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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!
What’s next?
I’m ready and waiting to support you in the next stages of your creator journey. Here’s a reminder of how I can help:
🚀 Digital Resources: Check out my range of straightforward products on Gumroad. You’ll find great tools to help you get started on Substack, grow your audience, and even launch your own podcast. Explore them here.
🔥 Catalyst Club: Get exclusive access to Catalyst Club, my VIP membership for creators who want real momentum. Includes monthly group sessions, 2 x 1-on-1 strategy calls, and a full Substack publication audit. Upgrade here.
🤝 Personal Coaching: Work with me 1-on-1 to break through creative blocks, refine your strategy, and build a sustainable creator business that actually fits your life. Email or DM me for more info.
📺 YouTube: Head to my YouTube channel for hundreds of unfiltered conversations on creativity, strategy, and building a life that doesn’t require permission. Watch and subscribe here.
