Confused by Substack? These 10 Lessons Saved Me

Substack felt like a maze—here’s what finally worked

Struggling to get readers to actually feel something when they read your stuff?
There’s a reason some posts go viral while others flatline. On Monday, I’ll show you the key shift that changed everything for me.

Founding members get in free — everyone else can grab a one-off ticket here.

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You open Substack.

You’ve got the urge to write, the itch to finally start…

…and suddenly your brain goes full buffering wheel.

Do I start with a Note or a Post?
Do I need a welcome email?
How do people even find me on here?
And what’s the deal with Chat?

You’re not lazy. You’re not clueless. You’re just lost in a sea of tabs and second-guessing.

I’ve been there.

When I started, I had no clue what I was doing.

But over time, I figured out what actually works—and what just drains your energy and keeps you stuck.

Here are 10 lessons that helped me go from anonymous to earning real money from my writing on Substack.

If you’re feeling invisible or feel like everyone else has cracked the code except you…

this list is for you.

1. Stop trying to outsmart the algorithm—just hit publish

Your perfectionism isn’t protecting you. It’s paralyzing you.

While you’re fiddling with a subhead, someone else is shipping their “meh” draft and growing faster. Set a focus 1 Note a day. 1 post a week. You decide. Redefine that as success.

Consistency kills fear. Clarity follows action.

2. Substack feels like a maze? Good. Just pick a door

Notes. Posts. Chats. Live. Podcasts. Recommendations. Cross-posts.

Feels like IKEA instructions written in code. But you don’t have to master it all at once.Pick one. Use it. Ignore the rest. Learn to use one feature per month. This will give you clarity amid the chaos.

(If in doubt start on Notes. Stuck where to start? This will help).

3. Community building = the art of not making it about you

Substack gives you a mic.

But before you start belting your life story… try listening. Comment. Encourage. Be a fan. Don’t give your life to this. Devote 15 minutes a day. Then switch it off.

Simple but It’s how invisibility dies—and connection begins.

4. New writer? Shrink your scope

Forget your 3,000-word magnum opus.

Start with a 500-word scalpel that solves one problem. Make them say:"That’s exactly what I needed today." Everyone’s drowning information. But we still writer’s who can show us the way. Be useful.

That’s how you become essential.

5. Templates = training wheels (not a life sentence)

Yes, use them.

(My paid subs adore their weekly dose).

But don’t sound like a copy-paste carbon clone. Spill some of your weird into every paragraph. People don’t subscribe to robots—they follow you.

6. Getting paid isn’t greedy—it’s generous

Money isn’t dirty. It’s energy.

A reader saying, “Your words changed something for me. Here’s my thank-you.” You’re not selling out. You’re stepping up.

7. Should you flip the pay switch? Maybe not yet

Ask yourself:
– Do people reply with “this hit me hard”?
– Can you deliver without spiraling into burnout?
– Are you writing for someone real, not just the idea of an audience?

If not, keep giving. Trust is your down payment.

8. Your voice isn’t lost—it’s underused

Stop chasing “your voice” like it’s a mythical beast. It shows up when you do.

Write. Publish. Repeat. Do that for 6 months. Then you’ll look back and think:

There I am.

9. Substack’s superpower? Trust that grows on trees

Notes get you seen. Posts get you kept.

• Use Notes like the handshake.

• Use Posts like the heart-to-heart.

One builds reach. The other builds roots.

Together they are potent mix.

10. Your first dollar will break something (in the best way)

The moment someone pays you?

A little “click” goes off in your brain: “I can do this.”

It’s not just income—it’s proof. Proof that your words matter.

Here’s the bottom line:

You don’t need more motivation. You need a map.

This? It’s your compass.

You’re not too late. You’re not too small. And you’re definitely not too boring. You’re just one post away from momentum. So stop refreshing someone else’s stats.

And start building the version of you that writes for a living.

Derek

PS. At my live workshop on Monday I’ll walk you through the exact technique that helped my writing finally get noticed. If you’ve been feeling invisible, this might be the thing that flips the switch. Grab your ticket here.