The 5 Stages of Writing a Substack Post
Introduction
This is dedicated to all my fellow Substack writers, if you're a substack writer you know the drill. It feels like a journey while writing a piece of content – full of lows, highs and a whole lot of a rollercoaster of emotions.
Let's break down the 5 Stages that we all through when writing a post. Spoiler Alert: it's not as glamorous as it looks on the outside.
Stage 1: Excitement
It all starts with a bright idea that just came into your mind. This post is going to be amazing – your best work yet. You feel like a genius. You sit down at your computer, ready to pour your brilliant thoughts on the blank document.
The title? It’s practically writing itself. You start typing with the kind of speed that would make your high school English teacher proud. The words are flowing, and you’re sure this post is going to go viral.
But, hold on. You start playing around with the fonts, maybe this one? Or that one? You spend around 20 minutes tweaking the header before you've even written a full paragraph. You know it's all part of the process, right?
Stage 2: Doubt
Ah, the dreaded second stage. You've written a few paragraphs and now you're questioning everything.
– Wait, is this even a good idea?
– What if someone already wrote this better?
– Is this even worth reading?
You start to feel maybe your idea which was interesting and unique isn't that interesting now. The excitement starts to fade, replaced by doubt. You read and re-read your work, thinking, Why does this sound so….. Basic?
At this point, you start wondering if you should just scrap the whole thing and just scroll some memes mindlessly or research again next week and you seem to lose confidence & inspiration.
Stage 3: Panic
Panic kicks in hard when you realize you're running out of time. The deadline is looming and you've written only 200 words by now. You've been stuck on the same paragraph for hours. Your idea that seemed great in Stage 1 feels like a complete mess now.
The pressure mounts. You start frantically rewriting sections, trying to make everything sound just right. Every sentence feels like a battle. You keep thinking, Maybe I should just quit and try again tomorrow. But you don’t. You power through, mostly fuelled by caffeine.
Stage 4: Procrastination
This is where you really start to lose control, you tell yourself you need a break. Just a quick one, you open Instagram and start scrolling and sharing all the funny memes with your friends.
Then you start making excuses:
“I just need one more coffee to get focused.”
“I’ll write after I finish this episode of that show.”
“Just a few more minutes of scrolling, I swear.”
You’ve completely abandoned your post, but hey, you’ll get back to it... eventually.
Stage 5: Publish
Finally, the moment of truth. You have to get this post done. You sit back down, take a deep breath, and polish what’s left of your draft. You agonize over every word, every sentence. Is this funny enough? Is it too long? Is the headline good?
After what feels like an eternity, you hit Publish. And the moment you do, a wave of relief rushes over you. You’re done! You did it!
Then, the panic sets in again. You start checking your analytics every five minutes, wondering if anyone’s actually reading it. Maybe you made a typo? Maybe people think it’s terrible?
It’s a wild ride, but it’s over for now. You can finally breathe. Until next time.
Why It's All Worth It?
Despite all the chaos, the self-doubt, and the procrastination, there’s something incredibly rewarding about hitting “publish.” You’ve shared your thoughts, and maybe, just maybe, someone out there will find it helpful or entertaining. And even if it’s not a viral hit, you’re still putting yourself out there—and that’s something to be proud of.
So, yes, every Substack writer goes through this emotional rollercoaster. The panic, the procrastination, and even the excitement are all part of the journey. The good news? You’re not alone. Every time you write, you get a little better at riding the wave of these stages.
And let’s be real: No one’s perfect. So embrace the chaos, laugh at yourself a little, and keep writing.
You’ve got this.
Bonus Tips: To Get Through The Stages
1. Set boundaries for writing time. Avoid distractions by putting your phone out of reach.
2. Write first, edit later—getting the words down is the hardest part.
3. Don’t aim for perfection. Just get it done.
4. Celebrate the small wins, like finishing your first draft or hitting “publish.”
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