How to Write for a Living

Season 3, episode 25 is here!Amelia O’Loughlin joined me to talk about her journey from dance to screenwriting, how a chance encounter on South Bank led to representation, and why she’s building Table, a live event and podcast that surfaces exceptional scripts stuck in the graveyard.She shared her approach to character-led writing, why AI concerns her but the offline renaissance gives her hope, and the one story every writer needs to stop avoiding.We covered:- How Amelia chased her literary hero down South Bank with Bill Nighy, convinced him to give her an email address through sheer determination- Why she believes character always comes first in her writing process- The kitchen table origin story of Table, a live event and podcast where actors perform excerpts from unproduced screenplays- Her prediction that consumers will become as concerned about their digital diet as their food intake, and why she thinks the pendulum will swing back toward offline experiences and human-made art once the AI fascination fades- Why hearing your dialogue performed by actors is both gratifying and requires letting go completely- Her concern that the interim period before the pendulum swings could make it even harder for creators without trust funds to break into the arts- Why procrastination for writers often means avoiding the story that’s really a thorn in your side, and why that uncomfortable script is actually your true gift 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

Season 3, episode 24 is here!Angela Hollowell joined me to talk about her journey from photographer to filmmaker, why she publishes three times a week on her newsletter Please Hustle Responsibly, and what she learned running a documentary through the festival circuit.She shared why Substack is perfect for publishing but lacks the data tools serious businesses need, her approach to in-person podcasting that creates superfans, and the mindset adjustment that removes all the pressure from creating.What we cover:- The coffee mug gift strategy she uses for in-person podcast interviews that creates instant rapport- How she accidentally became a filmmaker after people kept asking if her camera recorded video- Why she wraps up an 18-month film festival run and now plans to write TV shows- Her featured post strategy that most Substack writers completely underutilise- The changeover from paid subscriptions to developing print magazines, in-person dinner parties, and digital products- Why the first things you create will be terrible and that’s completely fine 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

➡️ Learn the exact system used by Write • Build • Scale to build, launch, and automate your first mini-course so you can build your own passive income stream. Get it here.Season 3, episode 23 is here!My pal Philip Hofmacher from Write • Build • Scale joined me for a conversation about monetising on Substack without needing thousands of subscribers first.We talked about why mini courses outperform massive flagship programs, the exact price points that convert best, and how to promote your products without feeling spammy.What we covered:- Why some Substack creators make six figures from day one while others build to 30,000 subscribers before monetising- The story of how Jari Roomer’s full course overwhelmed people and failed to deliver results, then how he turned it into a two-hour procrastination mini course that sold like wildfire and created a natural upsell path- Why mini courses solve one specific problem instead of trying to be a fit for everything, and how that narrow focus actually makes them easier to recommend because everyone knows someone struggling with that exact issue- The sweet spot pricing range for mini courses based on testing hundreds of offers, and why charging $47 instead of $27 doesn’t actually hurt conversions but significantly increases revenue- How to promote your products organically through live streams, DMs, and value-first conversations rather than shouty upsells, including the exact sequence from commenting on a note to becoming a paying customer- Why bundling mini courses with coaching, communities, and group settings creates multiple entry points for different types of customers, and how the same content can be packaged differently from free posts to thousand-dollar coaching 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

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

Dani Zacarias, creator-economy executive and former Wattpad and Skillshare product leader now at SendOwl. She recounts a harrowing Peru border crossing and why hard experiences shape creators. She argues against VC-driven volume-first thinking and champions durable, taste-driven art. She explains SendOwl’s approach to creator ownership and practical strategies for building a sustainable creator ecosystem.

Season 3, episode 20 is here!Neera Mahajan joined me to talk about writing books fast, building authority, and turning a single book into a scalable business.She shared why most writers never finish their books, the difference between vanity projects and strategic assets, and how she helps creators write their books in 30 days through implementation over information.This one’s a must-listen for anyone struggling to finish their book!In this episode:- Why Neera started writing not because she was good at it but because she was bad, and how quitting her job to write full-time led to publishing 14 books that now serve as the foundation of her entire business model- The moment she realised three years of articles gave her nothing to show for the effort, and how one voice in her head telling her to write that damn book changed everything about her authority and income overnight- Why most writers fail to finish their books because they make them too big and drift in and out of the work, and the strict framework of 13 chapters maximum with 2,000 words each that actually gets books done in 30 days- The difference between vanity projects and strategic authority assets, including how a strategic book needs a clear audience, addresses one specific problem, and launches your tiered offer at the end instead of just existing on a shelf- Her four-level productivity system for writers that starts with calendar management and email inbox zero, and why she now surrounds herself with notebooks that travel from room to room capturing ideas before they disappear- Why her cohort focuses on implementation and daily accountability rather than piling on more information, requiring participants to write 500-1,000 words daily toward their book while working in a group settingCheck out all of Neera’s books here. 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

