Substack Live Podcast

Live!

Writers at Work on the street: Punctuation from the people.

Thank you Joy Sullivan, Jo Hutton, Dr Kondrot, Beth Spencer, Diana Spechler, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

To listen to the full episode, join us at Substack Writers at Work!

https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/

In today's episode:

Learn how to grow your Substack with live shows, discover author success secrets from Jason Chatfield & Mikala Jamison, plus March's top engagement strategies from Substack's leading expert.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:15 Meet the Guests: Mikayla Jamison

02:26 Meet the Guests: Jason Chatfield

05:09 Mikayla's Substack Journey

06:07 Jason's Substack Journey

09:43 Book Deals and Publishing Insights

23:44 The Role of Substack in Book Deals

33:35 Marketing Strategies and Long Tail Sales

36:41 Promoting the Book: Strategies and Tips

37:10 Event Planning and Live Streaming

37:25 Drawing Book Plates: A Quick Skill

38:12 Marketing and Substack Growth

39:09 Engaging Readers and Building Community

40:34 Live Storytelling and Fringe Festival

43:27 Pre-Order Campaigns and Bestseller Lists

50:21 Advanced Review Copies and Social Proof

55:54 Supporting Fellow Authors and Community

01:01:11 Using Substack for Book Launches

01:07:19 Final Thoughts and Pet Cameos

What’s in this bonus guide to Notes:

* My top Substack guidance right now.

* Wisdom from two amazing Substack creators—Leslie Brenner and Kristin Tweedale—with practical ways to take advantage of the Notes Boost Challenge and get engagement on Notes even if you are avoiding Notes or feel like you’re posting into the void.

* Below, I share some of the amazing Substack Writers at Work and what the Notes Boost Challenge is doing for them. (If you aren’t part of the Challenge, please do so!)

My guests

Leslie Brenner runs Cooks Without Borders, a Substack focused on food and culture. She was formerly a food editor at the I and has won two (2!) James Beard Journalism Awards and two (2!) Webby Awards. Her Substack’s tagline is “Spectacular recipes steeped in culture” and short description is “for adventurous, curious food lovers.” Leslie started her Cooks Without Borders website in 2016 on Squarespace, which serves as a database of recipes that underpins her Substack. She launched her Substack in April 2023, moving her storytelling content here while maintaining her original website.

Kristin Tweedale runs a creativity-focused Substack Your Story Matters by rukristin with the tagline “We make art.” Substack description: “Every week, you get bite-sized, actionable tips to keep your creativity flowing, no matter how busy your schedule is.” She’s been working on a daily creative project for five years and initially used Substack to host her podcast and weekly newsletter. She sends out weekly newsletters on Saturdays and podcast emails on Mondays, taking full advantage of Substack’s features including newsletters, polls, comments, podcasts, and videos.

My essential Notes guidance (right now)

I say “right now” because the Notes algorithm changes (literally) every day (per Substack). I’ll keep you abreast of any changes.

* Why Notes and the Notes Boost Challenge are well worth your time: All that time you spend on other social media platforms? The shelflife of what you post there is very short:

* Tweets last ~30 seconds

* Instagram posts ~48 hours

* Facebook posts ~4 hours

* Notes can continue gaining traction for months—we’re seeing Notes from a year ago

* Keywords: Yup, they do work in terms of getting your Notes by the algorithm. Use keywords to have your Notes appear in specific categories/searches. For many of you, that’s a bummer because we all hoped keywords were a thing of the past, but alas, alack.

* Categories: Consider which category your content falls under, as some categories get more viral engagement than others, e.g., U.S. Politics is a viral stew whereas Education is snoozeville. (That means, don’t say you’re offering “a class” because that’s where that Note will end up.)

* Video: Video isn’t really getting engagement on Notes. Some are, yes, but not for the most part.

* The Notes algorithm: Substack’s algorithm privileges engagement, not frequency. But if you’re new or your people aren’t on Notes, how can you get engagement? That’s what the Notes Boosts are for.

* Notes Boost: The Notes Boost is how you take advantage of the significant subscriber growth happening on Notes right now. We come together as a community to support each other by liking, restacking, and commenting on each others' Notes—but only if we are genuinely interested in them. The Notes algorithm privileges engagement, not frequency. The Notes Boost is how you get engagement and give your Note a fighting chance instead of feeling like you’re screaming into the void.

* Notes Boost Challenge: Notes Boost but better because it’s every day through March 31.

