Substack 1-to-1s

Grow. Your. Substack.

I will save you from spending years flailing around, trying to figure out the platform, and not getting any traction.

The way to succeed on Substack is personalized guidance to

  • get subscribers,

  • produce your best work,

  • earn an income, and

  • build a community of readers.

No tricks. No silly marketing tactics. I share with you the advice the folks at Substack gave me and helped me build two bestselling Featured Substacks.

I’ve helped hundreds of writers and creatives. Their Substacks have

  • doubled and tripled in subscribers,

  • seen a sharp increase in revenue,

  • gotten real engagement, and

  • been Featured Substacks–the pinnacle of quality on the platform.


Book a meeting with Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Schedule a meeting

In 30-minute Zoom meetings, we

  • sharpen the value you offer,

  • develop a content calendar, so you can produce your best work (perhaps to draw agents and editors),

  • create a paid strategy to increase your subscribers,

  • find simple ways to build community and keep subscribers,

  • generate publicity,

  • master the art of the perfect Substack post (write less, go deep, use your voice),

  • design your Substack to reflect you as a writer, and

  • hone your long-term vision.

You’ll leave with meticulous notes and clear, step-by-step instructions on what to do next to reach your goals.

Book a discounted 3-meeting package

I’ve helped some of the best writers on Substack: bestselling author Jennifer Lauck, tech and AI writers like

and , memoirist Jeannine Ouellette, those in the health and wellness space like , poet , publishing powerhouse and bestselling author Zibby Owens, food writer Kate Hill, journalist Katie Harbath, creatives and designers like Ajiri Aki and Karen Bussen, those just starting out, and those that have been on Substack for years.


My expertise

You can’t find this level of mentoring, attention, and expertise anywhere else. No one else has the relationship with Substack that I do and specializes in the unique nature of the platform, how it can be used to earn an income, and how it complements traditional publishing and all aspects of a writer’s career.

Photo of Sarah Fay, standing, ready to help

I share with you my experience as

  • the creator of two bestselling, featured Substack publications;

  • an award-winning author at HarperCollins;

  • a member of Substack’s Product Lab;

  • a freelance writer at The New York Times and elsewhere;

  • a former advisory editor at The Paris Review; and

  • a creative writing professor at Northwestern University.


What Substack writers say about working with me

“More than worth the money.” —Joyce Wycoff, Gratitude Mojo

Kimberly Warner says working with me got her subscribers in 24 hours
David Roberts says working with me increased the quality of his writing
Client Kate Hill's financial success
Kate Hill’s Substack growth after working with me
Madeleine Dore says I gave her practical advice from the Substack team
Renee Eli says working with me was "transformative"

Book a meeting with Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Schedule a meeting

A bit more about me

I have many writing and literature degrees and letters after my name—M.F.A., M.A., Ph.D. I’m the author of the journalistic memoir Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses (HarperCollins):

I write for many publications, including Oprah Daily, The New York Times, The New Republic, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, and The Paris Review, where I was an advisory editor. I’m the recipient of the Hopwood Award for Literature and grants and fellowships from Yaddo, the Mellon Foundation, and the MacDowell Colony, among others. My essays have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes and chosen as notable mentions in Best American Essays.

I live in Chicago with my two beloved cats, Siddhartha (a.k.a. Mr. Sweets) and Baby Theo. More than anything, I want a t-shirt that says, Ask me about my cats.

Baby Theo and Mr. Sweets hard at work on their new novel.

Get the guidance you need. Book a single meeting or a discounted 3-meeting package:

Book a single session

Book a discounted 3-meeting package