Create a newsletter with the Format Generator

The Format Generator helps you start a newsletter when you do not have past issues for Voice Training. You describe what you want to publish, then HeyNews researches the subject and builds a Newsletter Format for you to review.

This feature may not be available to every account while it is rolling out.

Complete the Format Intake

The intake has three short steps. You will describe:

  • the newsletter you want to create, who will read it, and what it should do for you
  • what you already publish and which sources you follow
  • who will write and approve the newsletter, plus any writing samples you want to share

The form uses your App Language. You choose the newsletter's writing language separately, so a Turkish interface can still produce an English newsletter. HeyNews saves your answers after each step, and you can return to finish later.

If you already publish an email newsletter, select An existing email newsletter. HeyNews will take you to the connection flow instead, where it can learn from your archive through Voice Training.

Pay the Format Fee

Each Format Run costs $19 and includes one Format Re-run. If you are new to HeyNews, choose a monthly plan and review the 14-day trial terms during checkout. The checkout saves your card, but the trial does not start yet. After payment, HeyNews opens your Newsletter Format as it is being prepared. If confirmation takes longer, use Check payment again before paying again.

If you already have a paid subscription, you pay the same Format Fee without choosing another plan or starting another trial. The same applies when the HeyNews team has granted you a paid plan. A new account still needs to choose a plan and accept the trial terms.

Review your Newsletter Format

HeyNews researches your subject, checks potential Sources, and prepares a Newsletter Format. It includes the planned Sections, Style Rules, Reusable Links, visual styling, and notes explaining important choices.

The review lists the Sections, headlines, validated Sources, and Style Rules HeyNews prepared. Anything that still needs your attention appears as a flagged check.

Review the proposal before you approve it. You can edit the available fields or give feedback. When you save your changes, HeyNews checks the Newsletter Format again. A flagged check you have fixed goes away, and a new one appears if an edit created a problem.

If any checks are still flagged when you approve, HeyNews asks you to confirm that you have read them. Select the acknowledgement checkbox before choosing Approve Newsletter Format. You do not need to resolve every flag to approve. If the checks change while you are reviewing, HeyNews shows the current checks and asks you to review and confirm them again.

If the proposal needs a fresh start, use the included Format Re-run. A Format Re-run replaces the current proposal, so copy anything you want to keep before you begin.

For eligible new customers, approving the Newsletter Format starts the 14-day trial on the plan selected at checkout.

Review the Demo Issue

After approval, HeyNews creates a Demo Issue from recent, checked Sources. The Demo Issue is a real Draft in Compose. Edit it as you would any other Draft, then approve it when the structure and writing feel right.

Your approved Newsletter Format and Demo Issue set up the Publication and AI Writer you will use for future Drafts. For your first trial, HeyNews fills in the empty Publication created at signup, so it fits within the trial's one Publication. Additional newsletter formats need room for another Publication on your plan. If your edits conflict with a measurable Style Rule, HeyNews follows the edit and adjusts the rule so the AI Writer does not receive contradictory instructions.

Connect delivery

The final setup step is Connect your sending platform. Select a ready Sending Connection before creating more Drafts or turning on Draft Automation. For beehiiv, connect draft publishing, choose the destination Publication, and select Use for new provider drafts. A ready Kit connection also meets this setup requirement, but you still copy your finished Issue into Kit. Importing a public archive by itself does not complete delivery setup.

HeyNews creates and saves Drafts. You still review and send them from your publishing platform.