Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast How to Write for a Living

➡️ NEW FREE TRAINING: Are you failing, or are you just early? New free 38-minute training on the six signals that show you the difference. Comes with a downloadable scorecard so you finish with a concrete number, not just a feeling. Watch it here.

Season 5, episode 2 is here!

Drew English and I had never spoken before this live. We’d only traded messages, and it all began with a short video from him with nothing to sell attached. He’s a self-taught cinematographer, a former wannabe rock star, and the host of the No Set Path podcast. He talks about career chaos with total calm. What a great chat!

What we covered:

- How Drew went from wannabe rock star to Apple store employee to working cinematographer, with a used camera, YouTube University and a $5,000 summer job in the middle.

- The podcast he started out of boredom in a basement during COVID, and the studio it grew into that he never has to market.

- The simple message that got him into my DMs, and the one part he found hard about sending it.

- Why he thinks plenty of people building a personal brand are actually building something else in disguise.

- What happened to a six-figure cinematography career, and the hybrid way he’s rebuilding around the life he actually wants.

- How he weighs paid work against showing up online, and the one thing that always comes first.

- The sci-fi worlds, the surprising Paris film and the vintage hobby he uses to switch off, plus the reassuring thought he left us with.

You can find Drew at No Set Path on Substack, where he also hosts the podcast of the same name.

➡️ NEW FREE TRAINING: Are you failing, or are you just early? New free 38-minute training on the six signals that show you the difference. Comes with a downloadable scorecard so you finish with a concrete number, not just a feeling. Watch it here.

Season 5, episode 1 is here!

Virgil Brewster blows up launches for a living. He built a course business to seven figures with two partners, sold it, drifted into semi-retirement, and then got pulled back in when people kept asking him for help. He is easily the most energetic guest I’ve had on, and this one flew by.

What we covered:

- The story of Virgil’s very first online payment, back when he ran a boutique personal training business in Ibiza, and why he was convinced it had to be a scam.

- What that first dollar does to your brain chemistry, and the two-second window of pure magic before your head starts chasing the next one.

- How he balances raw ambition with being content where he is, including the millionaire at an event who taught him more than he expected.

- His honest answer on avoiding burnout, from doing one task a day to the slightly terrifying activity he uses to quiet his mind.

- Why he puts 5 to 10 percent of his income into learning, and the decade of trying to DIY it all before that penny dropped.

- The two mistakes he sees people make with every launch, and why charging money for something half-built is the smartest thing you can do.

- His glass-half-full take on where the creator economy is heading, and the one-liner he left us with that’s worth writing on your wall.

Go and subscribe to Virgil’s publication, The Launch Room, and follow along with what he’s building.

➡️ NEW FREE TRAINING: Are you failing, or are you just early? New free 38-minute training on the six signals that show you the difference. Comes with a downloadable scorecard so you finish with a concrete number, not just a feeling. Watch it here.

The Season 4 finale is here!

No guest this time. Just me and a shorter solo episode to close out season four. I answered some listener questions about podcasting and going live, gave a behind-the-scenes look at where the podcast is at, and walked through the changes coming next season. I even discovered a feature live on air that I had no idea existed…

What I covered:

- Where my podcast actually stands after two years, including the download count Substack quietly lopped over 20,000 off overnight.

- Why my episode numbers look like I’ve recorded 421 of these when the real figure is nowhere near that.

- The biggest change for season five, and why the recordings are opening up to everyone instead of just paid members.

- The new perk paid members get, which means your question gets asked even if you can’t make the live.

- My honest answers to listener questions on echo, cheap mics, and recording outdoors without it sounding like a wind tunnel.

- Why I still find solo lives hard even now, and the simple fix that takes the pressure right off.

- The evergreen traffic source I keep banging on about, and the feature I only realised existed halfway through this very episode.

Season five kicks off next week with a cracking guest lined up. If you’re a paid member, keep an eye out for the prompt to send questions in advance, and if you fancy pitching yourself or someone else as a guest, my inbox is open.

➡️ NEW FREE TRAINING: Are you failing, or are you just early? New free 38-minute training on the six signals that show you the difference. Comes with a downloadable scorecard so you finish with a concrete number, not just a feeling. Watch it here.

Season 4, episode 21 is here!

Yuvika Iyer joined Substack four months ago with no niche, no plan, and a background in recruitment she wanted to leave behind. She’s now closing in on 700 subscribers, has sold a product she built almost by accident, and did her very first live for this conversation (and she was brilliant!).

What we covered:

- The simple 30-minute daily routine Yuvika credits for most of her growth, and why she supported other writers long before anyone was reading her.

- What happened when a writer with more subscribers sent her a cruel DM, and how the note she wrote in response turned everything around.

- The small analytics frustration she grumbled about that became a product, with 16 sales in the first 24 hours despite never having sold anything online before.

- Why she brought a coffee shop mindset to the platform, and what showing up at the same time every day actually does for you.

- Her take on positioning, and the one thing most creators skip that keeps them stuck writing to nobody.

- Where she goes to find out what readers really struggle with, and why she does it by hand instead of handing it to AI.

- Her golden nugget on why done beats perfect every time, and the modest revenue goal she’s quietly chasing by December.

Go and subscribe to Yuvika’s publication, The Quiet Creator, send her a DM, and check out her Gumroad tool while you’re at it.

➡️ Are you failing, or are you just early? New free 38-minute training on the six signals that show you the difference. Comes with a downloadable scorecard so you finish with a concrete number, not just a feeling. Join here.

Season 4, episode 20 is here!

Ryan Maxwell and I have been having deep conversations for the best part of a year now, so it was about time we did one on the record. Ryan writes Chasing Maximus, and his whole journey is about working out how you became who you are and what comes next.

He built everything he thought he was supposed to want, watched it start to crumble, and has spent years since then digging into why. This was an honest, thoughtful conversation (as it always is with Ryan).

What we covered:

- The realisation midway through his corporate career that changed the whole direction of his life.

- What Ryan calls his two-by-four moments, and how to spot the warning signs long before life knocks you flat.

- Why the pressure he felt for years was never actually coming from where he thought it was.

- The difference between fitting in and belonging, and why sanding down your edges attracts the wrong people.

- What it really takes to tell someone a hard truth without crushing them, and why nice is not the same as kind.

- The line Ryan draws on how much of himself to share, summed up in one phrase about scars and open wounds.

- His golden nugget on why we mistake our adaptations for our personality, and the software update most of us never install.

