Online Writing Club Show

• The Happy, Human Way to Start a Crazy Successful Substack Podcast — Insider Tips from 7-Figure Podcaster Dr. Colin Gray

  They’ll tell you it’s too late.Too saturated. Too hard to stand out.But here’s what they don’t know:Over 90% of podcasts are inactive!That means you’re not walking into a crowded market, you’re stepping into wide open territory.So if that little voice inside your head keeps saying,“Maybe it’s time to share my stories.”This is your sign.It’s time!But I get it…the tech, the recording, the editing, the platforms…it’s a whole bear to handle.”However, a podcast is a great way to become known for something.So if you say:* ✅I want to start a podcast!* ✅I want to get paid for telling my stories!I’ve got you covered! Not only with today’s podcast session, but also with my invite to…👉 Join the first “Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp” with me and Dr. Colin Gray (starts Nov 17!)He’ll walk you step-by-step through launching a show that builds trust, grows your audience, and yes, makes you money.The “Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp” OPENS its doors! Go from “no clue” to “Substack podcast & visible on all major platforms” in 4 days flat!We’ll help you get up and running ASAP, so you can start seeing downloads turn into loyal listeners who become subscribers and buyers.➡️Think minimal production.➡️Think time-saving guides, frameworks, templates.➡️Think how to leverage Substack as a home for your podcast and promotional vehicle🤫Psst! With…EARLYBIRD you’ll get 55% OFF!It’s a Whole Bear to HandleYou’ve got the ideas.The stories.The energy.But the tech? The editing? The fear of sounding awkward? The pressure? That’s the stuff that keeps most people stuck.Not you. Not anymore.Because today, we’re breaking down how to podcast the easy, human, no-overwhelm way—with Dr. Colin Gray from Scotland.He’s a 7-figure podcaster, entrepreneur, founder, teacher, speaker, and dad of two.He built his wildly successful podcast, PodCraft, and helped thousands of podcast starters, including those using The Podcast Host and Alitu, go from “uhh… where do I start?” to “oh wow, people actually listen to me now!”He uses something called the PATH framework—a simple roadmap for launching your podcast like a pro and growing an audience.All so you can build your authority, deepen trust with your audience, and grow your revenue with sponsors, brand deals, or your own offers.🎧 Want To Listen To The Show?Can’t wait to share this incredible interview with you. Enjoy the show, which now has 87,000 downloads! Thank you, guys! 🙏🏻🎙️If you say, “Kristina, let me listen to the show!”……now you have the chance to listen to the interview.👉 You can listen to the full episode right here:But first… let’s talk about what’s REALLY going on in the world of podcasting right now.The Truth About Podcasting in 2026People love to say podcasting is “dead” or “AI slop.”But here’s the thing: you can’t fake voice, tone, or connection.Not for 30 minutes straight.As Dr. Colin Gray told me:“Yeah, there’s a lot of people being quite fearful … it was something absolutely crazy like that … people are saying …podcasting, it’s now just AI slop like blogging … but I think there’s a lot more to read into that … podcasting is going to be one of the mediums that’s protected a lot from AI slop because it’s so reliant on knowing the host … it’s so much harder to fake that over half an hour or an hour than it is to just write a blog post or a short video.”That’s the point. Podcasting is human.It’s voice, tone, connection. You can’t fake that (yet).While everyone else is worried about AI, you’ll be building something AI can’t touch:authentic trust with your audience.And about that “saturation” myth?There are around 4 million podcasts total — but only 300 to 400 thousand active ones. That’s fewer than most YouTube channels or blogs.So no, you’re not too late. You’re early!“People often say that podcasting is saturated, but it’s actually far smaller than video or blogging … there are only about 4 million podcasts in total, and only around 300 to 400 thousand active ones … so it’s a tiny number and actually one of the least competitive spaces.”So if you start now, you’re not too late.And you don’t need a million listeners. You need the right ones.The PATH Framework — Your Shortcut to ClarityBased on decades of experience, Colin built a unique framework called PATH.It has helped thousands of new podcasters launch and grow. It’s simple, human, and proven.Here’s what Colin shared with me:1. Purpose“A lot of people who start a podcast actually don’t really know the purpose. It’s just a hobby … But often that purpose is a real driver behind your show….Do you have a concept for a podcast that actually stands out?”Your why is everything.* Do you want to grow your brand? * Build community? * Sell your book?Say it out loud. Own it.2. Audience“Audience is the big one. Like audience is where it all comes from…Who is it you want to attract based on your purpose?”Colin recommends to speak to ONE person. Not “everyone.”Because when you talk to everyone, no one listens.3. Topic“With a podcast … often it’s about a problem, a question, an issue that that audience has….If you know your audience well enough, you probably know the biggest problem … the biggest question … the biggest issue that they have right now….Design a season … say 10 or 12 episodes … around that question.”* Ten to twelve episodes. * One theme. * One question.Simple. Focused. Powerful.4. Hallmark“How am I going to bring my own angle to it? …The hallmark … like what’s going to make it stand out?