Leslie on community, not going viral, and having patience

* No need to go viral: After participating in the Notes Boost Challenge, her 30-day views increased by 9,000 (views are the metric we want to watch)—showing that you don’t need to go viral to grow.

* What to write about: Write about topics with broad appeal that still connect to your niche, e.g., the history of celery (I love what she said, “Everybody has celery in their life”) but tied to her food expertise.

* See and restack Leslie’s excellent Celery Appreciation Day Note here.

* Community: Help fellow writers by engaging with at least five Notes in each Notes Boost: “We’re all helping each other.”

* Patience: Notes engagement can take time to build—some notes might take days to gain traction.

Kristen's brilliant Notes types and how Notes really go viral

* Kristin tends toward three types of Notes:

* Vanilla/broad Notes that might appeal to all Substack users

* Notes targeted to her specific subscribers and peers

* Niche/insider content with specific terms or references that create one-on-one relationships, e.g., Neopets connects with others who were on the internet in the late 1990s.

* How Notes go viral: For her viral note, the largest group of engagement came in the 7 to 14 day range so don’t judge a Note too soon.

* Authentic voice: Notes allows for more genuine human connection because you know that you're talking to actual human beings and not just brands.

* Subscriber Growth: Even broadly appealing ‘vanilla’ notes can bring in subscribers with minimal unsubscribes.

Notes Boost Challenge Report

It’s March, and I invite you to join the challenge! It’s so fun. The Challenge is how you gain subscribers, get more views, and make real (real!) connections with others in our community.

If there’s one thing I’d have you do this month as your Substack mentor, this is it.

What people are saying:

I committed to the Notes Boost Challenge but with not too much pressure on myself to be perfect. I’ve said even if I miss it for a day or two, I just keep coming back. Above all I try not to sell anything—just be myself and use the « talk to one person » concept you shared. My Notes’ likes are way way up. Several have hundreds of likes. —Karen Bussen of La Flâneuse with Karen Bussen

I was not using Notes at all before this Challenge, and it has shown me it can be worth it. As you have said, my best performing Notes have been relatively short text Notes. I have seen most of my Notes have a big increase in engagement—and one has 1000 likes and brought in 22 subscribers. I am most happy about the resonance I feel with several other people in the Challenge. I look forward to seeing what they post and am hoping for more collaborations in the near future. —Jes Raymond of A Wilder Wonder

The Notes Boost Challenge has been an incredibly enriching experience for me and has given me wind in my sail! I’ve seen a significant increase in subscribers—going from 40 to 140! Engaging with others in the challenge has been wonderful. I’ve discovered and subscribed to new writers and enjoyed supporting fellow participants.​ — Carrie Jorgenson of The Nest

I have an increase in views, engagement, followers, and new subscribers. I’ve also generated attention to my posts, which is awesome. It’s made a huge difference in that I’m able to connect with people I wouldn’t have otherwise found. It’s not about the task for me, but about finding people I want to follow and read their writing. — Suzanna Quintana of The Totally Awesome After

I have had (and am having) the most wonderful time. I discovered that I just love liking, commenting and sharing others’ posts. It’s a real pleasure and has been a quite unexpected bonus of this Challenge. So far, my own subscribers have steadily grown from 406 to 616, with 11 paying, 2 of whom have come during this Challenge. I am delighted! I have posted every single day, and spent about 30-60 mins or so reading others posts and have loved it. —Jane Duncan Rogers of Embracing Ageing.

I’ve found the challenge psychologically validating. I boost notes that truly resonate. It’s not just about numbers. I’m just paying it forward. —j.e. moyer, LPC of Letters from a Psychotherapist

I’m new to Notes and it’s been amazing. I’ve posted every day and have gotten 217 free subscribers, 3 paid subscribers and 29 new connections, including women I am meeting in person. —Michelle Dowd of Forager Fridays

I’ve been all in on Substack and treating it like a job since the beginning of the Boost. I feel the major improvement for me is my writing is more succinct. I edit and revise my writing all the time now something I’ve avoided in the past.—Chitra Eder of Art of Menopausing

Doing this challenge has been a bit of game changer for me. Was chugging along getting a reasonable 20-40 ish likes a day and then went viral (currently at 8.5k). After that more Notes doing super well in the mid 100s. Subscribers went up 300 percent. Have found several people whom may well become friends—but certainly I would consider “Substack colleagues.” —Jennifer Granville of Jenny's Folly

My views and engagement has increased dramatically. This challenge has been helpful in understanding what kind of Note performs best for me (it’s not what I thought it would be). I truly restack what resonates with me and what I think will resonate with my readers. —Lisa Anderson Shaffer of MUSE

