How to Make a Living as a Full-Time Writer in 2025
And why most writers are doing it wrong
"What should I write about?"
This is the first question every aspiring writer asks. And it's usually followed by an even harder one: "Can I really make a living just from writing?"
Here's the truth: Most writers fail not because they're bad writers, but because they pick the wrong niche or treat their newsletter like a hobby instead of a business.
Before you write your first word, you need to answer two critical questions:
"What can I write about for years without getting bored?"
"What problems can I solve with my writing?"
These aren't just philosophical questions - they're business questions. Because at the end of the day, if you want to earn a living from your newsletter, you have to treat it like a business.
My Story
I’ve been a full-time writer for over 10 years. But it’s probably not the style of writing you would think. I started out as a copywriter with freelance clients, but it was inconsistent. It wasn’t until I started writing resumes for clients that I realized I could do this full-time.
Running a successful resume business for a decade taught me a lot of what to do and what not to do as a full-time writer.
However, after several years of writing resumes and working 1on1 with clients, I hit a wall. I knew my growth potential was limited. I could either:
Write more resumes (and wear myself out)
Outsource to other writers (and be a babysitter)
Or, increase my rates significantly
Honestly, none of these options sounded appealing to me. So, I went another route.
I started helping other writers grow their writing businesses, and it worked. After all, I understood their struggles, their fears, and most importantly, I knew how to solve their problems.
The Breaking Point
Let me paint you a picture of where I was just a few years ago: Burnt out from running my resume writing business, trading time for money, and feeling like I was on an endless treadmill. Sure, I was making good money, but at what cost?
I knew there had to be a better way. That's when I made what turned out to be the best decision of my career - I decided to restart my Substack newsletter in 2024.
But here's the thing: I wasn't going to follow the conventional wisdom of "put your best content behind a paywall and pray people subscribe." I found a better route.
Within 6 months, everything changed:
4,000+ engaged subscribers
$5,000+ in monthly revenue
Complete location freedom
And most importantly? No more trading time for money
The best part? I did it without putting my content behind a paywall.
Let's talk about the real problem most writers face: They think there are only two paths to making a living as a writer:
The Freelance Hustle: Writing for clients, constantly pitching, dealing with revisions
The Corporate Route: Writing copy for companies, trading your creativity for a steady paycheck
Neither of these are bad. But there's a third way that most writers never consider…
The New Way to Make a Living as a Writer
Here's what I've learned after 10+ years as a professional writer: The key isn't just about being a good writer - it's about building a system that works for you.
There are three main paths to making a living as a writer:
1. Freelance Writing/Ghostwriting: Writing for publications, blogs, and magazines. Great for starting out, but you're still trading time for money.
2. Copywriting: Working for agencies or companies. Steady income, but you're writing on their terms, not yours.
3. Building Your Own Newsletter Empire: This is what changed everything for me. But instead of hiding your best content behind a paywall, you use free content to build a massive audience, then offer premium digital products to those who want to go deeper.
The "Newsletter + Digital Products" Model
This approach is powerful because:
You build trust faster with free, valuable content
Your audience grows more quickly without a paywall
You can help more people with your writing
You create multiple income streams through digital products
You're not constantly chasing new clients
Here’s the thing most people get wrong: They think just starting a newsletter is enough. They publish a few posts, get discouraged by low subscriber numbers, and give up.
The Real Secret to Success
The truth is, there's a specific strategy to growing and monetizing a newsletter successfully. It's not just about writing great content (though that's important). It's about:
Knowing exactly what your audience needs
Creating the right kinds of content that attract subscribers
Building a system for consistent growth
Developing digital products that solve real problems
Setting up automation so you can scale
Need Help Getting Started?
If you're serious about building a sustainable writing career, I've got something special for you. In my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass, I break down my entire system for:
Growing from zero to 4,000+ subscribers in 6 months
Creating digital products that sell daily
Building a $5,000+ monthly revenue stream
Setting up systems for automatic growth
For the next 48 hours only, I'm opening up access to this masterclass where I share my complete blueprint for building a successful writing career through Substack.
If you’re ready to get started growing on Substack, click the button below and join 200+ other writers inside 👇
Quick Win to Get Started Today
Want to start monetizing your writing right away? Here's something you can implement today: Create what I call a "Starter Kit" - a simple PDF that solves one specific problem for your ideal reader.
For example, if you write about productivity, create a "5-Day Focus Bootcamp" template. If you write about freelancing, make a "Client Outreach Email Templates" guide. Price it at $27 or less - this makes it an easy "yes" for your readers.
Add this offer at the bottom of your best performing posts with a simple call-to-action: "Want my step-by-step template for [solving specific problem]? Get instant access here →"
This simple strategy can start generating revenue while you build your audience and create more comprehensive products. Trust me, it works.
Remember, if you’re ready to transform your writing career? Click below to join 200+ newsletter writers inside Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass:
Another fantastic article. The starter kit is a great idea for a newbie just getting started.
Thanks for another helpful article! I have a question about the LinkedIn flywheel, do you think it could work just as well on another platform, like TikTok? I'm very active on TikTok and have a following of almost 10,000 there, so I would be keen to leverage it.