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:

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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!

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Robyn currently has 2 Substack publications:

Finding Your Edge:

Finding Your Edge

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

By Robyn Levin

Rare Finds Luxury Travel:

Rare Finds - Luxury Travel

Luxury travel newsletter featuring emerging destinations and unique hotels—personally vetted by Robyn, a 6‑continent traveler. Go before the crowds.

By Robyn Levin

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

1. Free = clarity, understand, engage reader

2. 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 & Write Poetry with Chris B. Writes

Learn how to read, write, and feel poetry with award-winning poet Chris B. Writes, without pressure or overthinking.

📝 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:

Chris B. Writes

I share my life adventures as a loving dad and caregiver to my son Bray Bray. I am also an award-winning published poet.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

“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.

1. Go your publication “Dashboard”.

2. Inside Dashboard, scroll down on the left side to “Settings.”

3. Under Settings, look for “APPEARANCE” and click “Website.”

4. Under Website, look for “About Page” and click “Edit.”

5. 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.

1. Go to the Home page of your publication website like in the screenshot above.

2. In your navigation bar, click “About” in the upper right corner.

   

3. Once inside your About page, click “Edit page”.

4. 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!!” <insert Gretchen Wiener’s voice here>

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.

1. To edit your “Profile page,” click “Edit profile” like see in the screenshot above.”

   

2. Once you click “Edit profile,” you can change your name, bio, cover image, and, accent color.

3. You can also add your “social links” and links to any Books or Website you have.

   

4. 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.

More content is never the answer.

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

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

Download

Share

Subscribe now

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:

Finding Your Edge

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

By Robyn Levin

Rare Finds Luxury Travel:

Rare Finds - Luxury Travel

Uncover soulful escapes, hidden gems & behind-the-scenes stories — before the crowds arrive. 🌍 Subscribe for FREE! Discover special places, personally vetted by Robyn, 6-continent traveler.

By Robyn Levin

Connect with Jess, The Creator Here

Unstuck to Published:

Unstuck to Published

Helping writers get unstuck, stop overthinking, and start publishing with clarity and structure.

By Jess, The Creator

👩🏻‍💻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

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

1. Free content builds attention, credibility, and trust.

2. 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

1. Free = awareness.

2. 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:

Read more

They don’t.

They have a clarity problem—again.

After a writer decides to go paid, the next question is: “What do I actually offer?”

So they default to this:

• Bonus posts.

• Extra content.

• Support my work.

And, then they wonder why no one upgrades.

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, depth, and outcomes.

The Shift

1. Free content builds attention, credibility, and trust.

2. 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

Read more

• More articles and more notes.

• More consistency and more time.

• More engagement and more output.

So they keep writing……and writing…….and writing, but nothing changes because growth isn’t their real problem.

Clarity is.

When someone lands on your Substack, they’re asking three questions instantly:

• What is this?

• Is this for me?

• Why should I subscribe?

If those answers aren’t clear within seconds…they leave.

Subscribe now

The Real Problem

Most Substacks don’t struggle because the writing is bad.

They struggle because the positioning is unclear.

• The name is vague or unclear.

• The description is generic or broad.

• The promise is missing.

So, the reader hesitates, and hesitation kills subscriptions.

The Publication Short Description on Substack Explained

Before we get into how to come up with a solid, clear Publication short description, I want to show you what I’m referring to and how you can edit and update yours.

1. You go to your “Dashboard” to access the “Settings” of your publication.

2. Once, you’re in Dashboard, scroll down on the left to Settings.

3. Under Settings, first will be “Basics".

4. Under Basics, look for “Publication short description.”

5. Your Publication short description is what we’re working on here.

A publication short description is a single sentence that clearly explains what your publication is about.

Next, it’s important to know where your publication short description can be viewed by readers and subscribers.

1. Your publication website Home page.

   

   

2. Your publication Subscribe link if posted in a Substack article.

   

3. Your publication Subscribe link if shared in a Substack note.

   

4. Your publication Home page in the Substack App.

   

5. Your publication Welcome page in your internet browser on your laptop, computer, or phone.

   

6. When another publication recommends your Substack publication.

Now, that you know where to find and edit your publication short description and where it can be viewed by other readers, let’s get started on how to build on a strong, clear single sentence publication short description.

Before we move on, just notice very quickly how the publication short description examples above are all “one single sentence” that fits neatly and you can view the entire description. (They’re not too long and don’t fit or don’t show all the way).

The Fix: The 3-Line Description Clarity Framework

You don’t need a full rebrand.

You need to fix three things:

Step 1: Your Name = What is This?

Your name should answer:

• What is this publication about?

Not something clever, not something abstract, but something clear.

Weak names:

• “Mindful Momentum”

• “Doctor Jess”

• “Workout Ideas”

• “Business Insights”

Strong names:

• “Unstuck to Published”

• “How We Grow”

• “Write With AI”

• “Ghost in the Market: Futures Trading”

• “The Bitcoin Report”

• “Blue Zones Living”

If someone reads your name and has to think…It’s not clear enough. It’s that simple!

Step 2: Your Description = Who is this for?

Your publication short description should answer:

• Who is this for and what does it help them do?

