Write Openings That People Open

The Minimalist's Guide to Substack: The Magic of the Golden Nugget Post

Welcome to our new series for paid subscribers: “The Minimalist’s Guide to Substack.” Declutter your Substack brain and life, so you can actually grow in what is an increasingly crowded Substack landscape. The biggest mistake I see on Substack is people making it way too complicated. Principle #1: Post when you have something worth sending. Each post should pass two tests: Is this something people need right now? Is this something they could get from ChatGPT? Enter the Golden Nugget post. It's an easy, short post you can create when you don't have time for a full, high-quality post. A gift—a book, a song—something that doesn't ask readers to do anything. A full post, not a Note, that comes from a genuine desire to share one thing that means something to you right now. No call to action, no questions for comments. Don't make readers do any work. But a Nugget post isn't about you. It's a gift to your readers—something they can absorb without much effort. The Nugget gives you and your readers breathing room while maintaining connection. Join SW@W [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/] Book a Substack Strategy 1:1 with me [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/p/creating-a-substack] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Million Dollar Question: Do Substack Followers Really Become Subscribers?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Nearly 250 paid subscribers came to the monthly paid-subscriber live with Seth Werkheiser [https://substack.com/profile/4922998-seth-werkheiser] of SOCIAL MEDIA ESCAPE CLUB [https://open.substack.com/pub/socialmediaescapeclub]. » I love when we all get to be together. Seth walked us through a 4-step approach to Notes that converts, pulls you out of your comfort zone by showing you how to engage with others, and stops you from feeling like you’re just posting into the void. Listen for more and if you aren't a paid subscriber to Substack Writers at Work, become one: www.substackwritersatwork.com [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/]

Write Openings That People Open

How your Substack posts land in your reader's inbox matters more than you think. In this live, I walk through what your subscribers actually see when your post arrives, how to find out where you're being read (email, app, or web), and why creating a familiar, consistent post structure is more important now than ever. I also cover what's working with images, why stock photos can devalue your writing, and how to think about your opening lines so readers actually want to stay. https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/ [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Become an exceptional bestseller with Simon Haisell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

3 Home Remedies for Substack Writer’s Block

Part of the Substack Writer at Work Series. In 2026, I’ll be giving paid subscribers and Premier members a taste of the writing guidance I use with my students at Northwestern and my Craft of Writing on Substack course. Today, we dive into Substack writer's block, a unique but common ailment. Substack writer’s block looks like not posting—or posting lifelessly. Or giving up entirely. There are a lot of dead Substacks: Many as a result of “writer’s block.” SW@W homepage [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/] » Thank you for being part of the best community on Substack! Please share Substack Writers at Work and invite others to join us for real, long-term Substack growth. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe [https://www.substackwritersatwork.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]