How Chris Got His First Paid Subscriber in 2 Days—Then 5 More After Fixing His First Publication
A real-time case study on clarity, positioning, and building a Substack that actually converts.
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.
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 logo.
Stripe setup (very important when running multiple publications).
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.
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.
Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate you.
— Jessica
Move first. Refine second. Publish with structure.
This is awesome! Delighted for you Chris and wishing you best of luck for the new one! Amazing Jess as always 👏
Thank you so much Jess for all of your help and easy to implement guidance! You are a powerhouse for a reason and so patient!