Sparkle on Substack

Sorry for the sketchy video - I think the sound is good though… Here’s the enhanced copy you can feel inspired by for your own freewalls. Claire ✨ EXAMPLE FOR YOUR FREEWALLS If you would like to subscribe for free to receive… * For the archive of beautiful articles, past Substack education classes and curated resources * Fortnightly emails on the topic of Substack education and joyful growth on and off Substack * A community of like minded creatives who also write online - come chat with us!! * A free set of beginner friendly Substack masterclasses classes delivered immediately in your welcome email! You are so so welcome. THEN INSERT FREEWALL Follow up articles/ resources * https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/50834026608916-How-to-connect-Substack-to-your-AI-Assistant * https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/54386371692052-How-do-I-add-a-freewall-to-my-Substack-post Want to get to Substack bestseller more quickly? Run through my joyful growth to bestseller challenge here… JOYful Growth to Substack Bestseller Challenge 💫 Always here for your questions!! Summary… In short: Two new Substack features (free walls and the Substack connector for Claude), how to use them well, and an invitation into Sparkle on Substack. 1. Freewalls (00:28 to 08:00) * A free wall works like a paywall, but readers can keep reading for free once they subscribe with their email. * Find it in the post editor under More , then Freewall . It’s still rolling out, and access seems mixed (some bestsellers don’t have it, some non-bestsellers do). * Unlike a subscribe button, readers can’t scroll past it. * Give real value above the wall, then tell readers clearly why to subscribe. Claire’s example reasons: your archive (“old gold”), emails on your topic, community, and a welcome gift delivered straight away. * Speak to your ideal fit reader so subscribes are meaningful, not baited. Write it like you’re talking to a friend in a café. 2. Substack connector for Claude (08:02 to 12:00) * Substack has released a connector for Claude, reportedly for bestsellers first. * Claire uses it to ask questions of her data: paid churn, why people unsubscribe, seasonal dips, monthly vs annual vs founding members. * Paired with the Podia connector, she can see her whole business ecosystem in one conversation. * Her earlier beginner class on Substack and Claude (in the membership) covers downloading data and setting Claude up so it doesn’t make things up. A new class on the connector is coming. 3. Why it matters (12:00 to 13:00) * Both features help you keep readers and understand your data, so decisions like pricing feel calmer and clearer. 4. Sparkle on Substack invitation (13:26 to 14:14) * Archive of classes, masterclasses and tutorials, plus a supportive, low-noise community chat. 5. SEO note (14:30) * Search engines can’t read past a free wall or paywall, so use the meta description in your post settings to describe each piece for search. More on this inside the membership. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“Something about writing in public, changes the way you write.” Michaella Parkes I first met Michaella and Lex at the Substack summer party in London in 2025 (one of those dreamy evenings where I kept drifting back to their corner), and I’ve wanted to bring them onto the podcast ever since. I LOVE what they do and who they are in the world and I think you will too. ♥️ If you’re a multi-hyphenate weaving Substack into a bigger creative life, this conversation is for you. “The most important thing was that I was going to be able to be consistent... having a format that was consistent and not having metrics in it that would stop me.” Lex Hearth Meet the guests Michaella is a freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and she’s writing her first novel. Her Substack, For Starters , is about being hungry for life, love and everything in between. Lex is a DJ, music producer, broadcaster and podcaster. She writes Five Good Things every week and Dance Music Digest (which began on Substack and now has a record label attached). She also hosts The Side Quest podcast. 📍 Together they co-host Writers IRL , an in-person meetup for Substack writers in London. “This is incredibly brave work we’re doing... It’s the first time we’ve been able to do this and experiment with feeling safe in our voice this way.” Claire Venus ✨ Amy I Beeson 🐝 JP Clark Lex Hearth Michaella Parkes and me. What we explored * Consistency as a gift. Both of them built their audiences by creating a simple, repeatable format they could keep showing up for. Michaella wrote her weekly Add to List for 100 weeks, then took a two-month pause. Readers wrote in asking when it was coming back. * The metrics that matter to them. Lex keeps an eye on her unsubscribe rate because an inbox is such a personal, precious space. Michaella watches who arrives and who leaves rather than raw views. * Rebranding without fear. About 18 months in, Michaella moved from Structured Stream of Consciousness to For Starters so her Substack matched the writer she’d become. Being transparent brought her readers along for the ride, and she can now point to her Substack when pitching editors. * Perfectionism dissolves with rhythm. When something goes out every week, one imperfect post matters far less. * Why IRL matters. Their first Substack writers’ meetup was