The Biggest Mistake New Substack Writers Make

In January 2025, I discovered Substack almost by accident.

And my first reaction was simple:
Wow. What a wonderful idea.

A platform for bloggers and creators where you can actually find readers.

I was genuinely excited because I know how incredibly difficult it can be to be seen on the internet at all. Too often, the loudest voices win — not necessarily the most thoughtful ones. The people who shout the most, create the most noise, or decorate everything with endless digital glitter often attract the most attention.

Of course, a few of those exist here on Substack as well.

But what surprised me even more was something else.

There is also a large and remarkable group of thoughtful, curious, generous people who have truly made Substack their home. Writers, artists, thinkers, and creators who share ideas, stories, and knowledge in a way that feels very different from most corners of the internet.

And that, I think, is what makes Substack special.

When I first arrived here, however, I also noticed something else.

I wish someone had handed me a clear thread to follow — a simple sense of where to begin.

Because when you first open Substack, everything looks exciting… but also a little overwhelming.

There are publications, recommendations, Notes, settings, sections, subscriber options, design choices, and suddenly you wonder where exactly you should start.

The good news is: it doesn’t actually have to be overwhelming.

One of the things I’m trying to build here is a calm, practical space on Substack where writers and creators can learn how the platform works — and where paid members get simple shortcuts that make starting much easier.

But before we talk about shortcuts and systems, we should address something much more important.

Because almost every new writer on Substack runs into the same problem at the beginning.

And that brings us back to the topic of this article:

Many people wait far too long before starting their Substack.

• They read guides.

• They watch tutorials.

• They study successful publications.

And somewhere along the way, they start believing they need to understand everything before they publish their first post.

But that belief quietly turns into a delay.

Weeks pass. Sometimes months.

And the publication they wanted to start never actually got off the ground.

It is one of the most common patterns I see among writers who are considering starting a Substack: they try to answer every question before taking the first step.

The truth is much simpler.

Substack is not something you fully understand before you start. It’s something you learn while you are doing it.

A lack of ideas does not block most new writers.
They are blocked by a few assumptions that seem reasonable — but actually slow them down.

Many writers believe their publication needs a perfectly defined concept before they start.

But clarity often appears after several posts, not before.

Your early posts help you discover what topics feel natural, what readers respond to, and what direction your publication might take.

Waiting for the perfect idea often unnecessarily delays the process.

Some writers spend a surprising amount of time thinking about visual details.

• The banner.

• The typography.

• The visual identity.

But design can evolve over time, and I can help you with it.

What matters far more in the beginning is simply publishing and learning how the platform works.

Another common thought is that a Substack publication needs a full long-term strategy before the first post appears.

In reality, many successful publications developed their strategy gradually.

Writers start publishing, observe what works, and refine their approach over time.

These three assumptions stop many writers before they even begin.

The good news is that starting a Substack is actually much simpler than most people think.

Instead of trying to solve everything at once, a few practical steps are enough to get your publication off the ground.

So the real question becomes:

Below, I’ll walk you through the simple steps that help you move from thinking about starting to actually launching your publication.

Continue as a paid subscriber to read the full guide.