  • Who is this publication for? (Think about one single person; not a demographic)

    • Founders

    • Nurses

    • New moms

    • Entrepreneurs

    • Busy professionals

    • Futures traders

    • Health coaches

    • Poets

    • Creators

    • Millenials

    • Dads

    • Former Athletes

    • Caregivers

    • Burned out high-achievers

  • What does it help them do? What problem does it solve?

    • Show creators and entrepreneurs with a small audience how to monetize their work.

    • Help burnt out professionals find a way out of the rat race.

    • Teach traders how to navigate the futures market and day trade futures.

    • Help busy moms prepare and cook meals with their children without overwhelm.

    • Show other creators how to implement monetization systems and create multiple income streams to build wealth on their own terms.

    • Help new moms find their true identity and what brings them joy again.

    • Help Substack writers and creators get unstuck and get published with clarity and structure.

    • Help adults build emotional regulation skills using a training-based system.

    • Help creators turn “I don’t know what to sell” into a clear offer people love to buy.

    • Provide burned-out high achievers who know there’s a better way, but don’t have the roadmap.

Weak descriptions:

• “Thoughts on writing, growth, and life.”

• “I help people grow online.”

• “Health tips and hacks."

Strong descriptions:

• “A newsletter helping new creators go from stuck to published on Substack using a simple, structured framework.”

• “The leading paid newsletter for ChatGPT & Claude prompts, and how to turn AI platforms into your own personal Digital Writing Assistant.”

• “This newsletter shows you how to convert free readers to paid, if you've been posting every week and have had no success.”

Specific wins. Every time.

Step 3: Your Promise = Why should the reader stay? Why should the reader trust you?

This is the part most people skip.

Your promise is the outcome.

Not:

• “I share insights.”

• “I provide templates.”

• “I give toolkits.”

But:

• “I help you go from ___ → ___.”

• “I show you how to go from ___ → ___.”

• “I give you the blueprint from ___ → ___.”

• “I got my first paid subscriber in three days with a small audience and I show you exactly how.”

• “I built over ten Substack publications and four have achieved Best-Seller status. I show you how to get the foundations right from day one.”

People don’t subscribe for content. They subscribe for change.

The 10-Minute Clarity Audit

If your Substack isn’t growing, answer these key questions:

1. Who is this for? / Think about one person.

2. What does it help them do? / What problem does it solve?

3. Why should they subscribe? / What do they get?

If you can’t answer those in 5 seconds…Your reader can’t either.

Before → After: The Real Identity Shift

Before:

• “I write about mindset, business, and ideas.”

After:

• “I help creators and writers publish their Substack from scratch and build a solid publication foundation the right way from day one.”

• “I provide burned-out high achievers who know there’s a better way, but don’t have the roadmap.”

• “I help astute futures market participants who trade MES or MNQ and want structure and clarity, not chaos.”

• “I show busy professionals how to navigate the stock market with a calm, systematic framework.”

• “I teach adults who were never taught emotional regulation skills how build them and develop emotional steadiness, self-trust, and emotional freedom.”

Same person. Different clarity. Different results.

You help one specific person with one specific problem with one specific solution.

The Truth

You don’t need:

• A new strategy.

• A better niche.

• More content.

You need:

• Clear Positioning🤝

Why? Because when your Substack is clear:

• The right people recognize it.

• The right people find it.

• Your writing becomes easier.

• Your growth becomes natural.

• Your success becomes sustainable.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

Most creators try to grow before they’re clear.

The ones who win?

They get clear first.

If you fix this, everything else becomes easier.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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👩🏻‍💻If You Want to Implement This The Right Way

I created this for you:

A Beginner’s Blueprint To Go From Stuck → Published (The Right Way): Build Your Substack the Right Way From Day One:

Inside, I break down:

• The exact “Get Unstuck” framework.

• How to position your publication correctly.

• A clear first article structure.

• A simple paywall strategy.

• A no-fluff checklist.

You don’t need more content. You need a clear foundation.

If you want a clean, simple path forward, you can check it out here:

Get The Beginner's Blueprint

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At that point, I had about 20 subscribers.

By that Wednesday, I had around 60 free subscribers.

And by Thursday…

I got my first paid subscriber!

Not months later and not after “building an audience.”

Three days.

However, this didn’t happen in isolation.

This came after building, and refining, my first real offer.

I created my signature workshop: From Unstuck to Published

• And the first time I ran it…I had 2 attendees.

• The second time? No one signed up.

• The third time? 1 person.

And the fourth time, just three days ago on Saturday, I had 12 participants at $97!!

That progression taught me something most people never fully understand:

It wasn’t about the size of the audience.

It was about the clarity of the offer.

This wasn’t luck.

It wasn’t because I went viral or because I had a massive following.

It came down to one simple decision: I started with a clear paid offer.

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Most People Do The Opposite

Average Substack writers and creators:

• Start writing.

• Try to grow an audience.

• Wait until they feel “ready” to monetize.

And then wonder why nothing converts.

It’s because there’s no structure and no direction.

There’s no clear reason for someone to pay.

Here’s What I Did Differently

Before I even focused on growing the publication…

I built a clear, simple offer with a defined outcome.

Not vague and not “I’ll figure it out later.”

