I'm pretty sure some (or most) of the affiliate networks are comfortable with you distributing their links in email.

So that, if you only want to use an email list and not a website, you could still do that. You just have to apply to the Affiliate programs and find out what's allowed.

All of the networks I targeted accepted me and my blog with only 2 or 3 posts up so far, so I think you will be fine. It's not this super difficult thing that some people here make it sound like. Once you're in the network, you still have to get accepted by companies, so you should do more research on whether the advertisers you wanna target allow emailing of links or not.