python-sdk.md

layout	default
title	Python SDK

Python SDK

Use Api.create_draft_from_markdown for the same draft-only workflow as the CLI:

import os

from dotenv import load_dotenv
from substack import Api

load_dotenv()

api = Api(
    cookies_path=os.getenv("COOKIES_PATH"),
    publication_url=os.getenv("PUBLICATION_URL"),
)

result = api.create_draft_from_markdown(
    title="Shipping with Python",
    subtitle="A draft created from a script",
    markdown="# Hello\n\nThis is **Markdown**.",
    tags=["python", "automation"],
)

print(result["draft"]["id"])

The method creates an unpublished draft by default. It publishes only when publish=True is passed. It can also set audience, comment permissions, SEO metadata, slug, section, and tags.

Export a draft without modifying it

from pathlib import Path

result = api.export_draft_to_markdown(12345)

Path("backup.md").write_text(result["markdown"], encoding="utf-8")
print(result["unsupported_nodes"])

The result contains the original draft, exported markdown, and an unsupported_nodes list. The method performs one draft read and no server writes. Unsupported editor nodes remain embedded in the Markdown as opaque, decodable markers.

For supported syntax, see the Markdown reference. For direct editor-node construction, see the low-level Python API.