Clear.

The From Unstuck to Published Workshop had one job: Help people go from stuck → launching their Substack the right way from day one.

That clarity changed everything.

The Lesson I Learned

Substack isn’t just a place to write.

It’s a storefront.

And most people are opening the store…

Without putting anything on the shelves.

The Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of:

• An Idea → Write → Grow → Maybe Monetize.

You need:

• A Clear Outcome → Offer → Structure → Then Publish.

Here’s The Part Most People Don’t Understand

You don’t need a big audience to make money.

You need:

• The right offer.

• In front of the right people.

• With a clear outcome.

A small, engaged list can outperform a large, unfocused one every time.

Let me show you exactly how to do this.

The Simple First Paid Subscriber Framework

Here’s exactly how to do this step-by-step:

Read more

They fail because they start messy.

• They open a blank page with no direction.

• They pick a name they’re unsure about.

• They publish something random just to “get it out.”

And then they stall.

• They second guess everything.

• They lose momentum.

• They stop showing up.

Not because they lack ability, but because they never had a structure.

Get The Beginner's Blueprint

I’ve Seen This Pattern Over & Over Again

Over the past two years, I’ve built 10 Substack publications.

Three of them have reached Substack best-seller status!!

And through my From Unstuck to Published workshop, I’ve helped others go from an idea → a live publication.

What I’ve learned is simple:

Most beginners don’t need more motivation.

• They need a clear starting point.

Because when you start correctly, everything that follows becomes easier.

The Real Problem Isn’t Writing

It’s uncertainty.

Uncertainty about:

• What your publication should be about.

• How to position it.

• What to write first.

• When (and how) to introduce a paywall.

• How often should I post.

So you hesitate.

Or you move forward without clarity—and end up rebuilding later.

So I Built Something Simple To Fix That

Build Your Substack the Right Way From Day One: A Substack Beginner’s Blueprint

A clear, structured blueprint to take you from: stuck → unstuck → clear → published.

Without overthinking and without wasting weeks figuring it out.

What You’ll Get Inside The Blueprint:

This is the exact structure I’ve used and refined across multiple publications:

• The Beginner Problem (Clearly Defined)

  • So you understand what’s actually keeping you stuck.

• The “Get Unstuck” Framework

  • A simple path from idea → clarity → action.

• Publication Positioning (Done Right)

  • So your Substack makes sense—to you and your readers.

• The First Article Framework

  • No guessing. A clear way to publish your first piece with confidence.

• A Simple Paywall Strategy

  • How to introduce paid content without overcomplicating it.

• A No-Fluff Checklist

  • A step-by-step guide so you don’t miss anything important.

Get The Beginner's Blueprint

This Is Built From Real, Hands-On Experience

Not theory. Not recycled advice.

This comes from:

• Building multiple Substacks from scratch.

• Growing publications to best-seller status.

• Seeing exactly where beginners get stuck, and how to fix it.

I didn’t create this to add more information.

I created it to give you a clean, clear path forward.

Who’s It For

This is for you if:

• You’ve been thinking about starting a Substack, but haven’t yet.

• You started… but it doesn’t feel clear or structured.

• You want to do it right the first time instead of rebuilding later.

Why Starting Right Matters

Your first steps shape everything that follows.

• Start messy, and you spend months correcting it.

• Start clean, and you build momentum immediately.

If you’re ready to start (or restart) the right way,

You can check out the full blueprint here:

Get The Beginner's Blueprint

If You’re Stuck Right Now

You don’t need more time and you don’t need more ideas.

You don’t need to figure it out later.

You need a starting point that actually works.

This is that starting point.

PS

If you’ve been sitting on the idea of starting a Substack, this is probably the part where you either:

1. Keep thinking about it

2. Or finally start

This was built to make that second option simple.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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You open the dashboard. You refresh the page.

And you see… almost nothing.

Maybe three views. Maybe five.

Immediately your brain starts asking questions.

• Did I pick the wrong topic?

• Is this idea stupid?

• Is Substack even worth doing?

Almost every creator experiences this moment.

And almost every creator misunderstands what it means.

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The Reality of Early Substack Growth

Most newsletters start quietly.

Very quietly.

The first readers usually come from:

• Friends.

• Early supporters.

• A few curious creators.

• Strangers from the internet.

It can feel discouraging or demoralizing at first.

However, this stage isn’t failure.

It’s the beginning of the compounding phase.

How Substack Actually Grows

Substack growth rarely comes from one viral article.

It usually comes from a combination of small actions repeated consistently.

• Publishing regularly.

• Participating in Notes.

• Collaborating with other creators.

• Building trust with readers.

• Being human.

Each article becomes another doorway into your work.

Each interaction helps the platform understand your publication.

Over time, the visibility compounds.

The Hidden Advantage of A Small Start & How I Got Started

Starting small actually gives creators an advantage.

When your audience is small:

• You can experiment.

• You can refine your ideas.

• You can improve your writing without pressure.

Many successful newsletters spent months, or years, quietly building before they were widely discovered.

I spent two consecutive years writing online and publishing an article every Sunday since the beginning of 2023. I made a commitment to myself to post one article a week for me to be able to take myself serious as a Professional Writer.