…One is angle … So it could be like my own background … A lot of the content we create … the angle I have on it is coming from a teacher’s background. … I structure all of our podcast episodes as lessons … I give a wee intro … I do some examples and I do the homework at the end of every one.”* What’s your flavor?* Your style?* Your thing that makes listeners go, “Yep, that’s totally Kristina (insert your own name)”Why Substack Is the Perfect Home for Your Podcast in 2026Substack lets you host your podcast, run your newsletter, and grow your audience, all in one place.No juggling platforms. No stress.As Colin says in our interview:“Substack is obviously great for growth in terms of newsletter subscribers … If you are a podcaster who wants to run a newsletter alongside … it’s great because you can grow that newsletter … you can bring people to your podcast that way as well…What I love about Substack … you get some type of engagement … Even if you have the feeling you’re talking to the void … there is definitely one person out there who might be listening to every podcast episode.”Just you. Your mic. Your message.And that’s exactly what I’m doing.I Went From Zero to Top 5% PodcasterI started my Substack podcast as an experiment, as Linda Lebrun, an insider at Substack, recommended it to me during one of our conversations in 2024 (I’ll share more soon).I’m thankful for this little nudge as this small step was definitely in the right direction!The results were mind-blowing! I went from zero downloads to more than 1,000 per episode in the first 7 days. That’s so crazy.If that’s not proof it’s possible, I don’t know what is.Since I’m doing this part-time, I've produced (only) 30 episodes in 14 months.My tip:“Do yourself a favour and take the time to listen to the show so you can eliminate the fear of the unknown from the equation.Because even a small step in the right direction can make a significant shift in your life and writing business.”So taking inspir-ACTION is crucial. That’s why…Here’s your ACTION plan (or homework 🤫)* Write your one-line purpose.* Name your dream listener.* Pick one burning question for Season 1.* Add your unique spin.* Grab a USB mic.* Record your first 10-minute “pilot.”* Publish it on Substack and ask your audience one question at the end.That’s it. You’re rolling.Ready? Let’s goooo!Join the Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp with Dr. Colin Gray (starts Nov 17!)In just 4 days, you’ll go from “no clue” to “Substack podcast, live and visible on all major platforms.”🤫Psst! With… EARLYBIRD you’ll get 50% OFF!You’ll learn how to plan, record, publish, and grow your podcast on Substack, without burnout or tech overwhelm.We’ll lay out what it takes to start, maintain, and profit from your podcast.If you’re still reading this, here’s your sign:* You’ve got the voice.* You’ve got the story.* Now go share it.The only thing missing is the record button.Your future listeners are waiting.See you in the Bootcamp,P.S. You don’t need a million listeners. You need one who cares.Need help with your podcast?* ⭐1:1 Coaching (3 spots left for 2025!)* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) no excuses! My husbandPatrick God built a tool for us to find podcast guests in no time (without paying any money to book). We’re now 290+ collab-interested people from Substack.* ⭐The Substack Podcasting 101 Bootcamp doors are OPEN! It’s time to (finally) get you on the mic and launch or level up your podLiked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story so more people like you can read it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onlinewritingclub.com/subscribe

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• 500 Rejections Later… The Underdog Who Made the New York Times Bestseller List | ✨Witchy Author Breanne Randall

  I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, no problem.But if you stick around, I want to tell you a little story.A few days ago, I was curled up on the couch scrolling through Substack Notes with a cup of tea in one hand and a toddler climbing my leg. And there she was. Witchy author and magical fellow mompreneur BREANNE ✨ RANDALL.To be honest, I didn’t know her. But I saw she was rising fast in the #Education category on Substack. I read some of her posts and though to myself“I want my Club members to meet BREANNE ✨ RANDALL !”🥳UPDATE: Today, Bre became a Substack bestseller with 100 paid subscribers. Congrats, Bre!🥳 In the DMs she told me she’s still looking for an email from Substack, but until then we can go with this:✨To get her some more, 2 READERS CAN WIN 365 days of Bre magic! Win a paid subscription to Bre’s newsletter Alchemy Era™.How to win? Listen to the pod, leave a comment and share this podcast episode with your friends.✨Pssst! As we’re celebrating 1 year of podcasting, you can also meet Bre and all her practical magic on Wednesday, November 5th at…🕓 15:30 UK | 10:30 ET | 7:30 PT | 16:30 Berlin …inside the inner circle of The Online Writing Club.Our Biggest Dreams Live In The Hearts of The People Who Raised UsWhen I was little, it was my (grand)dad who bought me a journal and asked me to start writing the moment I could hold a pencil in my hands.Michael Lim’s grandma always said to him: “Travel while you’re young”. And he did! 💡Here's my conversation with Michael about building a soulful one-person writing business.Now Bre’s another perfect example of what it means to keep showing up when no one believes in you (yet). and you don’t feel seen. Of how sometimes our biggest dreams live in the hearts of the people who raised us.