Substack 101: So, You Want to Write on Substack But You Don’t Know Where to Start?

Join Nan Tepper, graphic designer, tech nerd, and writer! She'll show you the ropes.

Some of you may not know that in addition to writing The Next Write Thing, I do another thing. I teach writers how to create their own publications on Substack, from the bottom up. The basics, and then some finer points, too. I thought I’d share this with you, in case one or two or three of you are out there, wanting to jump in, but afraid to try! Read on…

How many of you have been reading all the great writing on the Substack platform, and thinking to yourself “I want to do that, too. I want to write and publish a newsletter of my own. “

You take a look around, and get intimidated by the tech, the challenge of navigating a platform that can be a little hard to untangle at the beginning. That’s where I come in. Let me help you get started. I’m really good at this.

Substack is the hottest newsletter platform around and is exploding in popularity. The audience of engaged, curious readers grows daily. You can create a Substack newsletter and thanks to its subscription model you might even make some money, too! I’m Nan Tepper––I’m commonly referred to by one of my clients as “The Substack Goddess”––and I’ll guide you through the steps to creating your presence on this exciting platform.

• Have you been itching to write here, but need a little guidance to help you get started?

• Do you understand best practices when it comes to strategies for publishing?

• Have you already created an account but found yourself flummoxed by the dashboard, by the tech?

• Do you know how to create wordmarks, logos, and welcome page graphics?

• Do you understand branding principles so that your publication pops and is memorable?

I’ll show you everything you need to know to jump in, identify your purpose, find a great name for your newsletter, and start writing AND publishing. I’ll offer helpful guidance for ways to build a loyal, interactive, and generous audience. I’ll show you how to navigate Substack and learn the ins and outs of being successful in the greatest writing community available today. In addition to the class time, I’m also providing an office hour for extra coaching.

You’ll get all your questions answered, we’ll brainstorm and prepare you for a fabulous launch utilizing this remarkable platform for publishing your work.

Questions? Message me now. Or, just go for it and sign up for the workshop!

KUDOS from workshop students:

“Nan’s class is not to be missed. Her knowledge is vast and her expertise is invaluable. But the best part of the class is her enthusiastic energy and very generous spirit.” ~ Deidre Byrne

“Nanland. A place I’ve been happy to inhabit for the last month, learning about Substack. A place with no physical markers, only Nan’s often delighted face, peeling off into laughter. A more open, genuine person, I have never met… if only in cyberspace.” ~ Emily Kelting, Ms. Adventures (under construction)

“Nan demystified Substack for me. She upped my presence in this extraordinary community” ~ One Minute Thoughts from a Pink Head by Lisa Cheek

“Nan’s workshop was both informative and fun – she helped us navigate our way around Substack with patience and aplomb. I highly recommend taking her classes, and you’ll likely acquire new friends, too!” ~ Jane Mundy Confesses

Nan Tepper is a creative non-fiction writer (mostly memoir) and graphic designer. She’s worked for over 10 years as the visual creator of Woodstock Bookfest (the sponsor of this workshop) and many other clients over the course of her 15-year career in web design.

She started her Substack newsletter, The Next Write Thing in January 2024, with 25 subscribers, and has grown her stack to over 2200 readers in 15 months.

Yesterday morning (6.5.25), Nan woke to find that she’d made it to the #73 spot on the Leaderboard for Rising in Literature! What???

She’s earned the distinction of becoming a Substack Bestseller by reaching a goal of over 100 paid subscribers. She’s also created a separate Substack business, StyleYourStack, so she can help other writers brand and grow their personal newsletters, providing them with the tools they need to attain success in this marvelous community of creators. Nan also offers design services and consulting.

See some reviews of Nan’s work.