In October 2023, almost one year into publishing every Sunday, I got approached by a stock trader and investor to do some ghost writing for him and officially started in 2024.

While ghost writing in 2024, I still didn't stop writing for my first publication, NP Fellow. I continued to post every Sunday in year 2 of publishing every Sunday. Most times, I didn’t feel like writing for my own newsletter at all from all the writing I was doing.

However, as a Ghost Writer you should never stop writing for yourself. So I continued and finished out my first two years of writing online and publishing every Sunday for free.

There were months and many moments of radio silence and my posts got barely 5 likes or any engagement, but I enjoy writing so that stuff didn’t bother me or stop me.

I was more focused on making a difference in my readers through my writing then counting likes.

The Real Goal

The goal of your first Substack articles isn’t attention.

The goal is momentum.

Momentum builds confidence.

Confidence builds consistency.

Consistency builds growth.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

If your first articles feel quiet, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

It usually means you’re doing exactly what every successful newsletter did at the beginning.

Keep publishing.

The readers arrive over time.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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For a long time, I thought you had to wait to turn on paid.

• More subscribers.

• More content.

• More time.

So I did exactly that.

With my first Substack, NP Fellow, I published for two years before enabling paid subscriptions.

Two years.

When I finally turned it on, it took three months to get my first paid subscriber.

Then I did something different.

I launched a new publication — Unstuck to Published.

• Thursday evening, I created it.

• Monday morning, I turned on paid with 20 subscribers.

• Wednesday, I had 60 subscribers.

• By Thursday, I had my first paid subscriber.

Three days!!

That’s when it clicked:

It’s not about how many people you have.

It’s about how clear your foundation is.

In the rest of this article, I’ll break down exactly when you’re ready to go paid and the simple framework I use to turn a small audience into paying subscribers quickly.

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The Question Everyone Asks

“When should I go paid?”

Most answers you’ll find sound like this:

• “Wait until you have 1,000 subscribers.”

• “Build your audience first.”

• “Make sure you have enough content.”

It sounds reasonable.

It’s also what keeps people waiting.

The Common Mistake

Creators delay monetization because they think they’re not ready.

But what’s actually happening is this:

They’re optimizing the wrong things.

• editing names.

• rewriting descriptions.

• second-guessing topics.

While completely ignoring the one thing that matters:

What are you helping someone do?

If that’s unclear, more subscribers won’t fix it.

From Unstuck to Published Live Workshop

Most creators wait too long to figure this out.

If you want to shortcut the learning curve, we’re building this live on Saturday.

From your idea all the way to a structured, monetized publication. 🤝

Join Live Workshop!

The Honest Answer

Read more

You might be stuck if you’ve done any of these things:

• Opened Substack… then closed the tab.

• Brainstormed five publication names, but chosen none.

• Started writing your first post… then decided it wasn’t ready yet.

Most creators don’t stay stuck because they lack ideas.

They stay stuck because they’re trying to figure everything out before starting.

• The name.

• The niche.

• The logo.

• The tech.

• The first article.

Everything begins to feel like it needs to be perfect before publishing.

However, something interesting happened recently that reminded me how quickly momentum can appear once you move.

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The Moment I Got Unstuck

A few weeks ago, I was on a call with a mentor discussing the launch plan for another project I’ve been working on.

During the conversation she asked me a simple question:

“Why don’t you teach people how to build a Substack from scratch in one session?”

At first it felt like a spontaneous idea.

But the more we talked about it, the more obvious it became.

I had already built multiple Substack publications and spent a lot of time helping people think through how to structure their newsletters.

So instead of planning it for weeks, I decided to move quickly. (I don’t really like plans)

Within 48 hours, I launched a live workshop called From Unstuck to Published.

The goal was simple:

Help creators build their Substack publication from scratch in one focused session.

Two people signed up right away.

More people asked if I would run another one.

But the most interesting part wasn’t the signups.

It was what happened next.

The workshop itself helped me get unstuck.

Because once I built the workshop, the next step became obvious, so obvious.

I needed a place to share these ideas more consistently.

That’s how this publication, Unstuck to Published, was created!

The Real Reason Creators Stay Stuck

Most creators think they are stuck because they haven’t figured everything out yet.

However, the real reason people stay stuck is something I call decision mode.

Decision mode happens when creators try to solve every decision before starting.

Creators want to know:

• The perfect name.

• The perfect positioning.

• The perfect logo.

• The perfect first article.

But clarity almost never arrives before publishing. Clarity usually arrives after publishing.

Momentum creates clarity. Not the other way around.

The “Get Unstuck” Framework

After watching writers go through this process and experiencing it myself while launching the workshop and this publication, I’ve noticed that getting unstuck usually follows a simple sequence.

Step 1: Clarify The Outcome

Before choosing a name or designing anything, ask one question:

“What outcome will readers get from this publication?”

Examples might be:

• Helping nurses and doctors understand the stock market.

• Helping caregivers feel less alone.

• Helping creators launch their Substack.

The outcome matters far more than the niche.

Step 2: Choose A Working Name

The key word here is working.

The name doesn’t have to be perfect. It only needs to be clear enough to begin.

Many successful newsletters refine their name and positioning over time.

