Hit $1K the Substack Way
Let’s turn your words into income and celebrate two amazing tribe members
I’m writing this to you from a wooden cabin in the mountains. The air is cool, the trees are whispering—and my kids are outside, picking wildflowers and racing snails.
We’ll spend one more night here before heading to Switzerland… and then Lake Garda in Italy.
But I had to pause for a moment to send you this newsletter—because I just got the best kind of DM:
“Kristina! I passed $1,000/year with my Substack newsletter!!
Another Substack Bootcamp alumnus and Online Writing Club member just crossed $10,000.
These are everyday writers who once felt lost entirely on Substack. Now they’re earning real money with their words.
So one member just got her first paid sub!
🥹 I’m so proud. And I want you to be next.
Who am I?
If you’re new here. I’m Kristina.
A mom of two, building my online writing business from my kitchen table (and sometimes from a cozy cabin like this one in the mountains).
Today I’m:
✅ Top 50 on Substack in Germany
✅ Top 24 in Education worldwide
✅ $38,000+/year from subscriptions
✅ $80,000+/year with my whole online biz
But it didn’t start this way. It started with confusion, imposter syndrome, and writing into the void.
It started with doubt, messy drafts, long nights, and tiny wins that slowly added up.
If you feel overwhelmed by Substack right now…
You’re not alone.
Most new writers come to me feeling:
“I don’t know what to write about.”
“How do I even grow a list from zero?”
“Can I really get paid to be myself?”
“I have no social following. Who will be interested in what I want to share?”
They’re stuck. Drowning in free (or high-ticket!) advice. Publishing to crickets.
And wondering if their dream is too far-fetched.
I’ve felt that too.
But I figured out a way through—and I want to walk it with you.
First off, there’s no “right way” to start and grow an email list, but there are some proven strategies from my 15 years of marketing, comms, and PR expertise, and becoming a top writer on Medium from scratch as a non-native.
I created the Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp because I know the overwhelm is real—and I know what actually moves the needle from seeing hundreds of backends of my founding members and coaching clients.
How do you really earn your first $1,000 on Substack?
Let me break it down with my 3 favorite, most actionable tips (of course there’s more):
1. Show up on Substack Notes — almost daily
This is the fastest way to be seen if your newsletter isn’t ready or you're still growing.
Notes = visibility.
Think of Notes like Twitter for writers. You can test ideas, show your vibe, and connect with people—without overthinking it.
Most of my new readers (and even paid subs!) found me through Notes.
Post often. Comment meaningfully.
Let people see you—before they even join your list.
(I have multiple posts, podcast and videos about Substack Notes in my content library for (paid) subs! This is one example with Linda Lebrun from Substack
2. Understand the full Substack foundation
From A to Z.
Most new writers skip this and then wonder why nothing’s growing.
But when you set up your Substack “right”—from your About (or heart) story to your welcome email, from your publishing schedule to your visuals—it changes everything.
Inside the Bootcamp, I walk you through every single step—from “I don’t know what I’m doing” to “I just launched my first paid post.”
You’ll know how to move from messy draft to confident, polished publication.
3. Relationships, not just readers
This is the secret no one talks about.
People don’t pay for content.
They pay for connection.
When I worked for Edelman, the largest CommsMarketing agency in the world, my colleagues called me “super connector”. Later, I became a team lead of the relationship management team as I knew how to talk with journalists (since I studied journalism), what to offer, what was on their agenda, and also how to find the right people to interview.
Want more subs? Focus on building relationships:
Reply to every comment
Mention readers by name
Celebrate their wins
Invite conversation
But of course, there’s another layer to this generic advice.
And if you apply this, over time, casual readers become raving fans.
Not overnight—but very reliably when you show up as your full self and embrace your writer DNA and thumbprint.
What the Bootcamp Includes (and Why It Works)
My hubby just mentioned that I totally missed informing you about my first on-demand Bootcamp. So here we go…
The Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp is my 5-day, step-by-step system that helps you write, publish, grow, and monetize.
On your terms. At your pace.
📽️ Day 1: Setting up your Substack (with personality!)
📽️ Day 2: Write better emails people love to read
📽️ Day 3: A sneak peek into my Online Writing Club
📽️ Day 4: Use Notes + Recommendations to grow
📽️ Day 5: 7 ways to monetize your Substack (not just paid subs!)
🎁 Bonus Days 6–10: Take action + implement (with guidance from me. Monthly calls & help via DMs)
You just need a starting point—and the support to keep going.
Kickstart your email list in 5 days flat.
Let’s turn your words into income, your ideas into.
Hear It from Writers Like You…
★★★★★
“This Bootcamp is exactly what I needed. It helped me find my voice again and gave me a real plan. I’ve already gained over 300 subscribers and my first few paid subs.” — Susy, fiction writer★★★★★
“I can’t believe how much value is packed into this. Kristina breaks it all down in a way that makes you feel seen. It’s the first course I actually finished—and I’m now writing every week!” — Jan, finance writer★★★★★
“I made my first $380 within two weeks of joining. I was scared to charge for my writing, but Kristina gave me the tools (now I like livestreams and videos) and the confidence. I’m aiming for $1K next!” — Liam, fitness writer
For more, you can check out my testimonial video.
🎁 Early Bird Offer — Just $129 (instead of $299)
You can join the Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp today for just $129.
This is the full course.
Real help from someone who gets you.
Let’s turn your words into income, your ideas into impact—and your blank page into a real writing life.
😜Psst! Thinking about becoming an annual member? Annual members will get an extra 20% OFF! (Please send me a DM or email when you join, and I’ll send you the code!)
Want to be my next featured writer?
If you go from zero to $1K after the Bootcamp, send me a screenshot—I’d love to celebrate you in a future newsletter. ❤️
We’ll go through all of it together—the pain, the laughter, the awkward first posts and the unexpected DMs or emails that say “thank you for writing this.”
I’ll be waiting for your screenshot. 🥹
Let’s grow this thing. Together.
With heart,
Top 50 in Germany • Top 24 in Education globally • Mom of 2 • Award-winning marketing and brand manager
P.S. You can start today, even if your newsletter isn’t “ready.” Show up on Notes, join the Bootcamp, and give yourself this chance. The only difference between you and the people making $1,000… is that they started. 💌
P.P.S. Any Qs? Hit reply and leave a comment.
P.P.P.S. If you loved this post or think someone needs to read this, please share 🔁 it with your friends, colleagues and family as this means A LOT to me as a part-time mompreneur. Thanks so much! 🔁
I've got four paid subscribers. Two are in laws!
Kristina, it’s so encouraging to see everyday writers hitting real milestones. And even more uplifting to see you cheering them on from a cozy cabin. Thanks for making the path feel a little less lonely and a lot more possible.