Newsletter Architect

Create compelling newsletter editions that readers actually open, read, and forward.

Newsletter vs Email Nurture

Newsletter (this skill)	Email Nurture
Ongoing communication	One-time sequences
Regular cadence (weekly/monthly)	Triggered by action
Curated + original content	Focused drip campaign
Builds relationship over time	Moves toward conversion
Subscribers expect it	Automated based on behavior

Conversation Starter

Use AskUserQuestion to gather context:

"I'll help you create a newsletter edition that readers will love.

Quick info needed:

1. Newsletter name/topic: What's your newsletter about?
2. Archetype (pick one):
   • Curator - Curate the best links/resources (like Morning Brew)
   • Educator - Teach one thing deeply (like James Clear)
   • Thought Leader - Share opinions/insights (like Lenny's Newsletter)
   • Hybrid - Mix of above
3. This edition's focus: What's the main topic/theme?
4. Cadence: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly?
5. Tone: Casual, professional, witty, etc.
6. Any specific content to include? (links, announcements, stories)

I'll draft your edition with subject line options."

Newsletter Archetypes

1. The Curator

Best for: Busy professionals who want filtered content

Structure:

SUBJECT: [Number] + [Benefit] + [Timeframe]
"7 links that'll make you smarter this week"

---

[Personal 2-3 sentence intro - what you're thinking about]

---

## 🔗 This Week's Picks

### 1. [Link Title]
[1-2 sentence summary + why it matters]
→ [Link]

### 2. [Link Title]
[1-2 sentence summary + why it matters]
→ [Link]

(5-7 links total)

---

## 💡 One Thing I'm Thinking About
[1 paragraph personal insight]

---

## 🛠️ Tool/Resource of the Week
[Name]: [What it does + why you like it]
→ [Link]

---

[Sign-off + CTA]

Subject Line Formulas:

• [Number] things you missed this week
• The [topic] links worth your time
• Your [day] reading list is here
• [Number] [topic] finds (+ one surprise)

2. The Educator

Best for: Building authority, teaching skills

Structure:

SUBJECT: How to [Outcome] + [Constraint/Twist]
"How to write emails that get replies (even from busy executives)"

---

[Hook - relatable problem or surprising fact]

---

## The Problem

[2-3 paragraphs setting up the challenge]

---

## The Solution

### Step 1: [Action]
[Explanation + example]

### Step 2: [Action]
[Explanation + example]

### Step 3: [Action]
[Explanation + example]

---

## Real Example

[Before/after or case study]

---

## Your Action Item

[One specific thing to do this week]

---

[Sign-off + what's coming next week]

Subject Line Formulas:

• How to [outcome] (without [common sacrifice])
• The [topic] mistake costing you [loss]
• I [did thing]. Here's what happened.
• [Number] [topic] lessons from [source]

3. The Thought Leader

Best for: Building personal brand, sharing opinions

Structure:

SUBJECT: [Contrarian take] or [Provocative question]
"Nobody talks about this side of [topic]"

---

[Personal story or observation that sparked this edition]

---

## Here's What I've Been Thinking

[3-5 paragraphs of your perspective]

- [Key point 1]
- [Key point 2]
- [Key point 3]

---

## Why This Matters

[Connect to reader's life/work]

---

## The Uncomfortable Truth

[Your bold take that others won't say]

---

## What I'd Do About It

[Actionable perspective]

---

[Question for readers + sign-off]

Subject Line Formulas:

• The thing nobody tells you about [topic]
• I was wrong about [topic]
• Unpopular opinion: [take]
• Why I stopped [common practice]

4. The Hybrid

Best for: Variety, testing what resonates

Structure:

SUBJECT: [Main value] + [Curiosity element]

---

## 👋 Hey [Name/Friend],

[2-3 sentence personal intro]

---

## 📝 Main Story: [Title]

[The meat of this edition - 300-500 words]

---

## 🔗 Links Worth Clicking

1. **[Title]** - [One-liner] → [Link]
2. **[Title]** - [One-liner] → [Link]
3. **[Title]** - [One-liner] → [Link]

---

## 💬 From Last Week

[Reader reply/question + your response]

---

## 🎯 This Week's Challenge

[One actionable thing]

---

[Personal sign-off]

P.S. [Teaser for next week or bonus link]

Section Templates

Intros That Hook

The Story Open:

Last Tuesday, I made a mistake that cost me [result].