Go and subscribe to Ryan’s publication, Chasing Maximus, and if you ever get the chance to have a proper conversation with him, take it.

Season 4, episode 19 is here!

Dr. Taylor Francois trained as a lawyer, passed the California Bar, and then spent years building companies and teaching people how to actually use social media. She landed on Substack less than four months ago and has already crossed 32,000 subscribers. Behind the numbers is a story about burnout, a wake-up call she never saw coming, and a completely different way of working. This was a brilliant one.

What we covered:

- How Dr. Taylor grew to 32,000 subscribers in under four months, and the one thing she brought from every other platform that made it happen so fast.

- Why honing in on your zone of genius beats stacking up offers, and the reason spreading yourself thin is what keeps you stuck at the same revenue ceiling.

- The simple exercise she gives anyone trying to work out who they should actually be selling to.

- Her take on going all in on one platform versus being everywhere, and the 30-day test she swears by.

- The four-day weekend she guards fiercely, and the daily routine that starts at 5am for one very specific reason.

- Why she cut her output right down and started growing faster than ever, plus the signal that tells her burnout is creeping back in.

- The lunch that never happened, and the last thing a mentor said to her that made her burn down her whole business model and start again.

Go and subscribe to Dr. Taylor’s publication, Solo Millions, where she writes about building a big business on your own terms without the burnout.

Season 4, episode 18 is here!

Suzanne Taylor-King Suzanne Taylor-King has started six companies, had two exits, and racked up many years of hard-won lessons along the way. These days, she’s less interested in growth for its own sake and more interested in building a business that hands you your life back. This was a cracking conversation, full of advice that runs against the grain of almost everything else out there.

What we covered:

- The paper round scheme Suzanne ran at 12 that got her in trouble with her parents, and the lesson about leverage she has never forgotten since.

- Why she quit a safe career at 23, drove across the country with no phone and a paper map, and accidentally found her way into business.

- The two mistakes she sees new entrepreneurs make again and again, and the question about money she asks that tends to stop people in their tracks.

- What happened when she hit her big income goal in three years, and why it nearly cost her everything that mattered.

- Why she now deletes things off her calendar without mercy, including a community bringing in real monthly money, and the counterintuitive idea behind it.

- How she thinks about the people around her in circles of ten, a hundred, and beyond, and where she would start if she had to build it all again today.

- The coaching scandal she’s watched unfold that tells you exactly where the industry is heading, and what people actually want to pay for now.

You can find Suzanne at The Idea Lab.

Season 4, episode 17 is here!

Anjeanette Carter is a seven-figure copywriter and agency owner who now spends her time helping other writers land real, well-paid work. She runs a Substack about making money as a writer and a twice-weekly job board that weeds out the scams most people fall for. This chat was full of practical, no-nonsense advice.

What we covered:

Why Anjeanette took a $60 job after she was already earning multiple six figures, and what she calls the sweat equity that makes it worth it.

The messy behind the scenes of her job board, and why she had to take back a task she thought she could easily hand off.

What actually makes a writing job a scam, and the thing LinkedIn does that quietly sends you straight toward them.

Why personal stories matter more in 2026 than they did two years ago, and what changed to make that true.

How she went from managing seven writers to letting them all go, and the one pairing she says makes a writer unstoppable now.

The small thing almost nobody does when they send a connection request that gets hers read every single time.

The one word she says separates the writers who make it from the ones who quit, and the daily streak she uses to prove she lives by it.

You can find Anjeanette on Substack here.

Season 4, episode 16 is here!

Louise Buckley Literary Agent has worked just about every side of books, from the shop floor at Waterstones to commercial fiction editor at Macmillan to literary agent. She’s on a mission to demystify an industry that can feel like a locked room, and she was refreshingly honest about how the whole thing actually works. If you’re interested in pursuing the traditional publishing route, this one’s for you.

What we covered:

- Why Louise says being an author is harder than being an agent, and the reason your manuscript sits at the very bottom of her pile for reasons that have nothing to do with quality.

- The first question she asks about every single submission, and why a book that’s merely good is no longer good enough to make it through.

- What she really thinks when authors haven’t heard back in three months, and the story everyone tells online that quietly warps your expectations.

- The query letter red flags that get an immediate no, including one well-meaning move authors make to stand out that backfires completely.

- Whether you actually need a social media following to get a fiction deal, and how the answer changes the moment you cross into nonfiction.

- The uncomfortable shift happening inside publishers right now that means editors can love your book and still not be able to buy it.

- Her single golden nugget of advice for anyone hoping to land an agent, which comes down to one thing you should be able to do before you send a word.

You can find Louise’s publication here.

Season 4, episode 15 is here!

Shea Serrano taught middle school in Houston for nine years before freelancing turned into New York Times bestsellers, TV shows, and a Substack pulling in serious numbers.

Along the way he built his own fake publishing company and figured out exactly where the money in books actually goes. This one covered a lot of ground (and a fair bit of Scrubs!).

What we covered:

- How Shea went from freelancing for anyone who’d have him to the moment top-tier editors told him he could make a real career out of it.

- The single most important lesson he took from working with Bill Simmons that still shapes everything he makes.

- The royalty statement that made him realise something was very wrong with how book money gets split, and what he did about it.

- Why he started selling essay collections directly through Gumroad and how that became a whole publishing operation.

- His theory on why certain shows and albums imprint on us so deeply, and why nothing quite replaces them.

- What he looks for in every movie, show, and book he consumes, and the horror film this year that delivered it perfectly.

- His honest take on the new season of Scrubs, what it got right, and the one thing he wishes had been different.

You can find Shea at Good Movie on Substack.

Season 4, episode 14 is here!

Karin Gillespie got her first book published by Simon & Schuster in 2004, and has spent the two decades since working across traditional publishing, small presses, and self-publishing. She’s studied publishing deals obsessively, teaches writing, and now breaks it all down on her Substack.

This was packed with genuinely useful advice, especially for anyone who wants to pursue the traditional publishing route.

What we covered:

- Why Karin says getting published is not the finish line most authors think it is, and the sobering statistic about debut novelists that proves it.

- What publishers are really doing for your book behind the scenes, and the parts of marketing that quietly fall on you.

- Whether the size of your audience actually matters when a publisher decides to take you on.

- The honest pros and cons of traditional publishing, small presses, and self-publishing from someone who’s done all three.

- The exact structure of a query letter that works in 2026, and the one sentence that agents often read before anything else.

- How many queries you should really expect to send, and why obsessively personalising each one might be a waste of your time.

- The self-published book that sold 170,000 copies on its own before a publisher paid millions for it, and what made it work.

