I'm so pleased to bring you an author who is living the dream of many writers.
My guest today is
.Four years ago, in December 2020, I started writing on the buzzy publishing platform Medium with no audience, online reputation and zero earnings.
Fast forward to today: I had the chance to sit down (virtually) with
, a Medium top writer with 122,000 followers, dad, freelance writer and entrepreneur, who went from college dropout, making $10/hour and $147 in his bank account to making over $1.5 million online.I alluded to the dream that “Ayo the writer” is living proof that building a sustainable, thriving business and earning $10,000/month as a writer is not fiction.
In our conversation, we agreed on one thing: We never believed in the “build it, and they will come” myth.
We knew that writing great content wasn’t enough. You can’t just hope your words will magically find readers. You have to show up, promote, and hype yourself.
And here’s a truth bomb from Ayo: He wouldn’t have even done this interview with me if he hadn’t “seen” and “heard” me on Substack, Medium, and YouTube.
Why Most Writers Stay Stuck
Ayo and I both see it too often:
Talented writers who never step into the spotlight.
Creators stuck in their 9-to-5s who dream of writing full-time but never make it happen.
What’s the difference between writers who succeed and those who stay invisible?
It’s self-promotion.
Yes, it feels uncomfortable at first. But here’s the reality: No one else will hype you.
Not Medium, not Substack, not YouTube.
You need to be your biggest cheerleader.
Ayo’s Secret to Success
Today, Ayo shares how he:
Built his audience from scratch while working a dead-end job.
Monetized his writing through platforms like Medium, freelancing, and creating high-ticket offers.
Grew a thriving community of writers through his programs and mentorships.
Ayo didn’t just rely on great writing. He learned how to market himself—without feeling salesy and earn more than $10,000 monthly!
His ambitious goal was to hit $100,000 monthly this year. While he didn’t quite reach it and plans to chase it again in 2025, Ayo shared an impressive milestone with me:
In March 2024, his best month yet, he brought in a staggering $74,000. He even sent me the screenshot to prove it!
I hope you enjoy the show. Enjoy!
Want More From Ayo and Meet Him?
Inside my Online Writing Club Membership, we focus on exactly this:
How to market yourself without feeling icky.
Building your audience and creating offers that sell.
Joining a supportive community of more than 300 creators, authors, entrepreneurs, writers who share their (small) wins, like Ayo and I do.
Want in? Click here to join now and start your journey to becoming a writer who gets paid to be seen and heard today!
The BEST thing: You can meet Ayo inside!
In February 2025, we will have our next live session with the writing king. You can also watch the replay of an exclusive workshop we hosted a few months back.
Challenge: What You Can Do Today
If you’re serious about growing your writing career, start by celebrating your wins. Even the small ones.
Here’s an exercise for you:
Think of one achievement you’re proud of as a writer—no matter how small.
Share it in the comments! Post it on your Substack Notes (and tag me (and Ayo). I’ll re-stack (share) your comment or Substack Notes post and celebrate your win (no matter how big or small) with you.
Hype yourself the way you’d hype a friend. Because if you don’t, who will?
Here’s to hyping yourself and making your dreams come true in 2025,
P.S. In our live session in February, Ayo will reveal his blueprint for earning $10K+ per month as a writer. You won’t want to miss this session. Join us today and get access to our hands-on workshop with Ayo in February 2025.
P.P.S. Click here to watch now.
P.P.P.S. Please share this and invite anyone else who might enjoy our community!
I’m just proud to have 13 followers and have been consistent in my writing and working on articles, as well as posting notes a couple of times a day. I just started and am working a 9-5, but I’ve been able to make time to write something, even if it’s a few sentences or a note or two. And honestly, I’m also proud to have started this. I’m painfully self conscious, so putting myself out here is a big deal to me.
Hi Kristina! I so appreciate your consistent encouragement of writers -- and I plan to become a paid subscriber soon!
In response to your prompt, I am most proud of having grown my followers on Medium to 1.2 million since April and also have a strong community on my Substack newsletters: "Attention Must be Paid" and "So Much Beauty"!
I am also proud that my screenplay "Finding Aquarius" has a producer attached and we are looking for funding.. Wishing everyone a joyful new year, full of creativity and success....
What an amazing and inspiring episode! I've followed Ayo for years and loved hearing about where he is now while walking my dogs. New Year's resolution for me is to write in more coffee shops! Great interview, Kristina!
Thank you so much, Holly! 🥰 I'm so glad you enjoyed the episode—it means a lot coming from someone who's followed Ayo for so long! Writing in coffee shops sounds like such a cozy and creative New Year's resolution. ☕ Wishing you lots of inspiration (and maybe some great coffee too) in the year ahead! AWESOME that you listened to this while walking the dogs . We have two dogs in our family too
I didn't know you had dogs! I've seen many of your YouTube videos and have been following you on Medium as well, Kristina. You do such amazing work! Maybe one day I'll have progressed enough on Medium to land an interview with you. I've been there 5+ years and not as much growth as some of my fellow writers who've been there just as long. Keep up the great work!
