How to Write for a Living

322: Your big writing questions answered


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Season 3, episode 22 is here!

I threw together this episode to answer questions from my Substack chat thread, where writers shared what’s actually slowing them down right now.

As it turns out, the struggles are universal: too many platforms, not enough time, and the back-of-the-mind realisation that writing often isn’t enough - you have to market yourself too.

What I covered:

- When it’s okay to ruthlessly cut platforms that aren’t working)

- The 80/20 rule for your first few months on Substack that nobody talks about

- How to structure your day when you’re balancing soul-satisfying creative work with contracts that actually pay the bills

- The broken expectation every writer hits: you can’t just write anymore, you have to be your own marketing executive too (and how to make that less painful)

- Why you shouldn’t box yourself into a theme at the start

- The TikTok strategy for finding ARC readers when you don’t know 50 people willing to review your book

- Finding your value offer as a writer by asking yourself: what could you talk about on a soapbox for 30 minutes straight, and what would light you up seeing someone else achieve?



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
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How to Write for a LivingBy David McIlroy

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