Amy Suto is a seven-figure freelance writer, memoir ghostwriter, bestselling author, and founder of the top Substack newsletter Make Writing Your Job. Starting as a Hollywood TV writer working for minimum wage as an assistant, Amy discovered that freelancing could outpace traditional entertainment industry earnings. She's flown to countries like Austria to work with clients on their memoirs, ghostwritten for Olympians and NBA players, and built a thriving writing business with three income pillars: self-publishing, paid newsletters, and freelance writing. Her upcoming book Write for Money and Power (launching January 12, 2026) provides the mindset operating system writers need to build six and seven-figure writing careers.

In this episode:

• Rejecting the starving artist myth and rewriting limited beliefs about writer income
• The three-pillar system: self-publishing, paid newsletters, and freelancing
• Why freelancing with multiple clients is more secure than one full-time job
• Escaping 10 cents per word work by pricing for outcomes instead of effort
• How copywriting jobs paying $8,000/month are dominating Make Writing Your Job
• Why memoir ghostwriting is the highest-paying freelance niche
• Getting flown to Austria to interview clients and capture their life stories
• The mindset shift that lets you quote rates without fear
• Negotiating triple client budgets by educating them on writing value
• Why Anthropic hiring writers proves AI can't replace storytelling
• Using ChatGPT for research, text-to-speech dictation, and routine work
• Google Notebook LM for querying your own novel content
• Substack's unique organic traffic and onboarding flow advantages
• Putting up paywalls early to trigger Substack's promotional algorithm
• Emailing only free subscribers with upgrade sequences and discounts
• How all three pillars dovetail: Substack becomes portfolio and book content
• The 12-month roadmap to earning seven figures with three writing pillars
• Systems that let you take six weeks off while your business runs
• Pre-order benefits including founding memberships and Notion templates

Resources mentioned:

• Make Writing Your Job Substack: https://www.makewritingyourjob.com/
• Amy Suto's personal Substack: https://www.sutoscience.com/
• Write for Money and Power by Amy Suto (pre-order at amysuto.com/power)
• ChatGPT
• Google Notebook LM
• Upwork for early freelancing
• Substack Notes (Twitter-like feature)

Book Recommendations:

• Write for Money and Power by Amy Suto (releasing January 12, 2026)

Connect with Amy Suto:

• Website: https://www.amysuto.com/
• Make Writing Your Job Substack: https://www.makewritingyourjob.com/
• Personal Substack: https://www.sutoscience.com/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sutoscience
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sutoscience
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sutoscience
• Pre-order book with benefits: amysuto.com/power

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

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Matt Briel is the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Lulu.com, a self-publishing platform that has been a leader in print-on-demand technology since 2002. Founded by tech entrepreneur Bob Young, Lulu specializes in direct sales solutions and offers unique publishing options that major distributors don't provide—most notably spiral bound (coil bound) books. With global print networks across the US, UK, France, Australia, and other markets, Lulu enables authors to sell books directly through Shopify integrations while maintaining the flexibility to offer multiple formats and trim sizes. Matt brings extensive knowledge of alternative publishing formats and direct-to-consumer strategies for self-published authors.

In this episode:

• What Lulu is and how it differs from KDP and other print-on-demand platforms
• Why Amazon and Ingram don't distribute spiral bound books
• The production process: why coil bound books print faster than perfect bound
• Best book categories for spiral binding: cookbooks, workbooks, planners, journals
• Pricing breakdown: coil bound costs between paperback and hardcover
• Case study: Author selling 300 spiral bound planners per month
• Case study: Cricut pattern guide selling 900 units monthly (21,000 total in 2 years)
• Why niche audiences respond well to utilitarian coil bound content
• How to sell spiral bound books on Amazon (merchant seller fulfillment)
• Offering multiple formats: hardcover, paperback, and spiral bound variations
• Low content and no content books: free downloadable planner interiors
• Global printing networks that reduce shipping costs and customs issues
• Lulu's 250,000 spiral bound books printed this year (growing annually)
• Free resources and interior file templates on Lulu

Resources Mentioned:

• Lulu.com print-on-demand platform
• Lulu Shopify plugin for direct sales
• Global print network facilities (US, UK, France, Australia)
• Free downloadable interior files and templates
• Lulu cover creator tool
• WooCommerce and Wix integrations

Book recommendations:

• "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King
• "Write, Publish, Repeat" by Lynette Greenfield

Connect with Lulu:

• Website: https://www.lulu.com/
• Lulu.com Customer Service: https://help.lulu.com/en/support/tickets/new
• Direct Sales Plugins Available Through Lulu
• Shopify plugins: https://www.lulu.com/sell/sell-on-your-site/shopify
• Wix integration: https://www.lulu.com/sell/sell-on-your-site/wix
• WooCommerce integration: https://www.lulu.com/sell/sell-on-your-site/woocommerce

