! I take one every quarter. And when I had to step back to deal with the anxiety of Mommy’s post-chemo tests, plus house repairs, and then I had to recuperate from an illness? I took a looong break. I’ve tried pressuring myself before - I once tried to write 1 poem everyday for a few months. While working a full-time job in a city 3 hours away from home. Not doing that again, haha!
I still like writing. Thankfully. I guess you could say writing is all I know. I’ve loved it since I was eight, I’ve trained for it since I was seventeen, and I’ve been doing it for a living since I was eighteen (freelance days). I worry about burning out or getting bored, but hopefully it won’t happen.
I’m still learning a lot, but I can also share, inspire, and help. Once in a while I feel like Buhay Copywriter isn’t really helping anyone. I’m not even a Creative Director yet. Heck, I’ve never won an award for an ad I’ve written. But then I go back to why I started this Substack in the first place: it’s to be the person I needed when I was in college, a fresh grad, a junior copywriter. And based on the views and engagement? Maybe I’m able to achieve my goal. Of course, if you disagree, please answer this survey so I can make Buhay Copywriter better.
“Write what you know” and “Readers make good writers” are still pretty solid words of wisdom. I told my boyfriend that one thing that surprised me about my content audits is that my posts about the more emotional aspects of creative life were the ones that would rake in the views and engagements. That, and certain how-tos and listicles. Both things I know and read about. I’d like to think 2024 helped me inch closer to that sweet spot between writing for prospective copywriters/clients, and writing for the Substack community. My advertising brain is going: “So those are the two core target markets! What’s our 2025 strat…?”
There are stil things I won’t write about. And maybe that’s okay. Or a topic for conversation with my therapist. But really, I still can’t and won’t write poetry or essays about my mental health struggles, my healthy romantic relationship, dealing with cancer and anticipatory grief, the fleeting-ness of life that you realize when you’re a carer a pet owner and an environmental advocate…
I’m still navigating where I want my Substack to go. Obviously, I want it to grow. But I don’t see myself jumping through hoops or losing sleep or taking leaves from my day job just to do that. I want to connect with young copywriters and copywriting mentors and who knows, maybe ad legends even, and learn from them. I’d like to be able to get more tips on Ko-Fi and Buy Me a Coffee. But what can I physically and mentally commit to? What feels authentic to me? To be determined…
2024 was STACKED with growth!
I also wanted to take this chance to celebrate some milestones for Buhay Copywriter. None of this would be possible without you, dear reader!
This year, we grew 📈
January 1: 28 subscribers
December 10: 275 subscribers
You truly made my little scribbles and insights feel seen 👀
17,000+ views as of December 10 (half of which were via email!)
A Filipino Substack with global readership? Ayos! (Nice!)
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Once again, thank you for letting me sit and speak from a little corner in your inbox or Substack app. Thank you for reading what I write and sharing your ideas. Thank you for virtually sitting with me as I faced personal life stuff — it means a lot. Thank you for being here for the copywriting and the life (buhay) of it all. See you all next year!
💜 Reg
i was scared i wouldn't be able to relate to anyone in this platform. so glad we all found each other!
Wow, you learned a lot! Thanks for the mention. 😊