Unstuck to Published

From A Substack Comment To Croatia: The Story of Building Rare Finds

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:02:56 GMT

Three months ago, I answered a comment on a Substack Note.

Today, that same person has become a client, a collaborator, a friend, and the creator of two growing Substack publications.

→ We’ve gone live from Europe.

→ We’ve built two publications together.

→ We’ve spent hours refining audience, positioning, branding, and strategy.

And it all started because I decided to answer a comment from someone who needed help.

This is the story of , Finding Your Edge, Rare Finds - Luxury Travel, and what actually happens behind the scenes when a publication starts becoming something real.

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This Started in The Comments

This all started in March.

At the time, I had only been running Unstuck to Published for about a month.

I was preparing for Round 3 of my From Unstuck to Published Workshop, which was scheduled for March 21st.

Like many creators, I was doing what I now teach people to do:

I was showing up.
I was publishing.
I was answering questions.
And I was looking for the people who were already looking for me.

On a Sunday evening, I posted a Note that said:

“I’ve built 10 publications and 3 became Substack best-sellers. Ask me anything! I’m here to help.”

The Note kept getting engagement into Monday afternoon, so I stayed in the comments answering questions from people who were stuck, confused, or trying to figure out how to build their publications.

One person stood out.

Her name was .

The Comment Section Wasn’t Working

Robyn was new to Substack.

She had questions.

I had answers, but somehow, we kept talking past each other.

I could tell she wasn’t totally clear on the difference between a Substack article, a post, and a Note. And because of that, neither one of us was fully getting our point across in the comments.

So I messaged her privately and told her I’d help her in the DMs.

That helped a little, but not enough.

We were still going back and forth, and it was clear this would be much easier to explain out loud.

So I did something I almost never do.

I gave a random woman from Substack my phone number

I basically said:

Call me.
FaceTime me.
Zoom me.

This will be so much easier and faster to explain on the phone.

Robyn called me right away.

And, the rest was history.

The Three-Hour Phone Call

We ended up talking for over three hours.

The time flew.

At first, I was giving her a mini Substack masterclass, but about an hour into the conversation, we realized we both lived in Florida.

Then I found out Robyn had been a competitive figure skater since she was two years old.

That immediately caught my attention because I grew up playing competitive travel ice hockey.

So now we had the Florida connection.

Then, we had the ice connection.

And then the story got even crazier.

Robyn told me that back in the 1990s, she bought an abandoned ice hockey rink in South Florida called Light House Point, which she renamed to Gold Coast Ice Arena, which was renamed again to Glacier Ice Arena five years later after she sold it.

At that point, I was freaking out because I realized I had just met the woman who bought the abandoned hockey rink in South Florida.

I was young at the time, so I barely remembered the details, but I knew my dad would know exactly who she was.

In her early thirties, Robyn bought the abandoned rink, turned it into an NHL training facility for the Florida Panthers, and then flipped it five years later.

So now I’m sitting there thinking:

Wait.

I thought I was helping her with Substack, but I just accidentally met a superstar.

Finding Your Edge

The first publication we worked on was Robyn’s Substack called Finding Your Edge.

We started with the foundation:

Her profile bio.
Her publication positioning.
Her publication short description.
A clear one-liner.
Who she helps.
What makes her different.

Together, we landed on this one-liner:

“Helping growing entrepreneurs increase visibility and get featured in Forbes, WSJ, Inc. and more through strategic storytelling and AI search.”

And then it hit me.

Robyn helps growing entrepreneurs.

She helps people increase visibility.
She helps people get featured in places like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., and more.

And I’m sitting there thinking:

Wait a second.

I’m growing.

I’m technically doing this entrepreneurial thing.

This woman can probably help me way more than I can help her press buttons on Substack.

That was the moment the relationship shifted.

It was no longer just “Jessica helping Robyn with Substack.”

It became:

Robyn has expertise I need.
I have expertise she needs.
And we both started helping each other!!

That’s when the collaboration really began.

March 21: Workshop Day

On March 21st, Robyn attended my From Unstuck to Published Workshop.

From there, we decided to keep working together.

Not as a one-time thing.

As collaborators and as creators.

As two people building in public and figuring out what this could become.

April: The Substack Lives Begin

Here’s the funny part.

Before Robyn, I hated going live.

I had no intention of doing regular livestreams.

I liked writing.
I liked building.
I liked helping people behind the scenes.

But going live?

No thank you.

When Robyn suggested we go live, I was like:

“Live? Me??”

Robyn had to push me a bit, but I just showed up even though I wasn’t embracing video, yet!

That’s when Robyn and me decided to do it.

On April 3rd, we went live on Substack for the first time.

And then we decided to turn it into a regular Friday show called:

Unstuck to Finding Your Edge

Here’s the timeline:

→ April 3: First Substack Live together
→ April 10: Creating Your First Paid Offer
→ April 17: Getting Your Brand Featured
→ May 1: Live from Italy
→ May 11: Live from a Floating Houseboat in Croatia
→ May 18: Travel Tips When Things Go Wrong
→ May 22: Live to promote my Nurse in the Market stock market workshop

What started as a random comment became a recurring show.

A collaboration.
An exclusive content series.
A case study.
A relationship.

And honestly, a reminder that you never know where one conversation can lead.

Then Europe Happened

While all of this was unfolding, Robyn spent 22 days traveling through Europe.

→ She went to a conference in the UK.

→ She spent two nights in Costa Brava, Spain, where she was invited to experience a five-star adults-only beach retreat.

→ Then she went to Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda in Italy.

→ Then Croatia.

And while she was traveling, we kept going live.

At one point, we went live while Robyn was on a floating houseboat hotel in Split, Croatia.

Tiny gangplank.
Private deck!!
Jacuzzi.
Storms!!
Lost luggage stories!!
Luxury travel.

Real-time content.

It was the kind of thing you can’t manufacture in a content calendar.

And that’s when Rare Finds started to make even more sense.

Enter Rare Finds Luxury Travel

Once Robyn came home, we shifted our attention to her second publication:

Rare Finds - Luxury Travel

This wasn’t a quick tweak.

This was a full foundation refinement.

We started from the bottom:

Publication name and publication logo.
Audience.
Publication short description.
About Page.
Testimonials.
About page banner and email header and footer.
Branding.
Welcome page and recommendations.
Paid subscription strategy.
Substack collaboration opportunities and cross-posting.

This is the part I want paid subscribers to really pay attention to because most people think building a publication means picking a name and writing posts.

It doesn’t.

Building a publication means making decisions…over and over again.

Who is this for?
What problem does it solve?
Why should someone care?
What makes this different?
What should be free?
What should be paid?
What should wait?
What should be simplified?
What should be removed?

That’s the real work.

My 1:1 Build Session with Robyn For Rare Finds

Step 1: Clarifying The Name

Robyn’s travel publication had the essence already, but we needed to clean up the presentation and make the name feel clear, elevated, and aligned with the audience.

We refined the name to:

Rare Finds - Luxury Travel

This immediately made the publication easier to understand.

It tells readers:

→ This is travel.

→ This is elevated.

→ This is curated.

→ This is about finding something special.

Step 2: Refining The Publication Short Description

Then, we worked on the publication description.

We wanted it to feel specific, polished, and clear without sounding generic.

We landed on:

“Rare Finds Luxury Travel uncovers extraordinary hotels and under-the-radar destinations, personally vetted by Robyn, a six-continent traveler.”

Then we refined it even further into a more active, reader-friendly version:

“Follow Robyn’s adventures uncovering extraordinary hotels, meeting the people behind them, and discovering places before the crowds.”

Then Robyn refined it once more to make it more tailored to her:

“Luxury travel discoveries for people who want exceptional hotels, insider access, and destinations before they become mainstream.”

That line matters because it gives the reader movement.

It tells them what they’re following.

Not just luxury travel.

→ Adventures, hotels, people and places before the crowds.

That’s the difference between a generic travel newsletter and a publication with a point of view.

Step 3: Defining The Audience

Robyn’s audience has multiple layers.

She’s speaking to:

Seasoned travelers.
Solo travelers over 50.
Luxury travelers.
People who want under-the-radar destinations.
Travel brands that want more visibility with this audience.

At first, this can feel like too much; however, it actually makes sense once you understand the structure.

→ The publication can serve the traveler.

→ The business can serve the travel brand.

That distinction matters.

Rare Finds can attract readers who love luxury travel and unique experiences.

Then Robyn’s deeper media, visibility, and storytelling expertise can also support travel brands trying to reach that same audience.

That is how one publication can become an ecosystem.

Step 4: Creating The Publication Logo

Then we worked on the visual identity.

I created a new logo concept in Canva using a vintage hotel key.

I brought it to life — live, while patiently refining it to Robyn’s creative direction.

This worked because the symbol immediately communicated:

Travel
Hotels
Discovery
Nostalgia
Luxury
Access

A good logo doesn’t need to explain everything.

It just needs to feel aligned.

The vintage hotel key made Rare Finds feel more editorial, more elevated, and more connected to boutique hospitality.

Step 5: Pausing Paid Subscriptions

One of the most important decisions we made was to pause paid subscriptions for now.

This might surprise people because I teach people how to build paid publications, but not every publication needs to monetize immediately.

For Rare Finds, the smarter move right now is to grow the subscriber base, build trust, refine the content, and strengthen the publication identity first.

Paid can come later.

The foundation has to come first.

This is something I wish more creators understood.

Monetization works better when people know what they are paying for. When there is a simple, clear offer.

Step 6: Strengthening The About Page

Then we worked on the About Page.

The goal was to make it clear:

Who Robyn is.
Why she is credible.
What Rare Finds is.
Who it is for.
Why readers should subscribe.
What makes her travel perspective different.

Robyn isn’t just someone who likes hotels.

She is a six-continent traveler.
She has real luxury travel experience.
She has media experience.
She has storytelling experience.
She knows how to find places before they become obvious.
She’s simply a GOAT!!

That credibility needed to come forward.

Step 7: Adding Testimonials

We also discussed testimonials, but not generic testimonials that sound fake.

I suggested using screenshots of real emails and real messages so the social proof feels authentic because readers can sense when something is overly polished.

Actual screenshots make the praise feel real, especially for a publication like Rare Finds, where trust matters.

If someone is going to follow your travel recommendations, they need to trust your taste.

Step 8: Cleaning Up The Visuals

We also discussed:

Adding a new banner.
Making the banner match the logo.
Adding dividers between sections.
Creating a cleaner email header.
Creating a stronger email footer.
Making the brand feel consistent across platforms.

These details matter.

Not because everything needs to be perfect, but because a luxury travel publication needs to feel intentional.

If the publication is about curated travel, the publication itself needs to feel curated too.

Step 9: Thinking About Recommendations & Collaboration

We also talked about Substack recommendations and collaborations.

This is one of the most underrated growth tools on Substack.

I shared with Robyn that recommendations have brought me over 2,100 subscribers.

That is not a small thing.

So part of the strategy for Rare Finds isn’t just publishing in isolation.

It is building through:

Recommendations
Cross-posts
Live videos
Collaborations
Relationship-building
Visibility

That is exactly how this whole relationship started in the first place.

Through visibility, through one comment, and through one conversation.

Step 10: Cross-Posting The Live

We also planned to cross-post the live from the houseboat in Split, Croatia, but the important lesson here is specificity.

Instead of saying:

“We went live from Croatia.”

We want to say:

“We went live from a floating houseboat hotel in Split, Croatia.”

Even better:

“We went live from Oasis, a floating houseboat hotel in Split, Croatia.”

Specificity creates curiosity, it makes the story feel real, and it’s what turns content from forgettable to memorable.

Step 11: The Most Fun Part!! Making AI Thumbnails for Rare Finds!!

Last, we generated AI images for Robyn and Rare Finds.

Making AI thumbnails is always a fun time!

What This Case Study Shows

This is why I wanted to showcase Robyn inside Unstuck to Published because this is what building actually looks like.

It’s not always linear, it’s not always clean, and it’s not always obvious from day one.