Here's what happened...

The Observation:

I've noticed something lately.

Every time I [action], [pattern emerges].

The Confession:

I have to be honest with you.

I've been [doing/thinking/avoiding] something, and it's time to talk about it.

The Direct:

This week: [topic].

No fluff. Let's get into it.

Sign-offs That Connect

The Personal:

That's all for this week.

I'm off to [personal activity]. Talk soon.

[Name]

The Forward Ask:

Found this useful? Forward to one person who'd benefit.

It helps more than you know.

[Name]

The Reply Prompt:

Hit reply and tell me: [specific question]

I read every response.

[Name]

The Teaser:

Next week: [topic preview].

You won't want to miss it.

[Name]

Subject Line Toolkit

Formulas That Work

Type	Formula	Example
Curiosity	The [thing] no one talks about	The hiring mistake no one talks about
Specificity	[Number] ways to [outcome]	5 ways to close deals faster
Personal	I [action]. Here's what happened.	I quit meetings. Here's what happened.
Question	What if [unexpected possibility]?	What if your best employee is wrong?
Contrast	[Common belief] vs [reality]	What they teach vs what works
FOMO	[Number] people already know this	10,000 people already know this
Direct	[Benefit] inside	Your productivity playbook inside

Power Words for Opens

• "Actually" - signals contrarian
• "Finally" - signals solution
• "Warning" - signals urgency
• "Secretly" - signals insider info
• "Quick" - signals low commitment
• "Real" - signals authenticity

Words to Avoid

• "Newsletter" - boring, expected
• "Update" - no curiosity
• "Monthly/Weekly" - screams routine
• "Don't miss" - overused
• "Exciting news" - generic hype

Content Sourcing

For Curators

Where to find links:

• Twitter/X lists of industry experts
• Hacker News, Reddit niche subs
• Industry Slack/Discord communities
• Pocket/Instapaper saved articles
• Google Alerts on key topics
• Competitor newsletters (add value, don't copy)

Curation criteria:

• Would I send this to a smart friend?
• Does it teach something actionable?
• Is it fresh (not everyone has seen it)?
• Does it fit my audience's level?

For Educators

Content mining:

• Questions from readers/customers
• Mistakes you've made
• Processes that work for you
• Books you're reading (one insight per newsletter)
• Conversations that sparked ideas

For Thought Leaders

Opinion generators:

• What common practice do you disagree with?
• What do beginners get wrong?
• What changed your mind recently?
• What would you do differently knowing what you know now?

Output Format

# NEWSLETTER EDITION: [Edition # or Date]

## Subject Line Options
1. **[Primary - best performer predicted]**
2. [Alternative A]
3. [Alternative B]

**Preview text:** [40-90 chars that show after subject]

---

## Newsletter Body

[Full newsletter content following chosen archetype structure]

---

## Metadata

- **Archetype:** [Curator/Educator/Thought Leader/Hybrid]
- **Word count:** [X words]
- **Estimated read time:** [X minutes]
- **Main CTA:** [What you want readers to do]

---

## A/B Test Suggestions

**Subject lines to test:**
- Version A: [Subject]
- Version B: [Subject]

**Send time options:**
- [Day] at [Time] - [Why]
- [Day] at [Time] - [Why]

Quality Checklist

Before sending, verify:

• Subject line creates curiosity (would YOU open it?)
• First line hooks immediately (no "hope you're well")
• One clear theme/focus (not a content dump)
• Scannable format (headers, bullets, short paragraphs)
• Personal voice (sounds like you, not corporate)
• Clear CTA (reply, forward, click, or just enjoy)
• Mobile-friendly (preview on phone)
• Proofread (typos kill trust)

Integration

Works well with:

• brand-voice - Apply your documented voice
• content-atomizer - Turn newsletter into social posts
• hook-writer - Generate subject line options
• copy-editor - Polish before sending

Workflow:

Newsletter draft → brand-voice check → copy-editor polish → send
                                    → content-atomizer → social posts

Frequency Guidelines

Cadence	Best For	Reader Expectation
Daily	News, markets, quick hits	<3 min read
Weekly	Deep dives, curated	5-10 min read
Bi-weekly	Thought leadership	7-15 min read
Monthly	Comprehensive roundups	10-20 min read

Rule: Don't send if you have nothing valuable. Silence > noise.