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Dave King is a professional fiction editor with over 35 years of experience and co-author of the bestselling writing manual Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, which has sold over 200,000 copies and been adopted as a textbook worldwide. With translations into Italian, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean, the book maintains its position in Amazon's top 10 fiction writing manuals. Dave apprenticed under Renni Browne, a former editor for William Morrow and Stein and Day, learning the craft through hands-on manuscript work. Today, he helps authors at all levels refine their manuscripts through his unique 50-page collaborative editing process that trains writers to become their own best editors.

In this episode:

• 30-year backlist bestseller adopted as textbook, 6,000-7,000 copies annually
• Philosophy degree to glass grinding plant to professional editor
• Apprenticeship as the only way to learn editing
• 50-page back-and-forth collaborative editing technique
• Copy editing vs. mechanical vs. creative editing
• Point of view as the #1 issue in manuscripts
• The cottage cheese test for character perspective
• The dialogue voice test for distinct character voices
• Why writers as beta readers can be dangerous
• Diagnostic reading report at $2 per page before detailed editing
• More forgiving of narrative summary in sci-fi and historical fiction
• How J.K. Rowling broke all the rules but created effective world-building
• Real editing transformation: changing the ending with the supportive boss
• Finish your manuscript before hiring an editor
• ING phrases and subordinate clauses that weaken writing
• Multiple beta readers agreeing means pay attention
• Fourth-Ringing Tonguishness: Anglo-Saxon vs. Latinate words
• Hitting manuscripts with fresh eyes like a reader would

Resources mentioned:

• Writer Unboxed: Archive of Dave King's editing articles
• Notable article: "Fourth-Ringing Tonguishness" (on Anglo-Saxon vs. Latinate language)
• Paul Anderson's analog magazine essay (1980s) on translating atomic physics into Anglo-Saxon equivalents

Book Recommendations:

• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060545690?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Dave King:

• Website: www.davekingedits.com
• Editing services and consultation information available on website
• Article archive with topical index available under "Advice" section
• Diagnostic reading reports: $2 per page (250 words per page)

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Louise Harris is the founder and president of Last Research and Editing, a comprehensive editing service specializing in both fiction and nonfiction books. With a journalism degree from the University of Maryland, Louise discovered early in her career that she's better at editing others' work than writing her own—a realization that shaped her 20+ year editing career. Known for her old-school approach of printing manuscripts and using colored pens (green at Christmas, pink at Easter), Louise provides everything from developmental editing and book coaching to copy editing, line editing, proofreading, and her unique book compilation service that transforms blog posts into published books.

In this episode:

• Types of editing: developmental, copy, line, proofreading
• Developmental editors as writing coaches
• When to hire editors at each stage
• Plot holes: the invisible man's clothes problem
• Why printing manuscripts catches more errors
• Flow from sentence to chapter to book
• The fluff problem: cutting unnecessary content
• Nonfiction editing for business and political books
• American English style guides (AP vs. Chicago)
• Customized packages for different author needs
• Free first chapter editing to test compatibility
• Self-editing tips: print and read aloud
• Grammarly limitations and computer errors
• Why AI writing sounds corporate
• Blog compilation service explained
• Anthology compilation for associations
• Upwork and Fiverr budget options
• Why you shouldn't give editors first drafts

Resources mentioned:

• LAST Research and Editing: https://lastresearchandediting.com/
• Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/
• Chicago Manual of Style: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/
• Associated Press Style Guide: https://www.apstylebook.com/
• Print editing techniques

Book recommendations:

• Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss: https://denuccio.net/ohplaces.html

Connect with Louise:

• Website: https://lastresearchandediting.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-harris-2b04bb13/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louise.harris.7315/
• LAST Research FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/lastresearch/
• YouTube: @LouiseHarrisTheLASTWord
• Twitter: @lastredit
• Phone: 480-370-3945
• Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/hanover-md/last-research-and-editing-2

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Lucy McCarraher is the founder of Rethink Press (a hybrid publisher specializing in business books) and BookMagic AI (an AI-assisted writing platform). Over 12 years, she has mentored over 2,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders through the book-writing process, making her the UK's most experienced business book mentor. Lucy's background spans theatre publishing in Australia, creating "video books" with celebrities like Prue Leith and Alan Titchmarsh, and pioneering work-life balance consulting. She has authored 13 books herself and developed a systematic process for helping non-writers transform their expertise into published books. Her philosophy: books should be "undercover sales agents," not marketing brochures—providing real value while building authority and credibility.

