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How to Write for a Living

David McIlroy
Substack
Writing
Substack Growth Sessions
Youtube
Personal Branding
Monetization
Personal Brand
Write Build Scale
Newsletter
Sendowl
Audience Growth
Solopreneur
Income Generation
Public Speaking
Personal Brand Development
Live Video
Capitalism
Trust
Growth In Reverse
Book Marketing

Writers should get paid for doing what they love. Let's talk about how to make that happen. thedavidmcilroy.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes76Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHow ToBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for How to Write for a Living

Latest Episodes

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 conversati... more

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 figur... more

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 disapp... more

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 ... more

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Recent Guests

Karen Salmansohn
Bestselling author and behavioral change expert
Episode: 409: "I've been blessed by Madonna!" (with Karen Salmansohn)
Laurie Marbas
Family medicine physician and lifestyle medicine advocate, Substack creator
Substack publications (The Habit Healers, Healing Mindset/Habit Healers)
Episode: 408: She drew cartoons through medical school - now she has over 90,000 Substack subscribers (with Laurie Marbas)
Kern Carter
Author and creator of Writers Are Superstars on Substack
Author / Publisher (Canada)
Episode: 407: He wanted to be an author at eight - now he writes for Penguin (with Kern Carter)
Nathan Baugh
Writer, World Builders newsletter author
World Builders / Substack writer
Episode: 406: Becoming a world builder (with Nathan Baugh)
Seth Werkheiser
Founder of Social Media Escape Club
Social Media Escape Club / Substack
Episode: 405: He deleted every social media account and built a thriving community anyway (with Seth Werkheiser)
Ana (Not Exactly Ana)
Writer on Substack focused on mental health and personal stories
Substack/magazine project Not Exactly a Magazine
Episode: 404: Telling stories about the things no-one wants to talk about (with Not Exactly Ana)
Olivia Wickstrom
Substack-focused coach and creator
Substack
Episode: 403: How to access your main character energy (with Olivia Wickstrom)
Pete Murphy
Participant mentioned as having joined the session
Catalyst Club / Substack Growth Sessions
Episode: 402: Things that passed me by (and why you shouldn't let my next event pass YOU by)
Amelia O'Loughlin
Writer and actor focused on screenwriting and live events
Independent writer/creator
Episode: 325: The one story every writer needs to stop avoiding (with Amelia O'Loughlin)

Host

David McIlroy
Host and interviewer; operates Substack and related publishing ventures.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 10 ratings
  • I Love David’s Work

    I discovered David is on Substack and started listening to his podcast. He offers tons of practical ideas and inspiration for writers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wakingupwell
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Start David!

    I follow David on Substack and am very excited to see he’s started a podcast so I can listen while I take my morning bike ride.

    David provides actionable information on how to “write for a living” particularly on Substack where I have just started my new fiction series.

    I enjoy hearing what David has to say and will learn from him each week, here in his podcast and on Substack.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tucsonpots
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Host delivers actionable guidance; great for writers starting Substack newsletters.
Practical ideas and inspiration for writers, especially around Substack growth.
Candid discussions on building communities beyond social media make the content feel usable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#54
Norway/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#82
South Korea/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#135
Argentina/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#190
Russia/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)
Q: How can writers develop a personal brand that helps them monetize their writing in the face of AI?
Diversify beyond referrals, build a public reputation, and articulate a clear point of view through consistent, emotionally resonant writing. Use a public-facing strategy—notes, Substack articles, newsletters—to demonstrate expertise, while ensuring your voice remains authentic and differentiated.
218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)
Q: And what is something writers can do on any level to get more comfortable with selling themselves and their writing to their audience?
Study how respected writers sell—observe the tone, the service orientation, and how they frame the value. Practice selling without sleaze by asking meaningful questions on calls and guiding prospects to their own conclusions; keep the focus on the reader and the impact rather than hard selling.
223: Building an authentic business that lasts (with George Kao)
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be in Mexico and doing what you do?
George describes his long-standing commitment to authentic, soul-aligned entrepreneurship, his journey from starting in 2009 to becoming a dedicated Authentic Business Coach, and how gratitude for longevity and serving others informs his practice.
408: She drew cartoons through medical school - now she has over 90,000 Substack subscribers (with Laurie Marbas)
Q: What does your writing process look like and how do you grow your audience?
Her process involves revisiting old articles, analyzing reader questions, researching new studies, and weaving in narrative elements; growth comes from consistent content, cross-promotion on social platforms, and answering reader needs with practical, approachable language.
408: She drew cartoons through medical school - now she has over 90,000 Substack subscribers (with Laurie Marbas)
Q: What does lifestyle medicine mean in practice?
She explains lifestyle medicine as a focus on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress regulation, toxins avoidance, and especially community support, with a push to integrate these principles into medical education and daily practice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Write for a Living

What is How to Write for a Living about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on turning writing into a sustainable, paid career, with deep dives into Substack, newsletters, publishing, and creator-driven monetization. Episodes frequently cover building audiences, authentic storytelling, and practical systems for long-term growth—often through collaborations, live formats, or community-building. A standout theme is treating writing as a profession with repeatable workflows, from craft to marketing, while exploring monetization strategies beyond traditional publishing. The format leans entrepreneurial and hands-on, making it helpful for writers seeking actionable steps and for brands or sponsors looking to reach creator-minded audiences.

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How many listeners does How to Write for a Living get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers How to Write for a Living has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to How to Write for a Living?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How to Write for a Living:

1. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2. The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
3. Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle
4. How I Write

How many episodes of How to Write for a Living are there?

How to Write for a Living launched 2 years ago and published 76 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on How to Write for a Living?

Recent guests on How to Write for a Living include:

1. Karen Salmansohn
2. Laurie Marbas
3. Kern Carter
4. Nathan Baugh
5. Seth Werkheiser
6. Ana (Not Exactly Ana)
7. Olivia Wickstrom
8. Pete Murphy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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