The Newsletter Reset Stack: Prompts to Get You Through the Dip
Because even strategists, consultants, and freelancers hit the wall sometimes.
The Dip Nobody Talks About
Let’s be real: running a newsletter as a consultant or small business owner can feel like shouting into the void.
One week you’re inspired and full of ideas, and the next you’re staring at a blinking cursor, wondering if anyone even notices.
I’ve been there (hello, right now). That dip — uninspired, demoralized, second-guessing the whole thing — is part of the creative cycle. The trick isn’t to avoid it. It’s to move through it with tools that spark curiosity instead of pressure.
So here’s what I call the Newsletter Reset Stack: a set of prompts designed to get you past the bump, back into flow, and reconnected with why this matters — both for you and your business.
Layer 1: Reconnect With Your Why
Consulting is built on trust. Your newsletter isn’t just “content” — it’s the slow drip that builds authority, shows your brain at work, and reminds people you exist when they’re ready to hire.
Prompts:
What did I hope this newsletter would create for my business when I first started?
If a client said, “Your newsletter changed something for me,” what would I want them to say?
Which part of my expertise feels fun or easy to share — even if nobody read it?
👉 This gets you out of performance mode and back into service mode.
Layer 2: Spot the Energy Drains
Sometimes the problem isn’t the newsletter itself, but how we’re doing it. Consultants are notorious for over-engineering.
Prompts:
Which part of writing this feels like a slog — research, writing, editing, promotion?
Where am I doing things the “expected” way instead of my way?
If I gave myself permission to stop one element, what would it be?
👉 Maybe you don’t need a 1,200-word thought piece. Maybe your audience would love a 200-word “field note.”
Layer 3: Reframe Around the Reader
Your readers don’t need polish; they need help. As a consultant, your job is to solve problems, not win writing awards.
Prompts:
What is one simple win I could give my readers this week, even in two paragraphs?
What question has a client or colleague asked me recently that others probably have too?
What do my readers wish they had a shortcut for right now?
👉 Think micro-value: a checklist, a workflow, a question that sparks reflection. That’s often more powerful than a mini–Harvard Business Review.
Layer 4: Experiment With Format
Stuck in the longform essay rut? Break it.
Prompts:
What’s a version of my newsletter I could draft in 20 minutes, not two hours?
How could I turn a LinkedIn post, a client email, or a Slack exchange into an issue?
What if I shared one tool, workflow, or reflection instead of a full essay?
👉 Consultants thrive on conversations — sometimes your best issue is literally answering one client’s question (anonymized).
Layer 5: Reignite Momentum
The fastest way through the dip is to make it fun again.
Prompts:
If I wrote this week’s issue just for myself, what would I want to read?
What’s the smallest “experiment” I could send just to break the block?
What would make me laugh if I put it in here — even if it’s a little weird?
👉 Your readers are humans. They’ll forgive a playful experiment, and they’ll love your authenticity more than another polished insight piece.
Keep this Stack Handy
Consulting is a long game. Your newsletter is one of the best compounding assets you can build, but dips are part of the process. The Newsletter Reset Stack is there for the days when inspiration is low and self-doubt is high.
Next time you hit the wall, don’t push harder. Pull out a prompt, play with it, and see what shakes loose.
Reflect: If you gave yourself permission to make your newsletter easy this week, what would it look like?Stay curious, stay coherent ✨
Lisa
Your resident System Mystic + Digital Detective @ B Unlimited
Curator of Creating Smarter with AI