#inspiration for freelance writers on Substack

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Rise Above Mediocrity to Win as a Creator or Freelancer

Inspiration for Skeptical Creators and Freelancers on Medium Stop Thinking Small and Manufacturing Excuses Congratulations, Aiden, the instructor of From Zero to Substack Hero, for becoming a Bestseller on Substack, gaining 99,000 subscribers in a short time. There are more success stories in this post that can inspire you. Do not stop writing about your Substack experience — just because…

[ear-worthy]

Hot Pod Goes Cold; Substack & Spotify Team Up; IAB’s Digital Advertising Report

 Podnews reported lastweek that Hot Pod, one of the longest-running newsletters about podcasting, is to suspend publishing. Lead reporter Ariel Shapiro has announced that her last week with its owner, The Verge, will be next week. Deputy Editor Jake Kastrenakes added: “We won’t have a new writer in place by next week, so we’re planning to put Hot Pod on hiatus while we figure out next steps.” The publication’s writers, Ariel Shapiro, Ashley Carman, and Nick Quah, have been a vital part of the industry since 2014 and Podnews reported that "Hot Pod inspired them to produce this daily newsletter in 2017."

I'd like to start a campaign to convince The Verge to hire one of these three people to take over Hot Pod. All three are tremendously talented and know podcasting 

The three are Arielle Nissenblatt, Wil Williams, and Samantha Hodder.

First, Arielle Nissenblatt is well-known and highly regarded in podcasting circles. In today's fragmented media world, there are TikTok celebrities, Instagram influencers, and YouTube stars who are unknown outside their media universe. If you've been involved in podcasting in any way over the last few years, you know Arielle Nissenblatt.

"I've been working in the podcast space since early 2017 when I started a podcast recommendation newsletter called EarBuds Podcast Collective,"Arielle notes. "Since then, I've managed podcast studios, worked as an in-app curator, gone to school for audio production, produced several podcasts, run successful marketing and PR campaigns for several dozen shows, have organized podcast communities on Twitter, Discord, and Slack, and much more."

Arielle confesses to "love working in and around audio because it's my favorite way to consume content. I want to help more people find their next favorite podcast."

Arielle is the founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective, a podcast recommendation newsletter. She is on the community team at Descript, an AI-powered video and audio editing software service. She hosts three podcasts, Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast,  Feedback with EarBuds and Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You with Arielle and Ned.

Then we have Wil Williams, who is currently a marketing specialist for Tink Media. Williams has written for Discover Pods, Polygon, Vulture, and The Takeout. She has appeared on KQED's Forum, WAMU's 1A, Slate's ICYMI; has cried listening to Wolf 359's "Memoria" at least five times.

Williams is also the CEO of Podcast Problems LLC (If you have a podcast, you have problems), and you should read her website if you are a podcaster. You can read her articles there, including Your Podcast Needs Better Show Notes, Your Podcast Needs Better Metadata and my favorite, How I Know So Much Shit.

Williams also writes and manages the Substack Podcast Marketing Magic. When it comes to podcast journalism, Wil Williams is one of the very best.

Then we have Samantha Hodder, who is a multihypenate -- someone who does several different jobs in the entertainment industry—and does them well. Her Substack newsletter Bingeworthy is the mother ship for narrative podcast opinion, review, trends, and analysis. Hodder began the newsletter in September 2022 and has already amassed an impressive following.

Samantha is an award-winning audio producer and writer. She has been making media across multiple formats for over two decades. She publishes regularly on Mediumand on Substack. Her narrative storytelling podcast This is Our Time launched in 2017. It is a memoir-based story about an all-women’s expedition to Antarctica for women. Season 2 was featured in the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in 2021. She works as a freelance podcast producer, editor and narration script advisor. This year, she began to teach and mentor students at TMU and OCADU in narrative podcasting.

She also works with other writers and creatives one-on-one to help them find a winning narrative structure for their projects. To see if this approach could be helpful to your work, find her free 5-day email course Find Your Fish, which draws on lessons from screenwriting, podcasting, journaling and mindful meditation.

