How to Write for a Living

Articles

How I use (and don’t use) AI in my writing process

4 days ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Grab my FREE 7-day email course, Substack Launchpad - you’ll get one email a day for 7 days to help build your confidence, consistency, and traction on Substack. Get it here. 🚀“Oh no, not another article about AI”Sorry (not sorry) - I think this might be useful. I’ve been an AI skeptic for pretty much the entire time ChatGPT and its robot buddies have existed in the mainstream. There was a period when I hated it and got awfully judgy about anyone else who incorporated it into their system.
Saturday Morning Coffee ☕ #73

1 week ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Stop overthinking and finally publish that article — join The 5-Day Article Sprint that gets you from idea to inbox in under a week. Get it here.
How to Write for a Living

1 week ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

Writers should get paid for doing what they love. Subscribe now to get my FREE 7-day email course, Substack Launchpad. · Over 23,000 subscribersBy subscribing, I agree to Substack’s Terms of Use and acknowledge its Information Collection Notice and Privacy Policy“David is a great writer who's achieved amazing results online, and very fast. Now, he's on a mission to teach us all to do the same.
215: How to find your true newsletter niche and get paid for it (featuring Ciler Demiralp)

1 week ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Stop overthinking and finally publish that article — join The 5-Day Article Sprint that gets you from idea to inbox in under a week. Get it here. Season 2, episode 15 is here!In this episode, I chat to about the realities of building a sustainable newsletter business from scratch. Here’s a taste of what we covered:The surprising career pivot from corporate marketing to running a thriving newsletter business. How Newsletter Circle carved out a unique niche in the crowded newsletter space.
How to promote your paid offer without feeling like a pushy salesperson (5 steps)

1 week ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Stop overthinking and finally publish that article — join The 5-Day Article Sprint that gets you from idea to inbox in under a week. Get it here. I remember the first time I ever got on a call with someone about my business offer. It was back at the start of 2020. I’d just launched my solo marketing business (great timing, right?) and I was trying to connect with a few potential partners.
How to turn what you’ve already written into a paid product (without starting from scratch)

1 week ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Grab my FREE 7-day email course, Substack Launchpad - you’ll get one email a day for 7 days to help build your confidence, consistency, and traction on Substack. Get it here. 🚀Last year, I created a new paid resource from scratch. I spent weeks planning a framework, outlining modules, preparing presentation slides, recording videos, designing workbooks, and writing promotion emails. And when I finally launched the thing? Crickets. Hardly any interest, even though I was sure people wanted it.
Saturday Morning Coffee ☕ #72

2 weeks ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

➡️ Stop overthinking and finally publish that article — join The 5-Day Article Sprint that gets you from idea to inbox in under a week. Get it here.
3 paywall formats that grow your income without eroding reader trust

2 weeks ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

🥳 I’ve been on Substack for 2 years (woohoo!) so I’m celebrating by offering 30% off my paid annual tier. Upgrade today before the offer runs out. ⌛Have you ever found yourself staring at your publish button and thinking things like:“Is this too good to give away for free?”“Will people unsubscribe if I paywall this post?”You’re not alone there, my friend. Every creator wrestles with the fine line between generosity and strategy. I know I have for years, anyway.
Why you should create digital products (and how to get started)

2 weeks ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy |Derek Hughes

Derek Hughes is running a FREE masterclass later today, in which he’ll walk you through the approach he used to launch 6 products in a year. No overwhelm. Just clear steps and smart shortcuts to get you going fast. Grab your spot here. ⌛Did you catch yesterday’s live video? If so, fear not! You can watch it now. and I had a great chat about digital products (the benefits of having your own, how to create them, etc).
The 30-minute daily routine that can transform your Substack in 30 Days

2 weeks ago | thedavidmcilroy.substack.com | David McIlroy

Yesterday, I shared this Note on Substack:It’s based on the approach I took to initially grow my Substack audience from a few dozen to over 1,000 subscribers towards the end of 2023. Back then, I really didn’t know what I was doing. I just knew there was something different about Substack, and I wanted to connect with more of my fellow users on the platform.