You can find Karin at Pitch Your Novel on Substack.

Season 4, episode 13 is here!

Vic Holtreman started Screen Rant in the early 2000s as a hobby because he liked complaining about Hollywood.

Twelve years later he sold it with 15 million monthly visitors. Now he writes for men trying to rebuild their lives after divorce or midlife upheaval, and he has a fitness book with 55 drafts behind it.

This was a great conversation!

What we covered:

- How Vic knew Screen Rant was worth quitting his day job for, and what finally pushed him to do it.

- Why he sold the site at the height of its success and what he saw coming that made the timing feel right.

- Why he thinks men struggle so much with vulnerability and what he believes the right way to be vulnerable actually looks like.

- The specific reason he tells men going through divorce or crisis to start with fitness before anything else.

- How he used 15 years of food tracking data and AI to write a fitness memoir unlike anything he’d planned to write.

- The AI-guided assessment tool he built for men that several people have told him is uncomfortably good at finding the real issue.

- What helped him finally stop letting anger run his day, and why he thinks an eternal perspective is more practical than it sounds.

You can find Vic at The Redeemed Second Half on Substack.

Season 4, episode 12 is here!

michelle ray spent 15 years teaching abroad in Ecuador, Bahrain, and Dubai before coming back to the States, having a kid, and eventually sitting down to write a memoir.

This was a warm, funny, really honest conversation about writing and what stories actually do for us.

What we covered

- How Michelle stumbled onto Substack just to tick a box for a writing conference and ended up building something she genuinely loves.

- The technique she uses to help writers access memories they didn’t know they still had, and why people rarely remember in words.

- Why going back to old journals, emails, and documents can unlock parts of a story you thought you’d forgotten completely.

- What happened when Michelle found a journal from her first year in Bahrain after 15 years, and why reading it felt like reading someone else’s life.

- The vulnerability sweet spot she thinks most writers miss, and why you’re probably sharing less than you think you are.

- What her paid Story Discovery sessions actually involve, and why having your key story properly shaped changes everything about how you use it.

- Why she thinks finding a writing community matters more than almost anything else if you actually want to finish something.

You can find Michelle at states of matter on Substack.

Season 4, episode 11 is here!

Bobby Umar has done a thousand keynotes across four continents, spoken at TEDx five times, and built half a million followers on Twitter. But it took multiple job redirections before he finally stopped waiting and figured out what he was actually all about. This was a really fun chat!

What we covered:

- Why Bobby thinks the difference between a personal story and a private story is the most important line any creator needs to understand.

- What actually happened when he posted about his body image and binge eating disorder on LinkedIn, the last place anyone expected that kind of honesty.

- The three things most people get wrong when they try to land a TEDx talk, and why the idea is usually the biggest problem.

- What a TEDx talk actually does for your authority that no other single thing can replicate as quickly.

- The red flag Bobby uses to know when someone is ready to pivot out of a job or a business, and why most people ignore it for years.

- Why he thinks 90% of business owners are making the same two mistakes with their content right now.

- What Bobby 2.0 looks like, and why he’s now working 30 hours a week instead of 60.

You can find Bobby on Substack at The 1% Brand Brilliance, where he writes for small business owners.

Season 4, episode 10 is here!

Fleur Hull has spent years working with authors on the hardest part of writing a book (which is everything that happens after you finish it!). She built the Substack Bookstore because she kept watching good books disappear without readers, and she decided to do something about it. This was a really good one.

What we covered:

- How Fleur went from losing her job during COVID to launching a podcast, writing a bestselling book, and eventually building one of the most distinctive communities on Substack.

- Why she believes authors should think about their audience before they write a single word, and why most of them do the complete opposite.

- The cover design mistake she sees constantly that immediately signals to readers something they probably didn’t intend to signal.

- What actually happens to a book’s visibility on Amazon in the weeks after launch, and why so many authors are caught completely off guard by it.

- The surprisingly simple thing most authors neglect on their Amazon page that is costing them readers every single day.

- Why she tells authors to delay their launch by at least a month from when they think they’re ready, preferably three.

- What she’s building next and why she thinks a much bigger competitor could show up at any moment.

➡️ You can find Fleur at The Substack Bookstore.

Season 4, episode 9 is here!

Karen Salmansohn has sold two million books, been blessed by Madonna, and built a career entirely on the principle of doing something a little extra every single time. This one was a lot of fun!

What we covered:

- Why Karen left a senior VP creative director role in her twenties and what she told her parents when they said she was crazy to do it.

- The story of how she got her first novel in front of publishers in a way that got an offer within days of sending it out.

- How she walked up to Madonna in a hotel restaurant, got her to read a book title, and turned the whole encounter into a press story.

- What her bucket list from hell period actually was and how she turned the worst year of her life into one of her most successful books.

- The writing mistake she sees constantly on Substack that she thinks most people assume they’re getting away with.

- Why she believes memoir-style headlines consistently outperform advice-style headlines, and how she tested that on her own publication.

- The new business she’s just launched and what the top regrets of the dying had to do with building it.

You can find Karen at The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served on Substack.

Season 4, episode 8 is here!

Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA started her Substack on January 6th, 2025. She had three kids in medical school, served in the Air Force, built and sold a telemedicine company, and spent 25 years as a physician before any of that.

This conversation went everywhere, and it was brilliant.

What we covered:

- How Laurie got through medical school with three small children by drawing cartoons, and why she still remembers everything she drew 25 years later.

- What lifestyle medicine actually means in practice, and why Laurie thinks putting it at the centre of medical education would change everything.

- The story of a patient who reversed type 2 diabetes by walking to the end of her driveway, and what it taught Laurie about where real change actually begins.

- Why the biggest psychological mistake people make when trying to improve their health has nothing to do with willpower.

- The one question Laurie thinks every Substack writer needs to answer before they write a single word.

- How she grew a Facebook page from 9,000 to 83,000 followers in a matter of months and what that did for her Substack subscriber count.

- What she thinks is coming next, including three literary agents who have already come knocking.

You can find Laurie and the The Habit Healers on Substack.

Season 4, episode 7 is here!

Kern Carter knew he wanted to be an author at eight years old. What followed was about as non-linear as it gets: self-published novellas, indie publishers, Penguin, Scholastic, ghostwriting, a short film, school tours, and more books out before the year is done. This one covered a lot of ground.

What we discussed:

- How Kern deliberately treated becoming an author like a trade profession, and what that mindset meant for the steps he actually took.

