The Not-So-Secret Formula for Substack Notes

How to Be Consistent with Writing Your Notes Through Proven Structures, Gain Visibility, and Engagement

Hey Guys!!

Just a friendly tip: I hope you finish the article because I included some of the most important parts in the second half.

Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash

Posting Notes on Substack isn’t just about engagement—it’s your ticket to visibility.

Notes give people a quick glimpse of who you are. They act as a preview of your writing style, ideas, and personality. Think of them as a handshake before the deep dive into your long-form posts.

I’ve written about this topic multiple times because NOTES WORK. (I’ll include some of my articles on this bellow)

Notes help your posts get noticed and bring in loyal subscribers.

They’re a simple yet powerful tool to grow on the platform. But while there are plenty of articles on why Notes matter, there aren’t many on how to actually write them.

Most advice stops at “post consistently” without breaking down what makes a Note engaging. If you’ve seen a good guide, drop it in the comments—I’d love to read it.

Since I couldn’t find much, I started studying high-performing Notes myself. I paid attention to what worked, what got engagement, and what made certain posts stand out. Over time, I noticed patterns in structure, tone, and content.

Now, I’m sharing those insights with you.

Before diving into formats and content types, let’s talk about what your Notes should actually achieve.

At their core, Notes should do the same thing your articles aim to do:

• Catch attention – A Note should stand out in a fast-moving feed. (The job of your headlines)

• Provide value – Give readers something worth their time. (Your actual article)

Value can come in different forms like (but not limited to):

• Information – Tips, insights, how-tos, or useful resources.

• Entertainment – Humor, relatable moments, or thought-provoking ideas.

But don’t box yourself into rigid structures. Some of the best-performing Notes are raw and unfiltered.

Sometimes, I use Notes as actual notes to myself. Ironically, those tend to resonate the most.

Because the more real your Note is, the more likely it is to connect.

Now, let’s dive into the technical side—the actual how-tos.

Substack Notes Structure & Format

1. The Stacks of One Liners🎯

A series of short, punchy sentences stacked together for impact.

Example:
You’re not running out of time.

You’re still in the game.

Breathe.

And continue.

Start over if you need to.

Do what you have to.

The Value:
These notes are incredibly easy to read, almost like gliding through thoughts. They capitalize on short attention spans, making each line irresistible to the next.

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2. The List 📋

A quick bullet-point or numbered list.

Example:
3 Simple Ways to Write More:

• Set a 10-minute timer.

• Write the worst version first.

• Edit tomorrow, not today.

The Value:
The Lists deliver multiple points in a quick, digestible format. They save the reader time while providing direct, high-quality information. Notes move fast—make them easy to skim.

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3. The Bold Opener ✍️

Start with a striking first sentence to hook the reader.

Example:
Your best ideas will come when you’re away from your screen.
Step outside. Take a walk. Let your mind wander. Creativity isn’t forced—it’s invited.

The Value:
This structure makes your note instantly catchy. By putting the main idea upfront, it encourages the reader to continue.

It’s also highly versatile—using the pull quote feature can emphasize key points. Think of it as a mini article: a headline followed by a short body.

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4. The Story 📖

A micro-story that delivers an emotional punch and leaves an open-ended thought.

Example:
We were just waiting for a friend, but somehow, we ended up reminiscing about high school.
It hit me—everything felt so serious back then. Every mistake, every decision, I thought it would define my future. But looking back? Most of it didn’t really matter.
What did matter were the stories. The small, ridiculous moments that made life feel alive.
Now, I take things more seriously, but I still want to make sure my life is worth telling stories about.
Because in the end, I want to look back and think—damn, that was a story worth reading.

The Value:
These notes excel at capturing attention through storytelling. They leave a lasting impression by stimulating the reader’s imagination. While longer than other formats, they compensate with strong flow and emotional tension. If storytelling is your strength, this might be your best format.

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Common Notes Content Ideas

Now what you put in your notes depend on the content mostly that you are producing your field and genre but some common examples are:

• The Achievement Update 🏆 – Sharing milestones and wins.

• Lessons 💡 – Share Personal insights or reflections.

• The Reminders ⏳ – Encouraging and motivational messages.

• Raw Musings 🌀 – Unfiltered thoughts, spontaneous reflections, and stream-of-consciousness writing.

Let me show you how different note structures integrate with common note content.

The List 📋 + Lessons 💡

Tip: You can add a hint of humor in your notes and it will take you to the next level

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The List 📋 + The Tips 🔥

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The Stacks of One Liners🎯+ Lessons 💡

The Story 📖 + The Achievement Update 🏆

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The Story 📖 + The Reminders ⏳

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The Bold Opener ✍️+ The Tip 🔥

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The Stacks of One Liners🎯 + The Reminders ⏳

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The Story 📖 + Lessons 💡

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The Stacks of One Liners🎯 + Lessons 💡

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This Last Note is for You

To show that you don’t really need these structures, though it would help you if you are just starting and trying to be consistent with notes.

Formulas are only like a training wheels for us that we shall leave in the future. If we become experts, we can design our own, and that's how you find your own style.

Why These Types of Formulas Are Useful

• They help you become more consistent because they make publishing easier. Instead of overthinking, you just plug into a structure, it reduces the friction of writing notes regularly.

• They are training wheels. Once you’ve written enough, you’ll naturally develop your own way of writing.

I say this because when I was starting here, I had no idea what to do. I literally found my way by copying other writers.

By copying, I mean observing patterns that actually work and then tweaking them along the way until I made my own. The purpose of this article is just that—to deliver to you what I have learned.

In fact, some of my most engaged note also does not follow any of these formats. It was just a random thought I typed down while I was on a bus reading a Substack article.

It is only after I have published about 40 articles that I have realized the power of notes, and that was my turning point.

I initially thought my articles were bad, but that was not the case.

They just couldn’t generate traffic on their own.

The only people who see your articles are those already subscribed to you or following you. And those people don’t necessarily always read your work.

If they do, you’ll heavily rely on their engagement—likes, comments, restacks—for your work to appear to other people who are not following you.

And that is such a slow process.

Also, This Is How I Started Writing Here

I first learned how online writers write, and then I just followed what they said and did. Along the way, I tweaked things to fit me.

When it is said that writing is personal and you should find your own style, please do remember—it's perfectly normal to not have a unique style in the beginning.

You find it by writing more and more and then more. You don’t find it by thinking so hard for hours, "What is my style?"

That is all for today! I apologize for not publishing last Tuesday—I’ve been quite busy with other things.

Wishing you all a great week ahead! Thank you so much for reading up until here! 😊

Frey

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All my content is currently free, but if you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi! ☕✨ Every bit helps me keep creating. Thank you! 💛

Thanks for reading, and see you in the comments. 😊

As promised here are the links!

What to Watch Out For:

I’m thinking of starting a series on "How to Substack."

I’ve written several articles on this topic (like the ones above) and more on my publication, but now I want to dive into specifics.

Here are some of the next topics I’d like to cover:

• How to Connect with Other Writers – What to say in DMs

• What the Heck Do You Do in Subscriber Chats?

• How to Structure Your Articles

Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like me to cover (Send me a message or drop a comment)!