Over the last two decades her writing has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines and her interactive work has premiered at festivals internationally. She was the recipient of the Al Waxman Calling Card for her first documentary, The Mantelpiece, which was broadcast on TVOntario, and premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Festival in 2004. Her short film The Nothingness That Is Everything opened in Venice, Italy in 2018. 

And if all this information doesn't persuade you, Samantha is from Canada.

So I ask The Verge to consider these three talented women for the role at Hot Pod.  This esteemed publication deserves a person with a deep knowledge of podcasting and a lifelong passion for audio.

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Before I extol the virtues of this latest collaboration between Substack and Spotify, I must confess that I am a little wary. Spotify entered podcasting in earnest four years ago, and since then has created an industry-wide asset bubble that since has burst, purchased accomplished podcast studios like Parcast and Gimlet and dismantled them with no remorse, and produced and released a lot of crap. 

So, we'll see how this goes.  Podcasters on Substack are collectively earning more than $100 million in annual revenue, a number that has more than doubled in the past year. The number of active podcasters on the platform has also more than doubled in the same time span. And it’s not just that new opportunities are available to podcasters bringing their shows to Substack—it’s benefiting existing Substack publications too. Those writers and creators who have added audio and/or video to their Substacks grow their revenue more than 2.5 times as fast as those who haven’t.

Substack makes it dead simple for anyone to independently create, publish, distribute, grow, and monetize a show.

“We used to have two different feeds, one for our paying subscribers and one for everyone to listen to free shows,” says @Alex Kirshner, a host of @Split Zone Duo, the biggest sports podcast on Substack. “We were looking for a way to put everything under one roof and make the experience as easy as possible for the people who pay us for our work. Moving to Substack from Patreon has let us do that and been very, very good for our growth in not even half a year.”

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The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 700 leading media companies, brands, agencies, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing.

I know that's a mouthful, but the IAB holds an annual in-person and virtual meeting introducing new podcasts from some of the largest podcast networks.

 The IAB's report on advertising revealed that digital advertising revenues reached a record-high of $225 billion, increasing by 7.3% year-over-year overall (YoY) between 2022 and 2023, according to the newly released “IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report: Full Year 2023,” conducted by PwC. The report found that Q4 saw the highest growth rate of 12.3% from the year prior (4.4%), with revenues rising to $64.5 billion. “Despite inflation fears, interest rates at record highs, and continuing global unrest, the U.S. digital advertising industry continued its growth trajectory in 2023,” said David Cohen, CEO, IAB. “With significant industry transformation unfolding right before our eyes, we believe that those channels with a portfolio of privacy by design solutions will continue to outpace the market. For 2023, the winners were retail media, CTV, and audio, which saw the highest growth.” Audio advertising also saw a robust expansion, growing 18.9% to reach $7 billion. It is still the fastest-growing channel, albeit at a slower pace than last year. 

I know that most podcast fans have little interest in advertising trends and finances, but ads pay the bills for many podcasts.

[junesprout]

Hi! I'm Catherine, a writer, herbalist, witch, and artist living in the pacific northwest. You can find me online in the following places:

—patreon

—substack

—youtube

—instagram

—online shop

—my books

Looking forward to getting to know you 💖

[chloeinletters]

what advice do you have for a senior undergrad writer who has no direction for post-grad? 😩 i want to write my life!!! start a blog? try to freelance? you are my biggest writing inspiration ♥️✨

When I was a senior undergrad writer, I too felt like I had no direction. In my fall semester, as a result of Covid, my dream publication job closed down for good. I had one direction and it was gone!!!! I was devastated but it illuminated to me the idea I had about my life that I would leave school and someone would find my resume and say yes you! you are a writer now! So I thought, what if I decided I was a writer, what if I stopped waiting. I listened to myself!

That is my biggest advice.

