What You Get In My Live Strategy Sessions

When you join The Editing Spectrum’s paid newsletter membership, you get direct access to monthly live strategy sessions — a space where we dig into the challenges and opportunities that come with growing a sustainable, engaging newsletter.

These calls are more than just Q&A; they’re deep-dive conversations hosted on Zoom and designed to help you gain clarity, build momentum and make strategic decisions that actually work for you.

Here’s a look at the kinds of topics we explore inside these sessions:

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Newsletters Are Not Just Content — They’re Relationships

Your newsletter isn’t just a collection of posts — it’s a space to build real reader relationships. We discuss how to nurture engagement, how to keep your audience connected over time, and how to create a newsletter that feels like a true home for your work.

I’ve also built a digital resource library with workshops, templates, and guides to help you refine your editorial approach while staying true to your creative voice. But the real work happens here, in these conversations, where we tailor strategies to your unique audience.

📋 Creative Chaos Needs Structure — But Not Too Much

Many writers struggle with balancing creativity and consistency — how to stay flexible while still publishing regularly. We explore editorial theming, how to organize ideas without feeling boxed in and how to structure content in a way that keeps momentum without stifling inspiration.

A recurring discussion in these sessions is how to repurpose past work into paid subscriber resources without overwhelming yourself. Whether it’s turning old posts into a resource vault or restructuring essays into a Q&A-style guide, these calls help you figure out what works best for your audience.

💰 Monetization Is a Long Game — Not a Quick Hack

We talk about monetization without burnout. When should you launch a paid newsletter? How do you structure paywalled content? How much is too much?

One framework we discuss often is The Tote Bag Model — a low-pressure approach where 90% of your newsletter remains free, while a distinctive thank-you post for paid subscribers provides a sustainable way to transition into monetization.

We also address common pitfalls — like overloading paid tiers with too many extras, or rushing into monetization without a clear strategy. Instead, we focus on long-term momentum and sustainability.

👩🏻‍💻 Discoverability and Growth Happen Through Consistency, Not Perfection

Substack’s discoverability rewards consistency, engagement, and cross-promotion — but how do you actually use that to your advantage?

In these sessions, we break down:

• How to leverage Substack’s recommendation network

• How to encourage your readers to engage (e.g., adding a “leave a comment” button to every essay before publishing)

• Why engagement metrics matter more than sheer open metrics

Most importantly, we emphasize that great writing still wins. I’ve seen newsletters with fewer than 200 subscribers get lifted into Substack’s network simply because their writing resonated. We talk about how to make that happen for you.

Writing Is a Long Game — Protect Your Energy

If there’s one theme that comes up again and again, it’s this: protect your creative energy at all costs.

Many newsletter writers get caught up in producing, monetizing, and scaling—and burn out in the process. Our sessions include honest conversations about setting sustainable goals, avoiding overcommitment, and keeping your creative work at the center of everything you build.

This is also why I’ve launched Editorial Centering Sessions — a space specifically designed to help writers harness creative chaos without turning every idea into a product.

🎙️ What Paid Members Have Taken Away From the Pivot Hour

Not sure if the Pivot Hour is for you? Here’s what other paid members have said:

💬 “After attending today’s Pivot Hour, I feel inspired about how to move forward with my Substack and have a detailed and strategic plan where I initially felt stuck.” —

Sarah Frison

💬 “I feel inspired … and have a detailed and strategic plan where I initially felt stuck.” —

Iviana Bynum

, Grace for Breakfast

💬 “After attending today's pivot hour, I feel bolstered to keep showing up!” —

Cat Stacey

, My Multifaceted Life

💬 “I feel affirmed in my direction to continue creatively iterating without worrying too much about ‘audience’ yet.” —

Sudha Nandagopal

, Black Sheep Chronicles

💬 “Pivot Hour was chock full of practical tips & golden nuggets.” —

Kevin Ferguson

, The Centenarian Playbook

💬 “I feel inspired to keep writing and dive into the paid sub benefits!” —

Hannah Swierstra

, The Orkney Outpost

💬 “I feel inspired to write again and create containers (sandboxes 🥰), themes, and intentions for how I want my publication and writing to show up in the world.” —

Chitra Eder

, Art of Menopausing

💬 “Useful guidance on how I'm approaching my newsletter strategy. Appreciate the tip about comment buttons instead of subscribe buttons!” —

Erika Zeitz

, Z Words

💬 “I feel super confident to launch my paid membership … “Feel confident I’m on the right track.” —

Lisa Bolin

, Flucking Flourishing

Join Us Inside the Pivot Hour

These monthly strategy sessions are where we work through the real questions, together — from pricing and audience growth to engagement strategies and creative sustainability.

Alongside these live calls, paid members get access to:

📚 The Digital Resource Library – A growing collection of my best guides & workshops.
📢 Editorial Feedback & Strategy Adjustments – Real-time insights to refine your newsletter.
💡 A Private, Supportive Community – A space to connect with serious, like-minded writers.

If you’re looking for deep-dive strategy sessions, hands-on support, and a creative community that actually helps you move forward, this is the space for you.

Join us inside the Pivot Hour. You don’t have to figure this out alone.