There is no method to my madness, aside from sharing genuinely of myself. I have had a steady increase in Notes, likes, and subscribers. —Janine Agoglia of Yoga Living 50 and Beyond

Turns out, consistency and curiosity are a power duo. In the past 30 days, I’ve gained 4 new paid subscribers, added $434 in annualized revenue, and seen a 22k increase in views. It’s become a ritual, Sarah … much like morning pages but with so much more gratification. — Mansi of The Ripple Maker: Tokens & Tales by Mansi

I’ve not missed a day and I LOVE it. I’ve picked up 75 subs and made deep connections. I finally feel like I've found my people, and they are finding me. We resonate and lift each other up. — Christine Castigliano of Mostly Brave

I have made many connections to writers in my same basic space which I love. My subscribers have gone up considerably as have my follows. I see this as an investment in my own work and I love supporting those who resonate with me. — Bridget Belden of Dancing in the Hurricane

I am enjoying the reading, connecting, and meeting amazing people. I am doing it daily, religiously :) — Marni Battista of Unscripted: Screw the Should Life

It’s DEFINITELY helped me make some new connections and shrink down the overwhelming vastness of the Substack-verse. It helped me find ‘my peeps.’ I have DEFINITELY gone up in engagement on Notes. I used to get 1, maybe 2, likes on a Note if I was lucky (most were 0). I’ve not gone viral, but I have a couple that hit the 40's. My subscribers increased by more than 50 percent (went from 86 to 139). Follower count went from 110 to 249, so that’s more than double! —Yolanda E. S. Miller of Breadcrumbs + Mustard Seeds

I’ve been posting and engaging in the daily challenge and have at least one new follower AND a new subscriber each day. It’s been super easy to engage and support because there are SO MANY incredible writers and creators in this group. I’m completely smitten and look forward to it each day. —Lynn Reilly of Stories of Serendipity by Lynn Reilly

Share your Notes Boost Challenge tips in the comments…

Welcome to the year of Substack growth!

As always, I want to use my expertise as the leading Substack Strategist and platform of 30,000 subscribers to help you grow.

This post—thanks to the amazing Susie Bright, Michelle McQuaid, and Evie Wright—is a blockbuster.

Substack Recommendations

How not to approach Substack recommendations:

[*I’m using lame x emojis lest anyone accidentally takes these as actual recommendations on recommendations—I know you’re skimming]

* (x) Recommend a gazillion people hoping they recommend you back because some Subhacker told you to do it this way ❌

* Ask for recommendations from Substack writers and creators you haven’t read ❌

* Approach people whose Substack audiences don’t have crossover with yours ❌

* Think that you need “big” Substacks to recommend you to grow ❌

* Recommend someone forever ❌

How to approach recommendations: Take in all the wisdom below from Susie, Evie, Chelle, and me below 🟢

Real Substack guidance from Susie Bright:

* Rotate recommendations monthly—on a specific day, like the 15th (see Susie’s February recommendations here)

* Keep to a small number—around 5-6—rather than a long list

* Select people who are “peers” rather than the biggest names

* Have a philosophy (i.e., standards!) as to why and how you feature people

* Feature them; don’t expect a recommendation back

* Look for active Substack writers who have posted within the last couple months

* Write personal, thoughtful notes explaining why you’re recommending each person

* Announce new recommendations in Notes

* Use recommendations to build community and relationships

Real Substack guidance from Michelle McQuaid & Evie Wright:

* Create spreadsheet of potential collaborators in your niche (step-by-step approaches are below)

* Subscribe to and read them before recommending

* Focus on alignment rather than subscriber count

* Reach out with time-limited recommendation exchanges: 2 weeks to 1 month

* Track the metrics—Chelle and Evie have grown by 550 new subscribers through recommendations

* Add a former recommendations Resources page for past recommended Substacks you cycle out (see their Resources page here)

* Think of this as a collaboration, not some lame Instagram follow-for-follow

How to find people to recommend on Substack:

1. Using the Substack search tool:

* Go to your avatar in the upper right, click “home” (which is really Notes)

* Enter a relevant topic in the search bar

* Filter by people, Notes

* Hover over names to read their bios and short descriptions (another reason why you bio and short description are sooooo important—for expert help, go here)

2. Using Notes:

* Participate in the Notes Boost Challenge (through 3/31) and weekly Notes Boosts to find aligned writers

