8 Steps To Consistently Publishing A Weekly Newsletter

In 2023, I started a weekly newsletter.

After reading Nicholas Cole's The Art & Business Of Online Writing I opened my Substack account.

The first goal was 24 weekly newsletters.

Almost 12 months later.

• I've written 60+ newsletters.

• Built a 214-day writing habit.

• Published 100s of posts on LinkedIn.

• Created a successful business.

Here are the 8 steps I used to build my habit:

1. Capture ideas.

Ideas come when you least expect them. Develop a system to quickly capture ideas that you can come back to.

1. Prep the page.

Spend 80% of your time on the "idea" and the "outline" to take the pressure off "the words."

1. Set a timer.

I never liked word counts. I found setting a timer more approachable. Start small and build the habit.

1. Write daily.

Skills are refined through repetition and deliberate practice. A daily habit will build breed consistency, and improve your skill. Writing daily also makes it easier to publish weekly and build a bank of content.

1. Write, then edit.

Don't edit while you write. Prep the page then start writing and come back and edit later.

1. Length doesn't matter.

Dan Koe writes 5,000-word newsletters. You don't have to. I've seen "minimal newsletters" that are as short as 3-sentences.

1. Choose a dedicated time to write.

I recommend the first thing you do in the day. This way, nothing "gets in the way." This breeds consistency, teaches prioritization, and primes your brain to be creative at that time.

1. Choose a platform.

Start with one. Expand later. Start with a platform that has "discoverability" so you have growth potential. I recommend Substack, LinkedIn, or Medium if you're writing.

Then apply a healthy dose of patience.

Newsletters are long-term branding plays and don't translate into large audiences and $$ overnight.

Hope this helps.

Landon