Sometimes you start with one publication and realize there is another one underneath it.
Sometimes you think you are helping someone and realize they can help you too.
Sometimes a client becomes a collaborator.
Sometimes a comment becomes a three-hour phone call.
Sometimes a phone call becomes a livestream series.

Sometimes a livestream from Croatia becomes the clearest example of what a publication can become.

The Bigger Lesson

The biggest lesson from this experience wasn’t about logos, audience strategy, or Substack settings.

It was about being willing to start the conversation.

One comment led to a phone call.
One phone call led to a collaboration.
One collaboration led to two publications, multiple livestreams, and a friendship I never expected.

Most opportunities don’t arrive looking like opportunities.

Sometimes they show up as a comment from a stranger asking a question.
Sometimes they show up in a confusing DM thread.
Sometimes they show up as a woman from Florida who used to figure skate, bought an abandoned hockey rink, built something incredible, and then somehow found her way into your Substack comments.

And sometimes saying,

“Call me,”

changes everything.

That’s the real magic of building on Substack.

Not just publishing.

Connecting and staying open long enough to see where the conversation goes.

Where To See Jess & Robyn Next

and I are going live on Substack this Friday, June 5th at 12 PM ET to discuss how to use public relations (PR) to promote your workshop or product, see you there!!

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Build With Me

You can follow Robyn’s work here →

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The Thing Underneath The Thing That's Draining You

Jess, The Creator — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:02:43 GMT

Sunday. 6 PM.

You have two hours. The newsletter goes out Tuesday. The doc is open. The cursor is blinking.

And you’re not writing.

You’re deciding whether to write about what happened this week, or go back to that idea from two months ago that you never developed, or try something new because you feel like the last three pieces all sounded the same.

You’re checking your open rates from the last issue and wondering if the 38% means people are engaged or if it means you’re losing them.

You’re thinking about a creator you follow who just shared their subscriber milestone—and doing that uncomfortable thing where you compare their number to yours and feel the gap more than you meant to.

Ninety minutes later, you start writing.

This isn’t a writing problem. You know how to write. You’ve been doing this for a while. You have subscribers. You’ve made money from this. The writing is not what’s costing you.

It’s the thinking that surrounds the writing—the strategy, the second-guessing, the “is this going anywhere” running in the background of everything you do.

That’s what’s costing you and most of the conversation about Substack creator burnout misses it completely.

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The Thing Everyone Is Solving For

When consistent Substack creators hit a wall, the standard advice is tactical.

Write better subject lines. Post more Notes. Fix your positioning. Collaborate with larger accounts. Guest post.

The assumption is that the work isn’t working because of some gap in execution.

Sometimes that’s true. But for creators who are already making money—already have a real audience, a consistent publication history, a track record—the problem is rarely the work itself.

It’s what the work requires of you to keep doing it.

Every time you sit down to write, you don’t just write.

You first run a small strategy meeting with yourself.

What should this piece be about? Who is it for? Is this the right time to say this? Did the last three pieces build toward something, or did they just happen?

What do the numbers actually mean? Is the trajectory good? What should I be doing differently?

You answer those questions, usually imperfectly, and then you write.

And then you do it again next week. And the week after that. Not because you chose to be a part-time strategy consultant for your own publication. You just didn’t know there was another option.

That is the thing underneath the thing.

The invisible overhead that goes unpaid, unnoticed, and unrewarded—no matter how good the essay turns out.

Two Problems Wearing One Name

Most people call this burnout.

That word isn’t wrong, but it collapses two different problems into one.

The first problem is the one everyone talks about: you have to show up.

If you don’t post, the newsletter doesn’t go out. If the newsletter doesn’t go out, the subscribers drift. If the subscribers drift, the revenue softens.

Your presence is the engine. Take it away and the thing stops.

That’s a real constraint, and it’s why creators eventually hit a ceiling—not a quality ceiling, but an energy ceiling.

You can only show up so many times before showing up starts costing something you weren’t prepared to spend.

The second problem is quieter and harder to name, but it’s the one doing more damage for creators who are past the early stage. It’s the cognitive overhead. The strategy tax.

The fact that not only do you have to create every piece of content—you also have to decide what it should be, whether it’s any good, whether it’s working, and where all of it is going.

No one hired you to be the strategist.

You just became one by default. And unlike the writing, the strategizing never stops.

It happens in the shower. It happens when you’re reading someone else’s newsletter and wondering how they made that choice.

It happens when you check your stats and feel a familiar low-grade anxiety that you can’t quite trace back to any specific number.

Solving the first problem—getting more consistent, posting more frequently—does nothing for the second.

In fact, posting more often usually makes the cognitive overhead worse. You now have more data to interpret, more decisions to make, more to second-guess.

These are two different problems. They need to be named separately before either of them can be addressed.

The Sunday Spiral, Named

The moment most creators recognize this, they describe something like what I call the Sunday spiral.

It’s not unique to Sunday. It happens whenever you carve out time to work on your publication and spend the first half of that time not on the publication, but on the meta-questions around it.

What should I write about this week? What performed well last time? Does that mean I should write more of that, or did I milk that angle enough?

Do I understand why it performed well, or did it just happen? Is my content positioned correctly?

Should I try a different format? Should I finally address the thing I’ve been circling around for three months but keep avoiding because I don’t know if it’s too vulnerable or too niche?

By the time you settle on something, you’re already tired. And you haven’t written a word.

The Sunday spiral isn’t a productivity problem. It doesn’t respond to morning routines or better note-taking systems.

It’s what happens when one person is running two full-time jobs simultaneously—creator and strategy director—and pretending it’s just one.

The thing that makes it difficult to solve is that it looks like part of the creative process

“This is just how it works. Good creators think hard about what they make.”

That’s true.

But there’s a difference between thinking creatively about your work and carrying the full cognitive weight of your publication’s direction, performance, and future every single week with no system, no sounding board, and no strategic memory that carries forward from one session to the next.

What Changes When You Name It

The reframe isn’t “work less” or “hire someone.”

Those are either impractical or they change the business.

The reframe is: what if the thinking didn’t have to happen live?

The reason the Sunday spiral exists is that strategic decisions—what to write, whether it’s working, where it’s all going—get made in the moment, from scratch, every time. No persistent context.

No signal analysis. No forward arc.

Just you, the open doc, and the mental weight of figuring it all out again.

That’s not how strategy is supposed to work.

Real strategic clarity doesn’t happen in the two hours before you need to produce something.

It happens when someone—or something—is holding the arc of the publication across time.

Tracking what performed. Noticing patterns you’d miss because you’re too close to the work. Maintaining the direction so you don’t have to rebuild it from nothing every Sunday.

When that piece exists—when the thinking has somewhere to live that isn’t just inside your head—the creative work changes.

Not because you’re working less. Because the cognitive overhead drops.

The decision of what to write next doesn’t take ninety minutes because the context is already there.

The open rate stops being anxiety-inducing because something is interpreting it in relation to everything else, not just as a number.

The “is this going anywhere” question has an answer—not a guess, but a read.

The writing itself was never the hard part.

The invisible strategy work running alongside it, indefinitely, in your head—that’s what consistent Substack creators are actually tired of.

Not the output. The overhead.

The Question Worth Asking This Week

Before you sit down to write your next piece, notice what happens in the thirty minutes before you start.

Are you writing? Or are you running a strategy session with yourself?

If it’s the second one—you’re not having a productivity problem or a creativity problem or a consistency problem.

You’re carrying two jobs at once and calling it one.

Name them separately first. That’s where the clarity starts.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

This article was written in collaboration with from Leveraging AI

CP builds systems that take the thinking—not just the work—off a creator's plate.

He writes about what he's building, what's working, and what breaks.

You can follow CP’s work here →

Thank You

Thank you to for the collaboration on this guest post!

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What If Your First Subscriber Was A Paid Subscriber?

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:03:16 GMT

Everyone talks about getting their first 100 subscribers.

Then 500.

Then 1,000.

And somewhere along the way, the goal quietly becomes:

Grow first. ←
Monetize later. ←

That seems to be the default advice.

Build an audience.
Write consistently.
Wait until you’re “ready.”

Then eventually:

Maybe turn on paid subscriptions.

However, I started wondering something different:

What if subscriber #1 was a paid subscriber?

Not because I needed the money, but because a paid subscriber proves something.

It proves:

→ Someone understood the offer.
→ Someone saw the value.
→ Someone trusted the direction.

And that changes the entire game.

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What Happened

On a Monday, I turned on paid subscriptions.

At that point, I had around 20 subscribers.

By Wednesday, I had around 60 free subscribers.

And by Thursday:

→ First paid subscriber

Not after months and not after 1,000 subscribers.

Three days.

Now—this didn’t happen in isolation because before that, I had already spent time building and refining my first real offer:

From Unstuck to Published

My workshop.

And the path looked like this:

First launch:

→ 2 people

Second launch:

→ 0

Third launch:

→ 1

Fourth launch—just a weeks days ago:

→ 12 people at $97

That progression taught me something most people miss:

The offer gets clearer through contact with real people.

The offer doesn’t get clearer sitting alone with a Google Doc open and twelve tabs trying to “figure it out.” (Been there though.)

Paid Subscriber #1 Taught Me Something 1,000 Free Subscribers Couldn't

Subscriber #1 didn’t pay because my audience was big.

They paid because the publication already pointed somewhere.

There was:

A clear outcome. ←
A clear offer. ←
A structure people could understand. ←

And suddenly I realized:

The goal was never just “more subscribers.”

Why? Because 1,000 people seeing something unclear…is still unclear.

The Goal Was Never 1,000 Free Subscribers

Most people start with:

“I just need more subscribers.”

100
101
200
201
1,000

Then eventually:

“I’ll monetize later.”

However, I kept coming back to:

→ What if subscriber #1 paid?

Again, not because of the money, but because a paid subscriber tells you something important:

Someone understood what this was. ←
Someone wanted the outcome. ←
Someone trusted the direction. ←

That’s signal.

Going Live From Houseboat Hotel in Croatia!!

Jess, The Creator — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:36:45 GMT

In this live conversation, I joined of Rare Finds as she checked in from Croatia during her European travels.

This time from a fabulous floating houseboat hotel, called Oasis Meu Amor in Split, Croatia.

What started as a casual travel update quickly turned into a conversation about travel, storytelling, audience-building, and the unexpected moments that create unforgettable experiences.

Robyn shared behind-the-scenes stories from her trip, including navigating a tiny gangplank to reach her floating hotel, surviving a stormy night on the water, dealing with lost luggage for eight days, and discovering hidden local experiences most tourists never see.

She also talked about working with a local Croatian storyteller who showed her a deeper side of Split beyond the traditional tourist routes.

Along the way, our conversation shifted into something I love discussing: audience clarity and building a publication with intention.

We talked about attracting the right people—not everyone—and why successful brands and publications are built around specific people and specific experiences.

This live became more than a travel update.

It became a reminder that the best stories, content, and communities often come from simply documenting experiences as they happen in the present moment.

By savoring the present moment you have experiences to be grateful for that you can document in the form of stories!

You can follow Robyn’s work here →

Thank You

Thank you so much for everyone who tuned into this live, your presence is truly appreciated, and to the people who are watching the replay, thank you!

-Jess, The Creator & Robyn Levin

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This Substack Naming Mistake Is Costing You Subscribers (Fix It in 5 Minutes)

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:01:01 GMT

Your Substack can be good……and still make people hesitate.

Why?

Because when someone lands on your page, they’re trying to figure out two things immediately:

→ Who is this?
→ What is this?

And if your profile name and publication name sound like the same thing—you’ve already made them work too hard.

People don’t subscribe when they’re confused.

They hesitate and hesitation kills momentum.

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The Mistake You're Probably Making

Most creators accidentally turn their Substack into a puzzle.

Not because they’re bad writers and not because they’re doing anything “wrong.”

But, because they unknowingly blend two completely different identities:

→ The person. (them)
→ The thing they built. (their publication)

And once those blur together…people have to stop and think.

That tiny pause?

That’s friction.

And friction slows everything:

Subscriptions.
Recognition.
Trust.
Discoverability.

What This Looks Like In Real Life

You land on a Substack.

You see:

Sarah Jones

Cool.

