7 popular writing styles to spice up your substack posts

Find your voice, sharpen your edge, write with impact

If you’ve been writing for a while, have you wondered how to up your writing game?

You have inspiration, you have great ideas, you put your heart into your writing, but sometimes you do wish there is more.

More style, more flair, more flavour.

Don’t get stuck writing in one tone, one format, one voice. It may work for a while, until it doesn’t. Then you burn out, your audience tunes out, and your Substack feels more like a chore than a craft.

Good news is, the solution isn’t more content. It’s better delivery. And that starts with mastering a range of writing styles.

Because when you can flex your tone, you don’t just inform.
You entertain, inspire, challenge, connect.

Today, I’ll show you 7 distinct writing styles that will breathe life into your content. You don’t have to become a different writer, just a more dynamic one.

1. The Storyteller

Be personal, emotional, narrative-driven.

Humans are wired for story. We remember moments more than information. So if you’ve been through something, big or small, don’t just share what you learned. Share how you learned it, it’s how you build connection, vulnerability, and trust.

Structure it like this:

• The Moment: Describe the experience vividly.

• The Feeling: Let us in emotionally.

• The Shift: What changed?

• The Lesson: What’s the takeaway?

This makes your readers feel seen. And when readers feel seen, they stay.

2. The Professor

Let your post be clear, structured and educational, best to use this style when teaching frameworks, how-tos, or step-by-step systems.

If your brain loves clarity, you’ll love this style. You break ideas into teachable chunks. You name your methods. You simplify the complex. This is how you build authority.
Not by shouting louder, but by explaining better.

Try this structure:

• Problem → Process → Proof → Application.

Readers come away smarter, and smart readers share smart content.

3. The Philosopher

Reflective / Expansive / Quietly powerful

Wow your readers by exploring deeper truths or reframing common beliefs. This is the style for ideas that linger.

You don’t rush and you don’t have to explain everything. Instead, you wonder out loud. You create space for the reader to think, and that’s rare in a world obsessed with speed.

Not everything needs to be actionable. Sometimes the value is insight.

4. The Challenger

Who you are: Bold. Contrarian. Opinionated.

Shake your readers awake or challenge the status quo. This is the writing style that grabs attention, and doesn’t let go.

• You poke holes in popular ideas

• You call out BS

• You take a clear stand

The key is not to be angry but to be clear.

You challenge because you care.

This style creates discussion, shares, and loyalty from those who align with your beliefs.

5. The Journalist

Are you pulling in research, talking about current trends, or giving your expert take for a commentary piece?

The journalist style should be curated, informative and insight-driven.

This is when you become a bridge between your reader and the world. You scan the noise, extract the gold, and deliver it with clarity.

Think:

• Roundups

• Expert breakdowns

• Deep dives

• Event recaps

Because your readers trust you to filter what matters and that’s what makes you a go-to source.

6. The Minimalist

Be

• Clean

• Punchy

• Poetic

When emotion matters more than explanation.

• Use short lines

• Simple words

• Intentional silence

You don’t fill space. You sculpt it and let the reader breathe.

This is the art of simple and direct.

7. The Entertainer

Be playful, funny, offbeat. Delight, surprise, and keep things light for your readers.

Humour is massively underrated. In a sea of serious posts, laughter creates loyalty. Write like you’re talking to a close friend. Use memes, analogies, lists, over-the-top rants.

Just don’t try to be funny.

Be human. That’s what’s funny. People remember what made them feel good and that’ll be your edge.

1 Idea, 3 Styles

Take one idea, any topic you’ve already written about, and write it in three of the styles above.

• Turn a personal story into a how-to guide.

• Rewrite an opinion piece as a poetic minimalist post.

• Turn a framework into an entertaining rant.

See what clicks. See what resonates. See how your idea transforms without changing the core message.

Combine styles for more flavour —> Storyteller + Professor = heart + brain

Break your readers’ expectations. Know your dominant voice. Then stretch into the ones that surprised yourself.

Final thought

Your style is your instrument. The more fluently you play, the more deeply you connect.

Ideas are powerful, but style makes them stick.

Don’t box yourself into one format.
Explore. Experiment.
Let your voice evolve.

Change and grow your writing, and watch your readers do too.

Dare to fail so you can dare to win - Moon Arica

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Expand your comfort zone here, tell me your thoughts:

1. What’s your usual writing style?

2. Which 2 styles would you combine?

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Thanks for reading!