Online Writing Starter Pack: 2-2-2 Edition

Everything you need to begin: what’s stopping you, and how to move past it.

Frey

Jun 19, 2025

(1) Courage to start and the

(2) Ability to write.

Yes, that’s all it takes.

Simple, right?
But in no way easy.

My bet is you already know how to write.
We’ve been writing since we were kids. That part isn’t new.

Just know how to form cohesive and coherent sentences, then move on to paragraphs.

I’m sure you can do that

You don’t need a massive vocabulary.
You don’t need to be an expert in some scientific or literary field.
You don’t need experience.
You don’t even need to know exactly what to write about.

What’s missing mostly isn’t skill.
It’s courage, the courage to begin.

Because once you start, the rest can grow with you:
The experience, the skill, the voice, the clarity.
Even your niche and message will unfold over time.

🧱 The 2 Things keeping you from that courage to start.

1. Existing in the gap feels safe.

We often don’t show up because we’re afraid to find out what happens if we try.
So we stay stuck in the middle

“I could do it… I just don’t.”

It’s familiar. It’s comfortable.
It lets us imagine we could be great, without risking the reality that we might not be.
We convince ourselves we’re capable, but we just haven’t “tried enough.”
Deep down, it’s usually this quiet fear we’re hiding from:

What if I fail and regret it?

2. It’s scary to be perceived.

What if I waste people’s time?
What if people judge me?
What if I’m not good enough?

That fear can be paralyzing.

But here’s the truth:
There are no rules that say you have to be “qualified” to write.
You just write. That alone makes you a writer.

🧠 The 2 Lesson: What will give you the courage to start

To avoid spiraling into perfectionism or pressure, I gave myself what I now call:

Lesson 1: The Healthy Goals of a Beginner

Set yourself up in a way that makes failure impossible as long as you keep showing up.

When I started writing online, I didn’t aim to go viral.
I wasn’t chasing a thousand or even a hundred subscribers or followers.

Instead, I focused on what I could actually control
Set goals that guarantee progress.

👉 You won’t burn out if all you have is success.

Sidenote: I don’t think setting goals based on external metrics is inherently bad. They can be really useful just not always at the start.

They make the most sense later in the journey, when you’ve built the skills, developed the grit to stick around, and adopted the mindset to treat everything as feedback. Most importantly, when you understand that disappointment is a choice, not a guarantee.

Because that’s what often stops us from setting goals in the first place.

If you’re already in that headspace, then go ahead and use numbers to track your growth. Just take them with a grain of salt and be mindful of how much power you give them.

Lesson 2: Realize You Don’t Need a Lot to Start

You only need a few key things.

One of the biggest misconceptions that holds people back from writing online is this:

“I need to have it all figured out before I begin.”

No, you don’t.
You don’t need a niche.
You don’t need a huge plan.
You just need a place, a tool, and a starting point.

Here’s a simple checklist to get started:

✅ Minimum Requirements to Start Writing Online

1. A Place to Write

Pick a platform.
✅ Substack (highly recommended) – it’s free, beginner-friendly, and built for writers.
Other options: Medium, WordPress, Beehiiv — but don’t overthink it. Just choose one and go.

2. A Medium to Write With

✅ Laptop, desktop, or even your phone.
The device doesn’t matter. What matters is showing up consistently.

3. A Starting Topic Pool

Pick 3 types of topics to write about:
✅ Something you love
✅ Something you’re knowledgeable about
✅ Something you’re currently learning

Write about all three equally at the start:
33% love • 33% know • 33% learning

This helps you explore, find your voice, and build momentum without needing a niche upfront.

4. The ability to Observe

Observe what clicks

Follow what works, and abandon what doesn’t (Or spend less time around them)

After 10–20 posts, reflect:
– What do you enjoy writing most?
– What gets the most responses, views, or shares?
– What feels sustainable long-term?

Then slowly shift to this ratio:

70% what works • 20% what you love • 10% what you're curious to explore

This is how you grow with clarity without burning out.

Want to go deeper?
Subscribe for free to join my subscriber-only chat—now with a new weekly format to help you stay consistent and connected.

Every week, you’ll get:
✅ My 3-2-1 check-ins (goals, challenges, wins)
✍️ Creative prompts to spark ideas
📣 A space to promote your work
🌟 Feature Friday shout-outs
🤝 Honest support on wins and struggles

Plus: behind-the-scenes drafts, content tips, and everything I’m learning as I go.

Let’s grow together—one post at a time. 🚀

Do one thing at a time. You probably already have everything you need.
You don’t need to wait. Just start.
Everything else will follow.

☕ Found my work helpful?
Feel free to buy me a coffee every bit of support helps fuel the hours (and caffeine!) that go into creating these resources. Nonetheless, I appreciate you being here.

Thank you so much for taking your time to read It means a lot!🧡

- Frey.

Buy Me a Coffee ☕

🎉 Launching Soon: The Premium Handbook for Substack Writers!

The first part of my new MASTERING SUBSTACK series is here—focused on the #1 skill every writer needs: The Matsery of the Main Content forms in Substack

Learn how to make the most of Substack Articles, Notes, and Subscriber Chat with a practical, database-driven guide full of:

✅ Bite-sized lessons
✅ Copy/paste frameworks
✅ Visual examples
✅ Strategic checklists
✅ Real platform know-how

Whether you’re writing posts, building engagement, or running community chats this guide helps you do it with purpose.

🚀 Join the waitlist below to get early access + exclusive bonuses. And keep an eye out more parts of this series are dropping soon!

There’s no shortcut to success—but this is your shortcut to learning. 🔥

Join the Waitlist!

📚 Summary of Contents:

✍️ Part 1: Mastering the Substack Article

✅What makes an article valuable + how to write with purpose

✅Craft click-worthy titles (roles, tips, examples)

✅Maximize your sumtitles

✅Keep readers engaged till the end

✅Use every Substack editing tool effectively (headings, buttons, paywalls, images, etc.)

✅The ultimate article checklist to build with confidence

🗒️ Part 2: Mastering Substack Notes

✅ How are Notes so Powerful

✅ 3 core goals of powerful Notes

✅MASTER FRAMEWORK — Theme × Structure × Principle

✅Use Substack’s Note tools efficiently

✅ Keep ideas flowing consistently

✅Know when to post Notes and why it matters

💬 Part 3: Mastering Subscriber Chat

✅Why Chat is valuable + what it helps you develop as a Writer and How does it help the Readers: Principles you can build on for your own strategy

✅Subscriber Chat Strategy Framework (access, support, community, daily content, offers, etc.)

✅How to plan weekly Chat sessions that align with your goals

Up Next: 5 Books That Helped Me Start (And Continue) Writing Publicly

Where I share the books that helped me build the habit of writing, share my work publicly, push through doubt and criticism, and, most importantly, take my writing seriously. Not just as a habit, but as a craft.

Since I missed last Tuesday’s publishing schedule (life be life-ing 😅), I’ll be making up for it this week and publishing on Saturday instead!

Appreciate you for being here thank you so much for reading💛

See you there!

HAPPY WRITING!😊