five or six slightly nervous writers in a room above a pub. Some events have since grown to 50+ (helped by finding the one pub in London that wasn’t showing the England match). It’s a reminder that Substack is people, not just an algorithm. My own shifts this year. I’m emailing less, honouring the inbox, and choosing deep, long-term community over fast growth... because growth is only growth if churn doesn’t churn. From left to right - Amy I Beeson 🐝 and me, lovely party-goers and parasols, my beautiful friend Jo Hutton , Michaella Parkes and Lex Hearth one of the rare pics I took that evening. Connect with Michaella and Lex online… * Writers IRL meetups: writersirl.substack.com . Their 2026 calendar lists the Christmas party on 3 December. * Michaella’s For Starters : michaella.substack.com * Michaella’s website: michaellaparkes.co.uk * Lex’s Five Good Things : lexhearth.substack.com * Lex’s Dance Music Digest : dancemusicdigest.substack.com Lex’s podcast: The Side Quest - If it sparked something for you, a five-star review wherever you listen (apple or spotify) would mean the world. Feel free to drop us a comment when you’ve listened below. Claire ✨ P.S - it’s your last chance to support a WONDERFUL London based event with diverse writer’s voices - Amy I Beeson 🐝 is hosting an IRL event for writers and people who want to read and celebrate their work next month…Amy is crowdfunding to make the event happen - do chuck across some gold coins if you can!!! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

This morning I sat down for a cup of tea and a catch up with the lovely Sue - a fellow North East writer (and a Substack Live first timer, look at her go). Sue’s second novel is out in the world, and I wanted you to hear the story behind it straight from her. The books The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn began when Sue placed her hand on a baby hare in her garden, which sent her down a research rabbit hole (hare hole?) and straight into the Newcastle witch trials. She wove that history together with lockdown and a girl who doesn’t fit in at school, creating a tale about daring to be different, true friendship and finding your people. Molly McFlynn Goes Rogue was sparked by the incredibly sad and barbaric act of felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in September 2023. Just a month before her first book was published. Sue lives just down the hill from it and described how the whole region felt the loss. Rather than stay in the grief, she wrote a story of hope and action. Molly travels back to AD 122, when Hadrian’s Wall was being built and strong women led the Iron Age tribes, learns about trees with the help of the druids, and comes home ready to campaign. It also holds Sue’s own grief around losing her mum, alongside the beautiful character of Nan. These are stories that span generations... a 12 year old can read them, and so can their nan (Sue has readers over 90). ✨ The publishing journey Both books were partnership published. Sue’s advice if you’re considering that route is to go in wisely, read your contracts and ask the Society of Authors to check them. Her first book had a 400 copy first print run that sold out before publication, then went through five reprints in its first year and sold over 2,000 copies in 18 months. Even so, when her agent pitched it to 27 publishers, it wasn’t picked up. Sue believes the London-centric industry overlooks Northern women writing about climate and environmental justice. So she’s choosing herself. Sue is setting up her own imprint, Butterbur Books , named after a riverside plant that flowers before its leaves and was once used to ease headaches (publishing being one, whichever route you take). She’ll republish the first book with matching covers by her designer and bring the third book of the trilogy home too. How to support Sue * UK readers can order signed, dedicated copies directly from her website . She’ll even wrap them and post them for Christmas. * Ask your local bookshop or Waterstones to order the books, then share a photo and tag Sue on IG or on here. * Wherever you bought your copy, please leave her a review on Amazon. It truly helps. Sending sparkles,Claire ✨ P.S. If Sue’s story has stirred your own book dreams, my How to write and sell a pdf book from content you already have is the place to make it happen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sparkleon.substack.com Thanks so much for joining us!! 1. WHERE YOUR CONTENT ALREADY LIVES In the top left of your page, you gathered every place your words are waiting for you. Substack, old blogs, Instagram, notebooks in the wardrobe, notes on your phone, workshop slides, even old photo albums. The work you made years ago is often more relevant than you think (we just need t…