“One day I’m going to see you on the New York Times list,” her late grandmother said to her.She was her best friend.Since Bre’s a goal-getter, she said:“Okay, I’m going to take the deal.”But before that?500 (!) rejections in a decade.500 No’s.Even more than comedian Kevin Hart!One small press finally offered her a $4,000 book deal.As she had no money for ads or other bigger promotional activities, she knew she had to do her own marketing and build her own audience.So she started posting on Instatgram and TikTok in the cracks of time. This magical episode is the behind-the-scenes story of how she “made it”. How Bre went from 0 to instant NYT bestseller (her grandma was right!) as a debut with 11,000 preorders as a promise to the woman who cheered her on.From 0 to 7M Monthly Views (!)From scratch, Bre cracked the code on what Gary Vee calls interest media (social media is dead!):Free platform. Free attention. Free content. Free momentum.In 2.5 years Breanne Randall built:* 650,000+ followers* 7 million monthly reachAnd her key to it all?Hooks + Gilmore Girls meets Practical MagicWe can learn soooooooooooooo much from her, especially about failing… hard.I want to learn from Bre in the LIVE masterclass! And also want to access all the confetti- and WOW-worthy replays from LIVEs and masterclasses from Evelyn Skye to Justin Welsh, indie publishers and big creators and dreamers. As we’re celebrating 1 year of podcasting, you’ll get 40% off!🎙️In Today’s Episode, You’ll Learn* How to turn rejection into fuel: Bre shares how she faced over 500 rejections, stayed relentless for 10 years, and finally became a New York Times bestselling author as an underdog.* How to build an audience with emotional connection, not ads: Breanne explains how “hooks, not plots” helped her grow from zero followers to hundreds of thousands. Think Taylor Swift and someone would say: “It feels like one of Taylor’s songs..”. Would you read it?* How consistency beats virality: Bre reveals why posting often and showing up daily matters more than chasing one viral moment.* How to market your work with heart: From hand-addressing 500 envelopes to treating every reader like a friend, Breanne shows how to sell without losing authenticity and while homeschooling her kids.✨Ask Bre Anything LIVE: Join Us Inside the Online Writing ClubWant to ask Bre your own questions? “I started Alchemy Era because I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to be an author in today’s world. Writing the book is hard enough and then comes publishing, and suddenly you’re told you also need to be a marketing expert, a content creator, and a full-time cheerleader for your own work. It’s… a lot.”Join us LIVE inside the Online Writing Club Inner Circle where we’ll meet Breanne on Wednesday, November 5th at…🕓 14:30 UK | 9:30 ET | 6:30 PT | 15:30 BerlinGive her an hour and Bre will teach you how to make your publishing and marketing dreams come true.🔮7 Personal Highlights From My Conversation With Bre1. “Tomorrow could be the day.”Breanne stayed hopeful through ten years and hundreds of rejections. Her mindset was about showing up, believing that each new day could be the breakthrough. In her head she heard her late grandma’s voice saying: “One day I’m going to see you on the New York Times list” 2. “I had to separate my worth from my work and recognize that just because someone is rejecting my work does not mean that they are rejecting me.”Bre learned early that rejection doesn’t define who you are. Detaching your identity from your output is the only way to keep creating through failure. Many now hire failure managers to experiment and do things differently. So why not fail more, as Bre did?3. “It’s not about that. It’s about the consistency. It’s about the repeatable actions.”Going viral didn’t make Bre’s caree, consistency did. She built her audience one small post, one small action at a time.4. “Using a hook is going to be the way to create your ideal audience.”Instead of trying to summarize her books, she crafted emotional hooks like “Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic.” Hooks connect faster than plot summaries ever could.5. “Nobody’s going to care about something as much as you care about it.”Her marketing worked because it came from her heart. Breanne didn’t wait for her small publisher to care more. She took full ownership of her success. Amen to that!6. “I hand addressed each envelope for the first 500 people who pre-ordered.”Personal touches turn readers into fans. Breanne’s handwritten notes built a community around her work which left a lasting mark. Lots of time goes into manually DMing readers (I can tell!), but this shows it’s worthwhile. It’s rough though not having an automation.7. “One post can change the entire trajectory of your life.”Bre’s story is a reminder that effort compounds. Every post, every connection, every act of showing up can be the one that changes EVERYTHING.Bre Answers 4 ✨✨✨✨Community Questions1. What do you think about Substack, and why did you move here?“I think that Substack is incredible because it gives you this opportunity to be able to connect with your audience in a completely different way. (…) You get to share your thoughts, your journey, your feelings, and it’s all in one place where people actually want to read. (…) I wanted a place that felt calmer than social media, where I could write and connect without worrying about algorithms.”2. Why do you post so often on social media though?