How to Write for a Living – Details, episodes & analysis
Podcast details
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How to Write for a Living
David McIlroy
Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 30

thedavidmcilroy.substack.com
Recent rankings
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Apple Podcasts
🇨🇦 Canada - howTo
23/06/2025#99🇨🇦 Canada - howTo
22/06/2025#77🇬🇧 Great Britain - howTo
27/01/2025#76🇬🇧 Great Britain - howTo
26/01/2025#47🇬🇧 Great Britain - howTo
23/01/2025#78🇬🇧 Great Britain - howTo
22/01/2025#58🇩🇪 Germany - howTo
10/01/2025#89🇩🇪 Germany - howTo
09/01/2025#71🇨🇦 Canada - howTo
03/01/2025#85🇨🇦 Canada - howTo
02/01/2025#52
Spotify
No recent rankings available
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
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See allRSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 73%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
105: Maya Sayvanova on Smarter Solopreneurship, Substack Growth and Writing Clarity
Season 1 · Episode 5
jeudi 29 août 2024 • Duration 59:39
Episode 5 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to the Smarter Solopreneur herself, Maya Sayvanova! This was a really fun conversation about what it’s like to build your own solo business, what happens when you take down your paywall on Substack (!), and how mistakes are just part of the journey for every solopreneur.
Comment below if you have any questions for Maya after listening!
You can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
📣 Want to support this publication + get more eyes on your brand? Become a How to Write for a Living sponsor. Get more info here.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
104: Claire Venus on Substack Sustainability, Kickstarting a Book, and Staying Creative in the Digital Realm
Season 1 · Episode 4
mardi 13 août 2024 • Duration 47:00
Episode 4 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Substackian extraordinaire Claire Venus about her upcoming book co-authored with Russell Nohelty (you should definitely order a copy), why Substack is such a great place for creators right now, what it’s like to run a Kickstarter campaign, and much more!
Comment below if you have any questions for Claire after listening!
You can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
📣 Want to support this publication + get more eyes on your brand? Become a How to Write for a Living sponsor. Get more info here.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
103: Evelyn Skye on Substack, Storytelling and Sustainability for Writers
Season 1 · Episode 3
jeudi 8 août 2024 • Duration 43:58
Episode 3 is here!
In this edition of the podcast, I chat to New York Times best-selling author Evelyn Skye about her approach to storytelling, why she decided to join Substack, and what it’s like when Netflix comes knocking at your door. This was a really fun conversation, and you’ll find it super enlightening if you’re writing fiction.
You can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
📣 Want to support this publication + get more eyes on your brand? Become a How to Write for a Living sponsor. Get more info here.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
102: Veronica Llorca-Smith on Book Deals, Solopreneurship, Public Speaking, and the Power of Community on Substack
Season 1 · Episode 2
mardi 6 août 2024 • Duration 46:44
In this first EVER guest episode, I speak to Veronica Llorca-Smith of The Lemon Tree Mindset about solopreneurial life, what it’s like to be an introverted public speaker, how to get a book deal with a Big 5 publisher, and why community is at the heart of every successful Substack publication.
You can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
📣 Want to support this publication + get more eyes on your brand? Become a How to Write for a Living sponsor. Get more info here.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
101: Welcome to the Podcast!
Season 1 · Episode 1
jeudi 1 août 2024 • Duration 08:29
Welcome to the How to Write for a Living podcast!
In this brief opening episode, I introduce the podcast, explain how it’ll work going forward, and provide some more details on HTWFAL membership.
This will be the only free edition to feature the full video version of the podcast, as seen below. Paid subscribers will get access to these in every future episode.
Anyway, here’s me…
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
111: Serial Fiction (with Simon K Jones)
Season 1 · Episode 11
mardi 22 octobre 2024 • Duration 52:12
Episode 11 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Simon K Jones about publishing serial fiction on Substack and why you should consider giving it a go as an author. This is the perfect episode for anyone who’s interested to trying a different approach to publishing.
Comment below if you have any questions for Simon after listening.
And as always, paid members can watch every full video episode in our Member Resource Hub.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
110: Book Funnels (with Renee Puvvada)
Season 1 · Episode 10
mardi 15 octobre 2024 • Duration 43:37
Episode 10 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Renee Puvvada about book funnels, landing pages, reviews, and how to maximise your chances of avoiding failure as an author.
And, simply because this is a mini milestone moment for the show (double-figures!), you can watch the whole episode for FREE! 🥳
Comment below if you have any questions after listening.
To book your free 15-minute book strategy call with Renee, go here. ☎️
And as always, paid members can watch every full video episode in our Member Resource Hub.Resource Hub.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
109: Michael Thompson on Gentle Book Promotion, Authenticity in the Age of AI, and Storytelling on Notes
Season 1 · Episode 9
mardi 8 octobre 2024 • Duration 57:06
Episode 9 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Michael Thompson about the power of gentle book promotion and effective storytelling in online writing.
This is a great one for anyone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy plugging themselves and isn’t chasing perfection in their process. Michael speaks refreshingly from a wealth of experience here.
Comment below if you have any questions for him after listening.
Paid members can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
108: Sinem Günel on Medium Mastery, Scroll-Stopping Content, and Making Money as a Writer
Season 1 · Episode 8
mardi 24 septembre 2024 • Duration 41:47
Episode 8 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Sinem Günel about what’s working on Medium right now and how writers can go the extra mile, content-wise.
We also discuss what scroll-stopping writing looks like, why Substack is such a great online community, and how to overcome the mindset holding writers back from making money (and, as a random bonus, what Sinem’s favourite Taylor Swift album is!).
Comment below if you have any questions for Sinem after listening.
Paid members can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
107: Philip Hofmacher on Community, Entrepreneurship, and a Meaningful Approach to Substack
Season 1 · Episode 7
mardi 17 septembre 2024 • Duration 39:18
Episode 7 is here!
In today’s episode, I chat to Philip Hofmacher about all things entreprenurship - this is a great one for anyone hoping to build a writing-based business.
We also discuss his meaningful approach to Substack, how he and Sinem Günel developed their business Write • Build • Scale, and why he believes online communities are the future.
Comment below if you have any questions for Philip after listening.
Paid members can watch the full video in our Member Resource Hub.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe