Hard pill for writers to swallow:

You’re earning peanuts because you’re relying on platforms instead of yourself.

12 other hard pills to swallow (if you want to make money online):

#1 - No one gives a f*ck about your book

Stop thinking they do. If we don't know you we aren't going to read your book on a whim.

Stop being immature.

Build an audience first. Then sell books.

#2 - Focus on the only big problem writers have...

Finding readers who become subscribers who become customers.

Everyone skips over this step.

• Go where the eyeballs are

• Be attention-grabbing

• Increase distribution by sharing other writer's work

3# - Give the gatekeepers the middle finger

Publications

Curators

Editors

Agents

You can self-publish.

You can choose yourself.

#3 - Getting paid by the word is the worst way to get paid

You may as well sell your body for $5 a month on Onlyf*ns.

Just don't do it.

#4 - Getting paid by the hour is the second worst way to get paid

Start with freelancing.

But quickly move to a retainer or consulting option so you can escape the rat race.

#5 - The cost of information is going to $0

You better sell something more than information or you're screwed.

Sell:

• Stories

• Personal experience

• Time-saving

• Community

#6 - Ghostwriters can print money

Because everyone now needs content for their personal brand.

Write for others.

#7 - The name of your newsletter doesn't matter

Just like your startup logo won't make you a millionaire.

Stop falling for shiny object syndrome.

Do the hard work of writing/thinking/reading.

#8 - Masturb*ting over niches is stupid

The niche is you.

Choose broad topics and pay attention to what people find helpful.

If you go too niche the audience-building opportunity is too small to make a living from it.

#9 - The platform doesn't matter

They all work (except Quora).

• Medium

• Substack

• Twitter/X

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

What matters is whether YOU work.

All this stuff is obvious when you get started and look at the data. Even I could figure it out.

10# - Writing is freaking hard

Having to ask for permission is 10x harder.

Being broke is 100x harder.

Choose hard.

#11 - No one gives a crap if the algorithm ruined your reach

Move on.

Build an email list.

No email list, no writing career. Soz.