“It’s about the consistency. It’s about the repeatable actions. (…) I will post four or five times in a day on TikTok. (…) It is just all about repetition, honestly. (…) It’s about the touch points of somebody seeing my video and thinking, “Oh, that sounds good.”Then I keep posting about it.They see it a third time, a fourth time.They think, “Dang, you know what? I’m going to get that.”So I just kept posting every day with variations on the hook.3. What are the three types of posts you rely on most?“POV clips, slideshows, and then memes and quotes. (..) I think the seven second videos with a POV style work in particular because statistically, you’re going to get (…) a higher response rate if you show your face.4. Who made your creativity hub, your office space?“My office is 200 feet from the house. (…) I have my office here. And this is where I am for, you know, most of every day. (…) My husband built it all for me. (…) Yes, this is love. Absolutely.”🫵🏻Your Turn!Alright, alright, alright…your turn.* What’s your big dream right now?* What’s that thing you keep saying you’ll start… but haven’t yet?Or let’s make it fun:* Tell us your favorite Gilmore Girls scene.* Or be honest…what’s the hardest part about marketing your work?No wrong answers.Just drop it below. 👇You never know who you’ll inspire.And If Bre’s Grandma Could See Her Grandkid Now?She’d probably just smile and say,“I told you so!”As Bre shared on Notes:LET’S MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!With excitement and a little witchy sparkle,Here’s how I can help you even MORE:* ⭐Calm Your Stack (FREE tool) Hide the annoying column on your Substack homepage. Free tool built by my husband.* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) Find collab partners in 30 seconds. No excuses. Free.* ⭐ VIPer Let’s set your Substack up for success and make you a bestseller (1x newsletter audit, quarterly 1:1 + StackBuddy access + discounts on Bootcamps* ⭐1:1 CoachingLiked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story and help us spread the magic.Let’s make Bre’s grandma proud, together.🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Bre’s Newsletter. So leave a comment! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onlinewritingclub.com/subscribe

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• 🤑 Old Emails = $30,000 | Journalist Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer’s Award-Winning Newsletter Hack

  Hey, quick heads-up.I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, no problem.But if you stick around, we’ve got something fun to celebrate 1 year of podcasting with the Online Writing Club show… 🎉 Engagement Prizes!You can win a FREE subscription to Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer’s paid newsletter TextHacks.👉 To enter: leave a comment, review, share this podcast on Notes, and/or forward it to a friend.Why This Episode Is Sooooo SpecialI’m excited, for the first time ever, to introduce a fellow non-native writer friend from Berlin in Germany on the podcast! Germany is my home country.I know many of you actually enjoy our German accent, so we’ll call that a bonus for us. And we’re in good company: Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), or Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of the Dead). And if we count Austria, there’s Christoph Waltz and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not bad company to share an accent with.In my heart, I feel more like an international. But it’s still extra special to spotlight someone who’s building something groundbreaking in the German-speaking world.You love video? Here’s the video interview!Meet Today’s Guest: Anne-Kathrin GerstlauerAnne-Kathrin Gerstlauer is a Berlin-based journalist and consultant.She has spent the last years editing and shaping hundreds of texts for the internet, and more precisely, for the smartphone. First as Head of top-tier magazine ZEIT Campus ONLINE, then as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of watson.de.And she jokes about her time in the newsroom with this line:“I want to apologize to everyone I ever tortured with my favorite sentence: Let me read this out loud to you.”Also, she turned a side project into one of Germany’s largest newsletters about writing. Her German-language newsletter TextHacks has grown to more than 18,000 subscribers.Also, she belongs to the top #29 bestsellers in the Substack category International!She monetizes in two familiar ways:* A paid subscription tier.* Advertising slots.But what really sets her apart and why she won this year’s Inbox Award for Innovation and Revenue from our mutual friend and newsletter expert Dan Oshinsky , is her third revenue stream which is a model no one is using (yet! because NOW you can capitalize on this!):👉🏻Licensing her newsletter content to companies, just like a photographer licenses their photos!If you say: I love this Club and Anne-Kathrin. I want to meet her, subscribe and also get accee to the Substack Beginner Course (as annual member). BONUS: All paid subs will get access to The Substack 12 Months Content Calendar (worth $57 for FREE)Here’s how it works:* German businesses buy old issues of TextHacks.* Others pay Anne-Kathrin to personalize an issue specifically for their employees.* These companies then redistribute the content — often inside their own internal newsletters.The results?She’s already signed 4- and 5-figure deals ($30,000 in Q1 alone), all from content she originally published for free.In my opinion, this move is bold, brilliant, and proof that there are always new ways to think about what your words are worth.