I haven't been long on Substack, and am only just getting started, but before I retired I was a regional news journalist for four decades, so I do have a few clues.

Here are some writing tips I would share, in case they help anyone who is struggling:

1. Start simple. You can expand it later. I start with a title (which I usually rewrite later) and a list of draft section titles e.g. for the ‘Surprising Boodjamulla’ report I started with the heading ‘Lawn Hill’ and section titles including, ‘Where isn't?’, ‘Getting there’, and ‘History’.

2. If you're writing and get stuck, just insert notes in brackets (‘We get lost’) and keep writing. Come back to it later. Writers write. It may not come out perfectly at first, but it’s a start. Allow time for the seeds to grow and flower. Then revise, maybe multiple times. Don't fret over spelling and grammar errors and clumsy phrasing, just get the rough ideas down and then revise until satisfied.

3. Work on several projects simultaneously. This gives you more time for projects to grow as you think about them e.g. I started intending to write one piece about ‘On the Dinosaur Trail’ in Western Queensland, but it is now morphing into several reports. Meanwhile I am at various stages with other projects. This gives your writing time to grow and also avoids being caught by a last-minute deadline into publishing prematurely.

4. I start a new Word document each time I think of a potential story idea. That reminds me of what is possible each time I go to Word. I do not transfer anything to Substack until I am ready to publish.

5. Save potential pictures progressively as possible illustrations of your future posts, so when the time comes you have a choice. Looking at your pictures can also stimulate content ideas.

6. Don't stress trying to write for a particular audience. Just write for yourself, an audience of one. There will be more people like you out there somewhere, they just haven't found you yet. So be true to your vision - that’s what makes your writing original.

7. Use Notes to stimulate interest in future long-form posts. Free subscribers might convert to paid if they are interested in what is coming. For example (here comes a shameless plug), 'Interested in dinosaurs, but know nothing about Australian dinosaurs? Sign up, it’s coming soon.’ Sorry about the plug, but hey, if you can’t blow your own trumpet, who else will? Hope those ideas help to reduce your writer’s block. What works for you? Let’s hear your tips.