What happens when a high school government teacher with a passion for civic education posts a simple explainer video about the Electoral College during the chaos of 2020? If you’re
, it leads to a whirlwind journey: from Instagram virality (1.3m+ followers) to a #1 New York Times-bestselling book (The Small and the Mighty), a top-rated podcast, and a Substack with over 360,000 subscribers.In our latest Author Insider live Q&A, Sharon joined me to talk about how she built a values-driven platform from the ground up—without chasing trends or losing her voice. Sharon covered a lot: writing for Substack versus podcasting, balancing content creation with book writing, and how to turn genuine enthusiasm into a thriving and loyal audience.
I’ve pulled together some highlights and shared them below. These insightful, funny, and practical takeaways are for any author looking to grow their platform or better connect with readers online.
Before we dive into Sharon’s words of wisdom, a quick reminder that we have two more live author events coming up in the next few weeks:
Thursday, June 26 at 5 pm ET: Q&A with Cal Newport
Georgetown professor, New Yorker contributor, podcast host, and author of game-changing bestsellers like Deep Work and Slow Productivity. How does he do it all? This is your opportunity to ask him directly. Cal is eager to share tips on building an audience without burning out.
Tuesday, July 8 at 12 pm ET: How to Market Your Book on Substack
Sarah Fay, creator of Substack Writers at Work and author of Pathological, will walk you through a step-by-step process you can use to convert your Substack subscribers into book buyers.
Events are only for paid subscribers, so be sure to sign up!
And, lastly, a special thank you to
, , , , , and many other Author Insiders for tuning in to the live video!To watch or listen to the conversation in its entirety, click on the image at the top of this post.
How One Video Sparked a Movement
Back in 2020, Sharon found herself stuck at home after her husband received a kidney transplant (donated by a stranger, thanks to her mom giving hers first). With extra time and a front-row seat to online misinformation, she took a leap.
“I started noticing a lot of people who were really confidently wrong on the internet… So I decided, instead of arguing, I’d make a little video explaining how the Electoral College actually works.”
Takeaway: Sometimes the most impactful work starts as a simple act of service.
Why Substack, Not Instagram, Became Her Home Base
Despite having 1.3 million Instagram followers, Sharon still prefers Substack as her main platform for sharing her writing. The reason? Instagram Stories disappear. Substack posts live on—and land in inboxes.
“People were hungry for a central repository they could forward to someone else… And most email providers actually let Substack emails land in inboxes, not the spam or promo tabs. That’s hard to match on your own.”
Takeaway: What you write is only half the battle. Getting it seen matters just as much.
When to Post for Maximum Engagement
This is a subtle but super actionable tip that many Substack writers overlook. Sharon has data-driven timing strategies for both email and social:
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