ℹ️ I think it’s a nice addition to Anna Wharton's approach to get her posts that people already paid for in newsletters and get FREE Money. Syndication is one form of licensing. Anna: “It was already written. I did it for my paid subscribers and the iPaper asked me if they could use it. It required no effort from me. And so, in my mind, that’s free money."Anna Wharton, HERE’S our podcast episode on getting your newsletter posts in magazines and newspapers.Can’t wait any longer and want to listen to the full conversation?Meet Anne-Kathrin Live Inside the Club: Master AI Text Hacking and Licensing📅 Wednesday, October 8🕓 16:45 Berlin | 15:45 UK | 10:45 ET | 7:45 PT | 01:45 Sydney (Oct 7)Inside this members-only session, Anne-Kathrin will:* Share how she built her revolutionary licensing model that’s already landed 4- and 5-figure deals and made her $30,000 in the first quarter of 2025.* Show us how she as a journalist and course instructor writes and text hacks with AI and why it matters for speed, clarity, and creativity.* Explain how she combines journalist-level precision with AI tools and hacks to make writing sharper and more engaging.You’ll also have the chance to ask her your own questions in the Chat and Q&A.Replay of Master AI Text Hacking and Licensing with Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer will be available!7 Highlights From My Conversation With Anne-Kathrin✅ The Licensing Model That Changes the Game“I’m selling the articles that I’ve already written to companies who then send out those as kind of an internal newsletter… I already made like 30,000 euros just with the licensing model this year.”✅ Tripling Her Prices Thanks to TextHacks“I tripled the prices. I can choose with whom I work just because of my newsletter.”✅ Why Sharing Beats Growth Hacks“My newsletter has grown just from sharing. There is no big secret growth hack. It’s just people like it, people feel educated, people share it with their friends and with their colleagues.”✅ The Ego Trap in Writing“The best hack for a newsletter writer and every writer is like, take back your ego. Most people are writing for themselves… but if we really want to sell something, educate people, we really have to think on what should other people learn and then put that at the top of the article.”✅ Storytelling? Sometimes Overrated“I think storytelling is a little bit overrated. I educate people in a snackable content format… I think the most important thing in writing is: do you have something to say? Is what you say really a clever thought?”✅ The Challenge of Paid Content in Germany“People in Germany are not very willing to pay for content. They got a lot of free content on the internet for a very long time. So you have to have like a really specific model to make them pay.”✅ Thinking Internationally About Growth“I feel like if I’d have the same newsletter in English, I’d probably have between 50 and 100,000 people.”Anne-Kathrin Answers Your Community QuestionsQ: How do I get more readers without spending on ads?Anne-Kathrin: “My newsletter has grown just from sharing. There is no big secret growth hack. It’s just people like it, people feel educated, people share it with their friends and with their colleagues.”Q: What if I struggle to get people to pay for my newsletter?Anne-Kathrin: “People in Germany are not very willing to pay for content… so you have to have like a really specific model to make them pay. That’s why I have not just the paid subscribers, but different income streams that work for me.”Q: Do I need to use storytelling to succeed?Anne-Kathrin: “I think storytelling is a little bit overrated. I educate people in a snackable content format. Sometimes I share a little bit about myself, but not a lot. The most important thing in writing is: do you have something to say?”Q: How do you keep writing consistently without running out of ideas?Anne-Kathrin: “The content from the newsletter is actually coming from those workshops… But also I’m writing a newsletter episode and then I’m like, oh, that’s a great idea. I should include this in my next workshop. So it’s kind of a full circle moment.”🫵🏻Your Turn!* If you could license one piece of content you’ve already written, an article, a newsletter post, or a post on Notes, which one would it be, and why? Share the link in the comments for us to check out!I think licensing is such an exciting model and I know so many of you are eager to learn how to write with AI, grow your newsletter faster, and become better writers.That’s exactly why I’m thrilled Anne-Kathrin will be joining us live inside the Club next Wednesday. Don’t miss it!Join the Club, meet Anne-Kathrin, learn how to write with AI, hack your texts so more gonna love it and get access to the Subsatck Course for Beginners (annual members!) + ALL subs will get the Substack 12 Months Content Calendar (worth $57 for FREE!). See you inside!With excitement,Here’s how I can help you even MORE* ⭐Calm Your Stack (FREE tool) to get your zen back on Substack to hide the annpying column on the left on your home feed. Thansk to my hubby* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) no excuses! Patrick built a tool for us to find collab partners in no time.* ⭐1:1 CoachingLiked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story so more people like you can read it. 🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer’s TextHacks! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onlinewritingclub.com/subscribe