Season 3, episode 19 is here!I was super excited to have Justin Moore join me to talk about something most writers think is out of reach: getting paid by brands to create content.Justin shared the sponsorship strategies that built his multi-million dollar business, why your follower count matters less than you think, and the pitching method that stops brands from hitting delete on your emails.This is the perfect episode for anyone interested in finding game-changing sponsorships for their content!What we covered:- Why writers with small audiences can still land sponsorships by offering something completely different than traditional influencer posts, and how your writing skills become the product itself rather than just your audience size- The ROPE method for pitching brands that flips the script on how most creators approach sponsorships, starting with what the brand cares about instead of bragging about your follower count in the first sentence- How Justin’s wife went from accepting free products for years to earning $700 monthly from a single brand deal, and the simple question that changed everything about how they approached collaborations- The sponsorship continuum concept that changes what you pitch based on where you are in your growth journey, from ghostwriting for brands at the start to commanding premium rates once you’ve scaled- Why having a rate card on your website is the worst possible strategy for pricing sponsorships, and the budget range question that gets brands to reveal their numbers 75% of the time without you naming a price first- The ARC framework that determines how much leverage you have in negotiations based on whether brands want awareness, repurposing rights, or conversion metrics from the partnership- Why Justin believes books will outlast almost every other content format in the age of AI, and how writing Sponsor Magnet became the most impactful thing he’s done for his business despite never considering himself a writer👉 Want to learn these strategies in person? Justin’s hosting Sponsor Games in San Antonio, March 15-18. Use code DAVID500 for $500 off your ticket! Find out more here. 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

Season 3, episode 18 is here!My friend Jari Roomer from Write Build Scale joined me for a conversation about the most powerful growth lever on Substack.We talked about why collaboration matters more than ever, how to approach other creators without feeling awkward, and the specific strategies that brought us thousands of subscribers without spending a dime on ads.What we covered:- Why collaborations are the antidote to publishing in the void, and how they make the entire Substack journey more enjoyable while getting your work in front of audiences that already want what you offer- The guest posting approach that creates evergreen pathways for discovery months after you publish, turning one piece of content into a long-term subscriber magnet that keeps working while you sleep- Newsletter recommendations as the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it growth strategy, how Jari gained over 8,000 subscribers in 2025 from recommendations alone, and why most creators hesitate to reach out when it’s actually a win-win scenario- Going live on Substack as the collaboration format that builds the deepest connections, lets your audience see you’re a real person when things go wrong, and makes it easier for introverts who can share the talking with a guest- The exact DM approach that gets more yes responses to collaboration requests, including why you should offer multiple collaboration options and how to make it as easy as possible for someone to say yes- How to use AI as a ghostwriting tool rather than a crutch by recording 30-minute voice memos of your thoughts and stories, then letting AI handle the actual writing process while keeping your authentic voice intact- The ladder strategy for linking posts that guides readers to take the next step up rather than sending them sideways through your archive, and why fewer links actually create more conversions than overwhelming people with options 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

Season 3, episode 17 is here!In this episode, I sit down with my old school friend Stuart Thompson, who now runs a long-standing gym here in Northern Ireland.We talk about what it really takes to build a business over nearly a decade - not just systems and social media, but relationships, energy, and knowing your limits. We also cover fitness, creativity, confidence, and turning up consistently even when no one’s watching.This is an honest, practical, and surprisingly relevant chat, whether you run a gym, write online, or are just trying to build something for the long haul.What we covered:- How Stuart’s gym actually started- The underrated power of handwritten notes- Why not growing up sporty helped nurture Stuart’s story- Why confidence comes from reps (in fitness and in writing)- What it’s like running a people business as an introvert- Why asking for reviews is awkward but necessary- Why sticking around mattersMake sure to check out Cross Functional Fitness before you go! 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

Season 3, episode 16 is here!In this week’s episode, Parker Worth and I chat about his journey from being a high school dropout to becoming a successful creator living in Brazil.Parker discusses the importance of storytelling in building a personal brand and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online content creation, and emphasises the need for creators to build relationships and trust with their audience, write real-life stories that convert, and understand their audience’s pain points.What we cover:- Parker Worth’s journey from electrician to creator in Brazil.- The significance of storytelling in personal branding.- How to navigate the challenges of the online creator landscape.- Why building relationships and trust with your audience is crucial.- How using personal stories can lead to higher engagement.- Why understanding audience pain points is essential for content creation.- Why embracing fear can lead to significant personal and professional growth.Make sure to subscribe to Parker’s newsletter before you go! 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