Most fellows overthink their Substack newsletters.
They wait for inspiration to strike. They spend hours crafting the perfect essay. They over-edit and agonize over every sentence.
And then they wonder why they can’t publish consistently.
You don’t need to start from scratch every time you sit down to write. One of the best ways to be consistent is by stop overthinking your post structure and squeezing every drop of creativity into your ideas.
I’m going to share 3 proven newsletter templates you can steal today. These work whether you’re brand new to Substack or you’re growing past your first 1,000 subscribers.
What Makes a Good Substack Newsletter Template?
Before we dive into the templates, let’s get clear on what actually works.
Don’t lose your voice
I see many people providing copy and paste templates with ready-made sentences, etc.
These are stupid because they’re too rigid and will make you lose your words.
Great templates simply show you how to organize your ideas instead and allow you to write like you’re talking to a friend over a cup of coffee.
Write about anything in minutes
Great templates should allow you to talk about any idea in an interesting way.
They should be so effective, that your reader won’t notice you used a template.
I’ve been obsessed with templates for the past seven years. And what I’m going to share with you are one of the bests you could ever find.
Template #1: The Personal Story Newsletter
This is my favorite template because stories do something facts can’t—they stick in people’s minds.
Structure
Here’s the framework (called PAR-TAR):
- Problem: The struggle you faced
- Action: What you tried first
- Result: Initial outcome (usually not great)
- Trigger: What changed your approach
- Action: What you did differently
- Result: Final transformation
Why This Works
People connect with human experiences, not dry theory.
Stories are memorable. Facts aren’t.
And here’s the kicker: This format shows transformation without “teaching.” You’re not writing a tutorial. You’re showing how you figured something out through trial and error.
That’s content AI can’t replicate. Your personal experience is the moat.
When to Use This
Use the personal story template when you have relevant experience to share. When you’re building trust and authenticity. When you want to differentiate yourself from everyone else writing generic advice.
The “Share Your Scars” Principle
Don’t just share your wins. Share your mistakes. Your failures. The dumb things you tried that didn’t work.
People trust vulnerability more than bragging.
If you’re a marketing consultant, don’t just write about your successful campaigns. Write about the launch that flopped. The $5,000 you wasted on Facebook ads. The client you fired (or who fired you).
That’s what makes you human. That’s what builds connection.
Example Framework
Let me show you what this looks like:
Subject: I wasted 6 months writing content nobody read
I spent half a year publishing 3,000-word blog posts twice a week.
SEO-optimized. Perfectly formatted. Packed with value.
Zero sales. Barely any subscribers.
I thought I was doing everything right. Long-form content. Comprehensive guides. Everything the “experts” said to do.
Then I talked to someone who was making six figures from a newsletter.
He asked me: “How often do you pitch your products?”
I said never. I thought people would find my offers on their own if the content was good enough.
He laughed. Not in a mean way, but in a “oh buddy” kind of way.
He told me to start pitching in every email. Soft pitches. Just a line or two at the end.
I tried it. Felt sleazy at first.
Made my first sale within a week.
If you’re creating content but not making sales, you’re probably making the same mistake I did. You’re waiting for people to ask instead of offering.
[Link to your paid product here]
See how that works? Problem, action, result, trigger, action, result. Then a soft pitch at the end.
Takes maybe 15 minutes to write once you get the hang of it.
Template #2: The Listicle Newsletter
This is your “fast food” content. Quick to write, easy to consume.
Structure
- Brief intro (1-2 sentences)
- 3-7 tips, mistakes, or resources
- Each point: 1-2 sentences max
- Quick closing with relevant offer
Why This Works
Listicles are fast to write and easy to read.
People can scan them on their phones while waiting at a red light or sitting on the toilet. (Yeah, I said it. That’s where most of your emails get read.)
They’re also great for repurposing knowledge you already have. You don’t need new insights. Just package existing ideas in a list format.
When to Use This
Use listicles when you’re short on time but need to publish. When you’re breaking down a complex topic into bite-sized pieces. When you need daily content and want to rotate different angles on the same core problem.
The Weekly Sprint Approach
Here’s a trick for generating a week’s worth of content in about an hour:
Pick one central problem your audience faces.
Then write 7 different angles on that problem:
- Day 1: Personal story about the problem
- Day 2: Tool or resource that helps
- Day 3: Quick tip they can implement today
- Day 4: Rant about bad advice in your niche
- Day 5: Common mistakes people make
- Day 6: Motivational message
- Day 7: Answer a reader question
Same problem. Seven different formats. Boom—a week of content.
Example Framework
Here’s what a listicle newsletter looks like:
Subject: 5 mistakes killing your newsletter growth
Most people sabotage their own newsletters without realizing it.
