The Substack Note formula most creators miss

Smarter Substack | Mar 25, 2026

Most creators overthink what to write and underestimate how to write it. Today’s links fix both.

Here’s what’s worth your time today:

✍️ Writing

How to Write Your First 10 Newsletters on Substack — Nicolas Cole and Dickie Bush share the "10 Magical Ways" framework: a simple structure that gives any creator 10 ready-to-write newsletter formats from a single topic. Tips, steps, mistakes, examples, personal stories — stack them inside each section and the value compounds fast.

👉 Read the framework

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📈 Growth

The Two Substack Note Types That Make People Hit Subscribe (They’re Not What You Think) — After analyzing months of Notes data, Tracy Friedlander found that only two types consistently drove real subscribers: “shared enemy” Notes that name what your audience is fed up with, and “permission” Notes that release the shame your readers carry quietly. The catch: you can’t fake either one.

👉 Read it here

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💰 Monetization

4 Questions New Substack Writers Ask About the Paywall — When to turn on paid subscriptions, whether it creates pressure, how fiction writers can use it, and exactly where to place the paywall in an article. Jess from Unstuck to Published answers the follow-up questions her paywall explainer sparked — practical, no-fluff, and useful for anyone still sitting on the fence.

👉 Get the answers

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P.S. Ready to build a Bestselling Substack publication? Grab the free workbook — packed with proven strategies to grow, engage, and monetize your newsletter.

📙 Get free access