Substack Writers at Work | Sarah Fay | Sarah Fay, PhD | Substack

NEW TO SUBSTACK? Here are my top tips:

2:27

The Substack Tech Most People Get Wrong: Tags, Sections, and Groups

Tags, groups, and sections demystified

Dec 22, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Your Substack 2026 Pathway

How to avoid the top 5 Substack mistakes, the tech essential most get wrong, and how to stop feeling like you're posting into the void on Notes, what…

Dec 11, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

What the Algorithm Actually Favors: Your Substack DNA

Your Substack DNA

Dec 10, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

The Top 5 Mistakes People Make on Substack

Nov 27, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

The 4 Types of Substack Notes in 2026

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

Nov 25, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

PAID-SUBSCRIBER WORKSHOP LIBRARY

31:16

Replay, Overview, and 30-minute Highlight Reel: 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

16:13

Curate Your Substack Life by Setting Your 2026 Substack Goal

January 2026 Substack Essentials Workshop: Highlight reel ↑ Full replay & written overview ↓

Jan 4 • Sarah Fay, PhD

15:13

How to Raise Your Open Rates Replay: December Substack Essentials Workshop

I take you through all the changes in how Gmail, Apple mail, etc. filter your Substack emails in 2026 and show you exactly how to make sure yours goes…

Dec 7, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

1:04:43

Video Is the Future on Substack Workshop Replay

Watch now | + My complete list of recommended video resources and equipment

Nov 9, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

GROW YOUR SUBSCRIBERS

Likes, Comments, and Shares (oh, my!)

A Substack community and engagement primer

Feb 3 • Sarah Fay, PhD

How To Tell If Your Substack Has the Foundation You Need to Grow

Having worked 1:1 with thousands of Substack writers, I can tell pretty quickly if someone’s Substack has the foundation needed for real, long-term…

Jan 20

How the Substack Notes Algorithm Really Works in 2026

+ Join the new 2026 Notes Boost Challenge—the original, the one and only

Jan 13

Substack Writers at Work | Sarah Fay

Substack Writers at Work | Sarah Fay

Your all-in-one guide to real Substack growth—with the leading Substack Strategist, Sarah Fay

EARN THE INCOME YOU DESERVE

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

Paywalling ≠ Paid Subscribers: What Actually Works on Substack in 2025

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

Sep 17, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

NOTES DEMYSTIFIED

43:40

Live Substack Notes Writing Workshop

Watch now (44 mins) |

Jan 14 • Sarah Fay, PhD

The 4 Types of Substack Notes in 2026

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

Nov 25, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Your Notes Boost

How this works:

Oct 14, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

12 Essential Templates to Make Notes Much Easier

Make growth and your life on Notes much, much easier

Jul 8, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Substack Premier Membership

Reminder! Your monthly Premier Call is this week

Your all-in-one guide to real Substack growth—with the leading Substack Strategist, Sarah Fay

Feb 2 • Sarah Fay, PhD

January Premier Strategy Call: the new Notes + the magical planner to achieve your goals

Highlight reel ↑ Full replay link, highlight reel time stamps & resources ↓

Jan 12 • Sarah Fay, PhD

26:11

Your January Premier Membership Calendar and Links

Access January's Premier Membership Substack DNA strategy calls. Join 36,000+ writers mastering growth. Get your calendar and links now.

Jan 3 • Sarah Fay, PhD

What is the Substack Premier Membership?

+ All your questions answered

Dec 22, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

Your Substack Premier Membership in 2026

Your Premier hub

Dec 22, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

THE SUBSTACK LIVE PODCAST

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

1:04:36

Be Contrarian with Substack Icons Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick

The Substack Live Podcast: Jessica DeFino and Emily Kirkpatrick

Nov 25, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD, Emily Kirkpatrick, and Jessica DeFino

SUBSTACK FOR AUTHORS

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

1:00:51

The Truth About Building a Writing Career in 2025

The Substack Live Podcast: Rufus Griscom

Aug 14, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD and Rufus Griscom

Substack Authors: You and Your Books Deserve to Sell and Keep Selling

Mar 30, 2025 • Sarah Fay, PhD

SERIALIZE

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

Mini-Course: Kickstart Your Memoir

Here, you’ll pre-write (or re-focus) your memoir so that you can serialize it in a way that people keep reading and prepare yourself mentally and…

Jul 13, 2023

Substack Writers at Work | Sarah Fay

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Your all-in-one guide to real Substack growth—with the leading Substack Strategist, Sarah Fay

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