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• Write Your Eulogy. Live Your Best Story | with Bestselling Author Karen Salmansohn

  Hey, quick heads-up. I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, that’s fine.But… if you stick around, we’ve got something fun: ENGAGEMENT PRIZES!🅱️3 readers can win FREE access to the paid tier of Karen Salmansohn’s The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served. Everyone who’s leaving a comment, sharing this podcast on Notes or forwarding this to a friend can win!Plus, with the code KARENFRIENDyou’ll get 40% off The Substack Notes Bootcamp (and Karen will hopefully join us there too).So now let’s talk about today’s guest.Today’s podcast guest is behavioural change expert and bestselling author (2M books sold!) Karen Salmansohn.Karen doesn’t shy away from the truth:“So, you’re alive. Congrats. Now what’s your game plan?”Her mission is simple: to help you dust off your “Someday” goals and build a life that’s more than wake, work, and worry.She calls herself a Middle-of-Life Doula (and sometimes a Beginning-of-Life Doula too). Her work is about mortality awareness as fuel.“Life is short. And when you realize you don't have like 700 bonus years stored away in a drawer somewhere, and if you want to do something, you've got to do it now, it lights a fire under your tush. It's about the ripples you leave. If you share freely of yourself, you will leave a very big ripple. But if you don't share fully of yourself, then a very small ripple will be left behind.”That’s the heartbeat of her new book, Your To-Die-For Life.Psst! If you order her book, you’ll also get a FREE gift from her (I’m not an affilate. Just love her book, although I almost died reading it, but you’ll hear more in today’s pod).As Karen shared in our interview:“(…) Start off writing your own eulogy (…) We write five-year business plans, but we don’t write a mission statement for our life. Aristotle said: if you want to live a good life, you have to imagine who you want to be on your deathbed. Begin with the end in mind and then reverse engineer it.”How I Found Karen SalmasohnThis all started with an article she wrote: Death is Like Getting Laid Off from the Best Job Ever published in The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served.Tribe member and viral Bootcamp alum Patricia Ross (86yo!) shared it.It hit me so deeply that I reached out right away to ask for an interview. Only later did I realize how wildly successful she is.* 1M followers on Facebook* 30,000 Substack subscribers* Featured on Oprah, CNN, Psychology Today, and the New York TimesEven Deepak Chopra praises her writing style:So the numbers and the praise didn’t drew me in.It was that personal essay and the way it made me stop, think, and want to bring her to you.Funny thing: in our conversation, we didn’t talk about social media at all. (I know, you expected something different from me.)Instead? We talked about me falling off the hammock while reading her book… and (since I almost died)… death. Or actually… life. Your life.🎙️ Can’t wait any longer and want to listen to the full conversation? The Marble Jar That Stopped Me in My TracksI interviewed her from my attic at the West Coast oif Germany, while she was sitting high up in a sleek skyscraper in New York City.But if you look closer at her window shelf, you’ll notice something unexpected…Karen bought 432 marbles and two glass jars.Jar #1: The Future → all 432 marbles went in.Jar #2: The Past → empty at first.Each month, she transfers one marble from Future to Past.Visual and nforgettable. That’s from her book, too.Love my podcasts? I’m an indie part-time publisher. Your support is the heartbeat if this newsletter. You’ll get everything I can give: writing classes, live classes, weekly Q&As, community access, FREE Substack & Medium course for beginners and sooo much moreJoin The Live Writing Workshop With Karen: Write With The End In Mind (& Euology)📅 September 23🕘 4 PM Berlin | 3 PM UK | 10 AM ET | 7 AM PT | 12 AM Sydney (Sept 24)Inside the members-only session, Karen will * share her writing process, * why “writing your eulogy” is her favorite exercise, and * how you can use it to create your most meaningful work with “the end in mind”.You’ll also have the chance to ask her your own questions in the Chat and Q&A.Replay will be available!Mortality Awareness: The “Live Now” ButtonKaren calls mortality awareness your Live Now Button.“Being mortal means there’s no time to dawdle, so start now & learn how to use death as a life hack!”It sounds heavy, but research shows that reminders of death don’t depress us. They inspire us.* People get more generous.* They procrastinate less.* They choose kindness, courage, and authenticity.For writers it’s gold. Every “someday” you delay is really a “no” to your dream. Mortality awareness reframes that. It whispers, Do it now.Want to meet Karen live for a writing class? Join the Online Writing Club. Become a better writer and grow your list with Kristina God, #25 Education worldwide, marketing pro, mompreneur and indie publisher.7 Highlights From My Conversation With Karen✅The Identity Trick That Makes Habits Stick“Your identity is the puppet master for your habits, not the other way around. Frank Sinatra sang Doobie Doobie Doo, but he’s a backwards personal development author. It’s be doobie doobie doo. First you have to own the identity to do the habits. And you’re more likely to do the habits if you own that as your identity.”