I'm proud of writing a weekly newsletter for more than a year now, and now I have around 80 subscribers!
That’s amazing, Karina! 🎉 Consistently writing a weekly newsletter for over a year is such an impressive commitment, and 80 subscribers is a fantastic milestone! 🚀👏 Keep up the great work—you’re building something truly special. Hugs, Kristina
Thank you, Kristina! Same for you - keep up the good work! 💯
My best month was $23,000 for November of 2024 on MSN Partner Program and $15,000 on NewsBreak. I usually only average around $3000 a month. That month and December exploded for some reason and I hope it continues. I hope everyone has great success.
Wow, Jason, that’s incredible! 🎉 $23,000 on MSN and $15,000 on NewsBreak in one month is absolutely amazing—what a huge achievement. It’s so inspiring to see your hard work paying off in such a big way. Wishing you continued success and many more record-breaking months ahead. Looking forward to your guest post
It's been an interesting first year on Substack for me. I think the biggest win is just feeling more comfortable hitting that "Send to Everyone Now" button. And the writing. Regular writing.
Way to go, Shoni! 🎉 Getting comfy with that 'Send to Everyone' button and sticking to regular writing is such a big win! 🙌 Cheers to crushing your first year on Substack and all the awesome stuff you’re gonna create next!
A win for me this year was teaching #1 in Australia and #13 in Brasil for my debut novel Only If You Don't Know Me.
although that was an amazing achievement, sales don't continue to grow and I do have an issue to make myself be more public.
Another great thing I started was a course for children on how to create their own picture book. I love delivering those sessions and creating the material to encouragement imagination.
Wow, Maira, that’s incredible! 🎉 Hitting #1 in Australia and #13 in Brazil with your debut novel is such an amazing achievement—huge congrats! 🥳 I’d love to feature your book and share your talent with more readers. Would you like to write a guest post?
And that course for kids sounds so wonderful! 💖 Encouraging imagination and helping little ones create their own picture books is such a meaningful and inspiring project. You’re doing amazing work—keep shining. Hugs, Kristina
I'm sending you a message via my substack in English: The Architecture of Women. Will love to connect with you through there!
OMG! This is incredible! Yes! I would love to write a guest post for sure. Should I message you? What are your requirements/parameters? I'm creating another substack in English only, so I will link/write as this profile.
i've been writing three articles a week for 2 to 3 months and I got my first paid subscriber last week. Substack was having a problem processing the subscriber. It was not an issue with stripes so it took an extra week and a half before they resolve the problem on their end, but it finally was resolved. I did a short video on it. I'll go back and tag both of you on the video. thank you!
Oh Kathleen!! Wow, that’s awesome! Writing three articles a week for months and landing your first paid subscriber is such a big milestone—huge congrats! Glad Substack finally got things sorted out, and I can’t wait to check out your video. Tag away—I’m cheering you on!
Kristina, I appreciate that coming from you. So glad you're doing well and enjoying the holidays with your family 🤗💕🙏
I'm not gonna write on medium and I'm already working with a few people so no thank you
@KRISTINAGOD @theunapologeticlife
Whoo Hoo!!! In 5 months, I’ve logged 24 posts for "A Slice Of Orange A Pinch Of Sky—activating Radical Creativity with a surprising resource: Your Inner Teen."
It’s been tricky because the posts build on each other, like chapters in a book. The sequence fires off with "For You, First Time Reader (in the menu bar)".
Then you immediately dive in with Post #1: Reclaiming Your Inner Teen: Where Do I Begin?
My subscriber base is small (43), but dedicated and growing every week. These lovelies give me a consistent 58% to 69% open rate with zero unsubscribes. And that blows me away! My Chalice of Gratitude overflows…
58-69% open rate is craazy. I only average 39% and I loose subs like fleas but I'm still growing slowly so I'm grateful.
Oh, Walyullah, there's some marinading to do here. And only time and writing, writing, writing will stir those juices. As long as your heart is in it, those open rates will climb. I do have one thought, if you'd be up for it...
Ariane, you are absolutely badass and totally awesome! 24 posts in 5 months for such an incredible project is no small feat—'A Slice Of Orange A Pinch Of Sky' sounds so unique and inspiring! 🍊
A growing, dedicated subscriber base with amazing open rates and zero unsubscribes? That’s next-level impressive. Keep crushing it, you’re clearly making something truly special. Hugs, Kristina
Blush... your words mean a lot, truly, Kristina. I'm grateful for this space you've created to share...