* Use the method above and filter for Notes

3. Using Google:

* Search [your topic] + Substack

* Look for “Best Articles” and “Related Substacks” sections

4. Additional Methods:

* Use ChatGPT to find Substack writers in your niche

* Check who’s recommending you and recommend them back (again, not in a lame follow-for-follow way)

How to manage Substack recommendations:

* Go to your Dashboard

* Click Settings

* Select Recommendations

* Click “Manage” to add/remove recommendations

* You can view the number of subscriptions generated from each recommendation (thank you, Necessary Salt by Joy Sullivan)

More Substack growth via recommendations tips:

* Please, please, don’t feel obligated to keep recommendations forever

* Use it as a way to build community on Substack

* It’s about collaboration, not scratching backs (there are back scratchers for that)

We’re all about real, meaningful growth at SW@W.

Be sure to subscribe to Susie Bright’s Journal for her amazingly immersive podcast and The ‘Good Girl’ Game Changers for their excellent resources!

Thank you Kathleen Lingo, Kelcey Ervick, Dr. Gena Gorlin, , and many others for tuning in. Join Substack Writers at Work for our next Substack Summit Live in the app every Monday.

P.S. I hope everyone reads this, including the bigger, wonderful Substacks.

» Spending just one hour a month to discover five new Substacks to recommend and having only five per month can change a Substack’s financial, professional, and creative existence.

And everyone, please restack this post so others can grow their Substacks.

Our Valentine’s Day gift to you!

Loved this! There’s so much Substack wisdom here—and don’t miss Beth’s chihuahua.

Thank you, Seth Werkheiser, Mike Sowden, Dr Kondrot, Stephanie Bennett Vogt, Francesco Turrisi, Sarah Bush, Teresa Albertson, and many others for tuning into my live Substack Summit with Beth Spencer, Jo Scott, and Denyse Allen!

» Highlights and insights about Notes, getting engagement and having an active email list, and not being salesy, plus timestamps are below.

On making money on Substack:

* Sarah:

* Your email list—free and paid—is worth so much money. If you’re a writer, creator, professional, or visionary, that’s your list forever.

* Don’t sell; promote. At the end of this month, I’m doing a whole training on this for paid subscribers.

* If you hold a sale, don’t give more than 10 or 20 percent off because it devalues the work.

* Beth:

* I don’t like asking people to give me money. I’ll just tell them what I’m up to and heres what our amazing paid members get.

* Jo:

* I’m ultra non-salesy on purpose.

* If they ask in the comments, then I’m there. I’m present. And I will answer with a link.

* Denyse:

* Before we went live, Denyse talked about the fact, which I totally agree with, that we have a right to be paid for our work.] Right now I’m at 240 subscribers and five paid, which is very exciting to me. And I just picked up those five paid in the last week.

Engagement:

* Beth:

* Never just ask a question to get engagement because if it’s not something I’m genuinely curious about, it’s going to come off as phony.

* I want my notes and everything to be conversational, just like I would ask them in person.

* Jo:

* On Notes, it’s very much who I am as an artist. It’s a communal feeling about a love of animals.

* Denyse:

* [While posting and on Notes], I think, Would this be empowering for somebody else to read? Does this make their day better or worse?

All things Notes:

* Notes is really where all the growth is on Substack right now.

* Join the Notes Boost Challenge to get engagement on Notes.

* Access the weekly Friday Notes Boosts.

* Notes is our internal social media network. It’s separate from your Substack. Think of your substack as your home and Notes as a river separate from your home.

* Followers see your notes. All of your subscribers are your followers automatically. But your followers don’t see your posts and only your subscribers who are actively on Notes see your Notes.

* What’s getting engagement on Notes:

* Notes should be shareable!!!!! That’s it.

* If you’re an amazing artist like Beth and Jo, post your artwork on Notes.

* Otherwise, Notes get engagement if they’re text only (or maybe with a photo of you or some other human):

* Facebook life updates—tell us about your life

* Facebook personal stories with a beginning, middle, and end—stay tuned for our March event with micro-storytelling expert Darien Gee.

* Instagram motivational/inspirational

* Twitter topical (but not like a jerk)

* How to write your notes and who to write them to:

* Beth:

* When I’m making a note, I think about it like I am sharing this with all my coworkers. Instead of thinking about them like as my friends... it’s my coworkers that I love. There are always some coworkers that you share a little less with at the water cooler.

* Jo:

* Write for friends, family...old customers, new customers.

* Denyse:

* I write for a two-year-younger version of myself.

* I’m trying to post what I think of as organic Notes... versus something that’s calculated or plotted.