Beginners have questions, I have answers - let's go!! This Q&A is the second part of my class and teaching for Soceity of Authors - https://societyofauthors.org/event/professional-development-substack-for-beginners SUBSTACK CALCULATOR - How to work out Stripe/ Substack fees - https://sparkleon.substack.com/p/can-... 30 Day Free Trial to Sparkle on Substack for Society of Author Members - https://sparkleon.substack.com/soa 1. Getting set up Is there basic guidance on adding images and audio, file formats and the Substack basics? Yes. In the post editor, press the image button and choose any photo from your computer. Click the image to resize it or make other edits. The same button lets you add a gallery of up to nine photos at once. For audio, use the audio button to record straight into Substack or upload an MP3. There’s lots more of this for free inside Sparkle on Substack. Does Claire’s ebook give a step-by-step guide to setting up Substack? There’s loads of setup guidance inside How to Build a World Class Substack , in paperback or ebook. You’ll also find free and paid interactive resources inside my Sparkle on Substack membership. Message me if you need more. Do you use your existing email address or set up a separate one? I use my work email, so all my Substack correspondence lands there. If you’re setting up first just to read other people’s Substacks, a personal email is fine. If you’re ready to launch, use your business email. If I write under two names, should I have two Substacks? Yes. Set up two separate profiles with two separate email addresses. I have a YouTube tutorial on running multiple publications at once. Is it better to have separate Substacks for different themes or audiences? It depends. Dog training and romance might want pulling apart. Often, though, there’s more synchronicity in us and our personal brand than we expect, so everything can live under one umbrella. Test it, self-express and see what comes out. Is it better to start a new publication than revive an old one? New writers often get a little flurry of support and visibility, but algorithms change all the time. In my opinion it’s not better to start again. Put your work into the publication you already have and focus on some outreach and marketing. Can a co-author and I share a profile? There can only be one owner, but you can add multiple authors. The owner receives all the Substack-related emails, as correspondence can’t go to two owners. 2. Branding and customising What’s a wordmark? Your wordmark is the design across the top of your Substack. You can use one of Substack’s regular fonts, or design your own in Canva or another design programme and upload it. Mine was made by a professional designer. There’s also a separate space for a small logo. Can you fully customise that area, or only use set formats? You can customise a lot, and Substack keeps giving us more options. Essentially we get a Substack website, so you can design it up. I have tutorials on designing your homepage. Where was the SAVE button? Posts save automatically as you type. For other settings, look top right, but mostly everything saves by itself. 3. Posts, Notes and formats Am I publishing an article or a Note when I make a post? An article. Your articles all live in your publication’s archive, whether they’re written pieces, video classes or invitations. Notes are the scrolling feed on the Substack homepage, where you can read everyone’s Notes and post your own. You can create a new article or a Note from the button there. Where do you put articles? They all go inside your publication, which is your Substack website. Mine is Sparkle on Substack. Substack doesn’t seem very text-focused. You can absolutely be a writer and simply write. I add community elements because I’m a creative who loves community, but many of the top-grossing Substackers don’t use any bells and whistles. They’re brilliant writers, and they write. 4. What to write about Is it a good idea to write on a topic nobody is covering? If you’re passionate about it, and other people in the world are too, it can find traction. Substack is simply a format within the wider internet. Have a Google around if you’d like, but if you want to write it, write it, and your readers will come and find you. Can niche topics like animal rights poetry do well on Substack? Absolutely. The animal rights world is huge, poetry is well loved, and Substack is full of animal lovers. When Notes first launched, we all shared photos of our pets for ages (such a fun time). What goes in a newsletter if you’re just writing a book? Share the behind the scenes. Write about your process, where the ideas came from and how it’s all going. Tell readers where you write, how you find the time, and whether you use notebooks or online tools. There’s so much to say. I’d like to start but I’m scared. What can I offer? The best advice I can give is to simply start and see where it goes. That fear is your nervous system worrying about rejection or looking silly. In 2026 we’ve been showing up online for a long time, people are succeeding at this every day, and you’re amongst friends. A supportive community helps you feel like you’re amongst colleagues rather than out on a limb. Try Sparkle on Substack, Beth Kempton’s Soul Sanctuary, Susie Walker’s Heartleap Writing Group, London Writers’ Salon, or what the Society of Authors offers. 