Brand new to Substack?
Welcome to our friendly (Sparkle on Substack) Community!
I’m so glad you’re here. Substack is a wonderful platform where readers have time—time to enjoy your work, join a community, and leave thoughtful comments.
Getting Started with Substack
If you’re looking for some simple advice, read on for videos and articles that will help you get started.
Ready to get started right now?
Follow along with my Set Up Your Homepage in a Month challenge. It was originally run live, but you can still complete it at your own pace.
What Can/ Could/ Should Your Substack Be?
Before you get started, think about what you want your Substack to become.
It can be:
- Your seasonal or monthly newsletter
- A space to write or blog
- A place to grow a community or host a podcast
- A platform to share videos
- A membership hub for your followers
Read my A-Z Guide to Substack for tips and lean into some tutorials to help you decide?
Oh, while I’ve got you here - Hi, I’m Claire!
It’s lovely to meet you. ✨
I live in a stone cottage on the Northumberland Coast, with a view of the sea and a lighthouse. I’m a mum to two bright sparks, and we live life in the slow lane, tending to our very wild allotment and caring for our pet whippet, Stella.
For work, I’m an Engagement Consultant and Mentor. I started my journey with Substack in April 2022, began teaching here a year later, and now have hundreds of members and thousands of readers. My community includes artists, wellbeing practitioners, bestselling authors, creators, and illustrators—a lovely hub of creative people.
I work online to create space for the life I want for myself and my family. My clients include Andersen Press, BBC, Creative UK, National Trust, Tate Modern, and Substack.
Simple Resources to Help You Get Started
There’s a lot to learn about Substack, but try not to feel overwhelmed. We’ll have you set up in no time.
Here’s a collection of resources to guide you if you are the type of person who likes to explore and implement right away:
PDF GUIDE - Substack Setup and Go Paid Checklist - A step-by-step PDF guide
MINI COURSE - 5-Day Mini Course for beginners - Delivered straight to your email, free of charge
TUTORIAL - How to Make a Post – Watch the video tutorial and check out the "Joyful Growth" playlist on my YouTube channel and subscribe while you’re there.
I also teach two classes a month in the Sparkle on Substack community, where you can access over 40 hours of workshops and tutorials.
Extra Help and Community Support
Need something specific? Check out the beginner resources or pop by the community A-Z library.
Upon sign up as a free subscriber you'll get additional tools, like a Canva template for page breaks and a setup checklist, in your welcome email. As a paid subscriber, you’ll get two of my most popular classes.
You can also hire other experts to support your Substack – If you need extra help, here’s a list of professionals available. From copy writers to podcast editors.
My paid Substack chat is open once a week on Mondays, or you can tag me in posts on Notes (@ClaireVenus). You’re always welcome!
Let’s Grow Our Substacks Together ✨
Subscribe now and start transforming your Substack with support from a creative, friendly community. We have time here—time to grow, create, and connect.
Lastly,
You might want to… Protect Your Peace as a Reader 🕊️
If you want to avoid email overload, turn on "smart notifications" under your writer profile settings. This way, you can read solely on the website or app. See screen shot below.
Sending sparkles your way,
Claire
✨