- Why he self-published his first two books before ever approaching a publisher, and what those books were really for.

- The surprising reason it can be easier to sell a $15,000 ghostwriting service than a $30 novel, and what that tells you about how readers actually think.

- What Kern learned about book marketing the hard way at his very first launch, and how he changed his approach for every book since.

- The moment during a school tour in Manitoba that he says he will never forget for as long as he lives.

- Why getting a traditional publishing deal is not what most aspiring authors think it is.

- The advice he’d give specifically to first-time authors that he would not give to anyone else.

You can find out more about Kern on Substack at Writers Are Superstars and on his website.

Season 4, episode 6 is here!

Nathan Baugh has wanted to write fantasy his whole life. He just needed a bank account crisis in Spain to finally make him do something about it. These days he has over 100k Substack subscribers, a successful ghostwriting agency, and a novel coming out in a couple of months. We talked about all of it.

What we covered:

- The moment in Spain when the bank account started going in the wrong direction and writing went from something Nathan loved to something he urgently needed to figure out.

- Why fiction writing and newsletter writing share a flaw that almost nobody talks about, and how cutting the beginning of your work tends to fix both.

- Nathan’s take on where self-publishing is headed now that anyone can produce eight books a month with an AI tool.

- What querying agents actually taught him about his first book that he couldn’t have learned any other way.

- The world building advice his editor gave him that sounds almost too simple, but saved him a serious amount of pain.

- Why the most attractive ways to make money from writing are often not the fastest, and what he’d tell someone starting from zero right now.

- What his close rate on new clients tells him about whether his prices are set correctly.

You can find Nathan and his newsletter World Builders on Substack.

Season 4, episode 5 is here!

Seth Werkheiser has been on the internet for 25 years. He’s watched the whole thing evolve, from blogging about local bands in Pennsylvania to running email campaigns for record labels to eventually walking away from every major social platform completely. He’s not bitter about it - he’s just found a better way.

What we covered:

- How Seth went from third generation musician to spending 25 years helping other creative people get their work out into the world.

- Why the early Zoom calls he hosted for his subscribers were full of genuine fear, and what that told him about what people actually needed.

- The surprisingly simple approach he uses instead of social media to get other people talking about his work and sending him subscribers.

- What he thinks happens to all that time and energy you get back when you stop trying to crack the algorithm every day.

- Why he believes community has almost nothing to do with the software you choose to host it on.

- The one thing he says you should be doing with your old content that almost nobody bothers to do.

- Where he wants to take Social Media Escape Club next, and the very specific kind of event he’s planning that you probably won’t see coming.

You can find Seth on Substack at SOCIAL MEDIA ESCAPE CLUB.

Season 4, episode 4 is here!

Not Exactly Ana didn’t know what Substack was when she joined. She wasn’t a seasoned writer or a marketing expert. She was a 26-year-old Bulgarian woman who had just walked away from her cleaning job in Austria to chase something she’d always wanted.

Eight months later, the results speak for themselves.

What we covered

- How Anna built close to 3,000 subscribers without a strategy, a niche playbook, or any prior knowledge of the platform.

- Why she chose to write about mental health and personal stories rather than leaning on her psychology knowledge for something safer and more distant.

- What she says to writers who are afraid to publish something real, and why a little fear before you post might actually be a sign you’re doing it right.

- The daily Substack routine she’s built around genuine connection rather than growth metrics, and what that looks like in practice.

- Her digital magazine for independent writers, where it came from, and the much bigger vision she has for where it goes next.

- A book she’s currently writing about her own past, one that takes a lot of courage to put into the world.

- The one piece of advice she left us with that had nothing to do with writing at all.

You can find Anna on Substack, where you’ll also find a link to the first issue of her magazine.

Season 4, episode 3 is here!

Olivia Wickstrom didn’t set out to build a Substack. She set out to make affiliate income from a cottagecore blog. What happened instead was a slow, sometimes frustrating, eventually life-changing discovery of what the platform could actually do for a writer willing to experiment. We covered a lot of ground in this one.

What we discussed:

- How Olivia’s Substack started as something completely different and gradually found its identity across three very distinct content pillars.

- The nine months where almost nothing happened, and the specific change in her Notes strategy that finally broke the plateau.

- Why she sometimes makes her best, most actionable content completely free, and what that counterintuitive decision does for her paid tier.

- How she’s driving major Pinterest views to her Substack and what she’s still trying to figure out about it.

- What romanticising your life actually looks like in practice.

- The cultural differences between American and French attitudes to work that have subtly started to change how she thinks about her own life.

- A brand new year-long series she’s announcing here for the first time, and why it might be her most personal project yet.

Season 4, episode 2 is here!

This one’s a bit different. No big interview, no deep dive into strategy, just a Saturday morning coffee chat, a new recurring segment, and some thoughts on who the Substack Growth Sessions are actually for.

What I covered

- The brand new “Things That Passed Me By at the Time” segment makes its debut, starting with a TV show I somehow ignored for decades.

- Why ER feels nothing like a typical hospital drama, and what it shares with a certain political series beloved for its fast-talking walk-and-talk scenes.

- The Substack Growth Sessions early bird price closes on Monday, raising the $37 ticket up to $50 for the week leading up to the event.

- What you actually get across the five days, including live Q&A, downloadable resources, and access to a private community space.

- A straight answer on who these sessions are genuinely for and who should probably give them a miss.

- Why I’m running this as a week-long event rather than another one-off webinar, and whether I’ll ever do it again.

- What comes after the five days for anyone serious about putting the work in.

👉 Ready to join the Substack Growth Sessions? Grab your early bird ticket for $37 bby TOMORROW. Only 50 total spots available in total.

Welcome to Season Four!

This is the first episode of season four, recorded live on Substack for the first time. I explained why I’m experimenting with live podcast episodes, asked for your feedback on what you want to see this season, and broke down the two big things happening in April: the Substack Growth Sessions masterclass and the Catalyst Club accelerator cohort.

In this episode:

- Why I’m asking for your feedback on podcast segments and guest ideas instead of just deciding everything myself

- The three reasons I’m running the Substack Growth Sessions in April

- How the masterclass week will show you strategies instead of just telling you about them

- The early bird pricing deadline that expires mid-April with only 50 total spots available

- Why Catalyst Club members get exclusive pre-sessions before each masterclass day, plus two 60-minute one-to-one strategy calls and access to all future cohorts and events throughout the year

- The five-week accelerator that starts immediately after the masterclass where you’ll put everything you learned into practice with a group supporting each other

- How I’ve somehow become energised by going live despite being an introvert, and why I think the real-time interaction creates a more visceral connection than pre-recorded content ever could

Season 3, episode 25 is here!