Then underneath:

Sarah Jones

And your brain immediately does this:

Wait.

Who is Sarah?

Is Sarah the creator?

The publication?

A business?

A personal newsletter?

Fitness?

Writing?

What exactly am I subscribing to?

That tiny moment where your brain has to solve the page?

That’s the problem.

You never want readers working.

You want instant understanding.

The Thing Most People Miss

Substack isn’t one thing.

It’s two.

And both have different jobs.

Your Profile Name = YOU!!

This is your identity.

This is the person readers follow.
This is the name people search. ←
This is the person showing up in comments, Notes, collaborations, and conversations.
This is the author of the articles.

This is your profile name highlighted in turquoise. This is the person readers follow and recognize across Substack.

Examples:

Jessica Drapluk

This helps people:

Remember you. ←
Recognize you. ←
Find you later. ←
Connect your work together. ←

Think here: Who is speaking?

Your Publication Name = THE THING YOU BUILT!!

This isn’t you.

This is the publication.

This answers: What is this?

This is the publication name highlighted in turquoise. This tells people what they’re subscribing to.

Examples:

Unstuck to Published
NP Fellow Become The CEO of Your Health
How We Grow
Nurse in The Market
ME TIME Learn Substack FAST
Write With AI
Write Your Way to Wealth
The Quiet Shift
The Quiet Rebellion

This helps people understand:

What this is.
Who it’s for. ←
Why it exists.
Why they should care. ←

Think here: What did this person build?

Where Things Break

Most beginners accidentally reverse these, or duplicate both.

Wrong Example 1:

Profile name:
My Fitness Journey Newsletter

Publication name:
Sarah Jones

Or, Wrong Example 2:

Profile name:
Sarah Jones

Publication name:
Sarah Jones

Now someone lands and thinks: Wait.

Who is Sarah?
And what exactly is Sarah?

When your profile and publication become the same thing, readers lose the plot fast. See my publication name highlighted in blue is now my profile name, which is incorrect. My profile name here should be Jess, The Creator.

The Simple Rule

Use this:

→ Profile Name = Person (you)
→ Publication Name = Product (the publication)

That’s it!!

2 Examples:

→ Profile name: Jessica Drapluk
→ Publication name: Unstuck to Published

→ Profile name: Jess, The Creator
→ Publication name: Unstuck to Published

Creator → Person. Jess, The Creator ←
Publication → Product. Unstuck to Published ←

Why This Tiny Change Matters

This tiny change matters because readers need two answers immediately:

Who are you?
What is this?

When both answers happen instantly:

Your page feels easier to understand.
People recognize you faster.
Trust builds faster.
Subscriptions become easier.

Because now nobody is solving a puzzle.

Your 5-Minute Assignment

Open your Substack publication.

Look at:

Your profile name.
Your publication name.

Ask yourself:

→ Do these serve two completely different jobs?

If not—that’s your fix and it takes less than five minutes.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

Most creators think they need:

Better content.
More growth strategies.
More systems.

But often?

They just need stronger foundations.

→ You’re the person.

→ Your publication is the product.

Treat them differently because if people have to work to understand your page—they usually won’t.

If you want to structure your Substack from scratch—with clarity and a solid foundation intact from day one:

Get my Build Your Substack The Right Way From Day One Blueprint

Get Jess's Substack Blueprint

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Recent Articles👩🏻‍💻💅

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Build Your Publication With Me

Jess, The Creator — Sat, 16 May 2026 14:04:56 GMT

Turn your Substack from an idea into a live publication—in one focused build session.

Most creators aren’t stuck because they don’t have ideas.

They’re stuck because every decision turns into another tab:

What do I call it?
What’s my niche?
What should free vs paid be?
What goes on the About page?
What are my categories?
Am I doing this right?
What if I launch it wrong?
Why would anyone want to subscribe to my work?

So weeks pass.

Then months and the Substack is still sitting in Notes.

This is where that stops.

This Isn’t A Strategy Call

This is a build session.

We’re not talking about your Substack.

We’re building it.

Together.

Inside our session we’ll build:

Your publication name and publication logo. ←
Your positioning. ←
Your profile + bio. ←
Your publication short description. ←
Your custom domain. ←
Your About page structure. ←
Your free vs paid offer. ←
Your entire publication foundation intact. ←

And you’ll get direct support until your Substack is live.

No guessing, no spiraling, and no opening 14 tabs trying to figure this out alone.

BUILD MY SUBSTACK

Who This Is For

This is for you if:

Your Substack still lives in your head.
You’ve been overthinking every decision.
You’ve started...but you’re stuck.
You want a publication people actually understand and subscribe to.
You want make a difference in others and create an impact through your writing.

What People Walk Away With

You don’t leave with notes.

You leave with:

→ A clear publication.
→ A solid foundation.
→ Momentum.
→ A live Substack that’s finally out of your head.

What People Are Saying

Investment

Founding Build Session — $150

This is the early pricing while I’m working closely with a small group of creators.

Future price: $250

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start—this is it.

Ready?

Stop circling.

Let’s build your publication the right way from day one.

BUILD MY SUBSTACK

Move first. Refine second.

Publish.

— Jessica

BUILD MY SUBSTACK

Subscribe now

The Fastest Way To Grow on Substack in 2026

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:02:05 GMT

Everyone wants to know the fastest way to grow on Substack right now.

How to:

Get more subscribers.
Grow faster.
Build momentum.
Become profitable.
Get noticed.

And most people assume the answer is:

Better SEO.
More articles.
Better strategy
Cleaner funnels.
“Niching down harder.”

But after years of building multiple publications, watching creators explode on the platform, and watching others stay invisible despite “doing everything right”…

I don’t think that’s the real answer anymore.

The creators growing fastest on Substack right now aren’t necessarily:

The smartest.
The most polished.
The best strategists.
The most technically skilled writers.

They’re the most recognizable.

And in 2026, that matters more than ever.

Subscribe now

The Shift Nobody Is Fully Seeing Yet

AI can now:

Generate articles.
Write hooks.
Brainstorm ideas.
Create outlines.
Produce endless “valuable content.”

Which means content itself is no longer the differentiator.

Recognition is because the creators winning on Substack right now all have one thing in common:

→They keep showing up authentically.

Not perfectly; consistently.

They feel familiar and familiarity changes everything.

What Most Creators Are Doing Wrong

Most creators treat Substack like a publishing machine.

They disappear for two weeks to “work on content.”

Then, they come back with:

One polished article.
Zero visibility.
Zero interaction.
Zero presence inside the ecosystem.

And then they wonder why nobody cares.

Meanwhile, another creator:

Posts Notes daily.
Comments on other people’s work.
Shares thoughts in real time.
Replies to conversations.
Documents ideas while building.
Acts like an actual human being.

And suddenly: They’re everywhere.

Not because they’re writing better, but because people keep seeing them.

The Fastest Way to Grow on Substack in 2026

The short answer?

→ Stop disappearing.

That’s the real shift because the creators growing fastest right now aren’t necessarily producing more content.

They’re becoming impossible to ignore through repeated visibility inside the ecosystem.

People subscribe after seeing you enough times that you stop feeling like a stranger.

A Note.
A comment.
A reply.
Another Note.
A conversation.
A perspective they recognize again.

Until eventually:

→ Familiarity turns into awareness and trust.
→ Trust turns into subscriptions and sales.

That’s the mechanism.

And Notes accelerate that faster than almost anything else on the platform right now; however, visibility alone isn’t enough.

The creators growing fastest are visible and recognizable.

They sound like themselves.

Not like a polished “creator brand.”
Not like a corporate content machine.
Not like AI-generated productivity soup.

Like a human.

Most creators think growth comes from writing better articles.

However, on Substack, growth usually happens before someone ever opens your post.

Inside the paid section, I’m breaking down:

Why Notes are the real visibility engine.
How recognition compounds across the ecosystem.
What actually makes people remember you.
The different types of Notes that build familiarity fast.
Why comments and collaborations accelerate trust.
How to stay consistently visible without turning into a content machine.

Because the creators growing fastest right now aren’t disappearing between posts.

The Real Growth Engine: Notes

From Unstuck to Published Live Workshop!!

Jess, The Creator — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:23:48 GMT

Most creators aren’t stuck because they don’t know what to write.

They’re stuck because every tiny decision turns into a full-body identity crisis.

The name.
The niche.
The categories
The About page.
The tech setup.
The first post.
The paid offer.
The question of whether they’re “ready enough” to start.

So nothing gets published.

Not because they can’t, but because they won’t decide.

At some point, you stop needing more ideas.

You need decisions.
Momentum.
And someone to stop you from rebuilding your About page for the ninth time.

That’s exactly what we’re doing inside →

From Unstuck to Published

A live workshop where we build your Substack from scratch—together.

This Saturday at 10am ET, I’m hosting a live 60-minute workshop where we’ll build your Substack foundation in real time.

Not theoretically.

Actually.

Live.

By the end, you’ll have the core pieces in place so your publication can stop living in your notes app like a sad little ghost draft.

Reserve Your Seat Here

You’ll leave with:

A publication name.
A clear niche and positioning.
A one-sentence publication description.
Your About page structured.
Your Welcome page set up.
How to enable paid subscriptions.
Your first article direction.
Know SEO optimization for articles.
A live Substack publication built correctly from day one.

This is one focused session where we stop circling the idea and get your publication live.

No 42-step funnel.
No complicated growth strategy.
No months of planning before you publish.

Just the foundation you need to start publishing.

Reserve Your Seat Here

The Real Problem

Most creators don’t need another productivity hack.

They need a process that stops them from spiraling every time they need to make a decision.

Because right now, your brain is treating “choose a publication name” like you’re naming a child, signing a mortgage, and declaring your entire life philosophy in one sentence.

It’s too much and it’s keeping you stuck.

This workshop gives you a clear order of operations so you know what to decide first, what to ignore for now, and what needs to be good enough to go live.

Good enough counts.

Published counts more.

The 3-Phase Setup

Inside the workshop, I’ll walk you through the same foundational setup I use to build Substack publications without overbuilding the thing before it exists.

Phase 1: Clarity

We’ll define:

Your publication name
Your categories
Your niche
Your audience
Your publication description
Your publication logo

So people can land on your page and understand what the hell it is.

Phase 2: Structure

We’ll set up:

Your About page specific direction.
Your Welcome page and custom skip button.
Your paid subscription settings & how and when to enable paid.
Your publication basics.
Your core tags.

So your Substack doesn’t feel like a half-built IKEA shelf with three missing screws.

Phase 3: Publish

We’ll map:

Your first article direction.
Your story structure.
Your lesson or framework.
Your call to action.

So you can publish your first piece without treating every sentence like a hostage negotiation.

As I say inside my foundational checklist:

“You do not need perfection. You do not need a complex strategy. You need clarity and execution.”

Build Your Substack In 90 Minutes A Foundational Checklist

96.1KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is for:

You’ve had a Substack idea sitting in your notes for months.
You keep changing the name, niche, or concept.
You’re overwhelmed by all the setup pieces.
You’ve started, but your publication still feels messy.
You want to publish before you feel perfectly ready.
You need someone to walk you through the setup in order.

This is not for you if:

You want to stay in research mode forever.
You want endless strategy before action.
You’re looking for advanced growth tactics before your publication exists.
You’re not willing to make decisions during the workshop.

Because this isn’t a “think about your newsletter someday” workshop.

This is a build-it-now workshop.

Who Am I?

I’m Jess, The Creator also known as Jessica.

I’m a nurse practitioner turned stock trader, writer, and multi-publication Substack builder.

I’ve built multiple Substack best-seller paid newsletters, launched workshops, tested offers publicly, and figured out what actually matters before your first 1,000 subscribers.

And I’ve made the mistakes too.

Overthinking the name.
Overbuilding the setup.
Waiting for things to feel more polished than they needed to be.

The difference is, I stopped treating perfection like a prerequisite.

I started building publicly.

That’s what I’m helping you do here.

What People Are Saying

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, May 9
Time: 10:00 AM ET
Format: Live Zoom session
Price: $97

Seats are intentionally limited so the session can remain interactive.