Your desire to start writing should not be ignored. You do not have to wait until you graduate it is an arbitrary day. It is proof you have done something big but it also does not mean that when that day arrives you suddenly have a skillset and are allowed to do what it is you dream of doing. Your writing will improve as you move through life. You can figure stuff out while you go. (how you write best, when you write best, what kind of things excite you, where you wish to head off to) Though you feel you have no direction, moving onward is a way of going even if you are not sure which way it is. So that is the biggest advice, don't wait. Never wait. If you decide you are an artist you will always be a student. The want to write is honestly the only thing you really need. A degree is nothing in a certain sense, a respectable kind of nothing.

And any other advice I might offer is to listen. That's part of figuring it out. A big thing when I started was figuring out how I could make my writing life easier. I had to forget all the advice I had heard from successful writers who did not live the life I lived. Who did not have bills like I did, who did not work shitty retail jobs and then take a 20-minute delayed subway home at midnight. And when I decided I was a writer I had to forget that everyone was a weekly substack writer and listen to myself which knew I was really only capable of being a monthly substack writer. So to say, you know where to start and what to do. And when that knowing starts to be wrong you will know it. Allow yourself the ear to listen, and the grace to figure it out as you go. You will never have it all in place. Start a blog, a substack, an Instagram. Post everything. Your direction will reveal itself and you'll follow it.

In Anne Lamott's book bird by bird (a great place to start if you're feeling shaky about starting), she talks about writing and quotes someone who says when you drive in the dark you can only see as far as your headlights go, but you can make it the whole way home like that. You’re in the dark right now. Turn the headlights on and go.

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

I Found 10 Vital Mistakes After Reviewing 500+ Substack Accounts

Inspiration and Education for Freelance Writers on Substack Why are they problems, and how can we corect them? Over the last 12 months, I have had the privilege of reviewing and completing health checks for over 500 Substack profiles or publications created by my proteges and collaborators as a giveback activity or as a low-cost service of my Substack Mastery Boost Pilot. My findings helped…

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Substack Mastery Boost Submission Guidelines

A New Publication for Freelance Writers on Medium.com From Inspiration to a Business Hub Publication Welcome to Substack Mastery Boost publication initially created on Medium.com which will expand to multiple platforms! This is your guidelines for writing business success. Substack Mastery Boost is is not a usual Medium publication. We have 15 publications serving this purpose on Medium. This…

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An Interview with Yana G. Y. to Inspire Freelance Writers

Yana shows that you don’t have to be famous or a full-time writer to be a Substack Bestseller. Dear Readers and Freelance Writers, As you may know, I have interviewed writers since 2019, reflecting on their experiences and insights in spotlight stories. It is a valuable tool and an absolute pleasure for me to introduce inspiring creators to my audience. Every writer has an interesting life…

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A Powerful Toolkit for Advanced Substack Newsletter Mastery Has Been Published

Thank you for joining the launch with thousands of freelance writers who inspired me to write this first-of-a-kind book on the market Here is the link to the free audio version of the introduction. Introduction Dear Freelance Writers and Aspiring Content Entrepreneurs. I wrote this book for you. It is titled A Powerful Toolkit for Advanced Substack Newsletter Mastery: How to Scale Your…

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Inspiration: Content Marketing Insights Pub Hits Top #24 in Education, Serving 25K+ Free Subscribers

Education for Freelance Writers How freelance writers and content entrepreneurs benefit from this unique publication in 3-tiers + 10 tips to scale and sustain your Substack newsletters When I established ILLUMINATION in March 2020, many freelance writers and bloggers approached me, asking if I could guide them outside Medium. At that time, I explored the market, and Substack stood out as the…

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Inspiration: 61 New Paid Subscribers on Substack in 10 Days & Sold A$8K Value of Books with ZERO Ads

I explained how freelance writers can become book authors on Substack and book authors can sell their books with great success. This article aims to inspire aspiring writers to benefit from Substack’s serendipitous sales engine and book authors to use it deliberately.  Self-publishing experts advocate for paid advertising through platforms like Google or Facebook. They can be costly, producing…