Movement matters more than perfection.

Step 3: Build The Foundation

Once the outcome and working name exist, build the basic structure of the publication.

That includes:

• A one-line description.

• An about page.

• A simple, clean logo.

• The Welcome email to the free subscribers.

• Your first article.

This foundation creates the structure your publication will grow from.

Step 4: Publish Before You Feel Ready

This is the step most creators delay.

Publishing feels vulnerable, but publishing is also the moment momentum begins.

Your first article isn’t the final version of your publication.

It’s simply the starting point.

Publishing creates feedback. Feedback creates clarity.

The Real Lesson

The workshop taught me something important.

Getting unstuck doesn’t happen when you finally figure everything out.

It happens when you decide to move before everything is figured out.

Once you start building, the next steps begin to reveal themselves.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

Most creators don’t fail because they lack ideas.

They stay stuck because they remain in planning mode too long.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is momentum.

Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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What actually makes a Substack publication become a best seller?

Most people assume the answer is simple.

• Write more.

• Post often.

• Get lucky.

But after studying successful publications and listening to insights from Substack best-selling creators, a different pattern appears.

The newsletters that grow consistently aren’t simply publishing articles.

They’re operating with clear systems for publishing, distribution, collaboration, and reader retention.

These systems aren’t complicated, but they’re intentional.

Here are six growth systems many successful Substack publications quietly rely on today.

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1. Sustainable Cadence

One of the fastest ways new writers burn out on Substack is by starting with an unsustainable publishing pace.

They publish daily for two weeks… then disappear.

Successful publications usually follow a sustainable cadence they can maintain long-term.

Examples might include:

• Two or three posts per week.

  • Or, one-two articles per week.

• One long-form essay plus shorter posts.

• A consistent, actually doable, weekly publishing rhythm for you.

The goal is reliability.

Readers don’t need constant content. They need consistent content they can trust will show up.

Many successful writers also rely on repeatable formats, such as:

• Educational guides or “How-To” guides.

• 5 tips or 5 skills.

• Essays, deep dives, or reflections.

• Q&A posts.

• Deeper premium posts with frameworks, systems, and blueprints

Structure reduces friction and helps readers know what to expect.

2. Substack Notes Distribution

Notes has become one of the most powerful discovery engines on Substack.

Many successful writers treat Notes as a daily distribution channel, not just a casual feature.

A common pattern looks like:

• Posting three to five Notes per day.

• Commenting on other creators’ Notes.

• Engaging in conversations across the platform.

Notes essentially functions as Substack’s internal social network.

Writers who participate consistently often see increased discoverability inside the ecosystem.

Notes activity also introduces your publication to readers who may have never encountered your work before.

The next four systems are where much of Substack growth actually happens.

They involve collaboration with other writers, reader retention, and creating meaningful value behind the paywall.

Patterns many successful publications quietly rely on.

3. Collaboration With Other Creators

One of the fastest ways Substack publications grow is through collaboration.

Instead of trying to grow entirely alone, many writers build relationships within the platform.

There are several common collaboration methods.

Read more

Afterward, several readers wrote back with thoughtful follow-up questions.

Four questions in particular came up:

1. When is the right time to turn on paid subscriptions?

2. Will having a paywall create pressure to produce content?

3. How might the paywall work for fiction writers?

4. What part of the article goes behind the paywall?

These are excellent questions, especially for new writers who are building their Substack publication for the first time.

Let’s go through them one by one.

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Question 1: When is the right time to turn on paid subscriptions?

My perspective is simple: sooner than most people think.

The timing is less important than the clarity of your offer.

Before turning on paid subscriptions, you should understand three things regarding the clarity of your paid offer:

• What the reader is getting. What can they expect from you every week.

• What outcome or transformation your publication promises to give the reader.

• What your posting structure will look like.

If those three elements are clear, there’s no real reason to delay.

You can still publish plenty of free articles while your archive grows.

Turning on paid simply allows readers to support your work and gives you the option to build something sustainable over time.

Many new writers wait months before enabling paid subscriptions because they feel they need a large audience first.

In reality, what matters more is clarity and consistency, not audience size.

Question 2: Will I feel pressure once I turn on the paywall?

Yes, some pressure is normal.

When someone pays for your work, you’re making a promise to the reader.

That responsibility can feel intimidating at first, but it’s also motivating. The presence of paid subscribers creates structure and accountability.

The key isn’t to overcommit, but to overdeliver.

Before turning on paid subscriptions, decide:

• How often you will post.

  • For example, a free article every Saturday and a paid article every Wednesday.

• What type of content or product will be behind the paywall for paid subscribers only.

• What readers can consistently expect from you.

If those expectations are clear, the pressure becomes productive rather than stressful.

In other words, it becomes a framework and provides the structure that helps you show up consistently and deliver.

Question 3: How might the paywall work for fiction writers?

My own publications focus on nonfiction, so fiction writing isn’t my primary area of expertise.

However, the Substack paywall can absolutely work for fiction writers.

One example above is Nicolas Cole’s Substack publication, Commercial Fiction Club, which focuses on commercial fiction writing and has built a successful paid reader base and generates $1,000,000/year.

For fiction writers, the paywall could be used in several ways:

• 1 new paid post every Thursday morning.

• Behind-the-scenes commentary on the writing process and financial recaps.

• Step-by-step documentation to show how you built your paid newsletter from $0 to $1 million/year fiction business.

• Writing lessons or craft discussions.

• Exclusive chapters of a serialized story or early access to upcoming work of a new self-published book.

The exact format will vary, but the underlying principle remains the same.

Readers subscribe when they feel they’re receiving consistent value and meaningful content. That principle applies whether you’re writing essays, deep dives, poems, teaching skills, or publishing fiction.

Link to Commercial Fiction Club substack publication by Nicolas Cole

Question 4: What part of the article goes behind the paywall?

This is one of the most common questions new Substack writers ask.

The short answer is: the part that contains the deeper value.

Most successful Substack writers structure their articles like this:

1. Free section (before the paywall):

• Introduce the topic.

• Explain the problem.

• Share context or a short story.

This allows free readers to understand the idea and still receive value.

Then the paid section goes deeper.

2. Paid section (after the paywall):

• Frameworks

• Step-by-step breakdowns

• Detailed insights

• Actionable guidance

In other words, the free portion opens the conversation, while the paid portion delivers the deeper expertise.

A helpful way to think about it is this:

• The free section shows the idea.

• The paid section shows how to apply it.

If you want to use the paywall like a high-performing Substack writer remember to follow the Simple Paywall Framework.

Context → Insight → Depth.

If you’re just getting started, don’t overthink it. Focus on writing a strong article first, then place the paywall right before the most detailed insights or frameworks.

Final Thoughts: If You’re Stuck Right Now

The Substack paywall isn’t something to fear at all.

It’s simply a tool to monetize your work and build a reoccurring revenue machine that has the potential to generate you unlimited profits.

What matters most is clarity.

• Clarity about your publication angle and your paid subscription offer positioning.

• Clarity about what outcome or transformation the reader can expect to experience or achieve.

• Why someone would want to support it and who are they becoming by joining the paid tier.

When that’s clear, the rest becomes much easier.

It simply means you are creating the option for your work to become sustainable over time.

If you are building your Substack from scratch, focus on getting the fundamentals and foundation right first, so you can start posting with a top-tier, monetized, and professional looking publication.

• Choose a clear publication name.

• Write a strong About page.

  • What is this about, who is it for, who are you, and your promise to the reader and why they should the subscribe to your publication.

• Write a solid welcome email to the free subscribers with instant access to a free lead magnet and upsell to the paid tier subscription plan.

• Understand how the paywall works inside and out; it’s very simple.

When the structure is clear, publishing becomes much easier and frictionless.

That’s exactly what Unstuck to Published is designed to help you do.

Subscribe and follow along if you want step-by-step guidance on building your Substack the right way from day one.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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When people first start thinking about launching a Substack publication, the biggest obstacle usually isn’t writing.

It’s uncertainty.

New writers tend to circle the same questions again and again before they ever publish their first post.

Questions like:

• What should I name my Substack?

• When should I turn on paid subscriptions?

• What should go behind the paywall?

• How long should my first article be?

• What should I actually write about?

If you’ve been thinking about starting a Substack but haven’t launched yet, chances are one of these questions has slowed you down.

Let’s walk through the most common ones.

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1. How Do I Choose My Substack Name?

This is often the first point where people get stuck.

They want the name to be perfect before they launch.

In reality, the best Substack names are usually clear and descriptive, not overly clever.

A simple rule is this:

Your publication name should tell the reader what the publication is about.

Examples:

• How We Grow

• The Bitcoin Report

• Unstuck to Published

• Write With AI

• Commercial Fiction Club

A clear name helps readers immediately understand what they’re subscribing to.

And remember: you can always refine things later.

2. When Should I Turn On Paid Subscriptions?

Many new writers delay turning on paid subscriptions because they feel they need a large audience first.

In reality, you can turn on paid subscriptions much earlier than most people think.

The key is having a clear idea of:

• What readers receive.

• What problem you help solve for your audience.

• What kind of content will live behind the paywall.

• What your offer is, who is it for, and what are you promising them.

You can continue publishing free articles while offering additional depth for paid readers.

The important thing is that the offer is clear.

3. What Part of the Article Goes Behind the Paywall?

This is another very common question.

The simplest way to think about it is this:

• The free section explains the idea.

• The paid section explains how to apply it.

Free readers should still receive value from the article.

However, paid readers receive the deeper insights, frameworks, and detailed breakdowns.

This makes the paywall feel fair to readers while rewarding those who choose to support your work.

4. What Should My First Substack Article Be About?

Your first article doesn’t need to be complicated.

In fact, the best first posts are often simple.

Some good starting options include:

• Explaining what your publication will cover.

• Sharing the story behind why you started writing on Substack.

• Answering a common question in your field.

Your first article is simply a starting point, not a final product.

The most important step is publishing.

5. What If I Don’t Feel Ready Yet?

This is the quiet question behind all the others.

Many writers believe they need to feel fully prepared before they launch their publication.

However in practice, most successful Substack writers learned by doing.

• They launched the publication.

• They wrote the first post.

• They published 2-3 more articles.

Then, they refined things over time.