Reserve Your Seat

If you’d like to join the session, you can reserve your spot here:

Reserve Your Seat Here

What you’ll receive

Live workshop access.
Step-by-step setup guidance.
Foundational Substack framework.
Real-time instruction.
Space to ask questions live.
Direction on what to publish first.

If you’re done overthinking…

…and you’re ready to finally build your Substack the right way from day one:

Reserve Your Seat Here

Closing Thoughts

You don’t need:

A massive audience.
A perfect niche.
More time circling the idea.
Another week lost to “research.”

You need to make the first version real.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Reserve Your Seat Here

New to Unstuck to Published?

Subscribers receive my Foundations Checklist: Build Your Substack in 90 Minutes, a simple step-by-step guide for setting up your publication correctly from the beginning.

You can subscribe to receive it automatically in your welcome email.

Subscribe now

How To Go Live On Substack The Right Way

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 07 May 2026 10:01:53 GMT

This exclusive article was built in collaboration with , who implements these strategies and tips every Tuesday during his Substack live show called Typing It Real.

The best Lives aren’t performances. They’re proof that there’s a real person behind the publication.

Most creators think going live on Substack is about broadcasting.

You schedule a Live.
You invite someone on.
You talk for a while.
You post the replay.

Done.

And technically? Sure.

But that’s also how you end up with a replay nobody watches, a thumbnail that looks like a hostage screenshot, and a conversation that feels like it could’ve been an email with better lighting.

After going live with last week on his show Typing It Real, I started thinking about Substack Live differently because the best Lives aren’t just “video content.”

They let people experience you.

Your pace.
Your humor.
Your thinking.
Your chemistry with another creator.
The way you answer when you don’t have ten rounds of edits protecting you.

That’s the opportunity; not performance.

Trust. In real time.

Subscribe now

Chris B. Writes

Typing It Real: From Unstuck to Published, Owning Your Health & Being A Substack Powerhouse With Jess, The Creator

I’d like to thank Substack Best Seller and my sister from another mister Jess, The Creator 💅 for going live and dropping gems on going Unstuck to Published for nearly two hours! Jess and I also talked about her NP Fellow origin story, how we first interacted on Substack and grew to became really close friends, and how she helped me enhance both of my Substack publications…

Listen now

a month ago · 56 likes · 27 comments · Chris B. Writes and Jess, The Creator

The Live That Changed How I Think About Going Live

Chris hosted me on his Substack show:

Typing It Real: From Unstuck to Published, Owning Your Health & Being A Substack Powerhouse With Jess, The Creator

We went live for nearly two hours.

We talked about Substack strategy, building publications from scratch, Unstuck to Published, my NP Fellow origin story, how Chris and I first connected on Substack, how we became close friends through the platform, and how I helped him refine both of his Substack publications.

It wasn’t polished within an inch of its life and it wasn’t two people reading questions off a doc and pretending that was chemistry.

It was a real conversation between two creators who actually had a reason to be in the same room.

That’s why it worked.
Link to Chris B. Writes and Jess, The Creator live

Most Substack Lives Fail Before They Even Start

Not because the creator is bad on camera.

Not because the topic is boring.

But, because nobody needed the conversation to happen.

Two people hit “Go Live,” vaguely talk about writing, creativity, consistency, growth, or whatever the creator word soup of the week is, and then post the replay like the internet was waiting breathlessly.

Nope.

A strong Live needs a reason to exist.

Before you go live, ask:

Why should someone spend 30, 45, or 90 minutes here?

The answer cannot be:

“Because we’re chatting.”

Chatting is what happens when the structure is weak.

A good Live should help the audience understand something better, feel closer to you, learn something they can use, or see a side of you they’d never get from a regular post.

That’s what makes people stay.

Why Chris’s Live Worked

Chris didn’t just invite me on because we’re friends.

That would’ve been cute.

Cute isn’t enough.

He created a clear container for the conversation.

His audience already knew him. My work naturally connected to his Substack growth journey. We had real history on the platform.

And the conversation had layers: writing, health, publishing, strategy, friendship, audience-building, and what it actually looks like to grow on Substack when you’re not pretending the whole thing is effortless.

Chris brought the relationship.

I brought the strategy.

Together, the conversation became useful, personal, and memorable.

That’s the sweet spot.

A good Live doesn’t need to be perfectly scripted, but it does need a reason.

The Best Lives Feel Like You’re Letting People In

Writing shows people your ideas.

Live shows people how you think.

That difference matters.

A post can be edited, rearranged, softened, tightened, cleaned up, and polished until it sounds like you on your best behavior.

A Live is different.

People see how you respond.
How you listen.
How you build on someone else’s thought.
How you explain something when you can’t hide behind formatting.
How you handle a tangent.
How you laugh.
How you recover.

That builds trust in a totally different way.

Some of my strongest relationships on Substack haven’t come from posting more.

They’ve come from conversations.

That’s what Live can do when you use it well.

1. Before You Go Live, Give It A Job

Don’t open the camera and hope the content gods descend from the ceiling.

They won’t.

Start with a clear purpose.

Your Live can be an interview, a publication audit, a teaching session, a behind-the-scenes conversation, a reader Q&A, or a collaboration with another creator, but it needs a point.

For Chris and me, the point was clear:

We were talking about Substack growth, publication-building, and what it looks like to go from unstuck to published in real time.

That gave the conversation direction.

Not a cage. A spine.

There’s a difference.

2. Give The Live A Title That Actually Works

Please don’t title your Live something like:

“Chatting with Jess”

That tells people nothing.

Chatting about what?
Why should they care?
What will they walk away with?
Why now?

Make the title do some work.

Chris’s title worked because it named the value:

From Unstuck to Published, Owning Your Health & Being A Substack Powerhouse

That gives the audience a reason to show up.

They know the conversation is about publishing, growth, health, and building something real on Substack.

A good Live title should make someone think:

“I know why I’d watch this.”

That’s the bar.

3. Promote It Beforehand

Don’t assume people will magically find your Live.

They aren’t sitting around refreshing Substack with a tiny little party hat on, waiting for you to appear.

Use Notes.
Use a short announcement post.
Tell people when it’s happening, who’s joining, what you’ll discuss, and why it’s worth attending.

A simple pre-Live Note could be:

I’m going live with Chris B. Writes this week to talk about Substack growth, publication clarity, and what it actually takes to build a paid-ready publication.
Come hang out with us live.

That’s enough.

Clear beats clever here.

4. Choose The Right Co-Host

A good Live collaborator isn’t just someone with an audience.

It’s someone with natural overlap.

That overlap matters because the best collaborations don’t feel like borrowed attention. They feel like a bridge between two worlds that already make sense together.

Chris and I made sense because he’s building and refining his publications, I help creators build their Substacks with more structure, we already had a real relationship, and both audiences care about writing, publishing, and growth.

That’s why the conversation didn’t feel forced.

If the relationship is real, the Live feels real.
If the relationship is flimsy, the audience can smell it.

And they will leave.

5. During The Live, Don’t Strangle The Conversation

Have a loose structure.

Then, let the conversation breathe.

A strong Live needs direction and room for honesty.

You want the audience to feel like they’re watching something unfold, not watching two people recite a shared Google Doc with dead eyes.

A few things help:

Start with a clear introduction.
Remind people what the Live is about.
Let the guest share their story.
Keep bringing the conversation back to the main theme.
Give people something useful to walk away with.

And please, use good audio.

Bad video is survivable, but bad audio isn’t.

Use earbuds or a microphone if you can. It makes a bigger difference than people think.

After The Live Is Where Most Creators Waste The Whole Thing!!

This is the part Chris emphasized and he was right.

Most creators finish the Live, breathe a sigh of relief, publish the replay, and move on.

That’s where they lose value.

Your replay is not just a replay.

It’s an asset, but only if you treat it like one.

If you post a raw recording with no framing, no links, no title cleanup, no context, and a cursed thumbnail of you blinking mid-sentence?

You’re making people work too hard and they won’t.

6. Review The Draft Before Posting

After the Live ends, choose:

“Review Draft on Web Before Posting”

Do this before publishing the full recording.

*IMPORTANT: Make sure you educate your co-host and tell them to also select “Review Draft on Web Before Posting”
Then, explain to them that you will post it with all the bells and whistles added and they should CROSS POST your version rather than post their own separately.

That one step gives you a chance to turn the replay into a real post instead of dumping a video into your publication like a suitcase in the hallway.

You can add a stronger title, a better intro, timestamps, related links, subscribe buttons, relevant articles, calls to action, and a cleaner thumbnail.

That context matters.

A replay with no framing is easy to skip.
A replay with clear positioning becomes useful.

7. Make Sure Your Co-Host Knows The Plan

This matters if you’re collaborating.

Decide how you want the replay to live.

If one person publishes the polished version, the other person can cross-post it.

That keeps the strongest version intact instead of splitting attention across duplicate recordings with different thumbnails, missing links, and scattered comments.

Tiny detail.

Big difference.

Especially if the Live is meant to help both audiences discover each other.

8. Fix The Thumbnail

Please fix the thumbnail.

Don’t let the automatic thumbnail be an awkward screenshot from the Live unless you enjoy looking like you just heard bad news from a dentist.

A bad thumbnail can make a strong conversation look low-quality before anyone presses play.

Use the thumbnail as a signal.

It should tell the reader:

This is worth clicking.

Add a clean image, title, or branded visual if you can.

It doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs to look intentional.

9. Add The Links People Need

Your Live replay should connect back to your publication.

Add links to your guest’s publication, your own related articles, subscribe buttons, paid offer links, workshop links, and any resources mentioned in the conversation.

If I’m talking about Unstuck to Published, the replay should make it easy for someone to find Unstuck to Published.

If Chris is hosting me, the replay should make it easy for my audience to find him too.

That’s how collaboration becomes useful for both people.

Not in a vague “support each other” way.

In an actual, clickable, trackable, and reader-friendly way.

10. Use The Live After The Live

Your Live shouldn’t die after the replay posts.

Pull from it.

Turn strong moments into Substack Notes:

Clip useful sections.
Share one quote.
Pull out one tactical takeaway.
Write a follow-up post.
Link back to the full recording.

One good Live can become several useful pieces of content.

Not spam and not “repurposing” in the soulless content-machine way.

More like: this conversation had multiple valuable moments, so stop making people dig through a two-hour recording to find them.

Do the work for them!

That’s part of the job.

Video Is Becoming Part Of The Substack Experience

Substack is clearly pushing harder into video now.

And honestly?

That changes things for writers.

Live, Recording Studio.
Clips, thumbnails, and shareable assets.
Cross-publication collaboration all give writers more ways to build trust beyond the written post.

That doesn’t mean you need to become a YouTuber. Please breathe.

You can still be a writer.

Video can simply become an extension of your publication.

A way for people to hear your voice.
A way for them to see the person behind the posts.
A way to make a collaboration feel alive instead of theoretical.

For writers, that’s powerful because sometimes people don’t need more content from you.

They need more context.

What Chris and I Proved

Chris didn’t just host a Live.

He created a moment.

A moment where his audience could see our friendship, our shared Substack journey, and the strategy behind building publications that grow.

That’s what made it meaningful.

Not the feature. The connection.

Not the recording.The relationship.

Not the fact that we went live.

The fact that the conversation had a reason to exist.

The Real Lesson

Going live the right way isn’t about being perfect.

It’s about being intentional.

Before the Live, know the purpose.
During the Live, create connection.
After the Live, turn the recording into something that keeps working.

That’s the full system.

Most people only think about the middle part, but the before and after are what make a Live matter.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

If you’re going to go live on Substack, don’t just show up and talk.

Use it.

Use it to build trust.
Use it to deepen relationships.
Use it to introduce your audience to someone worth knowing.
Use it to turn one conversation into an asset that keeps working after the Live ends.

The best Substack Lives aren’t performances.

They’re proof of connection.

And on a platform built around writing, trust, and relationships?

That matters more than another perfectly polished post.

