Hey Reader,

I've been writing online for 7 years, and my work has been read by millions of readers.

But if I lost everything and had to start my journey as a creator from scratch today, I wouldn’t do what most people do.

I wouldn’t try to be present on multiple channels at once.

I wouldn’t spend months “getting ready.”

And I wouldn’t gamble my success on an algorithm lottery.

Here’s what I would do instead:

1. Pick a platform I own (and others can’t take away).

Right now, the go-to choice for most beginners is Substack because it's the easiest way to start building your email list.

You can always switch to more advanced tools like Kit or Beehiiv later.

But the major advantage of Substack over traditional email service providers is that Substack offers built-in discovery so that you can actually grow an audience instead of writing into the void.

On Substack, you own your email list. You can export it anytime.

No middlemen.

No gatekeepers.

Just you and your readers.

2. Start small, but show up consistently.

Skip a massive content calendar that overwhelms you within just a few days.

Start with one piece a week and a few short Notes on Substack.

Simple.

Repeatable.

Enough to build momentum.

3. Create something worth paying for early.

Forget the idea of building a 20-hour course or writing a massive book.

Build something simple and useful, like a workbook, a mini-course, or even a subscriber-only series.

It’s easier to grow when you have an offer that gives your audience a reason to support you.

That’s the game plan I’d follow today.

And it’s also the foundation of something exciting we’ve been building behind the scenes at Write • Build • Scale. 👀

I’ll share the full details with you on Thursday, and I think you’ll LOVE what’s coming.

Remember: the creators who win aren’t the ones who wait until they’re ready. They’re the ones who start imperfectly.

Talk soon,
Sinem

PS: What’s ONE thing that feels most confusing about starting or growing on Substack right now?

Reply and tell me. I’ll get back to you with a personal suggestion!