Amelia O’Loughlin joined me to talk about her journey from dance to screenwriting, how a chance encounter on South Bank led to representation, and why she’s building Table, a live event and podcast that surfaces exceptional scripts stuck in the graveyard.

She shared her approach to character-led writing, why AI concerns her but the offline renaissance gives her hope, and the one story every writer needs to stop avoiding.

We covered:

- How Amelia chased her literary hero down South Bank with Bill Nighy, convinced him to give her an email address through sheer determination

- Why she believes character always comes first in her writing process

- The kitchen table origin story of Table, a live event and podcast where actors perform excerpts from unproduced screenplays

- Her prediction that consumers will become as concerned about their digital diet as their food intake, and why she thinks the pendulum will swing back toward offline experiences and human-made art once the AI fascination fades

- Why hearing your dialogue performed by actors is both gratifying and requires letting go completely

- Her concern that the interim period before the pendulum swings could make it even harder for creators without trust funds to break into the arts

- Why procrastination for writers often means avoiding the story that’s really a thorn in your side, and why that uncomfortable script is actually your true gift

Season 3, episode 24 is here!

Angela Hollowell joined me to talk about her journey from photographer to filmmaker, why she publishes three times a week on her newsletter Please Hustle Responsibly, and what she learned running a documentary through the festival circuit.

She shared why Substack is perfect for publishing but lacks the data tools serious businesses need, her approach to in-person podcasting that creates superfans, and the mindset adjustment that removes all the pressure from creating.

What we cover:

- The coffee mug gift strategy she uses for in-person podcast interviews that creates instant rapport

- How she accidentally became a filmmaker after people kept asking if her camera recorded video

- Why she wraps up an 18-month film festival run and now plans to write TV shows

- Her featured post strategy that most Substack writers completely underutilise

- The changeover from paid subscriptions to developing print magazines, in-person dinner parties, and digital products

- Why the first things you create will be terrible and that’s completely fine

➡️ Learn the exact system used by Write • Build • Scale to build, launch, and automate your first mini-course so you can build your own passive income stream. Get it here.

Season 3, episode 23 is here!

My pal Philip Hofmacher from Write • Build • Scale joined me for a conversation about monetising on Substack without needing thousands of subscribers first.

We talked about why mini courses outperform massive flagship programs, the exact price points that convert best, and how to promote your products without feeling spammy.

What we covered:

- Why some Substack creators make six figures from day one while others build to 30,000 subscribers before monetising

- The story of how Jari Roomer’s full course overwhelmed people and failed to deliver results, then how he turned it into a two-hour procrastination mini course that sold like wildfire and created a natural upsell path

- Why mini courses solve one specific problem instead of trying to be a fit for everything, and how that narrow focus actually makes them easier to recommend because everyone knows someone struggling with that exact issue

- The sweet spot pricing range for mini courses based on testing hundreds of offers, and why charging $47 instead of $27 doesn’t actually hurt conversions but significantly increases revenue

- How to promote your products organically through live streams, DMs, and value-first conversations rather than shouty upsells, including the exact sequence from commenting on a note to becoming a paying customer

- Why bundling mini courses with coaching, communities, and group settings creates multiple entry points for different types of customers, and how the same content can be packaged differently from free posts to thousand-dollar coaching

Season 3, episode 22 is here!

I threw together this episode to answer questions from my Substack chat thread, where writers shared what’s actually slowing them down right now.

As it turns out, the struggles are universal: too many platforms, not enough time, and the back-of-the-mind realisation that writing often isn’t enough - you have to market yourself too.

What I covered:

- When it’s okay to ruthlessly cut platforms that aren’t working)

- The 80/20 rule for your first few months on Substack that nobody talks about

- How to structure your day when you’re balancing soul-satisfying creative work with contracts that actually pay the bills

- The broken expectation every writer hits: you can’t just write anymore, you have to be your own marketing executive too (and how to make that less painful)

- Why you shouldn’t box yourself into a theme at the start

- The TikTok strategy for finding ARC readers when you don’t know 50 people willing to review your book

- Finding your value offer as a writer by asking yourself: what could you talk about on a soapbox for 30 minutes straight, and what would light you up seeing someone else achieve?

Season 3, episode 21 is here!

Dani Zacarias joined me to talk about her journey from criminology student to creator economy veteran, working at Wattpad, Skillshare, and now Sendowl.

She shared a harrowing story about crossing a closed border with boulders exploding around her, why the pressure from VCs often misses what actually matters in content creation, and how writers can build sustainable businesses around their work.

What we covered:

- How Dani’s path from wanting to be a lawyer led her through international nonprofits and into the creator economy, including the moment in Uganda when a reader cried because he finally saw Ugandan names in a book for the first time

- Why Silicon Valley and VC-funded companies trivialise art and creation by pushing data over taste, and how she learned to fight for what she believed in even when billions of dollars were telling her she was wrong

- The border crossing in Peru where protesters closed the route with tripwires designed to decapitate motorcyclists, pits filled with glass, and boulders rolling down hills, and how she and her now-husband made it through by going completely silent and focused

- Brandon Sanderson’s keynote argument that art isn’t about consumption or making money but about reflecting on who you are as a person, and why the creator economy’s obsession with content volume is dangerous for durability and meaning

- What she learned from working at Wattpad by analysing massive amounts of data on reader behavior, discovering that people forgive bad writing but never forgive bad plot

- Why Sendowl exists for creators who want total ownership of their audience and customer lists without platform algorithms changing the rules, offering unlimited products and storage that scales with your business instead of eating 10% of every sale

- Her advice to think holistically beyond just the story itself, building an ecosystem with merchandise, short stories, and IP that fantasy and sci-fi fans want to engage with because that’s where the sustainable money actually lives

➡️ Interested in Sendowl? Email Dani at dani@sendowl.com and mention this podcast for a potential discount.

Season 3, episode 20 is here!

Neera Mahajan joined me to talk about writing books fast, building authority, and turning a single book into a scalable business.

She shared why most writers never finish their books, the difference between vanity projects and strategic assets, and how she helps creators write their books in 30 days through implementation over information.

This one’s a must-listen for anyone struggling to finish their book!

