In this episode, I’m joined by Amy Suto, who is a 4x author, founder of a 7-figure writing business, and the creator of the bestselling Substack publication, Make Writing Your Job.
If you’re interested in learning how Amy built a best-selling Substack publication with 1,000+ paid subscribers - and nearly $200K in annual recurring revenue - this episode is for you.
In this value-packed episode, we covered:
The simple question every creator must answer before they can grow paid subscribers (01:35)
Why her paid Substack isn’t “more articles,” but a full membership with tools, classes, and community (03:22)
The two Substack business models (broadcast vs community) and how to know which one fits you (04:02)
Why marketing doesn’t have to feel sleazy (05:30)
Why you should turn on paid subscriptions from day one - even with a tiny audience (09:09)
Why Substack is a powerful platform for freelancers, consultants, and writers (12:03)
The myth of the “starving artist,” and why writers need to reclaim money and power (22:30)
How to stop fearing critics, bad reviews, and hate comments (27:03)
And much, much more…
Pre-Order ‘Write for Money and Power’
Want to learn how to get paid - really paid - as a writer? Pre-order Write for Money and Power today!
In Amy's latest book, she dismantles every lie you’ve been sold about what it means to be a “real writer” and shows you exactly how to claim your power, your paycheck, and your creative freedom.
Watch On YouTube:
👉 Subscribe to the Write • Build • Scale YouTube channel, where we’ll upload a video version of the podcast every week.
Connect With Amy Suto:
Key Lessons From This Episode:
#1: Consistency Without Strategy Will Keep You Stuck
Publishing consistently is important, but it’s not enough.
Many creators show up week after week and still don’t grow because they’re not pairing consistency with strategy.
Real growth comes from:
understanding what your audience needs
paying attention to what resonates with readers
looking at analytics as signals of real human behavior
When consistency and strategy work together, you’ll grow faster than ever before.
#2: Monetization Starts With Self-Belief
One of the biggest blocks for writers to start monetizing isn’t skill, it’s self-doubt.
Many writers hesitate to turn on paid subscriptions because they assume nobody will pay.
But the moment you allow people to support your work, everything changes.
Even a single paid subscriber builds confidence, validates your voice, and creates momentum.
You don’t need to “earn the right” to monetize, you need to give people the option to support something that already helps them.
#3: Growth Accelerates When You Write for the Reader
If your goal is growth and monetization, your writing has to be reader-first.
That means thinking about:
what your audience is trying to achieve
what’s holding them back
how they consume content
which formats surprise and delight them
The most successful Substack creators aren’t just sharing their thoughts, they’re laser-focused on what their audience wants and needs.
When readers feel seen and understood, loyalty and paid support follow naturally.
Grab your free Substack Starter Kit, where you’ll find proven strategies, frameworks, and systems that help you turn your Substack into a thriving newsletter with thousands of readers.
