Your First $1 As a Writer Changes Everything
Substack Mastermind Monday #15
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Welcome to another Substack Mastermind Monday!
Every week, we share three actionable tips and strategies (inspired by our Substack Mastermind members) to help you grow your audience, build your online business, and get a spark of inspiration to start the new week motivated and energized.
Let’s dive straight into it!
#1: Boring = Profitable
Getting paid as an online writer or creator isn’t about flashy strategies or quick wins.
It’s about showing up and doing the boring, unglamorous work every day. That’s what gets you paid.
(It’s not sexy, but it works.)
If you’re an online writer or creator trying to build your online business, here are some of the key tasks that matter most:
Publishing consistently: Whether it’s Notes, newsletters, or full-blown articles, the only way to get better and grow your audience is to write and publish something daily
Engaging with your audience: Reply to comments, respond to emails, and make time to connect with the people who read your work. Building relationships is what turns readers into loyal fans (and eventually, paying customers).
Promoting your work: Yes, you have to market yourself. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re building.
Creating offers to sell: Whether it’s an e-book, a course, a workshop, or coaching, having something for people to buy is how you turn your writing into a business.
Learning and improving: Read books, listen to podcasts, and study what successful creators are doing. Apply what makes sense for you.
Sometimes it feels like no one notices the work you’re putting in. But those small, daily actions? They compound. They move you closer to your goals, one step at a time.
So if you’ve been quietly grinding away, keep going. You’re doing the work that matters—the work that pays off in the long run.
#2: Why Write If No One’s Reading?
The more you write, the more you figure out what you actually want to say.
You get clearer, more confident, and better with every post, Note, or draft—whether people are reading or not.
And here’s the magic: the readers will come. But it’ll probably happen when you’re not obsessing over it.
When you’re too busy writing, growing, and creating, that’s when someone stumbles across your work and thinks, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed.”
So, if it feels like no one’s paying attention right now, don’t sweat it. You’re still making progress.
You’re building skills, clarity, and a body of work that future readers (and your future self) will thank you for.
#3: Focus On Making Your First $1
Making your first $1 online changes everything. Not because of the money itself, but because of what it represents.
It’s proof that your ideas, your writing, your work has value.
You don’t need to start with a million-dollar idea. Start small. Offer something simple:
A $5/month paid newsletter.
A $10 digital product like a guide or template.
A $50 coaching call to help someone solve a problem you’ve already figured out.
These aren’t life-changing prices, but they’re belief-changing.
The moment someone pays you—even just a few bucks—you realize, Wait, I can actually do this. And suddenly, your brain starts thinking bigger:
If I can make $5, why not $50?
If I can make $50, why not $500?
If I can make $500, why not $5,000?
It’s not about getting rich overnight. It’s about rewiring your mindset.
Selling something—even something small—shifts you from “just a writer” to a creator who gets paid for their work.
🧡 All of the Notes featured in this newsletter are from our Substack Mastermind members (thank you
, , and ).If you’re committed to growing your Substack and want to join a like-minded, supportive community of Substack creators, click the link below to get more information about how to apply:
Love this! Thanks for putting it out there…..especially the piece about a coaching call….great ideas for me as a beginner!