In this episode:

- Why Neera started writing not because she was good at it but because she was bad, and how quitting her job to write full-time led to publishing 14 books that now serve as the foundation of her entire business model

- The moment she realised three years of articles gave her nothing to show for the effort, and how one voice in her head telling her to write that damn book changed everything about her authority and income overnight

- Why most writers fail to finish their books because they make them too big and drift in and out of the work, and the strict framework of 13 chapters maximum with 2,000 words each that actually gets books done in 30 days

- The difference between vanity projects and strategic authority assets, including how a strategic book needs a clear audience, addresses one specific problem, and launches your tiered offer at the end instead of just existing on a shelf

- Her four-level productivity system for writers that starts with calendar management and email inbox zero, and why she now surrounds herself with notebooks that travel from room to room capturing ideas before they disappear

- Why her cohort focuses on implementation and daily accountability rather than piling on more information, requiring participants to write 500-1,000 words daily toward their book while working in a group setting

Check out all of Neera’s books here.

Season 3, episode 19 is here!

I was super excited to have Justin Moore join me to talk about something most writers think is out of reach: getting paid by brands to create content.

Justin shared the sponsorship strategies that built his multi-million dollar business, why your follower count matters less than you think, and the pitching method that stops brands from hitting delete on your emails.

This is the perfect episode for anyone interested in finding game-changing sponsorships for their content!

What we covered:

- Why writers with small audiences can still land sponsorships by offering something completely different than traditional influencer posts, and how your writing skills become the product itself rather than just your audience size

- The ROPE method for pitching brands that flips the script on how most creators approach sponsorships, starting with what the brand cares about instead of bragging about your follower count in the first sentence

- How Justin’s wife went from accepting free products for years to earning $700 monthly from a single brand deal, and the simple question that changed everything about how they approached collaborations

- The sponsorship continuum concept that changes what you pitch based on where you are in your growth journey, from ghostwriting for brands at the start to commanding premium rates once you’ve scaled

- Why having a rate card on your website is the worst possible strategy for pricing sponsorships, and the budget range question that gets brands to reveal their numbers 75% of the time without you naming a price first

- The ARC framework that determines how much leverage you have in negotiations based on whether brands want awareness, repurposing rights, or conversion metrics from the partnership

- Why Justin believes books will outlast almost every other content format in the age of AI, and how writing Sponsor Magnet became the most impactful thing he’s done for his business despite never considering himself a writer

👉 Want to learn these strategies in person? Justin’s hosting Sponsor Games in San Antonio, March 15-18. Use code DAVID500 for $500 off your ticket! Find out more here.

Season 3, episode 18 is here!

My friend Jari Roomer from Write Build Scale joined me for a conversation about the most powerful growth lever on Substack.

We talked about why collaboration matters more than ever, how to approach other creators without feeling awkward, and the specific strategies that brought us thousands of subscribers without spending a dime on ads.

What we covered:

- Why collaborations are the antidote to publishing in the void, and how they make the entire Substack journey more enjoyable while getting your work in front of audiences that already want what you offer

- The guest posting approach that creates evergreen pathways for discovery months after you publish, turning one piece of content into a long-term subscriber magnet that keeps working while you sleep

- Newsletter recommendations as the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it growth strategy, how Jari gained over 8,000 subscribers in 2025 from recommendations alone, and why most creators hesitate to reach out when it’s actually a win-win scenario

- Going live on Substack as the collaboration format that builds the deepest connections, lets your audience see you’re a real person when things go wrong, and makes it easier for introverts who can share the talking with a guest

- The exact DM approach that gets more yes responses to collaboration requests, including why you should offer multiple collaboration options and how to make it as easy as possible for someone to say yes

- How to use AI as a ghostwriting tool rather than a crutch by recording 30-minute voice memos of your thoughts and stories, then letting AI handle the actual writing process while keeping your authentic voice intact

- The ladder strategy for linking posts that guides readers to take the next step up rather than sending them sideways through your archive, and why fewer links actually create more conversions than overwhelming people with options

Season 3, episode 17 is here!

In this episode, I sit down with my old school friend Stuart Thompson, who now runs a long-standing gym here in Northern Ireland.

We talk about what it really takes to build a business over nearly a decade - not just systems and social media, but relationships, energy, and knowing your limits. We also cover fitness, creativity, confidence, and turning up consistently even when no one’s watching.

This is an honest, practical, and surprisingly relevant chat, whether you run a gym, write online, or are just trying to build something for the long haul.

What we covered:

- How Stuart’s gym actually started

- The underrated power of handwritten notes

- Why not growing up sporty helped nurture Stuart’s story

- Why confidence comes from reps (in fitness and in writing)

- What it’s like running a people business as an introvert

- Why asking for reviews is awkward but necessary

- Why sticking around matters

Make sure to check out Cross Functional Fitness before you go!

Season 3, episode 16 is here!

In this week’s episode, Parker Worth and I chat about his journey from being a high school dropout to becoming a successful creator living in Brazil.

Parker discusses the importance of storytelling in building a personal brand and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online content creation, and emphasises the need for creators to build relationships and trust with their audience, write real-life stories that convert, and understand their audience’s pain points.

What we cover:

- Parker Worth’s journey from electrician to creator in Brazil.

- The significance of storytelling in personal branding.

- How to navigate the challenges of the online creator landscape.

- Why building relationships and trust with your audience is crucial.

- How using personal stories can lead to higher engagement.

- Why understanding audience pain points is essential for content creation.

- Why embracing fear can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

Make sure to subscribe to Parker’s newsletter before you go!

Season 3, episode 15 is here!

In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on the critical importance of incorporating video and audio content into a creator’s strategy for 2026 and beyond.

I walk you through how online platforms favour video, the engagement benefits of live video, and the monetisation opportunities it presents, as well as the community-building aspect of going live, the authenticity it fosters, and the compounding effects of creating video content in general.

In this episode, I break down why:

- Incorporating video and audio is becoming essential for audience growth

- Live video can significantly increase engagement rates

- Platforms prioritise video content over text-based content

- Going live can help convert followers into subscribers

- Video content enhances personal branding and authority

- Live video creates a sense of community among viewers

- Authenticity in live video builds trust with the audience

- Starting to go live now can future-proof your content strategy

Season 3, episode 14 is here!

In this solo episode, I walk through exactly how to build a creator presence from absolute scratch with no fancy equipment, no complex strategy, just clarity and consistency.

This is for anyone who feels like the smallest voice in the room but wants to create something real online.