5. Growing your audience and being discovered What are the best ways for a new writer to attract readers? Start by sketching out your ideal reader so you know exactly who you’re writing to. Once those people gather, you’ll get more traction. On Substack, use recommendations, post Notes, comment on other people’s posts and join communities. Off Substack, share on social media and add your Substack to your email signature. How do you make your content discoverable and stand out? Write well and do your best work. Show up on Notes, and join in with community if you can. Any tips on connecting with others and reading their work? Use the like button, leave thoughtful comments and join in conversations. Showing up inside communities works beautifully too, because you meet people gathered around someone they admire. How important is posting on the same day each week? Readers love a rhythm. If your newsletter lands on a Sunday morning, someone might make a cup of tea at 11 and settle in to read it. It’s also one less decision for you to make. What do you mean by “going viral”? Anything that gathers a momentum much bigger than your regular work, like an avalanche. A quote I shared on Notes had about 600 likes on Tuesday afternoon and around 10,000 by Wednesday teatime. From that, 36 new people joined my publication. 6. Subscribers, emails and data What’s the difference between subscribers and followers? Followers follow your Substack Notes. Subscribers have signed up to your newsletter, so they receive an email every time you publish a new article. Do we get our subscribers’ email addresses? Yes, you do. What’s GDPR? GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation, the data protection law covering how you collect and use people’s personal information, including email addresses. It applies in the UK (as UK GDPR) and the EU. I find posts by email too much. Why is email always recommended? You can switch to reading in the app and on the website only, so nothing lands in your inbox. That’s how I read, and I receive no Substack emails at all. We only have so much capacity, so delete freely without unsubscribing if you prefer. For writers, email matters because your words land directly with readers rather than relying on an algorithm. Can anyone read a newsletter, or do they have to subscribe? Anyone can read it without subscribing, unless you’ve put it behind a paywall. Then they need to pay. Can I make people subscribe for free before they see free content? No, unfortunately not. Is Substack only for paid subscribers, or can you give content away free? You can give plenty away for free. In the ed… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Don’t miss your chance to try this WONDERFUL new tool from one of my mentors and the absolute guru of IG with business Mya Nichol - Grab plug and get paid and get those IG story viewers into Substack subscribers! Yay!! Hello Sparklers, Here’s the replay of today’s live class delivered on Substack live, where we explored how to gently invite your Instagram audience into your Substack world (and how to keep them there once they arrive). Pour a cup of tea, grab a chocolate biscuit, and settle in if you’re catching up? My dms are always open. What we covered 1. Your invite matters more than you think. Social media is a scrolling space, so a quick “read my Substack” on a story sticker often isn’t enough for someone to leap from one platform to another. We practised the coffee shop exercise... imagine telling a supportive friend about your Substack in a busy café, then capture everything you say. That spoken version holds your passion, your why, your cadence and your story, which is exactly what a cold audience needs to hear. 2. Ask yourself “why” five times. This old marketing exercise takes you from “because I want to” all the way down to the life your writing enables. That deeper layer is where your most magnetic invite lives. And tell people when your newsletter lands in their week, so they can picture it arriving. 3. Share more, and share it often. If you post one story slide about your newsletter, try five. People need a reason, a motivation and plenty of repetition before they click. You’re never taking up too much space. 4. The best Substack links for Instagram. We looked at /about (add a subscribe box at the top), /welcome (shows your blurbs as social proof), /subscribe, and individual post links. Remember that paid subscriptions made inside the app can carry Apple fees, and new subscribers will also receive emails from Substack itself, so mention that in your welcome email. Get a friend or colleague to experiment clicking these links from your story (with your own Substack url in place of mine) /subscribe /welcome /about and add the subscribe box button right at the top. 5. ManyChat for automated DMs. I showed you how I use comment keywords to deliver Substack links straight into people’s DMs. Short trigger words or emojis work best, and “press here” on the button makes life easier for everyone. 6. What do you sell in your paid Substack? People pay to be educated, to feel something, to feel part of a community, or to feel activated (and often to support you). Perks, social proof on your About page, and talking about what’s happening behind the paywall all help. 7. Plug and Get Paid by Mya Nichol. I demoed the tool that’s helped my neurodivergent brain turn long-form thinking into Instagram story slides that sell. You plug in your offer and ideal reader, and it builds and analyses your stories for you. Try Plug and Get Paid here: (This is an affiliate link, which means I receive a percentage if you purchase.) Your gentle next step: speak your invite out loud, write down what you hear, and share it on five story slides this week. I know this is a HUGE topic to learn in an hour long class but step by step is always the way. We don’t need to go viral loves - we need the right people to find us and I just know they already can’t wait to hear what it is you have to say. With sparkle for your biggest brightest social media balanced with Substack self.Claire P.S - Thank you Rachel Jefferies , Kendall Marie Platt 🌱 , Vera Lúcia , Alex Ritchie | Textile Art , Jo Gray ✏️ , Louise Tilbrook and many others for tuning into my live video and being so chatty and supportive! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Kate Harvey , Kendall Marie Platt 🌱 , Claire Machado , Nance Scott , Jenny Karlsson , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Sparklers... quick summary from my live… I deleted the Substack app the entire summer (still deleted, if I’m honest). I took a break then took Sparkle down to two newsletters a month instead of my usual cadence, same depth of content but flagging the archive more… And I said something out loud I want to say here too. My Substack growth had genuinely slowed to the point where I wouldn’t have had a business if I was relying on it alone. So I made a call - mastered content creation - grew my Instagram by over 2,000 followers this summer, something I’ve never really done before, and leaned into well-aligned summits instead of waiting for the algorithm to catch up adding 500 subs to my list. None of that is a Substack failure story more what building this actually looks like some seasons. If something in your setup feels stagnant right now, whether that’s your cadence, your day, or where you’re putting your energy... you don’t need my blueprint or anyone else’s. Change it? See what happens? Claire ✨ Join our joyful growth to Substack bestseller challenge - on all of this week… Turn the Page Retreat - next weekend… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Jennifer Zarin, LCAT , Angela Limb , Nance Scott , Alison Belsom , and many others for tuning into my live video with Toni Jones ! Join me for my next live video in the app. Join us over here, simply subscribe to our brand new pop up Substack and we’ll make sure you get the updates. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you ✹The Unmasked Woman✹ (Hannah) , Vera Lúcia , Rose Wippich , Lisa Conquet , Rita Riebel Mitchell , and many others for tuning into my live video with Bella younger ! Join me for my next live video in the app. You can subscribe to Bella here… And I highly recommend following her on IG here…where you can also download the template I mention… * https://www.instagram.com/deliciouslystella * Her book The Accidental Influencer is here… https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Influencer-Likes-Nearly-Ruined/dp/0008402493 Ai overview thanks Claude What this session was: a live audit with Bella Younger (author, “The Pug’s Ear” on Substack) covering identity/rebranding on the page, the about page, positioning. Old identity, new chapter: Bella’s wrestling with how much to reference her old “Deliciously Stellar” persona. Claire’s take: you can honour a past identity without leading with it; people don’t need to know who we are in the world, we can just be who we are. * The about page is prime real estate: a photo, a book link, and social proof (testimonials) belong there — and most people never find the edit button because Substack keeps moving it. * Subscribe buttons need repeating: one at the bottom isn’t enough. Put one early too, because people get distracted mid-scroll. * Say less than you’ll do: if you might publish weekly, promise two to three times a month instead — it protects you on a bad week and it’s fairer to readers who are giving you their attention. * Pricing is emotional, not just mathematical: low, easy price points (the “cost of a coffee”) bring in more subscribers overall, and subscriptions are often the first thing people cancel when they feel overwhelmed — a cheaper annual plan protects against that. * Momentum beats perfection: scheduling a post before it’s fully finished can be the deadline that actually gets it out the door. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“Nothing has had such a revolutionary impact on my writing... than starting to write on Substack and staying on Substack. It’s an extraordinary thing.” Mark Diacono I don’t usually email my podcast out but I really felt called to share Mark’s beautiful episode with more of you. You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts! ✨ Mark Diacono is a writer, cook, gardener, walker and photographer who lives in the south west of England. He writes about life, mostly through food and everything connected with it. You’ll find stories, recipes and much about growing and cooking incredible flavours. He hosts Cafe Murano Book Club and Limewood Book Club , with the wonderful Angela Hartnett . He once led the garden team at River Cottage and I created the groundbreaking Otter Farm “People from around the world can increasingly find your words and there’s no gatekeeper and there’s no permission giver.” Mark writes monthly food column for The Sunday Times , and a monthly gardening column for Country Life magazine. If you’re not yet over here I’m running a Digital Detox this week and today we are organising our photographs - today’s video will be out at noon… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

We covered; * Substack Creator Kits - * How to be a Bestseller - no drama - https://clairevenus.substack.com/t/growth-to-bestseller-challenge * Perks! (article out tomorrow). Join me for my digital detox challenge next week? Thank you Kate Harvey , SuddenlyJamie , Liza Debevec , Learn English With Jo , Dominik Wieschermann , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

