Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay | Substack

Stay ahead of the curve.

May 16 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 Your 2026 Substack Starter Pack

Substack in 10 minutes, how to avoid the top 5 Substack mistakes, Notes in a nutshell, and more...

Jul 7 • Sarah Fay, PhD

40:52

How Susan Cain Built 'The Quiet Life' to 275,000 Subscribers

The Bittersweet and Quiet author on writing letters instead of posts, why she gives away paid memberships to anyone who asks, and the advice she gives…

6 hrs ago • Sarah Fay, PhD and Susan Cain

🔻 What All the Top Substacks Have: They Know Their Substack DNA

Why I turned down 'Substack for Dummies'

Jul 6 • Sarah Fay, PhD

1:1 Substack Book Launch Strategy Package

Concierge support for your (bestseller) book launch

Jul 28 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Most Popular

Post Less Often, Please

Dec 2, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Write Less, Please

Dec 9, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 The 4 Types of Notes That Get Traction in 2026

Feb 22 • Sarah Fay, PhD

The 15 Rules of Paywalling on Substack in 2026

May 11 • Sarah Fay, PhD

YOUR SUBSTACK STARTER PACK

🔻 Your 2026 Substack Starter Pack

Substack in 10 minutes, how to avoid the top 5 Substack mistakes, Notes in a nutshell, and more...

Jul 7 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 What All the Top Substacks Have: They Know Their Substack DNA

Why I turned down 'Substack for Dummies'

Jul 6 • Sarah Fay, PhD

10:06

🔻 Substack in 10 Minutes: From Newbie to Knowledgeable

Substack in a nutshell from your Substack Strategist.

Feb 26 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 How to Avoid the Top 5 Mistakes People Make on Substack

Feb 25 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 Tags ≠ Hashtags + Groups vs. Sections Explained

Tags are not hashtags; they are not for discoverability

Feb 23 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Recent posts

Substack Is a Feisty Place These Days...

The short version

Jul 28 • Sarah Fay, PhD

If you're a writer@work...

Jul 26 • Sarah Fay, PhD

The Truth About Substack's New AI Detection Tool

And how to create your 'How I Make This statement'

Jul 22 • Sarah Fay, PhD

💬 Calling All Substack Newbies!

Today's Substack networking event with the leading Substack strategist, Sarah Fay.

Jul 21 • Sarah Fay, PhD

SUBSTACK GROWTH

The Complete Guide to Substack Notes in 2026

The only expert guide to Notes from someone who has been on it from the beginning

May 26

Substack Lives: What's Great, What Worries Me, and Whether To Do Them

How to get people to your lives and use them to attract and convert subscribers

Apr 14 • Sarah Fay, PhD

1:07:09

The Million Dollar Question: Do Substack Followers Really Become Subscribers?

+ Your written guide to Notes that converts, pulls you out of your comfort zone, and stops you from feeling like you’re just posting into the void.

Apr 4 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Seth Werkheiser

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Stay ahead of the Substack curve—with the leading Growth Strategist, Sarah Fay.

EARN AN INCOME

The 15 Rules of Paywalling on Substack in 2026

What no one will tell you about the new "rules" around paywalling

May 11 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Strategizing Substack Gift Subscriptions

Substack Writers at Work Tuesdays!

Nov 18, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

How to Find Time to Write

5 ways to make time your friend and produce the excellent work you know you can

Oct 14, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

This Is Water: The Myth of the Substack Bestseller

Google how do I become a Substack bestseller and your search results will be crowded with YouTube videos and Substack posts and Medium posts with titles…

Sep 24, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

NOTES DEMYSTIFIED

Notes Hour One: The Complete Guide to Substack Notes in 2026

Substack Growth in 1 Hour a Week

Jun 30 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Substack Growth just got a lot easier...We can schedule Notes!

Could not be more excited.

Mar 23 • Sarah Fay, PhD

🔻 The 4 Types of Notes That Get Traction in 2026

A list and examples of Notes that are going viral to inspire you and make your life easier.

Feb 22 • Sarah Fay, PhD

43:40

Live Substack Notes Writing Workshop

Watch now (44 mins) |

Jan 14 • Sarah Fay, PhD

WORKSHOP LIBRARY

50:52

How Letter Writing Will Make You a Better Writer with Lindsay Hurty

Over 150 people showed up to learn how to write our Substack posts and articles using letter writing as a tool. Watch or listen to this incredible…

Jul 10 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Lindsay Hurty

52:11

How Journaling and the Haiku Can Feed Your Substack Creativity

Watch now (53 mins) | Substack Live with poet and professor Mary Hickman

May 2 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Mary Hickman

22:18

Use AI Transparently: You, Substack, and AI Workshop Replay and Written Guide

March 2026 Substack Essentials Workshop: Highlight reel ↑ Full replay & written guide ↓

Mar 8 • Sarah Fay, PhD

31:16

How to Create an Engaged and Vibrant Readership on Substack

Watch now (31 mins) | February 2026 Substack Essentials Workshop: Highlight reel ↑ Full replay & written overview ↓

Feb 8 • Sarah Fay, PhD

SUBSTACK LIVE!

40:52

How Susan Cain Built 'The Quiet Life' to 275,000 Subscribers

The Bittersweet and Quiet author on writing letters instead of posts, why she gives away paid memberships to anyone who asks, and the advice she gives…

6 hrs ago • Sarah Fay, PhD and Susan Cain

43:44

Become an exceptional bestseller with Simon Haisell

A recording from Sarah Fay, PhD's live video

Jan 27 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Simon Haisell

1:03:29

Self-promotion for people who hate self-promotion

The Substack Live! Podcast: Maya Popa

Dec 9, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Maya C. Popa

The Best of Substack Live!

» The chat has moved here! Ask all your Substack questions and connect with other Substack writers and creators in the comments of each week’s post.

Nov 25, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

WRITERS PATHWAY

41:46

Write Openings That People Open

+ How to open a post about

Mar 2 • Sarah Fay, PhD

What You Really Need to Know About Your Substack

Spoiler: The medium is the message

Feb 24 • Sarah Fay, PhD

You Don’t Have to Be a “Writer” to Write on Substack

Imposter syndrome be gone...

Feb 10 • Sarah Fay, PhD

3 Home Remedies for Substack Writer’s Block

A guide to Substack writer's block and how to avoid it from Northwestern University faculty member and bestselling writer Sarah Fay.

Jan 27 • Sarah Fay, PhD

SERIALIZATION PATHWAY

A Second Shot at Getting It Perfect: An Interview with Chuck Palahniuk

It’s such a joy to bring you my interview with Chuck Palahniuk. It’s nearly impossible to summarize Chuck’s incredible life and career, so I’ll do my…

Sep 26, 2023 • Sarah Fay, PhD

50:09

Serialize Your Novel or Memoir on Substack Workshop with Artistry and Ease

Watch now! This workshop is for writers who want to serialize a novel or memoir on Substack. You'll learn the ins and outs of the platform and exactly…

Jul 26, 2023 • Sarah Fay, PhD

26:50

Learning from Dracula: An interview with Matt Kirkland of Dracula Daily

Two quick reminders:

Jul 18, 2023 • Sarah Fay, PhD

What True Crime Teaches Us About Serializing on Substack

Lessons and possibilities for serializing your writing on Substack.

Jun 6, 2023 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

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Stay ahead of the Substack curve—with the leading Growth Strategist, Sarah Fay.

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