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Launch Your Substack Publication

The capstone project for Substack Writing — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

The public URL of your live Substack publication containing an About page with a stated beat and cadence, at least three crafted posts, a growth log, and at least two recommendations.

What to do, step by step

  1. 1. Create your Substack publication with a clear name and one-line description that signal your beat, and write an About page (3+ sentences) stating what the newsletter covers, who it is for, and your publishing cadence (e.g. 'every other Saturday').
  2. 2. Publish at least THREE posts of 500+ words each within your beat. Each post must show the craft from Lesson 3: a deliberate hook in the first paragraph, one clear central idea with supporting evidence or examples, short mobile-friendly paragraphs, and an ending that lands with a single ask (a question, a reply prompt, or a share request).
  3. 3. Add a fourth short post titled 'Growth log' (or a section at the end of one post) describing your first distribution push: how you shared at least one issue on WhatsApp (status or a relevant group) and at least once on X or Substack Notes, and what happened — even 'three friends subscribed' is a valid honest result.
  4. 4. In your Substack settings, add recommendations for at least two other newsletters you genuinely rate (the African newsletters you studied are a good start).
  5. 5. Do NOT turn on paid subscriptions for this project — the capstone is judged on craft, clarity and consistency, not monetisation.
  6. 6. Submit the URL of your publication homepage (e.g. yourname.substack.com) — make sure all posts are published publicly, not drafts.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Clear beat and positioning: name, description and About page tell a stranger exactly what this newsletter is, who it serves, and when it publishes20%
Writing craft across three posts: strong hooks, one-idea structure with concrete evidence or examples, and endings that land with a single ask35%
Distinct, consistent voice appropriate to the beat and audience — reads like a person, not a template15%
Readability and presentation: short mobile-friendly paragraphs, working links, clean formatting, edited prose (no obvious padding or errors)15%
Growth log and recommendations: honest account of WhatsApp plus X/Notes distribution with results, and at least two genuine recommendations set up15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Substack Writing before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Substack Writing is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

More Creative projects

Ready to earn this certificate?

Substack Writing is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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