If you want to join me for my free challenge Digital Detox (13-17 July 2026) - by Claire Venus 💫 ✨ Thank you Claire Machado , Amy I Beeson 🐝 , Angela Limb , Holly Bailie (she/her) , Rachel Joy 💖 , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. ✨ Links’ people mentioned; * My Substack book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Build-World-Class-Substack * My visioning class for 2026 - * Amy I Beeson 🐝 London writers summer picnic in Kensington - https://luma.com/coimrglv * Emma Gannon , Farrah @Substack and their podcast recording - * My friends Emma Simpson , Jo Hutton , Selina Barker , Toni Jones * Other mentions - Beth Kempton , Mark Diacono , Abigail Bergstrom , Jess Pan , Katie Clapham and the podcast I recorded with her yesterday - * My mentor Leonie Dawson * Co-founders of Substack - Hamish McKenzie & Mills Baker * The piece I wrote sharing more about my insight of the Substack Bestseller’s Party * Kate Harvey from Letters From Therapy and her gorgeous nervous system, mindset work. * Jesse Jean - https://www.instagram.com/jessijeanhome/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

“It became acceptable. It’s okay to ask people to pay for your creative work... every minute that you spend working on these projects is valued.” Simon Haisell I sat down with the wonder that is Simon Haisell in Spring to chat more about his patron model here on Substack (the one I always use as an example). It was such a precious conversation about the magic of Substack and community. I know you’ll be super inspired. If you’ve not heard of Simon - you’ll be enchanted to meet him - he’s the creator behind Footnotes and Tangents on Substack which is now in year 3. He’s based in the North East of England (like me) and I always adore supporting North East creative minds - this conversation was just an honour. Simon runs slow read-alongs of classic and literary fiction (his flagship being a chapter-a-day of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace across a full year). He started the book club on Instagram before moving to Substack around end of 2023. “You read a chapter (of War and Peace) each day and you’re living the life with the characters rather than racing to the end... it does allow you to make connections with your own life.” The conversation covers his journey from passion project to full-time Substack creator, how word of mouth (including a major Gretchen Rubin (!!) shoutout) drove lots of his growth. We talk about why he uses a “soft paywall” model including complimentary subscriptions for anyone who can’t pay, and how he intentionally stays off the leaderboard numbers to protect the soul of his work. We also touch on how we manage our nervous systems in relation to ‘leaderboards’ and ‘being’ online. The episode ends with exciting news: Simon has just signed with literary agency Curtis Brown and been in conversation with Penguin, directly because of his Substack presence. What a well deserved whirlwind. I can’t wait to see what happens next!! “If I chased the numbers and tried to make the world’s biggest book group, all of the soul would suck out of it very quickly... what comes across in my writing is my love of the books, that’s why I’m here.” Simon Haisell War and Peace Daily - https://footnotesandtangents.substack.com/s/2026-war-and-peace-daily Free Masterclass with me - The four types of monetisation on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Join us - it’s free https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/12-chapters-club This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Tamu Thomas joins Claire for a rich, unhurried conversation about what it actually means to build a sustainable, well-rested life and business. They explore toxic productivity, the cost of following rules that were never designed for women, and why your nervous system is not a mindset problem to fix. Substack’s evolution from cosy oasis to noisy feed weaves through the second half, along with a genuinely beautiful reframe about content timing and showing up on your own terms. This one will resonate deeply with those of you feeling into soulful work, anyone neurodivergent and give you more focus to be burnout-aware. A former social worker with16 years experience , Tamu blends the science of human safety, connection and behavior change to translate complex human dynamics into clear, actionable leadership strategy. Her approach centres nervous system safety, belonging and joy as essential foundations for sustainable high performance. You can connect with her on her popular instagram channel here; https://www.instagram.com/tamu.thomas and on linkedin too https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamuthomas/ Favourite Quotes On attention as currency: “You’re already paying me something with your time, with your energy, with your attention. And I cherish that. We can make money again. We can’t get our energy back.” On not chasing perfection before starting: “People want to have the exact formula before they do something, which means they spend a lot of time ideating, thinking, procrastinating, trying to be a perfectionist, and it doesn’t give them the real world data. So I treat it as a science experiment.” On building for abundance not scarcity: “We need to get out of this intensity addiction, scarcity mindset where we actually build