* Would this be empowering for somebody else to read? Does this make their day better or worse?

* I don’t post complaints. I don’t post gripes, I don’t post hot takes on whatever’s going on in the world.

* Format notes with maybe ten words and then a line break, and then maybe five words and a line break... because people are scanning.

* The Notes algorithm privileges engagement, not frequency. You really don’t have to do more than one note a day.

Top Substack tip at this moment:

* Beth: When I got featured in 2023, I said, I’m going all in. I’m going to make this the thing I promote because if I want to open up a shop or ever make another book again, then I’ll be able to sell that somewhere else.

* Jo: Play. Have fun and enjoy yourself with it.

* Denyse: Focus on writing something that hasn't been written before...the unique thing that only you can write.

Join me for my next Substack Summit in the app:

If you got something from this, become a paid subscriber to get all of the amazing AMAs with Substack Writers at Work in 2025, so you can build the Substack you really want:

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:19 Meet Charles the Chihuahua

02:09 Substack Writers at Work Philosophy

03:00 Exploring Substack Notes

03:22 Jo Scott’s Experience with Notes

11:11 Beth Spencer’s Substack Journey

14:15 Engagement Strategies and Challenges

19:52 Denyse Allen’s Substack Experience

36:48 The Power of Notes on Substack

38:28 Effective Strategies for Using Notes

41:54 Promoting Without Selling

44:51 Top Tips for Substack Success

49:38 The Importance of Email Lists

53:54 Engaging with Notes and Subscribers

01:06:08 Final Thoughts and Valentine’s Day Wishes

Welcome! Subscribe to substackwritersatwork.com.

Today we're talking about:

* One way to make your writing more resonant, so that it engages, connects, and stays with your readers

* Two to three Substack tech tips delivered through bite-sized videos and/or short explanations

* Writing: Pay Attention to Pronouns

* Substack Tech:

* Tags are not hashtags (yes, I’m posting this again because it’s so important)

* Groups vs. Sections in 4.3 minutes (ditto—people need this)

* Plus! A sneak peek at my new writing school: Writers at Work Studio

* And why the Notes Boost Challenge is so worth it

* Resonant Writing is about crafting posts that engage, connect, and stay with your readers—for anyone who writes, not just “writers.”

00:26 Substack Tech Breakdown

00:58 Writing Guidance and Philosophy

02:22 Resonant Writing Techniques

05:40 Pronouns: The Unsung Heroes

11:40 Substack Tech Tips: Tags and Sections

15:47 Introducing Writers at Work Studio

22:39 Encouragement and Community Success Stories

Loved this workshop! Such great energy.

New Focus for 2025 on Substack Writers at Work

We’re going all-in on your Substack in 2025. What makes Substack so exciting? It’s where you apply your gifts, talents, and expertise to the platform. You being you, bringing your amazing work to the world—with Substack Writers at Work behind you.

Substack’s Window of Opportunity

In the workshop, I said that the window of opportunity on Substack is closing. That isn’t to panic you. That isn’t to say that you should rush or hurry. Chris Best, the CEO of Substack, said that this time on Substack is like the early days of YouTube and podcasting. You can start a Substack and just grow, much like you could in the early days of YouTube and podcasting. The growth is phenomenal. That could last a year or two or five, but 2025 is definitely the year to take advantage of it.

New 2025 SW@W Workshop Format

We followed the new workshop structure for all 2025 Substack Writers at Work workshops. Substack Mastery Workshops will be active and participatory with feedback opportunities and network opportunities:

* Teaching: I’ll give you a framework you need or a change to make.

* Implementation: You’ll have hands-on time to implement it in the workshop.

* Breakout rooms: For feedback and possible collaboration opportunities. Meet each other, get to know each other. (Epic breakout rooms, Barri Grant said!)

Logistics:

* Replays will always be available.

* Workshops are always on the first Saturday of every month at 12:30 CT.

The Growing Importance of Your Short Description and Bio

Your short description has always been important. It’s what people see when they first land on your welcome page and often appears on your homepage.

But your short description and bio are more important than ever. Why?

* We have pop-ups that appear for new visitors, and they only show your short description.

* Substack inserts subscribe and recommend calls to actions in posts, and only your short description is shown.

* In Notes, when people hover over your name, the preview is your short description and your bio.

In the workshop, I give you

* the new requirements for your short description and bio,

* effective examples, and

* step-by-step directions on how to craft your description and bio.

The requirements, examples, directions, and slide deck are below.