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Why I Wrote the Substack Mastery Book & How Can Freelance Writers Benefit from It Now

This unique book is an informative, educational, and inspirational source for writers who want to start a Substack newsletter, build their audience, and grow with a supportive community.  One of the best ways to communicate and disseminate information, knowledge, and expertise is through writing a book, which is challenging for authors. Books never die, but they evolve in new forms that appeal…

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Where can you buy the new Substack Mastery book for freelance writers authored by Dr Mehmet Yildiz?

Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow Your Paid Subscribers, & Thrive with a Community. 

Check out the official page at digitalmehmet.com!

You can find future updates on my Content Strategy, Development, & Marketing Insights

I provide discounted books on my Patreon page.

I also update my readers on Medium.

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Substack Mastery for Busy Writers

Substack Mastery for Busy Writers [Concise Version]: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author 🎉

Dear reader, this is the summary of the original and popular Substack Mastery book, which I condensed five times, removing generic content and long descriptions and offering a distilled version to busy writers. I designed this short book to save you time while still giving valuable insights and practical tips.

In this book, I share my experience of how Substack became a powerful tool for digital content creation, marketing, and distribution. Writing this book felt like solving a puzzle. I wanted to give writers and creators a clear path through the noise and competition of online publishing.

With over 40 years of experience in content development, strategy, and marketing, I’ve seen many struggle to find their footing in digital publishing. This book isn't just theoretical fluff. It's packed with hands-on insights based on my own experiences, including how I grew my Substack to 30,000 subscribers.

I’ve always believed the publishing world needed more practical, real-world guidance. Through this book, I aim to help freelance writers and content entrepreneurs develop their voices, grow their audiences, and turn their newsletters into a sustainable business. Whether it's finding your unique perspective, creating content that connects, or building an income stream, this guide covers it all.

The book is autobiographical, rooted in my experiences, triumphs, and failures. It's designed to be actionable and inspiring, with strategies to make your mark in the content world. And, as a bonus, readers get the chance to join my supportive community of writers.

I am here to empower you with practical advice, share my lessons learned, and help you build something extraordinary if you are wilting to do so and ready to start.

It is now available in multiple online bookstores at half the price of the original.

Here is the link to the official website of the Substack Mastery book:

The original version of the book is available via: https://books2read.com/substackmastery

The paperback versions can be ordered via the following links:

I wrote an article about the concise version for my reasons for writing this new edition.

Here is the link to the article at digitalmehmet.com

Here is the version for readers on Medium

Thank you for your valuable feedback and for sharing this post with those who might need this information. I aim to empower freelance writers and content entrepreneurs to scale their writing business.

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Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 14

How to Add Interactive Educational Programs Using One of the 6 Globally Recognized Tools to Inform, Educate, Inspire, and Retain Your Subscribers Dear Beta Readers, Thank you for your feedback so far. You honor my content on multiple platforms. I understand this chapter may seem quite technical to beginners, as I designed it to benefit advanced freelance writers and content entrepreneurs who…

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My Review of The Substack Mastery Book as a Beta Reader

Book Review and Inspiration A Hands-On Book by Dr. Yildiz Introduced Me to Substack, Transformed My Progress, and Introduced me to 80+ Leading Newsletters from the Substack Mastery Community I love reading books. This books was special to me as it helped me achieve my goals as a freelance writer on Substack which is a platform I had no idea of it before. After finishing the book I left a review…

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The First Chapter of New Book “Substack Mastery” for Beta Readers

Why I wrote this book and how freelance writers and content entrepreneurs can benefit from it Introduction to My New Book for Free A few months ago, when I publicly announced that I would dedicate 80% of my time to Substack, 15% to Newsbreak, and just 5% to Medium, I received an intriguing call from one of my book publishers. This serendipitous encounter was inspiring, much like one of my…