In case you missed it, here is Chris’s and my live episode of Typing It Real→

Chris B. Writes

Typing It Real: From Unstuck to Published, Owning Your Health & Being A Substack Powerhouse With Jess, The Creator

Listen now

a month ago · 56 likes · 27 comments · Chris B. Writes and Jess, The Creator

Continue Learning with Chris B. Writes

If you want to learn how to actually read, write, and feel poetry without pressure, Chris is building that in real time.

💥 Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

A clear, beginner-friendly publication designed to help you move from understanding poetry → to writing your own.

Learn how to read poetry without overthinking.
Start writing your own poems with guided prompts.
Build confidence without pressure.

If you’ve ever wanted to write but didn’t know where to start—this is where to begin.

Subscribe to Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes →

📝 Read Chris’s Original Writing

If you’re drawn to deeper, more personal writing—Chris’s original publication is where that lives.

💥 Chris B. Writes

A literature publication exploring fatherhood, caregiving, his rockstar son, Brayden, nick named “Bray Bray”, music, and the lived experience behind it all.

Poems on life as a father and caregiver.
Honest reflections on Xennial life, caregiving, music, sports, being an athlete, nostalgia, and responsibility.
Writing that stays with you, makes you feel, and brings you to the present moment.

This is the writing that built the voice behind everything else.

Subscribe to Chris B. Writes →

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Leave a comment

Let's build together

This Substack Mistake Is Costing You Subscribers (Fix It in 10 Minutes)

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 04 May 2026 10:03:44 GMT

Your Substack can be good…and still not convert.

Because when someone lands on it, they’re trying to figure out two things:

→ Who you are.
→ What this is.

Most people blur those together.

And that’s where everything breaks.

Subscribe now

The Mistake (You’re Probably Making This)

You write a profile bio that sounds like your publication.

And a publication description that sounds like your bio.

So the reader reads both…and still doesn’t know what they’re subscribing to.

People land.
They scroll.
They leave.

Not because your writing is bad, but because they don’t know what they’re saying yes to.

What Substack Actually Is (And Why This Matters)

Substack isn’t one thing; it’s two.

Layer 1: You (The Writer Profile)

This is you.
Your identity.
Your credibility.

This is your profile photo and bio in the Substack app →

This is your profile photo and bio in the Substack web browser →

The profile picture + profile bio in both the Substack app and Substack web browser ↑

It includes:

Your name.
Your profile picture.
Your profile bio.

This answers: Who is this person—and why should I trust them?

And Then You Ruin It With Your Profile Picture

You fix your bio and you clarify your message.

And then your profile picture says something completely different.

Before someone reads your first word—they’ve already decided how seriously to take you.

If your photo feels off, unclear, or disconnected from your brand…that decision is made fast.

broke this down really well—how to fix your profile picture in under a minute and actually make it match the brand you’re building.

Access Timo’s simple, actionable article here →

Write Your Way To Wealth

How to create your perfect Substack profile picture in just 40 seconds

Howdy, Wealth Gang🤠…

a month ago · 10 likes · 4 comments · Timo Mason🤠

Your profile isn’t just what you say.

It’s what people see first.

Layer 2: Your Publication

This is what you’re building.

Your idea and your offer.

This is your publication logo and publication short description →

Your publication logo + publication short description ↑

It includes:

Your publication name.
Your publication logo.
Your publication short description.

This answers: What is this—and is it for me?

Where It Breaks

Most people treat these like the same thing. (And they’re not!!)

So you end up with:

Two vague descriptions.
No clear message.
No real reason to subscribe.

If your profile and your publication sound the same—you’ve already lost the decision.

The Shift

Separate them. On purpose.

What Each One Should Actually Do

1. Your Profile Bio (About YOU)

This builds trust.

It answers: Why should I listen to you?

Keep it simple:

Who you are.
What you’ve done.
Who you help.
What you’re building.

My actual profile bio ↑

Example: “I’m Jessica—a nurse practitioner turned trader and multi-publication Substack builder helping creators launch correctly from day one.”

2. Your Publication Description (About THE READER)

This drives the decision.

It answers: What do I get here?

It’s not about you.

It’s about them, the reader.

My actual publication short description ↑

Example: “Turn your Substack from an idea into a live, paid publication—in 60 minutes, without guessing what to do next.”

A Simple Way To Remember This

Profile = credibility and trust
Publication = decision and conversion

You need both.

The 10-Minute Fix

Open your Substack.

Look at:

Your profile bio
Your publication description

Ask yourself:

→ “Do these say two different things?

If not—

That’s the problem.

And it’s costing you subscribers.

Fix that, and everything else starts working.

Why This Matters

If this isn’t clear:

People don’t subscribe.
People don’t understand what you do.
Your content feels scattered.
Your offer doesn’t land.

People simply don’t understand what this is and why because the foundation is off.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

Most Substacks don’t have a content problem.

They have a decision problem.

If you want people to subscribe—they need to understand what they’re subscribing to.

Right now, most don’t.

If you want to structure your Substack from scratch—with clarity and a solid foundation intact from day one:

Get my Build Your Substack The Right Way From Day One Blueprint

Get Jess's Substack Blueprint

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Substack Case Study Part 2: Chris Got A Founding Member!!

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:02:33 GMT

This case study was built in collaboration with , who implemented everything in real time.

What Happened After Chris Got His First Paid Subscriber

Most writers think their first paid subscriber is the finish line.

It’s not.

It’s the diagnostic.

The Timeline (Pay Attention To This)

March 29 — Chris had the idea for a second publication.
April 2 — His publication was live.
April 4 — First paid subscriber.
April 18 — 45 paid subscribers total on his main publication and crossed over 1,500 subscribers.
April 28 — First Founding Member subscriber.

No viral post, no paid ads, and no big audience.

So what actually changed?

Subscribe now

The Part Everyone Misses

Most people get their first paid subscriber…and move on.

New idea.
New project.
New distraction.

Chris didn’t.

He went back to what already existed:

Chris B. Writes

Same writing.
Same voice.
Same audience.

But we rebuilt how it worked.

What We Actually Changed

Not “strategy, “not “content,” and not “growth tactics.”

We fixed the three places paid conversions usually leak:

The About page.
The free vs paid promise.
The upgrade reason.

And we rebuilt the publication so a stranger could understand three things in under 10 seconds:

What this is?
Who it’s for?
Why paid is worth it

That’s it.

The Before / After (This Is The Whole Game)

Before, Chris’s first publication made people work too hard.

Visitors had to figure out:

What they were subscribing to.
Why paid mattered.
What changed after upgrading.

So we made the decision obvious.

Before:

“Support my writing if you enjoy it.”

After:

“Become a paid subscriber and get the private 10-page ‘Bray Bray’ poetry keepsake — 5 poems about fatherhood, grief, memory, and the little moments you don’t want to lose.”

Same writer. Different decision.

That’s when people stopped liking… and started paying.

Why That Worked (Without The Fluff)

That PDF wasn’t “more content.”

It gave readers something:

Specific.
Personal.
And theirs.

It turned payment from a vague “support me” into a clear exchange.

You’re not donating.

You’re getting something that means something.

Big difference.

What Happened Next

Within a week:

+5 paid subscribers on his first publication.
“Rising in Literature” for 3 days straight!!

Then:

1,500+ total subscribers
5 paid subscribers

And on his second publication:

First founding member
With only 48 total subscribers

No spike and no hack.

Just compounding clarity.

Chris B. Writes

Typing It Real: From Unstuck to Published, Owning Your Health & Being A Substack Powerhouse With Jess, The Creator

Listen now

a month ago · 47 likes · 25 comments · Chris B. Writes and Jess, The Creator 💅

This Got Shared Live

After this started working, we didn’t just sit on it.

We went live on Substack and pulled the whole thing apart—in public.

Every decision.
Every change.
Every mistake.

Not “tips” and not “hacks.”

The actual process behind going from 1 → 45 paid subscribers.

Because if it only works in a polished case study…it’s not real.
Link to Chris B. Writes and Jess, The Creator live

What Chris Said vs What It Actually Means

Chris told me:

“Clarity. Once everything made sense… it all clicked.”

Cool, but here’s what that actually means:

The publication stopped making readers guess.

That’s it!

No guessing = faster decisions.
Faster decisions = more paid subscribers.

The Real Problem (And It’s Not What you Think)

Most writers don’t have an audience problem.

They have an explanation problem.

Their publication makes sense to them…but not to the person landing on it cold.

So people read.

They like it.

They leave.

The System (Without Calling It A System)

This is the exact sequence we used:

Make the promise obvious.
Make paid feel specific.
Give readers a reason to upgrade now.
Apply the same logic across the entire publication.
Let the results compound.

That’s how you go from:

1 → 6 → 45

Not by doing more.

By making what you already have make sense.

What Chris Didn’t Do

He didn’t:

Change his voice.
Change his content.
Change his audience.

He changed how clearly his publication worked.

The Shift

Part 1 is getting your first paid subscriber.
Part 2 is building something that keeps converting.

Most people never make that shift.

If You’re Stuck Building Your Own Publication Right Now

Answer this honestly:

Does a stranger understand what you do in 10 seconds?
Does your paid offer feel specific?
Is there a real reason to upgrade today?

If not—

That’s where your growth is stuck.

And This Is Exactly What We Do

Inside Unstuck to Published, we don’t teach you how to “post more.”

We rebuild your publication so a stranger can land on it, understand it, and know exactly why paid is worth it.

If you want your publication rebuilt like this—start here and let’s build it together!

Let's build together

In case you missed it, here is Part 1 of Chris’s case study→

Continue Learning with Chris B. Writes

If you want to learn how to actually read, write, and feel poetry without pressure, Chris is building that in real time.

💥 Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

A clear, beginner-friendly publication designed to help you move from understanding poetry → to writing your own.

Learn how to read poetry without overthinking.
Start writing your own poems with guided prompts.
Build confidence without pressure.

If you’ve ever wanted to write but didn’t know where to start—this is where to begin.

Subscribe to Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes →

📝 Read Chris’s Original Writing

If you’re drawn to deeper, more personal writing—Chris’s original publication is where that lives.

💥 Chris B. Writes

A literature publication exploring fatherhood, caregiving, his rockstar son, Brayden, nick named “Bray Bray”, music, and the lived experience behind it all.

Poems on life as a father and caregiver.
Honest reflections on Xennial life, caregiving, music, sports, being an athlete, nostalgia, and responsibility.
Writing that stays with you, makes you feel, and brings you to the present moment.

This is the writing that built the voice behind everything else.

Subscribe to Chris B. Writes →

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Fix Your Substack About Page in 15 Minutes

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:03:30 GMT

Most Substack About pages quietly lose subscribers.

This is how to fix yours in 15 minutes.

Open your About page.

No, actually open it.

Because if you just read this and nod, nothing changes.

And your page keeps quietly leaking people.

Subscribe now

Here’s The Problem

I’ve read a lot of Substack About pages.

Most of them sound like this:

“Hi, I’m…”
“Welcome to my newsletter…”
“I started this because…”

And they all have the same issue.

They answer the wrong question.

Nobody lands on your page wondering who you are.

They’re thinking:

→ “Is this for me or not?”

If you don’t answer that immediately—they leave.

Step 1: Delete Your First Paragraph

Yes. Delete it.

That intro you wrote?

It’s delaying the only decision that matters.

And delay = bounce.

Step 2: Replace It With A Real Hook

Most people write something like:

“Most creators are stuck because they overthink.”

Sounds fine.

However, it does nothing.

It’s vague. Everyone agrees. Nobody feels it.

Write a moment instead.

“Most creators don’t launch because they spend weeks stuck between naming their Substack and picking a niche.”

Now I can see it.

Now I know if that’s me.

That’s your job.

Not to sound smart.

To make someone go: “yeah…that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Step 3: Prove It With Specifics

Right after your hook, show them their own behavior.

Not categories. Not labels. Behavior.

Instead of:

Overthinking the name.
Overthinking the niche.
Waiting for the right time.

Write it like this:

Renaming your Substack three times before you even write post one.
Switching niches every week because “this one might be better.”
Telling yourself you’ll start next Monday… every Monday.

Now it hits.

Now it’s uncomfortable.

Good. That’s what makes them stay.

Step 4: Say What This Actually Is

Keep this to one sentence.

Not three. Not a paragraph.