In this episode:

- Why your personal brand is actually about how people feel when they encounter you, and how that feeling is what makes readers stick around long after they discover your work

- The five traps that kill most creator journeys before they start

- My recommendation to commit to one platform for six months minimum before spreading yourself thin across the internet

- How to craft the one simple promise that becomes your positioning - a single sentence that tells people exactly who you help and what you do for them within five seconds of landing on your profile

- The power of predictable touchpoints and why readers follow creators the same way they follow their favorite TV shows

- Why confidence comes after consistency, not before it, and how showing up for 3 to 12 months with minimal response is actually part of the process, not a sign you should quit

- The recurring format strategy that eliminates decision fatigue and builds loyalty through repetition, turning your weekly presence into something your audience genuinely misses when it’s not there

Season 3, episode 13 is here!

I recently went live with Taylin John Simmonds to talk about the honest reality of making money as a writer, and afterwards I thought to myself, “Hey, this would make a great podcast episode!”, et voilà!

Taylin’s currently testing ghostwriting on Substack in public, shared his coldest cold email stats, and explained why books might be the worst way to make a living (but still worth doing).

What we covered:

- Why Taylin sent 10,000 cold emails for Substack ghostwriting clients and what happened next (he’s running the entire experiment in public to see if it’s actually viable)

- The credential commoditisation theory he’s been sitting on for six months (spoiler: it’s about why your programmer friends can’t find jobs)

- LinkedIn ghostwriting as the most lucrative platform right now, with clients paying $1,000-$5,000/month, and why Substack might be different

- The Mark Manson approach to writing books: test your chapters as blog posts first, let virality validate your ideas, and only use titles that have already proven themselves

- How to write about whatever you want while still serving your audience - the bridge technique that lets you sneak consciousness development into business content

- Why opening with mundane stories (lawnmowers, coffee steam, chopping onions) connects better than dramatic tales of spirit quests in Peru

- The painful pattern of spending six months building products nobody wants versus testing ideas in public after just a week or two

Make sure to subscribe to Taylin’s publication before you go!

Season 3, episode 12 is here!

This solo episode is a relaxed, open conversation about reviewing your 2025 creative work and getting intentional about 2026.

It’s part reflection, part behind-the-scenes, part gentle push to simplify your process and double down on what genuinely works.

What I’ve covered:

- How to honestly review your 2025 wins, losses and “busywork” so you don’t drag dead weight into the new year.

- Why I’m cutting weekly roundups after nearly 100 editions and what that kind of ruthless pruning makes space for.

- The three pillars I’m betting on in 2026: audience growth, income expansion and personal brand depth.

- Specific strategies I’ll be leaning on next year, from collaborations to live sessions to experimenting with new formats.

- A wider look at income generation beyond paid subs, including digital products, sponsorships and coaching.

- Why your voice, your quirks and your personal stories matter more than ever in the AI era.

- An invitation to keep the process fun, simple and human while building a creator life that feels genuinely yours.

And if you’re interested in working with me 1-to-1, just apply here.

Season 3, episode 11 is here!

In this episode, Jari Roomer and I explore how to meaningfully grow a creator business by developing and selling digital courses (with particular focus on mini-courses).

If you’re interested in growing your income in 2026 through semi-passive means, this is a great one for you!

Also make sure to claim your spot on Tuesday’s FREE live training session before you go!

Season 3, episode 10 is here!

In this extra-special chat with my wife, Christine McIlroy, we peel back how our life together has intertwined with our creative work, the shifts we’ve navigated in solopreneurship, and how partnership can both challenge and fuel your writing career in surprising ways.

What we covered:

- Why going the extra mile for clients is a total game-changer as a solopreneur

- What it’s like when you partner in life and in creative purpose, and how sharing a “why” deepens what you publish.

- Our journey building businesses in parallel, and how we support each other along the way

- The tension between routine and inspiration: how to stay grounded when you work together but also stay individually creative.

- What happens when life milestones (moving, family, change) intersect with your writing career - not in polished form, but in real-time.

- Why transparency about process matters: how being open about failure, rewriting, and hustle builds trust with readers.

- The unseen work behind launching offers, courses, or publications: how support systems, tools, and trade-offs play a role.

- Our best mistakes, our biggest learnings, and how ‘doing the work together’ has changed what we believe about freedom, creativity and sustainability.

Make sure to check out Christine’s work before you go!

Season 3, episode 9 is here!

In this episode, Taylin John Simmonds and I talk about what it really takes to build a creative business from scratch without losing your sense of purpose or burning out.

Teaching music, ghostwriting at 3am, building an online brand that supports a life of freedom… we cover it all. This is an honest, practical conversation packed with insights for anyone trying to make writing work long term.

What we covered:

- The unlikely path from musician and teacher to full-time online creator

- Why success isn’t about becoming a better writer, but about stacking the right complementary skills

- How to build confidence when your identity hasn’t yet caught up with your success

- What it really means to find your niche and why lifestyle is a valid form of positioning

- The most useful way to think about AI (as a creative assistant, not a replacement)

- Why long-form content builds trust faster than any viral post ever could

- The one piece of advice that will change how you think about progress and patience

Make sure to subscribe to Taylin’s publication before you go!

Season 3, episode 8 is here!

In this episode, Walter Rhein and I dive deep into the world of fantasy writing - where stories begin, how they evolve, and why imagination still matters in an increasingly practical world.

Worldbuilding, villains, the power of silliness - this conversation explores what makes great fantasy resonate and how writers can keep the spark of creativity alive as they grow older.

What we covered:

- The real connection between nature, folklore, and the fantasy worlds we create

- How mythology from different cultures shapes modern fantasy storytelling

- Why dialogue and shorter stories are powerful tools for testing your ideas and growing faster as a writer

- The difference between good and lazy worldbuilding, and why overplanning kills creativity

- What makes a truly great villain, and why the best ones make you question yourself

- How writing with (and for) children can reignite your sense of wonder and play

- Practical advice for new writers on starting a fantasy novel, finding momentum, and making writing fun again

Make sure to subscribe to Walter’s publication before you go!

Season 3, episode 7 is here!

In this solo episode, I talk about one of the biggest mistakes writers make on Substack - losing readers before they’ve even hit publish.

I break down the small, overlooked details that make all the difference when someone lands on your publication for the first time, and how a few simple changes can quietly convert visitors into loyal subscribers.

If you’ve been writing great posts but not seeing much growth, this one’s for you.

What I covered:

Why most readers never discover your archive and where they actually find you instead

How to make your tagline instantly clear, confident, and reader-focused

The simple tweaks that turn your About page into a conversation instead of a résumé

How to organise your homepage so new readers know exactly where to start

Why clarity and connection will always beat cleverness and complexity

The small design and setup decisions that do your audience-building for you every day

How to fix all of this in a single afternoon using the Substack Quickfire Launch Kit

If you’d like more personalised help with Substack, consider upgrading to my VIP membership to book a 1-to-1 call and publication audit. I’d be more than happy to chat through your next steps!

