When You're New on Substack

This is for all the newbies figuring this thing out

“What should I write about?”

This question has been stuck in my mind since I started my Substack.

I had plenty of ideas—until they all ended up as unfinished drafts that were only collecting dust in my online shelves.

And to this day? I haven’t posted a single thing except for some notes.

Don’t get me wrong. I write every day. But posting here? That feels different. It’s a new platform. A new audience. A space filled with great writers. And honestly? That’s kinda scary.

But I have so many ideas I can turn into reality if I just started posting. It’s time to get over my fear and do what I came here for.

Right now, I’m sitting in a coworking space in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City, sipping on a delicious coconut coffee, writing this post with 0 expectations. Just for the sake of writing.

And you know what? The words finally started flowing. That’s when it hit me:

It’s not about what you post, it’s about why you post it.

Because when you know your why, your what becomes easy.

Last night, I had an epiphany. Instead of overthinking about what I should post, I should just write about what I’m experiencing right now.

• The struggles I experience as a queer girly

• The endless thoughts that run through my mind each day.

• The lessons I’m learning as I travel through Southeast Asia.

Just sharing my story as it unfolds.

And that was exactly my why: To share my truth, embrace the messy middle, and fin

d other (queer) creators who just get it.

Once I stopped forcing ‘perfect’ content and just wrote about what was real for me, everything got easier.

There are no set rules for writing online. Just write about what sparks you.

Because here’s the truth:

I was putting the bar too high for myself.

I wanted to provide value, so I made a list of ideas. Mostly about things I had some knowledge in. But when I actually wrote them? They felt dry. Forced. Like I was trying too hard to teach something.

And that’s why I couldn’t post them. They didn’t feel like me.

I came to this platform to keep it real. And that’s exactly what I’m doing—writing this post, raw and unfiltered, as I try to find my voice on this platform.

It’s not about trying to make things perfect. It’s about showing up, imperfectly, and improving over time.

No one starts writing online with everything figured out. Everyone starts at 0.

And the only way to move up?

Keep trying. Keep experimenting. Keep posting.

Just post that draft and accept that it won’t be perfect.

Your voice will get clearer the more you use it.

So if you’re stuck on what to post, simply ask yourself:

Why am I here?

What I actually want to say?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear them :)

See ya,

Xx Dani