And don’t write this:

“This publication exists to help creators succeed.”

That’s empty.

Write what happens.

“This publication shows you how to launch your Substack fast—with a name, niche, first posts, and a paid offer ready to go.”

If I can’t picture the result, it’s not clear.

Step 5: Who This Is For (And Who It’s Not)

Most people write this like a LinkedIn filter:

Creators.
Professionals.
Writers.

That’s not how people think.

Write situations:

You’ve had a Substack idea sitting in your notes for weeks…and still haven’t published.
You keep rethinking the name, the niche, or the setup instead of starting.
You don’t need more ideas—you need to actually make decisions and move.

Then add this:

“This is not for you if you want to stay in research mode and call that progress.”

Now it feels like a decision.

Step 6: Add Proof (Without The Life Story)

This is where people mess up.

They either:

write nothing.
or write their entire career timeline.

You need 2–3 lines. That’s it.

And skip this:

“I don’t teach theory. I teach what I build.”

Everyone says that.

Show it instead.

“I’ve launched multiple Substack publications—including paid newsletters and live offers—without overplanning or waiting for everything to be perfect.”

Even better if you have numbers. Use them.

Step 7: Show What They’ll Actually Get

Not feelings and not buzzwords; outputs.

Instead of:

Clarity.
Confidence.
Structure.

Write:

A name and niche you can commit to.
Your first 3–5 posts mapped out.
A simple paid offer you can turn on.
A live Substack—not another idea sitting in your notes.

If they can’t picture it, they won’t pay for it.

Step 8: Tell Them What To Do (Clearly)

Most people end with: “Subscribe if you’d like…”

Soft. Passive. Easy to ignore.

Say this instead:

If your Substack is still an idea sitting in your notes—subscribe and start building.
If you’re done overthinking and want it live—upgrade and let’s build it together.

Now it’s direct.

Now it requires a decision.

Step 9: Run The 5-Second Test

Look at your About page.

Ask yourself:

Can someone instantly answer:

“Is this for me?”
“What will I get?”
“Why should I care?”

If not—it’s too vague.

And vague pages don’t convert.

The Real Reason This Works

Your About page isn’t just a page.

It’s the filter.

Your About page decides:

Who subscribes.
Who trusts you.
Who leaves and never comes back.

Most people write it once…and forget it.

So every post they publish has to work harder than it should.

Fix the page—and everything else gets easier.

If You’re Stuck Right Now: Do This Once

You don’t need to rebuild your whole Substack.

You need to fix the one page everyone checks before they decide.

Do that—and your next reader doesn’t hesitate.

They know.

And they subscribe.

If you want to see this in action, here’s mine → Unstuck to Published About page CLICK HERE

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Build Your Substack in One Session—From Unstuck to Published Workshop

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:02:03 GMT

Most people who want to start a Substack don’t struggle because they lack ideas.

They struggle because they get stuck at the beginning.

They start overthinking things like:

The publication name and logo.
The niche and categories.
The custom domain.
The first article.
Whether or not they should turn on paid subscriptions.
The About page.

All of it starts to feel bigger and more complicated than it actually is.

If you’ve been meaning to start a Substack, but haven’t launched yet, this session is designed to fix that in one focused morning.

Two months ago, I hosted a small live workshop called From Unstuck to Published, where I walked attendees through building their Substack publication step-by-step from scratch.

The goal was simple:

Leave the session with your publication built and ready to post.

And the feedback from the first group was exactly what I hoped for.

“Last one was great! Thanks for all the helpful advice!”
“Great job, Jess. I learned a lot.”
Because of that, I’m hosting Round 3 this Saturday at 10AM ET!

Reserve Your Seat Here

What This Workshop Is

From Unstuck to Published is a live working session where we build your Substack publication together in real time.

This isn’t a lecture or a long webinar.

It’s a hands-on build session.

So, please bring your laptop!

During the workshop, we will walk step by step through the core pieces of building your publication, including:

Choosing a clear publication name without overthinking it.
Defining your publication description in one sentence.
Learning how the Substack paywall works.
Selecting categories intentionally.
Creating a clean, modern publication logo concept.
Establishing visual direction that feels professional.
Determining a structured publishing cadence and schedule.
SEO optimization & AI-searchability for articles.

By the end of the session, you will have your Substack publication fully built and ready to publish.

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is for:

Creators who want to launch a Substack, but feel stuck.
Professionals who want to turn their expertise into a publication asset.
Writers who want structure and clarity instead of overthinking and hesitation.
Anyone ready to move from thinking to publishing without overwhelm.

If you’ve been circling the idea of starting a Substack, but haven’t taken the first step, this workshop will help you move from thinking to publishing.

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 10:00 AM ET
Format: Live Zoom session
Price: $97

Seats are intentionally limited so the session can remain interactive.

Reserve Your Seat

If you’d like to join the session, you can reserve your spot here:

Reserve Your Seat Here

Final Thoughts

Starting a Substack doesn’t need to take weeks of planning.

Sometimes all you need is a focused session and the right structure to move forward.

If you want to build your Substack correctly from day one, I’d love to work through it with you live.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Testimonials

Reserve Your Seat Here

New to Unstuck to Published?

Subscribers receive my Foundations Checklist: Build Your Substack in 90 Minutes, a simple step-by-step guide for setting up your publication correctly from the beginning.

You can subscribe to receive it automatically in your welcome email.

Subscribe now

The #1 Way to Be Profitable on Substack in 2026

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:02:39 GMT

If you’re trying to figure out how to actually make money on Substack in 2026…and your content is “good,” but no one is upgrading…it’s not your strategy.

It’s your storytelling.

Most creators think profitability on Substack comes from:

More subscribers.
Better engagement.
Smarter monetization.
Showing up more.
More consistency.

And yes, those things matter, but they aren’t the main thing.

You can have:

A publication.
An offer.
A paid tier.
A decent audience.
A supportive small community.

…and still not make meaningful money.

Subscribe now

The Real Problem

Most creators don’t have an information problem.

They don’t even have a strategy problem.

They have a connection problem.

People read, but they don’t feel anything.

And if someone doesn’t feel something, they usually don’t:

Subscribe.
Upgrade.
Buy.
Stay.
Answer your call-to-action.

That’s why the most profitable creators in 2026 will not be the most optimized.

They will be the ones who know how to make someone care or feel seen.

That is storytelling.

We’re In The Story Economy In The Online Creator Realm

AI can generate:

Content ideas.
Articles.
Strategies.
Frameworks.
Email sequences.

It can help you sound polished and smart, but it can’t replace what readers actually crave now:

Real experience.
Real tension.
Real struggle.
Real triumph.
Real meaning.

This is called the “story economy.”

In this current “story economy”, information is cheap.

Connection isn’t.

And the writers and creators who know how to turn lived experience into clarity, trust, and movement will have the strongest year.

The Story That Made This Real For Me

On a Thursday morning back at the end of February, my workshop didn’t exist.

By that Saturday afternoon, I was hosting it live.

In less than 48 hours, I made $291 from a $97 offer and ran a session where two creators left with structured, monetizable Substack publications built correctly.

No long runway.
No polished funnel.
No months of planning.

Just a clear idea and decisive action.

It started with a conversation.

On Thursday morning, I had a 1:1 call with my mentor, Ana Calin.

I was walking her through a completely different launch idea. I was explaining my background, my skills, and what I could teach.

She listened and said:

“Why don’t you run a live workshop on how to build a Substack from scratch in one day, the right way?”

She also said something important:

“Two days is short notice. Five days is usually healthier for a launch”

However, the idea felt aligned. It matched my experience. It felt immediately executable.

So instead of refining it for weeks, I moved.

I built a live workshop: From Unstuck to Published.

The promise was simple:

By the end of 90 minutes, you will have a structured, monetizable Substack built the right way.

Then, I:

Mapped the workshop outline.
Built a clean landing page.
Set a clear date and time.
Opened registration.

Price: $97

Within 48 hours:

Two people signed up.
Two more asked for another date.

That was enough proof to run it.

Inside the workshop, two attendees joined.

Different industries. Same friction.

We built everything live:

Publication name.
Publication short description.
Logo direction.
Welcome page.
Paid subscriptions enabled.
SEO structure.
First post framework.

Since the room was small, I could be decisive. I could answer questions in real time. I could share the optimization layers most creators miss.

Both left with:

A publication built correctly.
A clear structure.
A monetization path.
Momentum and ready to publish.

That’s how Unstuck to Published got started.

Why That Worked

That workshop worked because it wasn’t just “useful.”

It was a story.

It had:

A moment.
Tension.
A decision.
Movement.
Proof.
A result.

And that is what made it sell.

Not because I taught strategy, but because the story proved the strategy worked!

That is the shift.

Most creators think:

“What should I teach?”

The profitable creators ask:

What story proves this works?

Storytelling Is A Revenue Skill

Storytelling isn’t fluff or journaling.

It’s not random personal oversharing.

Storytelling is how you help someone:

See themselves in the problem.
Feel the tension.
Trust your insight.
Believe the transformation is possible.
See the light at the end of the tunnel.

That’s what drives revenue because people don’t buy information.

People buy:

Clarity.
Connection.
Trust.
Movement.
Possibility.

Stories create those things faster than almost anything else.

The Storytelling Framework

If you want to become more profitable on Substack, every strong post should include these elements.

How To Cross-Post On Substack!!

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:02:49 GMT

Each time I’m asked to co-author a collaborative article or I write my own collaborative with another Substack writer…I do the same thing.

I cross-post it.

One, it’s one of my favorite features on Substack, but two, also because I understand what that moment actually is.

When you cross post it’s not just:

A collaboration.
A feature.
A nice opportunity.

It’s leverage.

I’m not just writing for someone else’s audience.

I’m also bringing that visibility back to mine.

So instead of that moment living in one place…it now exists in two! And that changes everything.

Most people miss this completely.

Subscribe now

The Problem Most Writers on Substack Don’t See

Most creators think growth comes from:

Posting more.
Writing better.
Being more consistent.
Showing up more.

And while that matters…

It’s not what actually moves the needle early on because when you’re starting, the real problem isn’t content.

It’s visibility.

If no one sees your work…it doesn’t matter how good it is.

The Shift

One of the fastest ways to grow on Substack has nothing to do with going viral.

It has everything to do with:

Borrowing attention and trust.

And one of the simplest ways to do that?

Cross-posting!

Why Cross-Posting Works

Cross-posting works because it compounds three things:

1. Visibility

You’re not just relying on your own content.

You’re expanding into:

Other creators.
Other audiences.
Other networks.

2. Relationships

Substack growth isn’t algorithm-driven.

It’s network-driven.

Cross-posting is how you build that network—naturally.

3. Trust

When you share something, you’re signaling:

“This is worth your attention.”

That builds authority faster than posting alone.

The Cross-Posting Framework

1. Only Share What Aligns

Ask:

“Would I want my audience to read this?”

If not, don’t post it.

2. Add Your Perspective

Never just share the post.

Always explain:

Why it matters.
What stood out.
Who it’s for.

3. Make It Intentional

Cross-post when:

You collaborate as a co-author.
You’re featured.
You genuinely respect the work.
You think the piece will be useful and beneficial to your audience.

Definitely not just to “stay active.”

4. Use It As A Bridge

This is the part most people miss.

Cross-posting isn’t just content.

It’s connection.

It opens doors to:

Future collaborations.
Shared audiences.
Long-term growth.

How To Cross-Post

Open the article you want to share with your audience.
Click the “three dots” on the upper right side of the article.
Scroll down the menu and click “Cross post.”
In the box, where it says “Say why this post is worth reading,” add your commentary to the post, which will be displayed to your audience at the top of the article once published.
Choose your publication to post it to and who you want to send it to…your free subscribers or paid subscribers, or everyone.
Then, choose your delivery to cross-post, either to your audience’s emails or your publication’s web page, or both.
Then, sent it right away or schedule it on a timer. It will publish like any other post.
Here is what the final product will look like once you publish a cross-post. You can see here, right at the top of the article, is the commentary you wrote in the box about why the post was worth reading. And, that’s it!