You can also use the comments to get feedback on your short description and bio. Enjoy!

Join us for 2025! Become a paid member of Substack Writers at Work.

Find out how the title of your Substack, building community, and tapping into the Substack network can lead to real, meaningful growth.

Authentic Growth PDF toolkit below.

I bring you my interview with (and case study of) two amazing Substack creators—and, I’m proud to say, clients—Seth Werkheiser and Cassidy Frost.

They both found extraordinary success on Substack:

* Seth grew from 541 to over 4000 subscribers in one year through experimenting with his offerings and taking advantage of the Substack network.

* Seth is a musician and guide for the growing social media exodus. Through his Substack Social Media Escape Club, he empowers creatives to connect directly with their audience, grow their fanbase, and burn down the constraints of social media algorithms.

* Cassidy built 1400 subscribers from 0 (that’s zero, folks) in five months by focusing their Substack and building a tight community.

* Cassidy is a writer and artist educator living in San Francisco. They run the Substack Dedicate Your Life to Music, “helping women & queers build their music careers.”

Check out both my interview with them above and my case studies of what led to their enormous growth below.

Interview and Case Study Quick Tip:

Your Substack Title Is Everything

When Seth came to see me for 1:1 guidance, I immediately saw how much incredible value he was offering, but—there’s often a but—the name of his Substack was Heavy Metal Email.

Seth: “I always tell people it was like 27 minutes into our 30-minute call. And Sarah was like, ‘I don’t like the name.’ I don’t know if it was exactly like that, but I just remember it was just like, ‘I don't like the name.’”

It wasn’t about liking or not liking; I just had no idea what Heavy Metal Email meant and that maybe it was too restrictive.

And Seth had so much to offer.

Seth: “The name change was just a mindset shift with that of like, Oh yeah, I could still rail against social media, but it doesn’t have to be limited to just music.”

He was against a title change. All his branding was there. But he did it.

And as soon as he changed it to Social Media Escape Club, his Substack took off:

The title of your Substack is everything. Unless it tells subscribers exactly what they’ll find there—be leaden, not poetic or “intriguing”—they will not visit your Substack. People are busy; they don’t have time to try to puzzle out your Substack.

Cassidy’s does so much work for the potential subscriber: Dedicate Your Life to Music. I know exactly what it is. I even know the energy behind it.

For paid subscribers:

Authentic Growth Toolkit (PDF)

* How Seth and Cassidy 10x’d and 14x’d their subscribers by focusing on community building and using the Substack network

* A clear implementation strategy based on the community-building approaches that have worked and are working so well for Seth and Cassidy\

Paid subscribers get access to guidance from my proven proprietary Substack Growth Framework—trusted by 700+ private clients and tens of thousands of subscribers and Mastermind members who’ve achieved real, measurable growth. Reach all your Substack goals by joining us today.

I’ve done a variation on this goal-setting session every year since 2018 and am amazed at the results it consistently produces—both in my own life and in the lives of the writers and Substack writers I work with.

I want you to walk away from the replay of this session knowing at least one thing:

The wins you’ve already achieved—no matter how supposedly small—hold the keys to your future success on Substack.

Through neuroscience, practical strategies, and real-world examples from writers in our community, the replay above and Goal Setting Toolkit and Magical Monthly Planner below will take you step-by-step to discover how small wins create sustainable growth.

Highlights:

* Why celebrating every win actually decreases motivation

* The “middle problem” and how to overcome it

* A 30-second technique for handling goal-related anxiety

* The surprising power of visualizing failure (and when to use it)

* How to make goals both ambitious and meaningful

Most importantly, we walked through a step-by-step process for setting achievable goals that still stretch your capabilities. The writers who attended left with clear 2025 goals and practical plans for reaching them.

For paid subscribers:

* Full goal-setting session replay (50 minutes of focused strategy)

* Your Goal Setting Toolkit (structured workbook PDF with proven exercises)

* The Magical Monthly Planner (the simple system that helped me reach 29,000+ subscribers)

* Quarterly check-ins to keep you accountable and supported throughout 2025 (March, June, September, December)

* Our first community goal-setting thread below (!)

Want to set your 2025 Substack goals in a way that makes them achievable? Upgrade to paid:

Paid subscribers get access to guidance from my proven proprietary Substack Growth Framework—trusted by 700+ private clients and tens of thousands of subscribers and Mastermind members who’ve achieved real, measurable growth. Reach all your Substack goals by joining us today.

Here’s to your ambitious, meaningful growth in 2025!