Season 3, episode 6 is here!

In this conversation, Veronica Llorca-Smith and I caught up one year after our very first podcast together to talk about what’s changed, what’s grown, and what’s next.

This episode is packed with insight for anyone who wants to build a creative career that feels human, purposeful, and sustainable.

What we covered:

- How a single podcast interview led to the launch of a second Substack in Spanish

- The surprising differences between English- and Spanish-speaking creator audiences

- How Veronica attracts new coaching clients without ever doing a hard sell

- What she’s learned about scaling from one-to-one work to group coaching and cohorts

- Why public speaking has been transformational for her as a creator and a businesswoman

- How live sessions and webinars can create real community and boost paid subscriptions

- Her advice for writers: stop thinking small, and build an ecosystem around your work

Make sure to grab Speak to Scale before you go!

Season 3, episode 5 is here!

In this conversation, Peter William Murphy shares his winding path from growing up in Kerry to teaching abroad, then diving headfirst into writing without a safety net.

We talk about his love for Substack, why humor and vulnerability matter online, and how he’s channelling his earnings into building a school with his wife.

Peter also opens up about writing his first novel, the pull of Ireland as a setting, and why being open to unexpected opportunities is at the heart of his writing life.

What we covered:

Peter’s journey from teaching English in Turkey to becoming a writer and creator on Substack

Why he values having a small but engaged community more than chasing huge subscriber numbers

The role of humor, performance, and honesty in connecting with readers online

How his personal experiences with mental health shaped his writing and outlook

The vision he and his wife have for building a school and why he wants his writing to help fund it

The long road of writing his first novel, why it will become a trilogy, and what it’s really about

His advice for aspiring writers: be open to every form of writing and stop worrying about what others think

Make sure to subscribe to Peter’s publication before you go!

Season 3, episode 4 is here!

In this episode, I sat down with my friends in the Write • Build • Scale team - Jari, Sinem, and Philip - for a big-picture chat about the future of the creator economy.

We explored how technology is changing the game, why trust is the most valuable currency, and what it really takes to build a creator business that lasts.

Along the way, we also talked about the highs and lows of running a business together and what excites them most about where things are heading.

What we covered:

- Why the creator economy will only get bigger in the next five years and what that means for new and established creators

- How AI and no-code tools are making it easier than ever to launch digital products and communities

- Why trust and personal connection will matter more than content volume as AI makes publishing effortless

- The difference between being a “guru” and a “guide” and why one builds stronger long-term businesses

- The incomplete advice around “just be consistent” and what actually makes consistency work

- Why picking one platform and mastering it beats spreading yourself too thin across multiple channels

- How working as a team has changed their approach to business, what they love about collaborating, and what’s next for Write Build Scale

🚨 Don’t forget to sign up for their FREE masterclass here.

Season 3, episode 3 is here!

In this conversation, Anfernee shares his journey from corporate work into solopreneurship, why he started The Solopreneur Code, and how he helps one-person businesses find more freedom without getting stuck in constant hustle.

We talk about growth on Substack, the realities of building digital products, and why mindset is often the difference between staying stuck and moving forward.

What we covered:

- How Anfernee transitioned from corporate life to running his own business

- The early days of The Solopreneur Code and why he chose Substack as his main platform

- What steady, sustainable growth looks like and how he thinks about audience building

- The role of digital products in creating income streams for solopreneurs

- How he uses AI as a tool to save time without losing a personal touch

- The most common mistakes solopreneurs make when trying to scale too fast

- Why clarity, focus, and systems matter more than chasing trends

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Solopreneur Code before you go!

Season 3, episode 2 is here!

In this conversation, poet and marketer Shelby Leigh shares her path from self-publishing to traditional publishing, the lessons she’s learned about building an audience of hundreds of thousands, and why protecting your mental health is just as important as consistency.

Shelby is honest about the lonely stretches, generous with her marketing strategies, and full of encouragement for writers figuring out how to turn words into a living.

What we covered:

- How Shelby went from anonymously posting poetry on Tumblr to selling books that attracted a Big Five publisher

- The role Instagram and TikTok played in her early growth and why she later narrowed her focus to fewer platforms

- Why consistency and personal storytelling helped her audience grow past half a million followers

- The visual and tonal elements that make a writer’s brand feel cohesive and recognisable

- How to set boundaries and build breaks into your creative life without losing momentum

- The biggest myth about marketing that holds writers back and a mindset shift to make it easier

- Shelby’s best advice for building confidence, growing an email list, and sustaining your writing career long term

Don’t forget to subscribe to Shelby on YouTube.

Season 3 is here!

In this solo kickoff to season three, I dive into one of the topics I care about most right now: writer branding.

I unpack why it matters more than ever in 2025, how to think about it in practical terms, and the first steps you can take today to start building a brand readers remember and trust.

What I covered:

- Why trust, not words alone, is the real currency readers buy into

- How clarity of voice, values, and vision cuts through the endless noise online

- Why your brand should outlast any platform, and how to future-proof your work

- The “writer brand triangle” exercise to define your core voice, values, and vision

- Why deciding what you’re not about is just as important as deciding what you are about

- How to create clear entry points for readers so they instantly know who you are and who you serve

- The role of community, practice, and feedback in turning your brand from a list of words into something that fuels real income

➡️ Find out more about Writer Brand Lab here. ✍️

The Season 2 finale is here!

In this conversation, literary agent Kate McKean offers an inside look at how publishing really works, from the first query letter to the call where an author hears their book has sold.

With more than 20 years of experience, Kate is refreshingly candid about the realities of writing, rejection, marketing, and building a sustainable career.

If you’ve ever wondered what an agent looks for (or what you should actually focus on as a writer), this one’s packed with clarity.

What we covered:

- How Kate became a literary agent and what her role actually involves day-to-day

- What makes a query stand out and the moment she knows she wants to represent a book

- Why chasing publishing trends is a losing game and what authors should focus on instead

- The difference between platform and brand, and why nonfiction writers can’t afford to ignore platform

- Why sincerity and vulnerability matter more than hot takes or cleverness in today’s market

- The biggest red flags authors should watch for when querying agents or publishers

- How to reframe rejection and see it as part of the process, not a verdict on you as a writer

👉 Make sure to subscribe to Kate McKean before you go!