The Beginner’s Guide To Addictive Newsletters
Hey lovely folks…
It’s a mystery that’s befuddled my brain.
For years, I’ve wondered: “why are some email newsletters *awesome…*and some are just as exciting as a loaf of stale bread?”
In other words…
How do we make our email newsletters an addictive must-read?
Today, we’ll dig in to the basics.
What IS an Addictive Newsletter, anyhow?
Let’s clear something up: an addictive newsletter doesn’t mean writing clickbait or manipulating people into opening your emails with “You’ll never believe what happened next…”
An addictive newsletter is the kind your readers actually want to read.
It’s the one they open on the subway, in line at the grocery store, when they’re hiding from their kids in the bathroom. It’s the email they forward, the one they save, the one that makes them reply with “You’re in my head.”
It’s not perfect.
It’s not polished.
It’s you, on purpose.
An addictive newsletter feels like a tiny rebellion in their inbox. It cuts through the noise and says something real. It builds trust faster than any funnel—and loyalty faster than any launch.
Why Do We Need Addictive Newsletters?
Because most newsletters are boring as hell.
They’re safe, generic, overly “branded,” and emotionally flat. They sound like they were written by a committee in a WeWork kitchen.
Even worse? Most people writing newsletters secretly hate writing them. It becomes another chore on the content hamster wheel: show up, share tips, act like an expert, and hope your list doesn’t silently unsubscribe while you’re sleeping.
But here’s the truth no one’s saying out loud:
People don’t want more “value.” They want to feel something.
If you’re a writer, creative, coach, or unconventional entrepreneur, your newsletter is not just a tool. It’s a voice. A frequency. A relationship.
You don’t need to “convert” people—you need to connect with them. And addictive newsletters do exactly that.
What’s the Addictive Newsletter Method? ☕️
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula—but there is a method. And it starts by flipping the script.
Most newsletter advice tells you to:
Pick a niche
Deliver consistent value
Educate your audience
Stick to your brand voice
Hard pass.
The Addictive Newsletter Method is based on a good, strong, “wake me up” cup of coffee. (The kind I get at my favourite little unassuming bakery 2 blocks away).
uses these 3 essentials: It’s piping hot, it’s a wickedly strong brew, and there’s plenty of it.
Let’s break it down:
1. PIPING HOT ☕️
Lead with emotion. Write from something, not just about something. Start where it hurts, tickles, or confesses. Build the “Scroll Addiction”. Use tension, rhythm, surprise, and contrast. Each sentence should make them want the next one.
2. STRONG BREW ☕️
Say the thing no one else is saying. Ditch the fluff. Name what’s awkward, unspeakable, or obvious-but-ignored. That’s where your reader leans in. And end with a spark. Land with insight, a punchline, a gut-pull, or a question they carry with them all day.
3. PLENTY OF IT ☕️
Build community into the mix. In my local bakery, the owner and staff are always curious, making friends with all the locals, knowing our orders, chatting about our pets and kids. Invite real connection. Ask for a reply. Share a story. Create a moment of mirror—not a moment of marketing.
That’s it.
No templates. No overthinking. Just consistent intimacy with your reader.
Just like at my local bakery, your job is to show up and make your reader’s day a little teensy tiny bit better. With a smile and a hot cup of coffee.
How Can We Make This Easier?
Glad you asked.
Writing an addictive newsletter doesn’t have to be a weekly battle with your inner critic. The key is to lower the stakes and raise the truth.
Here’s how to make it easier:
Write like you talk at 10pm, not like you’re pitching an investor at 10am.
Keep a “spark file”—a messy, running list of emotions, moments, rants, dreams, and sticky sentences.
Use voice memos first if writing feels stiff. Talk it out. Find your tone. Then write.
Start with a single feeling, not a topic. “I’m exhausted.” “I’m lit up.” “I’m scared this will flop.” Let that guide the piece.
Above all: give yourself permission to not be helpful, polished, or strategic. Be felt. Be true. That’s what makes readers stay.
But Don’t I Need to Sell Something?
Eventually, yes. But not the way you’ve been told.
You don’t need a funnel, launch sequence, or 8-email campaign to get clients. If your newsletter is addictive—if it builds trust, resonance, and emotional credibility—you can sell just by saying:
“Hey, I’m offering this. Want in?”
Because people buy from voices they trust. They buy from people who make them feel seen. They buy from writers who don’t just teach—they touch.
So yes, Virginia, you can build a business with your newsletter. But not if it reads like everyone else’s.
Final Word: This Isn’t About Newsletters. It’s About Nerve.
An addictive newsletter isn’t just a tool—it’s a creative home. A platform that lets you speak in your real voice, build a real relationship, and make real things happen.
You don’t need more strategy. You need more nerve.
So if you’ve been waiting for permission to write what you really mean? Here it is.
Welcome to the rebellion.
The inbox is yours now.