a business for scarcity rather than abundance.” On time scarcity: “The root of it is always a feeling of not enoughness. So if I approach time in a way where I’m working with time abundantly, it reduces that sense of not enoughness.” On the nervous system: “We don’t get to escape being human. We cannot outsmart our biology. Even the most guruified guru who does stadiums of self-help talks doesn’t get to escape being human.” On content timing: “Unless you are talking about a perishable good, there’s no expiry date. As long as you are in integrity with yourself, you are speaking in alignment with your values, it’s always going to be trending.” On sustainable business: “It’s important that you create a business that doesn’t break if you take a break.” On Substack as sacred writing space: “Writing is a place where I go and seek solace. It’s a place I cherish. And so putting pressure on that takes away from the beauty.” On breaking invisible rules: “Following the rules often means denying our inner knowing, our intuition, denying what we know is best for us so that we can look good, because we’ve been taught it’s okay for us to feel bad, but it’s not okay for us to look bad.” Watch our conversation here… We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. ✨ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for joining me beauties. Your Links… https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/yourbeautifulsubstackmagazine25 Thank you Michelle Dowd , Learn English With Jo , Rebecca J. Gomez , Francesca Mazzucato , Claire Machado , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks so much Kristi Keller 🇨🇦 for the chat. Early bird for my signature course opened today…. ✨ Thank you Seth Werkheiser , Georgina Dean , Daria Diaz , Alyssa Polizzi , Elizabeth H. Cottrell , Julie Russell , Julie Schmidt , Patti Wohlin , and many others for tuning into my live video with Kristi Keller 🇨🇦 ! Join me for my next live video in the app. Ai Transcript summary - Thanks Claude A Friday Catch-Up: Claire & Kristi on the Latest Substack Changes This week Claire Venus and Kristi (from UnstackSubstack) jumped on a live together for a warm, honest catch-up about everything that’s been shifting on Substack lately. If you missed it, here’s what they covered. The platform keeps changing (and it’s a lot) Both Claire and Kristi have been building on Substack for years and both create tutorials for their communities, so when Substack updates its interface overnight, they feel it acutely. Recent changes included the removal of the profile banner image, updates to the wordmark display, and the profile page now leading with your publication name rather than you as a person. Your bio now needs to work harder Without that welcoming banner image, the words in your bio are doing more of the heavy lifting. People make snap decisions about whether to subscribe, so it’s worth revisiting yours. Check out class replay here - The emotional side of building here One of the most resonant threads was around shame and the feelings that come up when tech feels overwhelming. Claire spoke about her audience skewing 50+ and how much it matters to her that people feel supported, not stupid. There was also a lovely conversation about the energetics of showing up online and how deep those feelings can run. Importing email lists doesn’t guarantee engagement Kristi shared a really useful insight: people who bring large email lists over to Substack often see low engagement, because their subscribers don’t yet know they can like, comment, and interact here. It’s worth educating your readers about that when you migrate. Claire’s Beautiful Digital Magazine course Claire shared that Early Bird access is open until 25th May. The course covers technical setup, brand identity, Human Design as a creative lens, and the energetics of truly owning your space as an editor and curator of your publication. Coming up on Thursday Claire teased an upcoming session all about female founders being paid properly, and how Substack can be a springboard to higher-ticket income. Look out for details in her membership. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

It was a delight to chat with Paul Black, my friend and Brand Partnerships Director at The Bright Agency last week. I hope you enjoy our insightful chat and tour back through some of his career highlights. You can subscribe to The Bright Agency Magazine here; and follow Pau’s instagram here. Ai Overview Thanks Claude In this episode of Sparkle on Substack , Claire is joined by her friend Paul Black, Brand Partnerships Director at The Bright Agency - a 360-degree creative agency representing authors, illustrators and artists across publishing, licensing, film, TV and beyond. Paul lifts the lid on what agents actually do for artists: from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair to navigating the thorny world of AI in illustration, protecting original artwork archives, and why The Bright Agency launched its own Substack magazine. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your artwork once it leaves your hands or what a licensing deal actually looks like this one is for you. Key Quotes On what agents do for artists: “We find our job as agents to take what that person has and then just expand it — find those partners, find those creative people that will work with that artist.” On retaining rights: “We always try and retain the rights for licensing and for merchandising so that if something takes off from that book, we’re able to do it.” On artist-first values: “We don’t get paid unless the artist gets paid. That is our number one priority.” On AI and illustration: “Every time somebody tries to do it there is a backlash. Waterstones are not going to let an AI book on their shelves and every time it happens, people pick up on it, it’s a backlash, they get it out.” On protecting artists from AI: “In our contracts we have a clause that says your artwork cannot be AI generated. That’s a big part of our protection.” On the Bright Substack: “We’re trying to open the curtain a little bit — shed a bit of light on what an agency and an agent can do for you.” On original artwork archives: “Shirley Hughes gifted the original manuscript dummies artwork for Dogger, five or six of the Alfie series, and Lucy and Tom — her first book published in the 50s — to the Bodleian Library.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

On setting up a clear and good navigation bar for your Substack website - “Don’t use confusing language. Speak to the thing. Talk it out as if you were speaking to someone in real life. Write it down like I did, and you’ll get there in the end.” NB - the screen sticks in the first section so maybe scroll past as I get it working after that! Ai summary for Substack navigation bar thanks Claude Substack Expert Claire Venus runs a live Substack tutorial on the new navigation bar dropdown feature , but the real teaching is strategic — think carefully about who you’re designing your nav for before touching any settings. Two audiences, two priorities: * New visitors → keep it simple, guide them to subscribe * Existing paid members → give them easy access to what they’ve paid for She live-edits her own Substack nav bar, debates naming options out loud, wrestles with screen-sharing tech, and lands on the same advice she started with: write it out on paper first, use plain language, and don’t overwhelm people with too many choices. Key quote: “Think about your ideal reader, who you want to subscribe — speak to that person first.” SEO reminder: your nav bar label names double as search signals. “Substack tips,” “make money on Substack,” “Substack strategy” — the plain, specific language Claire kept reaching for is exactly what search engines reward too. Don’t get too creative with the labels! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe

"I'm obsessed with the moment with when a writer surprises themselves on the page." Lindsay A few months ago I sat down with Lindsey and Matt at London Writers' Salon and had the cosiest conversation. I find them both (and what they’ve created SO inspiring). I’m obsessed at the moment with this quote; “People don’t forget how you made them feel” …and as you’ll hear in the episode, when I guested for LWS (during my Substack book launch), I was overwhelmed with how LOVELY they’d made their online space. 💖 It’s just the nicest place to hang out and write and there are so many opportunities to meet other writers and go deeper with your writing practice. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it. Claire 💫 P.S - If you are writing a book this year and want to write with me and the 12 Chapters gang live, you can join us twice a month - it’s free! Sign up here. "We just created a structure, a container that people can rely on — almost like treating it like a yoga class... you book in, you show up, you get your writing work done." Matt Ai summary thanks Claude In this episode of Sparkle on Substack , host Claire Venus sits down with Matt and Lindsay, from London Writers’ Salon and its Substack publication, Writers’ Hour Magazine . Matt and Lindsay explain how the Salon grew from small in-person London gatherings in 2019 into a thriving global online community during the pandemic. At its heart is Writer’s Hour — daily, silent, hour-long writing sessions held four times a day, Monday to Friday, attended by up to 1,000 writers worldwide. Rather than relying on willpower alone, the sessions give writers a reliable structure — like booking a yoga class — so showing up becomes a habit. The conversation explores the profound sense of community and belonging the Salon fosters. Lindsay shares her own moving story of joining as a shy freelance copywriter and finding her place. The idea of “believing mirrors” — being witnessed in a usually solitary creative process — runs as a thread throughout. They also dig into Writers’ Hour Magazine on Substack, where a new 500-word creative writing prompt is published weekly, attracting 300–500 submissions, judged by guest writers and authors. The constraint of a short word count and surprise prompts is framed as a joyful creative permission slip. The discussion turns candid around monetisation, growth, and sustainability — how to balance creative expression with audience-building, how to avoid burnout, and how to stay clear on the intention behind a publication. Matt and Lindsay are also teasing a new Substack project that aims to bridge personal creative expression with community service. London Writers' Salon here on Substack ⤵️ * 🌎 londonwriterssalon.com * LWS Membership — community.londonwriterssalon.com/membership * IG - https://www.instagram.com/londonwriterssalon/?hl=en This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sparkleon.substack.com/subscribe