Momentum usually comes after the first few posts, not before.

The Real Pattern Behind These Questions

All five of these questions point to the same thing.

New writers are often trying to solve every problem before they ever publish, but Substack works best when you approach it as a process:

• Launch the publication.

• Write the first article.

• Learn as you go.

Clarity usually appears through action.

If You’re Stuck Right Now

The Most Important Step When Starting a Substack

If you’re thinking about starting a Substack publication, the most important step isn’t answering every question perfectly.

It’s simply getting started.

You can refine the name, improve the structure, and experiment with the paywall, but none of those things happen until the publication exists.

Start simple. Then build from there.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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🚨Want Help Getting Your Substack Published Today?!

If you’re currently thinking about launching your Substack, but haven’t taken the first step yet, I’m hosting a small live, 90-minute intensive workshop this evening, Friday 7PM EST called From Unstuck to Published.

In the workshop, we build your Substack publication from scratch together step-by-step so you leave with it set up the right way and ready to publish.

You can see the details and reserve your seat below:

Workshop Details & Sign-Up

They treat it like a tattoo.

Permanent. Emotional. Identity-defining.

So they wait.

• They brainstorm for weeks.

• They ask friends.

• They check domain availability.

• They change it again.

Here’s the truth:

Your Substack name doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be clear.

Let’s break this down simply.

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What A Substack Name Actually Does

Your publication name has one job:

To signal clearly what this is about.

• Not to be clever.

• Not to be poetic.

• Not to be mysterious.

Clear beats clever especially in the early stage.

The 4-Part Naming Framework

If you’re stuck choosing a publication name, use this structure.

1. Who Is It For?

Is this for:

• Founders

• Nurses

• New moms

• Entrepreneurs

• Busy professionals

• Futures traders

• Health coaches

• Poets

• Creators

• Millenials

• Dads

• Former Athletes

• Caregivers

If you can’t identify who it’s for, the name will drift.

Clarity about audience reduces naming friction immediately.

2. What Is It About?

Your name should signal the topic of the publication.

Examples of clarity:

• “Unstuck to Published”

• “The Bitcoin Report”

• “Blue Zone Living”

• “Piano Business Playbook”

• “How We Grow”

• “Elevate with Yung Pueblo”

• “Write with AI”

• “Marketing Ideas”

• “Secrets of Adulthood”

• “Notes from My iPhone”

You don’t need to be clever.

You need to be understood.

3. Is It Durable?

Ask:

Will this name still make sense in 2–3 years?

Avoid:

• Trend-based phrases.

• Extremely narrow angles.

• Names tied to one short-term idea.

Build something that can grow with you.

4. Can You Say It Out Loud?

• If you hesitate when saying it, that’s friction.

• If it’s hard to spell, that’s friction.

• If you need to explain it every time, that’s friction.

Simplicity wins. 🤝

What You Don’t Need To Do

You don’t need:

• The perfect .com domain.

• The most unique name on the internet.

• A poetic brand identity before publishing.

Substack isn’t a startup pitch. It’s a publication.

You need a clear name with a clear offer; not a brand.

Clarity > creativity in the beginning.

A Simple Naming Formula

If you’re stuck, try this:

• [Audience] + [Topic]

• [Topic] + Report

• [Topic] + Weekly

• [Audience] + Playbook

• [Topic] + Blueprint

Examples:

• Stock Market Playbook

• Banks Capital

• Level Up Newsletter

• Ghost in the Market

• Options Weekly

• Creator Structure

• NBA Draft Newsletter

• The Passive Income Blueprint

• Product Growth Playbook

• Functional Medicine Blueprint

Not flashy. Clear.

Want Help Building Your Substack Live?

If you want to go beyond choosing your publication name and actually build your Substack step by step, I’m hosting a small live workshop called From Unstuck to Published this Friday evening.

In the session, we build your Substack publication together in real time.

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

You can see the details and reserve your seat below:

Workshop Details & Sign-Up

Final Thoughts: If You’re Stuck Right Now

Your Substack name should reduce friction, not increase it.

If the name is stopping you from publishing, you’re overvaluing it.

• Choose something clear.

• Publish.

You can refine later.

Structure and clarity matter more than branding in the beginning.

If you want more foundational breakdowns like this, subscribe and follow along.

Unstuck to Published exists to help you build correctly from day one, with structure.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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Workshop Details & Sign-Up

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“Can you explain the paywall to me on Substack?”

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

What feels obvious to someone who has built multiple publications is often unclear to someone starting their first.

So let’s walk through it clearly and directly.

No hype. No complexity. No fluff.

Just how it works.

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What Is The Substack Paywall?

The paywall is a feature that allows you to restrict part (or all) of a post to paid subscribers.

• Free subscribers can read up to the paywall.

• Paid subscribers can read everything below it.

You choose where it goes.

It’s not automatic and it’s not random.

It’s manual and controlled by you.

How To Insert A Paywall

Inside your post editor, you’ll see an option to insert a paywall block.

You place it wherever you want the free preview to end.

1. Everything above it is visible to everyone.

2. Everything below it is only visible to paid subscribers.

You can:

• Put the paywall halfway through.

• Put it near the bottom.

• Lock the entire post.