The Underrated Use Case (This Is Big)

Cross-post when you:

Co-author an article.
Get featured in an article.
Appear on a podcast.
You collaborate with another creator.

Remember, any time you collaborate, you should always cross-post it.

Why?

Because you’re:

Capturing that exposure to the other creator’s audience.
Reinforcing your positioning.
Bringing that visibility back to your ecosystem.

The Truth About Growth on Substack

Most creators try to grow alone.

But the creators who grow faster?

They build with others.

Cross-posting is one of the simplest ways to do that.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

You don’t need to:

Post more.
Overthink your content.
Wait to grow.
Do it all alone.

You need to: get your work in front of more people and not just randomly, strategically.

Structure helps you build.

Visibility helps you grow.

Cross-posting helps you do both—faster.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Getting Your Brand Featured in Your Dream Publications & Podcasts!!

Jess, The Creator — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:03:32 GMT

Thank you , , , , and many others for tuning into my live video with !

Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is an amazing Subtack live featuring the one and only !

You won’t to miss today’s show, as this was a very important and relevant topic for all growing entrepreneurs, creators, writers, and artists.

You get a quick taste of Robyn’s signature course about building brand visibility online with Public Relations and strategic storytelling!

Robyn loves human interest stories and getting to the story behind the story!

Everyone who tunes in today gets a special price on Robyn’s signature course!! Normally $297, her course is $97 for today’s show members, listeners, and readers with coupon code ALEC!!

Purchase Robyn’s Amplify & Boost Your Brand Visibility & Income Course here below:

Get Robyn's Course

Remember to use coupon code “ALEC” for the $97 price!

Thank you to everyone who came through the live and is reading, listening to, and supporting our work!

We truly appreciate you and look forward to seeing you again!

Jessica & Robyn from Unstuck to Finding Your Edge

P.S!

If you want to find more out about Ecamm, a very powerful Live Streaming platform built just for Mac, click below to experience StreamYard on steroids completely risk free for 14 days!!

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Robyn currently has 2 Substack publications:

Finding Your Edge:

Rare Finds Luxury Travel:

How Chris Got His First Paid Subscriber in 2 Days—Then 5 More After Fixing His First Publication

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:03:16 GMT

Chris messaged me on a Sunday evening.

He had an idea for a second Substack.

A poetry publication.

And honestly, it was one of those ideas that felt immediately obvious.

Not because it was simple, but because it was so aligned.

Chris is already a professional published and award-winning poet.

So when he said he wanted to create a publication about teaching poetry.

It wasn’t a stretch. It was a no-brainer.

Subscribe now

The Overlooked Opportunity (Before This)

Chris was already on Substack.

He launched his first publication in August 2025—a literary space where he has built a fun, supportive, and welcoming community and where he writes poems about:

Fatherhood
Caregiving
His son Brayden (“Bray Bray”)
Advocating
Music
Xennial life & nostalgia
and the lived experience behind it from his raw, honest, yet hopeful perspective of being a dad to his warrior son Brayden.

That publication has depth

But it didn’t have:

A clear entry point.
An obvious, clear paid offer.
A simple outcome.

So people could read it and they didn’t immediately think:

“This is for me. I should subscribe.”

What Chris & I Built

We created:

Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

Learn how to read, write, and feel poetry—without pressure or overthinking.

Now:

the outcome is clear.
the audience is clear.
the value is clear.

And most importantly, the barrier to entry is gone.

What We Actually Did (In 3 Days)

We didn’t overcomplicate it.

From Sunday → Tuesday, we built:

Publication name.
Publication short description.
Publication logo.
Optimized Chris’s Welcome page for conversion.
Stripe setup (very important when running multiple publications).
Free vs Paid Structure.
Clear reader outcome.
About page.
Welcome emails for free subscribers and paid subscribers.
A publishing schedule Chris could commit to.

Chris refined a few things on Wednesday.

Then he launched on Thursday.

Launch Timeline

Thursday → publication launched.
Saturday → first paid subscriber.

The First Result

💥1 paid subscriber in 2 days

No funnel, no complex launch, and no growth hacks.

Just:

Clarity.
Positioning
A Real Offer.

The Lesson

Most people think:

“I need more content to get paid subscribers.”

You don’t.

You simply need: A publication that makes sense immediately.

Why This Worked

Because we aligned three things:

1. Authority

Chris already had it.

We just made it visible.

2. Clarity

The reader instantly understands:

What this is.
Who it’s for.
What they get.

3. Action

The offer invites: immediate participation. Not: future intention.

Get The Beginner's Blueprint

The Simple First Paid Subscriber Framework

Step 1: Start with what’s already obvious

What do people already trust you for?
What do people already ask you for help with?

Don’t reinvent. Amplify.

Step 2: Define a Simple Outcome

Not what you write.

What the reader gets.

What does the paid subscriber get, achieve, or become.

Step 3: Remove The Biggest Hesitation

Why wouldn’t someone start?

Then remove it.

Step 4: Separate Free vs Paid

Free = clarity, understand, engage reader
Paid = execution, “how to” do, support reader

What Happened Next (This Is the Real Story)

Most people stop after the first win.

Chris didn’t.

Two weeks later, he went back to his original publication: Chris B. Writes

Not to rebuild it, but to refine it.

He applied the same structure we used for: Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

To his first publication!

Chris:

Rewrote his About page.
Clarified his offers.
Updated his welcome emails.
Simplified his positioning.

Not more content.

Just better structure and more clarity.

The Second Result

This week:

💥+5 paid subscribers!
💥“Rising in Literature” on Substack for 3 days!

Same audience. Same writing. Same platform.

The Real Lesson

Most people think growth comes from doing more.

Chris proved:

Growth comes from making what you already have clearer.

What This Actually Shows

This wasn’t luck.

This was a system.

Step 1: Build one clear, outcome-driven publication.

Step 2: Validate it (get your first paid subscriber).

Step 3: Apply that same structure everywhere else.

That’s how you scale.

Final Takeaway

You don’t need:

A new idea.
More content.
A bigger audience.
More offerings.

You need: one clear offer for a specific person that removes a real hesitation or solves one specific problem.

Chris had the skill.

We gave it structure.

Continue Learning with Chris B. Writes

If you want to learn how to actually read, write, and feel poetry without pressure, Chris is building that in real time.

💥 Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

A clear, beginner-friendly publication designed to help you move from understanding poetry → to writing your own.

Learn how to read poetry without overthinking.
Start writing your own poems with guided prompts.
Build confidence without pressure.

If you’ve ever wanted to write but didn’t know where to start—this is where to begin.

Subscribe to Read & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes:

📝 Read Chris’s Original Writing

If you’re drawn to deeper, more personal writing—Chris’s original publication is where that lives.

💥 Chris B. Writes

A literature publication exploring fatherhood, caregiving, his rockstar son, Brayden, nick named “Bray Bray”, music, and the lived experience behind it all.

Poems on life as a father and caregiver.
Honest reflections on Xennial life, music, nostalgia, and responsibility.
Writing that stays with you, makes you feel, and brings you to the present moment.

This is the writing that built the voice behind everything else.

Subscribe to Chris B. Writes:

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

The About Page That Converts

Jess, The Creator — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:03:21 GMT

Last week, someone asked me a simple question:

“What should I actually put on my About page?”

To me, it seemed obvious, but that’s exactly why this article matters.

It sounds basic, but if you get this wrong, everything going forward feels harder than it should because your About page isn’t just a page.

It’s a free sales page that should convince the reader why they should stay and get them to subscribe.

The About page’s job is to do one thing: Help someone decide if this is for them or not in 5 seconds.

If it doesn’t do that…They simply leave.

So let’s walk through it clearly and directly.

No hype. No complexity. No fluff.

Just how it get it done correctly.

Subscribe now

What Is The Substack About Page?

Before we get into this any further, I just want to explain what the Substack About page is and how to locate it and edit it.

Your Substack’s About page is the About page for your publication; not you.

Again, the About page is for your publication.

Your Substack's About page is a place to tell new readers what you write about, who you are, and why they should subscribe in greater length than your publication’s one-line description.

It should clearly describe the benefits of subscribing to your publication.

The About page’s idea is to establish credibility and trust with your readers while showing off your writing voice, personality, and unique style.

The About page’s goal is to convert the readers who decided this for them to either a free or paid subscriber to your publication.

That’s it.

Where Can I Find & Edit My Substack About Page?

There are two different ways to access your About page.

The first way is through your publication Dashboard.

Go your publication “Dashboard”.
Inside Dashboard, scroll down on the left side to “Settings.”
Under Settings, look for “APPEARANCE” and click “Website.”
Under Website, look for “About Page” and click “Edit.”
Start editing your About page and remember to always press “Save” in the upper right corner when done.

The second way to access your About Page is through the Home page of your publication Website.

Go to the Home page of your publication website like in the screenshot above.
In your navigation bar, click “About” in the upper right corner.
Once inside your About page, click “Edit page”.
Start editing your About page and remember to always press “Save” in the upper right corner when done.

A lot of people have expressed difficulty or confusion with navigating the Substack platform and the different hoops us creators and writers have to jump through to find certain things related to the publication.

I’ve been using Substack for almost 4 years now and I haven’t had any issues with it; however, I can see how some people do, especially new Substack writers and creators.

So, I’m here to help you in any way I can to make this simple and straightforward for you.

And, to hopefully provide you with a shortcut and some golden nuggets, I’ve picked up along my Substack writing journey.

So, for editing the About page, my favorite way is through the Home Page publication website; not through Dashboard, Settings, Website.
I literally just go to the publication website and click “About” in the navigation bar and click “Edit page.”
Even if I’m not editing the About page, the fastest way for me to access it, is through the Home page publication website.

The Mistake I Made For Years

When I first started on Substack in 2022, I didn’t understand this.

I thought my About page was:

A place to tell my story.
A place to talk about my career path.
A place to show all my credentials that I’ve earned.
A place to go in-depth explaining my mission and elaborating on my philosophy behind starting the publication.

So I wrote it like that, for years.

And rewrote it.

And rewrote it again.

Meanwhile, people were landing on my page……and leaving…..not because they weren’t interested, but because it wasn’t clear.

It seems so obvious in hindsight, but I was completely unaware and oblivious for almost two years. 2 YEARS!!

Thankfully, my About page is now up to par and I’m able to help you with yours.

So, now we’re going to start working on your About page.

Yes, right now!

By the end of today, YOU can be done with yours and have a solid, top-tier About page for you publication ready for conversions and sales!! (An About page that doesn't need to be fixed “later!!!”) That’s HUGE!!!
Be world-class; not average.
Don’t leave money on the table so nonchalantly already on day one of being on Substack. If you do that, “you can’t sit with us!!”

The Shift

Your About page isn’t a bio and it’s definitely not an autobiography.

It’s not your story and it’s not about you.

Let’s say read again, the About page isn’t about you; it’s about the publication.

Your About page is a conversion page.

More specifically: It’s a free sales page that turns visitors into subscribers—and subscribers into paid readers.

The About page is where the reader makes their decision to stay or leave.

Once I understood that, everything changed.

Real Quick, Just In Case You’re Wondering About You

Your Profile Page Is About You!

Your profile page is where the reader can see your name, bio, profile picture, and your publications you’re part of.

To edit your “Profile page,” click “Edit profile” like see in the screenshot above.”
Once you click “Edit profile,” you can change your name, bio, cover image, and, accent color.
You can also add your “social links” and links to any Books or Website you have.
Also under “Edit profile,” if you own more than one publication, or ghost write for multiple clients, or work on multiple publications, you can choose which Substack appears beside your name in comments and which Substacks appear on your profile.

Now, let’s get back to the important stuff…the publication About page.

I can’t stress enough the importance of having your About page done and done correctly.

Get yours done, today!

And, let me know if you need help or want me to look at it after. Comment on this article or send me a DM once completed.

Again, the About page is one of the most crucial foundational parts of the publication along with even more important…the Welcome email to the free subscribers…which will be its own step-by-step article coming soon so stay tuned!

Remember, we’re world-class over here at Unstuck to Published. We do things right the first time and make it look pristine from day one. That’s our edge.💅
Now, let’s get back to your About page so you don’t have to have to fix it “later” like the average Substack writer will.

