My name is Alex Lewis, and I joined Substack in December 2022. My newsletter, Feels Like Home, is now home to more than 3,500 subscribers and receives over 20,000 monthly reads. I started the newsletter to explore some of my favorite things (like music, sports, and pop culture) and to have a creative outlet outside of my 10-year career in social media marketing.
Here are the steps I took to grow my newsletter by 7,000% in less than three years and how it continues to help me avoid burnout and maintain my love for writing. Let’s get into it.
(Below I've pulled out my favorite tip. — ed.)
4. I “stole” from my favorite writers.
Your fellow Substack writers are the best blueprint for getting started.
I began my Substack journey on a whim. After months of putting off starting a newsletter, I finally decided to jump all in. Not knowing where to begin, I looked at publications from Substack writers I already followed, such as Hunter Harris and Emily Sundberg.
By looking at their newsletters, I gained a better understanding of how I wanted to structure my About page, as well as what to include in the header and footer of my emails. While I made the words my own, they helped me learn what’s possible with my publication.
Austin Kleon, whose self-titled Substack has 297,000 subscribers, authored the book, Steal Like An Artist. Within the guide, Kleon quotes fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: “Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.”
Your best path forward isn’t plagiarism; it’s learning from the writers and creators you admire. It’s letting the best of what they do inspire you to make the best work you can.