✅Seven Core Values That Erase the Regrets of the Dying“I realized there were seven core values that if you do them, you will not die with the top regrets of the dying.A = Authentic.B = Brave.C = Curious.D = Discerning.E = Empathic Love.F = Fun.G = Grateful.”✅Why Humor Helps Us Handle Hard Things“Studies say humor helps to free up your mind. One group got to watch serious videos, the other funny videos. Then they got puzzles to solve. The group that watched funny videos were better at problem solving because it loosens up your brain. Humor and playfulness are meditation on steroids. They help you deal with difficult topics better.”✅Sloppy Copy Beats Perfect Chapter One“I believe you have to get sloppy copy. Just get it out there. And then go in and polish it. And when you polish it, a lot of people start at chapter one. Just start at chapter 11, start at chapter two. Otherwise the front of the book starts off strong and then it’s all over the place.”✅Why Karen Designs the Cover Before Writing the Book“I do the cover of a book while I'm writing it. And now it's more easy for people to do that — you just go on Canva. It kind of gets me feeling like it's a book. And then that motivates me.”✅The Secret to Books Readers Actually Flip Through“Even if you don't have illustrations in your book, people still are visual without even knowing they're visual. You need to have short paragraphs and bullet points or single sentences. Make the page feel visual… so it feels like it's going to be easy to read. If your book has large paragraphs and somebody sees it in a bookstore, it's going to accidentally communicate, ‘This is a hard book to read.’”If you say: I LOVE that Kristina is bringing me all these amazing authors, dreamers and makers! Why not join the Club as a member. As an annual member you’ll also get access to ALL paid perks & the LIVE with Karen.Karen Answers Your Community QuestionsQ: How do I deal with procrastination?Karen: “Saying I don’t have enough time is like the adult equivalent of ‘the dog ate my homework.’ You do have time. You’re just not prioritizing it.”Q: What if I get stuck trying to write perfectly?Karen: “I believe you have to get sloppy copy. Just get it out there. And then go in and polish it.”Q: How do I figure out what really matters in life?Karen: “Nobody’s going to read your Google Calendar at your funeral. And nobody’s going to read your LinkedIn profile at your funeral. You know what they’re going to do? They’re going to tell stories that have to do with your core values.”Q: What if I feel like I’m just drifting?Karen: “The main one I recommend in the book is to start off writing your own eulogy… Begin with the end in mind and then reverse engineer it.”Karen Reminded Me of Something Simple But Profound“Writing your eulogy now helps you live the life you truly want, today.”That’s why she’s teaching this writing class. And that’s why we gather in the Club…to write words that last, and to live more alive in the process.See you (and Karen!) in class.Take care,P.S. Don’t forget: Order Your To-Die-For Life now and get a FREE gift. (No affiliate)P.P.S. 🅱️ As an indie publisher, your feedback is a spark that keeps me going. Drop a comment to share your thoughts + win an engagement prize! 2–3 people can win FREE access to the paid tier of Karen Salmansohn’s The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly ServedP.P.P.S. For some extra love 🔁, re-stack (share) this with a friend who might need to hear Karen’s message today! 🔁Plus, with the code KARENFRIENDyou’ll get 40% off The Substack Notes Bootcamp (and Karen will hopefully join us there too). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onlinewritingclub.com/subscribe

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• Niche to Book Deal: How Raz Rauf Turned His Newsletter Into a Publishing Win

  What if the thing you’re writing about, even if it feels niche, could take you all the way from starting at zero to signing a book deal?That’s exactly what happened to runner and running coach Raziq Rauf, creator of the Substack newsletter Running Sucks.Raz Rauf started from scratch, with the hope someone out there would care.Two years later, he landed a book deal with UK publisher Batsford — turning personal essays and cultural commentary into a book that will be out in May 2026.I thought to myself:More people need to know about Raz, because his journey shows how Substack can take you from zero to book deal. That’s why I asked him for an interview.👉But here’s the best part: you can meet Raz live inside the Online Writing Club membership for a writing workshop this Wednesday, * at 11 AM–12 PM CST (US), * 5 PM–6 PM UK, and * 2 AM–3 AM Sydney.👈Replay will be available!This will be a one-of-a-kind writing session where Raz also shares how he turned his essays on running culture into a book coming out with Batsford in 2026.Why Raz’s Story Matters To YouWhen Raz started Running Sucks in February 2023, he had no platform in the running world.As he told me:“I started from zero, hence the title From Zero to Book.” (His planned second newsletter)That resonates with so many inside the Online Writing Club. Writers who think:* What if no one cares about my words?* Do I need a huge following first?* Is my niche too small?Raz proves the opposite. You don’t need to start big. You just need to start writing about your passion.3 Highlights From My Conversation With Raz✅ “It’s a very fulfilling grind.”Raz compares writing a book to filling a wall with post-it notes. First, you cover the wall with messy ideas — then you rearrange and refine. The key? Grind it out.