The Simple About Page Framework (This Is What Actually Works)

Most About pages follow this order:

❌ Me → My story → What I do

But the ones that convert follow this:

🤝Reader → Problem → Solution → Proof → Invitation

Let me show you exactly how this works using my own About page.

The Simple About Page Framework

1. Start With The Reader’s Problem

This is the most important part.

Not you; Them.

The reader wants to know what problem your publication solves for them.

From my About page:

“Most creators aren’t stuck because they lack ideas.

They are stuck because they’re overthinking.”

Immediately:

The reader feels seen.
The problem is named.
The challenge is described.
The reader knows if it’s for them or not.

2. Make The Pain Clear

You want the reader thinking: “That’s exactly me.”😅💡

From my About page:

“Substack writers and creators are stuck:

Overthinking the name.
Overthinking the niche.
Overthinking the tech.
Overthinking the timing.
Overthinking the audience size.”

The reader resonates with the exact pain.

This builds emotional connection fast and connection is exactly what converts a reader into a subscriber.

3. Position The Solution

Now answer: “What is this publication solving?”✍️

By positioning your publication as the solution, you make the benefit clear right away.

From my About page:

“Unstuck to Published exists to remove that friction.”

Simple. Clear. No confusion.

4. Show Who It’s For

Make it obvious, but also clear.

The more specific you define your audience, the better.

From my About page:

“New online creators who want to launch their Substack, but keep delaying.
Professionals who want to turn expertise into a publication that generates income.
Writers who want simplicity and structure, not fluff, on their path to becoming a Substack Best-Seller.
Builders who prefer immediate action and execution over endless planning and contemplation.
Anyone ready to move from thinking to publishing with clarity and confidence.”

Now the reader knows: “This is for me.”😌💡

5. Who Are You? / Why Should The Reader Trust You?

Now you can talk about yourself, but only to build credibility and trust and to show some proof.

Introduce yourself in a clear way that’s focused on your experience and relevant to the value of your publication.

Here’s where you can include 1-2 sentences about why you started the Substack publication or share your compelling origin story if you have one.

Find 2-3 pieces of specific proof related to the topic of your publication and relevant to the benefits for your audience.

Add testimonials from thrilled and gratified subscribers.
Feature any accomplishments you’ve made or awards you’ve won.
Show data related to your 30-day views, revenue, open rates, or subscribers count.
Share proof of your Substack milestones.
Include links to your most popular articles.

Providing results further increases emotional connection and shows the reader why you’re the one who can support them.

From my About page:

“I’m Jessica, a nurse practitioner turned stock and futures trader, Professional writer, and Substack multi-publication builder.

I have built and launched over 10 Substack publications, including 4 Substack Best-Sellers, and validated live offers in real time.

I don’t teach theory. I teach what I build.

Everything shared here comes from lived execution—launches, iterations, revenue validation, and real audience feedback.”

Don’t share your life story. Just proof and results to build trust.

6. Show The Outcome / Your Promise to The Reader (Why Should Someone Subscribe)

Focus on the reader’s transformation or final outcome and highlight the benefits of subscribing.

What exactly do they get?
Who will they become?
What can they expect to receive every week?
What feeling or transformation will they experience?
What type of access will they have to you?
What clear value are they receiving?

From About my page:

“Inside Unstuck to Published, you will learn how to:

Create your Substack with clarity and structure in one day.
Validate ideas before overbuilding or overthinking them.
Turn expertise into clear paid offers.
Avoid the decision-mode trap.
Build momentum through execution.
Become an owner of your pristine, world-class publication ready for posting and achieving Substack Best-Seller status.”

7. Make The Invitation / Call-to-Action Clear

Let the reader know what to do next with a direct, clear call-to-action.

From my About page:

“If you want to create your Substack from scratch from day one, subscribe or upgrade to join. I’d love to work with you on it.”

“If you’re serious about learning how to build a pristine Substack publication with a solid foundation that becomes an income-generating asset from day one, hit upgrade to join the Unstuck to Published Inner Circle of writers who are already miles ahead of the average new Substack creator.”

Simple. Clear. No pressure at all.
Link to the Unstuck to Published About page

The 5-Second Test

If someone lands on your About page…

They should be able to answer instantly:

What is this publication? / What does it help me do?
Who is this for? / Who’s It Not For?
Why should I subscribe? / What do I get for subscribing or upgrading to paid?

If they can’t…they won’t subscribe.

The Shortcut

You don’t need to rewrite your About page over 10 times like I did.

You don’t need to guess.

You just need to remember this: Your About page isn’t about you.

It’s about the decision the reader is trying to make.
It’s about getting the reader to subscribe or upgrade to paid. That’s it.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

Most creators focus on writing more.

When your About page isn’t clear…you’re losing people before they ever read your work. You’re simply hurting yourself by leaving money on the table.

Fix this once. Actually get it done, today!!

Get it done right and everything else becomes easier.

To help you get your About page done (today), I turned this into a simple, branded template you can use in 10 minutes.💅

👩🏻‍💻Download The About Page That Converts Template Below:

Substack About Page Template

328KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Leave a comment

To help you get your About page done (today), I turned this into a simple, branded template you can use in 10 minutes.💅

👩🏻‍💻Download The About Page That Converts Template Below:

Substack About Page Template

328KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Subscribe now

Live w/Robyn & Jess: How to Create Your 1st Paid Offer on Substack

Jess, The Creator — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:08:07 GMT

Thank you , , , , and many others for tuning into my live video with !

Join me for my next live video in the app next Friday, April 18th with the only and only .

You won’t want to miss next week’s live show, which will be about how to increase invisibility online so that you can get on Forbes, WSJ, TIME, The Today Show, etc.!!

We’re going to dive deeper in strategies to how to get on Forbes, specifically the Forbes 40 Under 40 list and the Forbes 70 Under 70 list.

Unstuck to Finding Your Edge may become our signature live show on Substack every Friday afternoon at 12pm ET.🫶

Thank you to everyone who came through the live and is reading, listening to, and supporting our work!

We truly appreciate you and look forward to seeing you again!

Jessica & Robyn from Unstuck to Finding Your Edge

Connect with Robyn Here

Robyn currently has 2 Substack publications:

Finding Your Edge:

Rare Finds Luxury Travel:

Connect with Jess, The Creator Here

Unstuck to Published:

👩🏻‍💻Join Jess, The Creator’s From Unstuck to Published Workshop

Bring your laptop open and ready to build your Substack publication from scratch the right way from day one with me!

Date: Saturday April 18th, 2026
Time: 10am ET
Duration: 90 minutes live intensive
Format: 60 minutes workshop, 20 minutes Q&A
Where: on Zoom
Price: $147
Who is this workshop for:
- Creators who want to launch their Substack, but keep delaying.
- Professionals who want to turn expertise into a publication.
- Writers who want structure, not fluff.
- Builders who prefer action over endless planning.
- Anyone ready to move from thinking to publishing without overwhelm.

Reserve your seat here:

Join The Workshop Here

🤘Book a 1:1 Substack Publication Strategy Call with Jess, The Creator

Duration: 60-90 minutes
Price: $147
Format: 1:1 call on Zoom
Strategy: Build your publication step-by-step with Jess and discuss anything that you would like to work on regarding your publication and anything Substack.
Schedule a 1:1 call with Jess: After you pay for the 1:1, Jess will reach out to you to choose a date and time for our call.

Book a 1:1 Call with Jess

💅Join The Unstuck to Published Paid Tier and Inner Circle

For creators who are serious about building with structure and moving decisively.

Paid members receive:

One paid weekly article every Thursday.
A 1:1 Zoom Call with me to build your publication from scratch together. ($147 Value)
Templates, checklists, and publication blueprints.
In-depth execution guides beyond public articles.
Founder case studies and behind-the-scenes launch breakdowns.
Structured publication audits and review opportunities.
Price: $197 / year

Get An Annual Subscription

Testimonials

Get An Annual Subscription

Join The Workshop Here

Book a 1:1 Call with Jess

Your Substack Doesn’t Have a Monetization Problem (It Has An Offer Problem)

Jess, The Creator — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:02:17 GMT

Most writers think monetizing a Substack publication is hard.

It’s not.

What’s hard is making an offer that’s actually clear.

So most creators:

Turn on paid.
Add a few “bonus” posts.
Hope people upgrade.

And when no one does, they assume they need:

More subscribers.
More content.
more time.
More perks.

They don’t.

They need a better offer.

Subscribe now

The Real Problem

Most paid tiers don’t convert because they’re simply not clear.

Not because the writing is bad and not because the audience is too small.

But because the offer is weak.

People don’t pay for more content.

They pay for clarity, proximity, depth, and outcomes.

The Shift

Free content builds attention, credibility, and trust.
Paid content must deliver an outcome or transformation.

If your free and paid content feel the same…There’s no reason to upgrade.

The 3 Paid Offers That Actually Work

Almost every high-converting paid tier falls into one of these:

1. Depth

Go deeper than your free content.

Free offer: ideas, clarity, awareness.
Paid offer: step-by-step execution, the “how-to,” transformation, outcomes.

2. Access

This is proximity.

People pay to get closer to your thinking, feedback, insights, guidance, expertise, and process.

Free offer: engages readers.
Paid offer: support readers.

3. Outcome-Based

This is the strongest, but requires clarity.

You’re selling a result, an outcome, or a transformation; not content.

The Structure

Free = awareness.
Paid = execution.

That is the structure.

The Simple Substack Offer Template

Use this. Keep it simple.

Every Substack should have:

1 clear free benefit.
3 clear paid benefits.

Step 1. Define Your Free Tier

Your free content should do one thing:

Attract the right person and build trust.

✍️Template:

My free Substack tier helps [specific audience] go from [problem] to [clarity].

Example:

My free Substack tier helps creators go from stuck to clear on their publication idea and their direction.

Step 2. Define Your Paid Tier

Your paid offer should deliver three things:

Depth
Access
Outcome

Depth

Paid subscribers get deeper breakdowns, case studies, frameworks, or blueprints of your topic.

✍️Template:

Paid subscribers get step-by-step frameworks for [topic].

Access

Paid subscribers get closer to you through direct messages, group calls, 1:1 work, a chat, or a community.

✍️Template:

Paid subscribers get access to my thinking, feedback, community chat, shortcuts, frameworks, and guidance through [format].

Outcome

This is the most important part.

✍️Template:

This helps you become or achieve or get [specific result].

Step 3: Combine It

Example:

Free: Helps creators go from stuck to clear on their Substack idea.
Paid:
- Depth: step-by-step frameworks, templates, and blueprints for building the foundation of your publication.
- Access: direct guidance, feedback, and support while you build your publication.
- Outcome: Go from idea to published and building toward paid and Best-Seller status.

I also covered the three different types of offers more in-depth in last week’s exclusive breakdown of how to create your Substack paid offer.

✍️A Substack Subscription Offer Template

Free Benefit (1)

Free benefit: My free Substack tier helps [specific audience] go from [problem] to [solution/clarity].
- Who do you help solve one specific problem with one specific solution?

Paid Benefits (3)

Depth Benefit: Paid subscribers get step-by-step frameworks for [topic].
Access Benefit: Paid subscribers get access to my thinking, feedback, shortcuts, frameworks, and guidance through [format].
Outcome Benefit: This helps you become or achieve or get [specific result].

The Rule

If your offer is unclear, it will not convert.

If it’s simple and outcome-driven, it will.

A Real Offer Example Before → After

Before:

“Paid subscribers get extra posts and bonus content.”

After:

“Paid subscribers get step-by-step frameworks, direct access to me, and a clear path from idea to published to structured positioning, ready to enable paid, and go for Best-Seller Status.”

Same creator. Different clarity. Different results.
Above is an example of the free and paid offers for Unstuck to Published.

How To Start Your Paid Offer

You don’t need a perfect offer.

You need a clear outcome to use as a starting point.

Start with:

• Deeper versions or breakdowns of what already works.
• Simple frameworks, templates, or blueprints people can follow and implement right away.
• Content that leads to action that can be applied immediately, today.