If you’ve been thinking about starting a Substack but haven’t launched yet, this framework is exactly what I use when helping creators move from planning mode to publishing.
Today’s article: The “Get Unstuck” Framework: how creators finally move from planning mode to publishing.
Like deciding which one to do, or stopping procrastination (which is what my current post series - advice for the young at heart - is about. Hopefully #4 the final one will be published soon. If I can stop procrastinating 😂) or following a process / method / framework. Which to me is what your great post is about.
As a Change professional I’d say - The framework is good & I don’t disagree.
Mine is a little different- writing it up, is also on my todo list.
Yours is good.
What I do think is important though is that the key to getting stuff done isn’t the idea as you say. Or doing things perfectly like your creatives example.
post on the same 1-2 days every week. Sundays and Wednesdays, boom.
instead of procrastinating and resisting, think about the people who need to read work and the impact you will have on them! that will get you writing!
That won’t work for me. I’m retired. I write on here for me. No one else.
If folk like what I say, then they’re very welcome to subscribe / follow. It’s appreciated.
If I can help people, that’s great. But it’s not my primary purpose.
I’ve plenty of things I do that I enjoy. I do (loosely) plan my week, based on what i want to do, what the weathers like and if there’s any anomalies in the diary.
Procrastination isn’t the issue for me on here. It’s fitting it in around the other stuff I enjoy doing.
Jess, this is such great advice, and in particular, "publish before you feel ready" is something that all Substackers should be doing. That niggling feeling of imposter syndrome is very real, but shouldn't stop us from publishing something that will ultimately help other readers as well.
posting on substack is much bigger than ourselves. its not about us. its about helping the readers. so if we reframe it to this article is going to help someone, hitting publish is an instant no brainer.
100% Jess clarity never comes before taking the first real step. You can read 10 books to learn anything but you will never learn as much as actually doing it.
I love this quote " It happens when you decide to move before everything is figured out." Yes absolutely... It the practice of it all that teaches us lessons we need to learn to succeed.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a Substack but haven’t launched yet, this framework is exactly what I use when helping creators move from planning mode to publishing.
Today’s article: The “Get Unstuck” Framework: how creators finally move from planning mode to publishing.
This is a good helpful article. I often say.
Ideas aren’t the problem…
and then follow it with whatever “issue” is.
Like deciding which one to do, or stopping procrastination (which is what my current post series - advice for the young at heart - is about. Hopefully #4 the final one will be published soon. If I can stop procrastinating 😂) or following a process / method / framework. Which to me is what your great post is about.
As a Change professional I’d say - The framework is good & I don’t disagree.
Mine is a little different- writing it up, is also on my todo list.
Yours is good.
What I do think is important though is that the key to getting stuff done isn’t the idea as you say. Or doing things perfectly like your creatives example.
It is about just doing it by following a method.
And why not follow yours.
create some structure for yourself!
post on the same 1-2 days every week. Sundays and Wednesdays, boom.
instead of procrastinating and resisting, think about the people who need to read work and the impact you will have on them! that will get you writing!
Nah. But thanks.
That won’t work for me. I’m retired. I write on here for me. No one else.
If folk like what I say, then they’re very welcome to subscribe / follow. It’s appreciated.
If I can help people, that’s great. But it’s not my primary purpose.
I’ve plenty of things I do that I enjoy. I do (loosely) plan my week, based on what i want to do, what the weathers like and if there’s any anomalies in the diary.
Procrastination isn’t the issue for me on here. It’s fitting it in around the other stuff I enjoy doing.
Ok if you only write for you that’s fine! Just write when you feel like it since it’s all for you anyways!! Just write when you enjoy it!!
Jess, this is such great advice, and in particular, "publish before you feel ready" is something that all Substackers should be doing. That niggling feeling of imposter syndrome is very real, but shouldn't stop us from publishing something that will ultimately help other readers as well.
thank you so much, Dr. Sam!
posting on substack is much bigger than ourselves. its not about us. its about helping the readers. so if we reframe it to this article is going to help someone, hitting publish is an instant no brainer.
Most creators aren’t stuck because they lack ideas—they’re stuck because they’re overthinking every little decision before even getting started.
Yep stuck in indecision, overwhelm, or analysis paralysis.
Great article, Jess! Perfection is just procrastination:)
Thank you, Vinayak! Very well said!
Great advice, completely agree! 🙌 such an inspiring read for everyone on Substack! 💛
wow, thank you so much, Sonia! I appreciate you! 🫶
100% Jess clarity never comes before taking the first real step. You can read 10 books to learn anything but you will never learn as much as actually doing it.
so true, Jess! you hit the nail in the head.
I love this quote " It happens when you decide to move before everything is figured out." Yes absolutely... It the practice of it all that teaches us lessons we need to learn to succeed.
thank you, Katerina!! I appreciate you reading and glad you enjoyed the article!
I just found this post of yours, and when I ran it through the little analysis tool I’ve been building, the structure lit up immediately:
Hook: the universal paralysis every creator knows — the quiet, private loop of opening Substack… then closing it.
Pattern: the real enemy isn’t lack of ideas, it’s “decision mode” — trying to solve every variable before taking the first step.
Authority: the lived example of your own workshop — clarity didn’t arrive before you moved, it arrived because you moved.
Turn: from “I need the perfect name, niche, logo, plan” → to “I need a working version and momentum.”
Mechanic: outcome → working name → foundation → publish — the four-step sequence that reliably breaks the stuck cycle.
Close: the reminder that momentum creates clarity, not the other way around.
What I love is how you make the invisible trap visible.
The tool flagged this as the real insight:
creators don’t stay stuck because they’re unprepared — they stay stuck because they’re waiting for clarity that only publishing can produce.
Beautifully done.