✨ Join 36,000+ subscribers in a thriving online community

✨ One of the Top 10 Substacks, globally
✨ Trusted by Substack writers and creators since 2022

The Definitive Guide to Substack

I’m so glad you’re here! Welcome to Substack Writers at Work—where you learn from an expert.

You’re here because Substack is the most amazing platform, you have so much to give and share, and you have finally found a place to share it.

But there’s a lot of noise about how to “do” Substack.

I will save you from spending years failing around on Substack, not understanding the platform, following bad advice, feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, and not seeing real growth.

Substack Writers at Work is where you

• get subscribers,

• earn an income,

• build a loyal readership, and

• produce writing that your subscribers (and paid subscribers) really want to read and keep reading.

No tricks. No silly marketing tactics. Just you and guidance from an expert who knows.

All the guidance you receive is based on the advice Substack gave me and my work with 700+ writers and creators one-to-one and tens of thousands here at Substack Writers at Work.

I’ve distilled what works across all Substacks in my Substack Growth System and show you how to personalize it to your Substack.

✦ AS A PAID SUBSCRIBER, YOU RECEIVE:

Get 1 month free now with the annual ($99/year)

• The Substack Core 4 Keys to Success in the library of on-demand workshops to watch at your convenience ($1200 value)

• Insider guidance on how to build a loyal readership and earn an income in our Monthly Mastery Workshops (replays always available) ($420 value)

• The most up-to-date information and cutting-edge guidance on Substack delivered to your inbox and the full archive of essential posts ($ priceless)

• Invites to our paid-subscriber-only networking events ($ doubly priceless)

• The chance to be part of an amazing community of writers and creators, all helping each other succeed on the platform ($ triply priceless)

*I encourage you to commit to being on Substack with my guidance for a year and get the discounted annual subscription. Substack is a long game. You, your Substack, and your career are worth it.

What subscribers say:

“Sarah knows Substack inside and out, and combines her knowledge plus intuition, smart strategy, and incredibly generous vision to help Substackers reach more readers with less struggle! Super helpful!” —Jeannine Ouellette, Writing in the Dark

“Sarah is a remarkable expert on Substack. If you’re interested in growing your Substack and/or learning more about this platform, she’s your woman.” —Esmé Weijun Wang, The Unexpected Shape

“Substack Writers at Work is invaluable for all those looking to write on Substack.” —M.E. Rothwell, Cosmographia

“Sarah’s Substack workshops are BRILLIANT—her Substack knowledge is deep, considered and so generous. Join her community—don’t pause, just get in there, I’ll meet you there!” —Claire Venus, Sparkle on Substack

“Sarah Fay knows pretty much everything there is to know about Substack, including how to use it to develop your writing skills, and advice on publishing.” —Linnhe Harrison, Sails on the Horizon

“Sarah Fay’s teaching style is top-notch! Even if you have a strong writing background, it’s easy to get lost on Substack. Following Substack Writers at Work gives me guidance each month on how to boost my newsletter.” —The Naked Page

“Sarah Fay is a gifted teacher. She has the ability to make everything clear, she turns the grey zone into black and white while providing very useful tools I can use right away. She provides the greatest value for a paid subscription of anyone on Substack.” —Donna McArthur, The Bright Life

Real strategies. No hype.

About me

I’m Sarah Fay (MFA, MA, PhD). All the guidance you receive is based on the advice Substack gave me and my experience as the world’s leading Substack Strategist, who’s helped 700+ writers and creators double and triple their subscribers, sharply increase their revenue, get real engagement, and be chosen as Featured Substacks—the pinnacle of quality on the platform.

I’m also the creator of two bestselling, featured Substack publications, including Substack Writers at Work—one of the top 10 Substacks globally. I’m an award-winning author at HarperCollins; a member of the creative writing faculty at Northwestern University; a former advisory editor at The Paris Review, a freelance writer at The New York Times, The Atlantic, et al. You can check out my author Substack here.

I write for many publications, including The New York Times, Oprah Daily, The New Republic, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, and The Paris Review, where I was an advisory editor. My essays have been nominated for Pushcart prizes and chosen as notable mentions in Best American Essays. I’m the recipient of the Hopwood Award for Literature and grants and fellowships from Yaddo, the Mellon Foundation, and the MacDowell Colony, among others.

I live in Chicago with my two beloved cats, Sweets and Baby Theo. More than anything, I want a t-shirt that says, Ask me about my cats. (All typos in all posts are Baby Theo’s fault.)

I’m so glad you’re here.

All my best,

Sarah

P.S. Become a paid subscriber today to get the limited-time Substack Strategy Handbook A-Z.

P.P.S. The fastest way to get subscribers and earn an income is to get personalized guidance from me 1-to-1. I see a select number of private clients. Find out more about my 1:1s here.

P.P.S.S. I subsidize a 3-month paid membership for anyone on a fixed income. If this is you, email me: sarah@substackwritersatwork.com.