In today’s Spotlight Session, I’m talking to - the writer behind The Open Draft, a Substack about personal growth, starting over, and finding your voice later in life.
Lisa is one of the most active members and also one of the winners of my Substack Challenges.
We have SO MUCH in common that I didn’t even know where to start our conversation!
She lives in the Netherlands now but is originally from South Africa, a true late bloomer (as she says). She got married at 45, left her home country, and started her entire life (and career) over from scratch.
Her Substack, The Open Draft, is a reflection of that rebirth.
What I love about Lisa is how she blends corporate clarity with human softness. She spent years in marketing and advertising (much like me) and now uses that knowledge to build her own creative business with intention. She turned her Substack into a living experiment in consistency, authenticity, and growth.
Watch the video to hear Lisa’s story and learn:
How she started from scratch twice - once in life, once on Substack, and found her rhythm again
The power of consistency: how one “random” note went viral and brought her hundreds new subscribers overnight
Her strategy for writing 3–4 notes daily and why she treats her Substack like a business, not a hobby
How she structures her free and paid posts — with weekly reflections, practical rituals, and voice notes for her community
The systems she uses to stay productive: batching notes, scheduling posts, and blocking morning hours for focused writing. (Spoiler: she uses my and Finn’s Substack Studio PRO Bundle to stay consistent even when she’s offline and even got a viral Notes while on vacation)
And what it really means to grow authentically, not fast, but meaningfully - by connecting with readers like real people.
Lisa’s Substack is for those who believe it’s never too late to start again. Her writing feels like a quiet cup of coffee with a friend who’s been through it: raw, honest, and deeply human.
If you’ve ever thought you were “too late” to begin again, go read The Open Draft.
Because Lisa proves you’re always right on time.
👉 Subscribe to The Open Draft on Substack and follow Lisa’s journey of starting over with grace, grit, and a blank page.
And remember to post your questions to Lisa in the comments :)
Wanna have your own Spotlight Session?
You can take the place under the spotlight in one of the next sessions and talk about your personal story and your Substack!
All you need to do is:
Be a paid member of my Unplugged newsletter
Аdd yourself to the Accountability Tracker
Every month I choose two winners - one for the Notes and one for the Writing Challenge. Watch all spotlight sessions here.
If you’re still a free subscriber, become a member and get your spotlight session with me!
I see you inside!
Yana
P.S. The Substack Studio PRO Bundle has a 50% OFF for Unplugged paid members, this won’t last long.
👉 Start a discussion in the Unplugged community! Get help or simply introduce yourself and connect with like-minded members, and create meaningful connections.
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