• Or not use one at all.

It’s flexible.

What The Paywall Is Not

It’s not:

• A growth strategy.

• A trick.

• A pressure tactic.

It’s simply a structure.

It allows you to create two layers inside one publication:

• Free content.

• Paid content.

The clarity comes from how you use it. Paid content will be underneath the paywall you inserted and free content will be above it.

When Should You Use The Paywall?

Use it when:

• You are offering deeper instruction.

• You’re sharing premium frameworks.

• You’re giving detailed walkthroughs.

• You want to reward paid subscribers.

Don’t use it:

• Just to “have one.”

• Without clarity on what is premium.

• Before your foundation is built.

The paywall is a tool. Not a shortcut.

How To Enable Paid Subscriptions

1. Go to Dashboard. Go to Settings. Go to Payments.

2. Set up your Stripe account.

3. Link Stripe account to substack publication.

4. Enable payments “now” or “later.”

5. Add free and paid “benefits.” This is basically your “subscription offer.”

6. Make sure the toggle for “enable paid subscriptions” is turned on like below.

Link to Stripe account setup

The Simple Paywall Framework

If you’re unsure how to structure a post with a paywall, use this:

1. Context (Free Section)

• Explain the problem clearly.

2. Insight (Free Section)

• Share the main idea or lesson.

• Above the inserted paywall.

3. Depth (Paid Section)

• Deliver the step-by-step execution, framework, blueprint, or advanced breakdown.

• Below the inserted paywall.

That’s it.

Context → Insight → Depth.

This keeps your free readers engaged and your paid readers supported.

Final Thoughts: If You’re Stuck Right Now

The paywall isn’t complicated, but clarity around it matters.

If you’re building your Substack correctly from day one, you should understand every structural tool you’re using.

The paywall is one of them.🤝

If you’re building your Substack and want more clear, foundational breakdowns like this, subscribe and follow along.

Unstuck to Published exists to help you build correctly from day one, with structure.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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By 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 Substacks built correctly.

• No long runway.

• No polished funnel.

• No months of planning.

Just a clear idea and decisive action.

If you’ve been wondering how to launch your first paid offer on Substack without overthinking it, here is exactly what I did—and what you can apply immediately.

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The Conversation That Sparked It

On Thursday morning, I had a 1:1 Google Meet call with my mentor, .

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

She listened and then 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 added something important.

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

But the idea felt aligned. It felt immediately executable. It matched my experience.

So instead of refining it for weeks, I moved.

What I Built in the Next 48 Hours

I didn’t create a course.

I didn’t record modules.

I didn’t build a complex funnel.

I created a live, hands-on workshop called 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.

• Wrote a short email sequence.

• 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.

NP Fellow Become the CEO of Your Health

From Unstuck to Published Workshop: Build Your Substack from Scratch, The First Time—The Right Way

Why I’m Running This Again…

Read more

2 months ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Jessica Drapluk

The Decision-Mode Trap

There is a phase many creators get stuck in.

I call it decision mode.

• You outline the offer.

• You refine the messaging.

• You tweak the pricing.

• You adjust the page.

• You wait for better timing.

It feels productive; however, it’s protective.

As long as your offer lives in a document, it can’t fail.

The moment you launch, you get real data.

I could have stayed in decision mode for weeks.

Instead, I moved.

What Happened Inside The Workshop

Two attendees joined.

One had a finance and options publication.

One wanted to start a Substack for his piano business.

Different industries. Same friction.

We built everything live:

• Publication name

• Positioning

• Logo direction

• Welcome page

• Paid subscriptions enabled

• SEO structure

• Tag strategy

• First post framework

Because the room was small, I could be decisive. I could answer questions in real time. I could share insider optimization strategies most creators overlook.

Both left with:

• A publication built correctly.

• Clear structure.

• Brand design and clarity.

• A first post direction.

• Momentum.

What I Learned About Launching Fast

1. Clarity Comes From Commitment

Clarity rarely comes from thinking longer.

It comes from committing publicly.

Once I set the date, everything sharpened.

2. Small Rooms Create Stronger Results

Big webinars impress.

Small rooms transform.

If you are launching your first offer, intimacy is an advantage.

3. Revenue Is Proof, Not the Goal

The $291 mattered.

But what mattered more was this:

• People paid.

• People showed up.

• People got results.

That is proof.

Proof builds confidence. Confidence compounds.

The 48-Hour Smoke Test Framework

If you want to launch your first paid offer quickly, use this.

Step 1: Pick One Specific Problem

Not a massive transformation. One clear pain point.

Step 2: Deliver It Live

Live removes production delay and creates urgency.

Step 3: Price for Traction

Your first offer is about proof, not maximization.

Step 4: Set a Deadline

Deadlines convert ideas into action.

Step 5: Improve After Delivery

Iteration happens after execution. Not before.

Final Thoughts: If You’re Stuck Right Now

You don’t need:

• A massive audience.

• A perfect sales funnel.

• A long pre-launch.

You need alignment and movement.

• Pick the smallest version of what you want to teach.

• Set a date.

• Launch it.

• Refine with real data.

That’s how creators stop staying stuck.

And that is how you build your Substack the right way, the first time.

— Jessica

Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.

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