Here are the biggest mistakes I see:
1. Publishing sporadically. Consistency beats quality. If people forget you exist between emails, you’ve already lost.
2. Writing novels. Keep it short. 200-300 words. If it takes more than 3 minutes to read, it’s too long.
3. Not pitching your products. Every email should link to something you sell. Period.
4. Trying to teach everything. Save the step-by-step tutorials for your paid products. Free content should shift minds, not provide implementation guides.
5. Waiting for perfection. Ship it. Typos and all. You’ll get better by doing, not by overthinking.
Fix these and you’ll see growth.
[Link to your paid product here]
That probably took 10 minutes to write. Maybe less.
Template #3: The Contrarian Take Newsletter
This template is for when you want to stand out and establish your unique philosophy.
Structure
- Bold statement challenging common belief
- Why the common wisdom is wrong
- What to do instead
- Your unique perspective or experience
- Close with offer
Why This Works
Contrarian takes grab attention immediately.
They establish your unique philosophy. They polarize your audience—which sounds bad until you realize that polarization attracts your ideal buyers while repelling everyone else.
You don’t want everyone to like you. You want the right people to love you.
When to Use This
Use this template when you genuinely disagree with standard advice in your niche. When you’re positioning yourself differently. When you want to attract “superfans” who align with your views.
But here’s the key: It has to be genuine. Don’t fake a contrarian take just for attention. People smell bullshit from a mile away.
The Sacred Cow Method
Here’s how to find good contrarian angles:
Identify what the “gurus” in your niche preach. The stuff everyone repeats without questioning.
Find what you disagree with based on real experience. Not theory. Not because it sounds edgy. Because you’ve actually tried it and found a better way.
Share your honest take.
That’s it.
Example Framework
Here’s what a contrarian newsletter looks like:
Subject: Stop trying to “add value” in your emails
Everyone says you need to pack your emails with value.
Tips, strategies, frameworks. Give, give, give before you ever ask for anything.
That’s garbage advice.
Here’s why: When you cram too much “value” into free content, you’re teaching people they don’t need your paid products. You’re training them to be freebie-seekers.
Instead, shift their perspective. Give them a new way to think about their problem. Make them realize they’ve been looking at it all wrong.
Then tell them where to go for the solution.
That’s what sells. Not more free tutorials.
I spent years giving away everything for free. Made no money. The moment I stopped over-delivering in free content and started pitching consistently? Sales went up.
If you want to make money from your newsletter, stop treating it like a charity.
[Link to your paid product here]
See the difference? You’re not just listing tips. You’re challenging what people believe and offering a different path.
How Often Should You Publish?
Here’s what I recommend:
Daily notes on Substack. Short posts, quick thoughts, engaging with other creators. This keeps you visible in people’s feeds.
Long-form newsletters: 1-2 per week minimum.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: You need to write at least 100 pieces before you should expect any real traction.
Why? Because competition is fierce. Every niche is saturated. And you probably need 100 pieces to simply become good at this.
Mix and match these templates to avoid burnout. Some days you’ll write a story. Other days a listicle. Occasionally a contrarian rant.
The variety keeps it interesting for you and your readers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let me save you some pain by pointing out the dumb things I see people do:
Mistake #1: Making It Too Long
Target 500 words for regular emails & newsletters.
Longer articles are fine occasionally, but don’t make it the norm.
Remember: People read on their phones. Usually while doing something else. Keep it short.
Mistake #2: Trying to Sound Smart
Skip the corporate jargon. Skip the fancy vocabulary you’d never use in real life.
Write like you talk.
Personality beats polish every single time.
Mistake #3: Not Pitching Your Products
Every email should link to something you sell.
Subscribers who hate offers will leave. That’s fine. That’s good, actually. You want buyers, not freebie-seekers.
You’re building a business, not running a charity. Act like it.
Mistake #4: Waiting for Inspiration
Templates exist so you don’t need inspiration.
Ship first, edit later. Done beats perfect.
If you wait until you “feel like it,” you’ll publish twice a month and wonder why you’re not growing.
Getting Started This Week
Don’t overthink this. Here’s what you do:
Pick ONE template to start with. Whichever one feels most natural to you.
Write 3-5 emails using that template. Don’t publish them yet. Just write them.
Schedule them in advance. Substack makes this easy.
After a week, try mixing in a second template. See what feels right.
Track what gets opens, clicks, and sales. Double down on what works.
That’s it. That’s the whole strategy.
Start Now (Even If It Feels Rough)
Templates remove the “what do I write about” paralysis.
Your job is to fill them with your unique ideas and voice. That’s the only part that matters. The structure is just scaffolding.
Start with one template. Master it. Then add variety.
And remember: You need about 100 pieces before you get good at this. So start now, even if it feels rough.
The only way through is through.