✅ “If you make the worst thing better, then everything’s going to be okay.”This is Raz’s coaching philosophy (and life philosophy). Whether in running or writing, start by fixing the hardest part. Once you solve that, everything else feels lighter.✅ “I started from zero, hence the title From Zero to Book.”Raz didn’t have a public persona, an Instagram following, or a platform in the running world. He literally began from zero and within two years, Substack opened the door to a book contract.🎙️ Want to listen to the full conversation? 🎙️Inside today’s episode, Raz opens up about:* How his background in journalism shaped his newsletter strategy* Why Substack was the perfect place to write about running culture* How he grew from 500 to 4,000 subscribers — and landed his book deal along the way🎧Listen to today’s conversation here!Let us know in the comments how you like today’s conversation!Running: From Subculture To MainstreamRaz sees running as more than a sport. It’s culture.“Running is a niche. It’s a subculture, but it’s moving into the mainstream. And that’s a really interesting moment in the sport.”That’s why his newsletter and upcoming book are so powerful: he’s documenting running as culture. Just like music was when punk broke out.For writers in any niche, this matters. Your subject doesn’t have to be “big” already. When you capture the cultural shift, that’s the story publishers (and readers) want to see.Based on my interview with Raz, let’s answer some of the questions from the community:Raz is Answering Your QuestionsQ: Writing feels like a grind. How do you keep going?Raz: “It’s a very fulfilling grind… I need to grind it out, I need to get all my ideas onto the page. While I’m doing that, I’m already rearranging in my head.”Q: I’m scared my audience is too small. Do numbers even matter?Raz: “Maybe when the publisher first got in touch with me, I had less than 2000 subscribers. I’ve always had the idea that if one person is reading my work, that’s great. This many is great. Also great.”Q: I don’t want to sound salesy. How do I treat my newsletter as a business?Raz: “I approached it as another part of my job… treating myself as a business, essentially. Took all my training as a journalist to create a good product, something people want to read, something I want to write.”Q: What’s your best advice for new writers (or new runners)?Raz: “Think about the thing that was making it suck the most… and try to figure out a solution for that. If you make the worst thing better, then everything’s going to be okay.”Join The Live Writing Workshop With RazOne of the biggest opportunities inside the Club is that you don’t just read about the writers I interview — you get to meet them LIVE (or watch ALL the replays).This week, you're gonna meet Raz…📅 Wednesday, September 27🕘 10am–11am Pacific (US)🕘1pm–2pm New York (EST/EDT)🕘11am–12pm CST (US)🕘2am–3am Sydney (AEST)Inside the session, Raz will share his writing process, writing tips and tricks, and how documenting running culture via Substack made him pitch a publisher. You’ll also have the chance to ask him your own questions in the Chat and Q&A.What’s Next Inside The Inner Circle of the ClubIf you like today’s podcast, you’ll also like this!Book marketing! Inside the Inner Circle of the Online Writing Club, you’ll find a new dedicated space for authors..…where you can connect with other writers and meet our very own tribe member + book coach Fleur Hull from collab publication The Substack Bookstore.Better writer: Our next writing masterclass is with Karen Salmansohn at Sept 24th!NEW💡 Weekly Office HoursSubstack recently closed its office hours for bestsellers (!). I didn’t want you to miss out on that kind of support, so I’m bringing it straight into the Club.Every week, I answer your questions live or, if you can’t make it, I pick them up from emails, DMs, and community threads and answer them for everyone.Couldn’t attend? No stress. Replays are always available inside the community experience.Master Substack: 3 (!) Upcoming Bootcamps:* Sept 8–11 → Substack Notes Bootcamp with superstars Sara Redondo, MD and Gail K. * Sept 29–Oct 2 → Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp with Jerry Keszka and Gail K. * Oct 27 → Substack Podcast Bootcamp (for anyone ready to start a show!) with a podcast influencer who recently spoke at the biggest podcast conference in EuropeIf you like this, join the Online Writing Club and meet teachers, artists, writers, and authors who inspire you to create your best work!See You On WednesdayRaz reminded me of something simple but profound:“As good as a newsletter is, it’s not forever. I’ve had so much work that’s online that doesn’t exist anymore. If they just stop paying the domain fees… my work evaporates into nothingness. So having something tangible like this, I think is important in the digital age that we’re living in.”That’s why he’s writing his book. And that’s why we gather in the Inner Circle of the Club: to make our work last, and to build something real together.See you (and Raz!) on Wednesday.Take care,P.S. 🙏🏻As an indie publisher, your feedback is just a spark, but enough to keep me going, so it would be wonderful to hear from you in the comments 🙏🏻P.P.S. For some extra love🔁, re-stack (share) this with a friend who might need to hear this today!🔁 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onlinewritingclub.com/subscribe

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