August is les vacances in France, which means everything closes for the month and everyone disappears to the countryside, me included. So I’m keeping things simple this week.
This is my most popular, most downloaded resource in my year and a half on Substack, and I’m making it 100% free for everyone. Consider it my thank you for helping this little publication reach 26,000 (!!!!) subscribers. That number still doesn’t feel real.
I’ll be back next week with fresh downloads, including the next 30-day Notes calendar I send out monthly. For now, grab the workbook, something cold, and a good spot in the shade… then get to work ✌🏽 See you next week!
Starting a Substack sounds simple, until you sit down to actually build it. You open the dashboard, stare at the blank bio box, and suddenly realize you’re supposed to know your niche, your reader, your content plan, your posting rhythm, and the way you want to earn (all while you’re still trying to remember your Substack password!).
It’s a lot to hold without a framework. Most people end up winging it, and that’s usually when the newsletter drifts to the back burner and the monetization piece never really lands.
This workbook steps in before the overwhelm settles and things get a little… off-track.
Your First $1K guides you through the decisions that determine how your newsletter grows and how it earns. Instead of guessing your way through the details that will shape your progress, you’ll build a foundation that supports a clear direction and a realistic income path. This looks like:
Shaping the “why” of your newsletter
Defining the themes and topics you’ll return to
Understanding the reader you’re writing for
Crafting your Substack identity and profile description
Selecting a revenue pathway you can actually follow
Mapping out your long-form content plan
Planning your weekly Notes and visibility habits
Building out your first sponsorship or product idea
Identifying collaborations that support growth
Organizing a simple cross-promotion strategy
Creating a 30-day launch plan you can stick to
By the time you work through these 49 pages, your Substack will stand on solid ground. You’ll know what you’re building, who it’s for, how you want to earn, and what your next growth steps look like.
Monetizing your work won’t feel abstract anymore… it will be tangible. Think: mornings where you make coffee, open your laptop, and see payout notifications waiting in your inbox — reminders that your writing is beginning to support your life. Or knowing that your Substack is earning for you, whether you’re cozy at home, getting lunch with girlfriends, or on a solo Euro trip to your dream destination.
Weekly: Downloadable resources. Workbooks, digital tools, and guided rituals to help you live with intention and build the life/business you’re dreaming of.
2x month: Becoming the Main Character in My Own Story. My year-long glow-up across fitness, nutrition, relationships, finances, mindset, and PCOS, with coaches and experts in each area. Twice a month, you’re getting the same guidance I am.
Monthly: Live Coaching. I go live once a month to answer your questions about Substack growth, creative entrepreneurship, living abroad, digital nomadism, and more.
Monthly: On the fourth Wednesday of every month, we host a Networking hour via zoom at 9am PST/ 12pm EST / 5pm GMT. You introduce yourself and what you’re building, whether that’s a Substack, a small business, or something else, then bring one thing you’re stuck on. The group jumps in with ideas and feedback. A zoom link will be sent out the day prior each month.
Throughout the Month (Free + Paid Subscribers):
Substack Strategy Guides: What I’m learning, testing, and seeing work in real time as I grow Petal + Hearth, so you can apply it to your own publication.
Her Best Life: A series where I ask my favorite Substack creators to share the specific choices and rituals that have shaped the dreamy lives they have today, so you can borrow what fits your own.
Monthly Roundup: Curated recommendations from my life in France to keep you inspired. Books, tools, rituals, and everything I’m loving from this side of the world.
For the cost of a monthly croissant and chai latte, you’ll unlock the full Petal + Hearth experience — weekly downloads, private essays, and access to the growing Member Vault of resources designed to help you romanticize your everyday life.
A Strategic Workbook for Substack Creators
About the Author:
Hey there! I’m Olivia, the heart behind Petal + Hearth. I’m a full-time Substack writer, originally from California, now living in the south of France. Here, I write about life abroad, what I dub ✨main character energy ✨, and what it really takes to build a creative business you love. When I’m not writing, I’m teaching other writers on how to grow their own Substack publications. It’s the kind of life I once only dreamed about, and I’m so glad you’re here for it.
Want to go deeper? Here’s how I can help:
🍭 Founding members get a personal annual Substack audit, plus monthly groups coaching calls and more.
🪩 How to Take Your Substack Full-Time is my full course for going from a newsletter you love to an income you can live on.
✨ Get your product or service in front of my audience through a sponsored newsletter.
❤️🔥 And if you want to hang outside of your inbox, find me Instagram or LinkedIn!!
💬 Feel free to like or comment on this newsletter so more Substack users can find it! ♥️
Thanks for reading Petal + Hearth! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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