In this episode:

• The three P's: person, pain, promise positioning
• BookMagic AI's values exercise starting point
• Breaking writing into discrete, manageable stages
• Why AI shouldn't generate your actual book content
• Copyright concerns with AI-generated text
• Using AI for research and ideas, not writing
• The one-hour-early writing habit strategy
• Dictation feature for non-writers and dyslexic authors
• Planning every topic before you start writing
• Writing to one ideal reader, not a crowd
• AI-generated blog posts and social media content
• Why publishers reject AI-generated manuscripts
• Hybrid publishing vs. DIY self-publishing costs
• Distribution beyond Amazon KDP
• Multiple formats don't reduce sales
• Future features: end-to-end publishing in-app

Resources mentioned:

• Book Magic AI: https://bookmagic.ai/
• Rethink Press: http://www.rethinkpress.com/
• KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): https://kdp.amazon.com/
• Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/
• Key Person of Influence: https://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/

Book recommendations:

• The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart: https://www.amazon.com/Authority-Gap-women-still-seriously/dp/0857527568

Connect with Lucy:

• Get your Free Trial for Book Magic AI: https://bookmagic.ai/
• Rethink Press: http://www.rethinkpress.com/
• Personal Website: https://www.lucymccarraher.com/
• Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Barbara Boyd is a certified book coach through Author Accelerator who has guided over 100 authors through the nonfiction writing process. With expertise in helping experts transform their knowledge into published books, Barbara specializes in the strategic foundation work that makes writing easier—from defining target audiences to creating actionable outlines. Her approach centers on the "Venn diagram of book concepts," ensuring that an author's idea, audience, and objectives align before writing begins. Barbara works with business owners, consultants, wellness professionals, and other experts who want to codify their frameworks, broaden their reach, and establish industry authority through well-crafted nonfiction books.

In this episode:

• The Venn diagram: idea, audience, objectives
• Finding your ideal reader avatar
• Narrowing your niche for less competition
• Simplifying complex expert knowledge
• Using storytelling in nonfiction
• The Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book tool
• Creating iterative outlines
• When your acronym is your book structure
• Book coach as therapist and publishing expert
• Being generous with your expertise
• One year from idea to manuscript
• Book proposals in four months
• Writing 1,000 words per week

Resources mentioned:

• Author Accelerator's Blueprint for a Non-Fiction Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733251146?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Jenny Nash of Author Accelerator: https://www.authoraccelerator.com/about-us

Book Recommendations:

• "Write a Must Read" by A.J. Harper: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1989603696?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Barbara Boyd:

• Website: https://www.barbarajboyd.com/
• LinkedIn: https://it.linkedin.com/in/barbarajboyd
• Schedule a Discovery Call: https://barbaraboyd.as.me/discoverycall

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Evan Gow is the founder and indie developer of StoryOrigin, an all-in-one platform designed to help authors manage their book marketing infrastructure. After writing short stories in high school and working in tech and entrepreneurship, Evan returned to his passion for writing while building tools for the author community. Frustrated by authors juggling eight different services and five spreadsheets just to manage their marketing, Evan created StoryOrigin to consolidate everything authors need—from growing mailing lists and finding reviewers to arranging newsletter swaps and building websites—into one cohesive platform. His philosophy is simple: reduce context switching, simplify workflows, and help authors at every stage of their career.

In this episode:

• Why newsletters are the only marketing channel you truly own
• Starting your newsletter today (even with zero subscribers)
• Reader magnet strategies for fiction and nonfiction authors
• The prequel short story vs. first three chapters debate
• Matching your reader magnet to your target audience
• Two essential newsletter sections: rapport and value
• The "Also Bought" philosophy for book recommendations
• Newsletter frequency: once vs. twice monthly strategies
• Newsletter swaps explained: one-to-one cross promotions
• Group promotions: 20+ authors promoting together
• Finding newsletter swap partners on StoryOrigin
• Starting swaps with zero subscribers (yes, really)
• Why authors with 5,000 subscribers accept swaps from beginners
• The altruistic author community helping each other grow
• Monetizing newsletters with Amazon affiliate links correctly
• Universal book links and automatic affiliate tag insertion
• Email service provider recommendations: MailerLite for beginners
• In-depth guides and video tutorials on StoryOrigin

Resources mentioned:

• StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/
  • MailerLite recommendation
  • Newsletter swap directory
  • Group promotions
  • Universal book links
  • Review copy landing pages

Book recommendations:

• He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon (Travis Deverell): https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/26294/he-who-fights-with-monsters

Connect with Evan:

• Website: https://storyoriginapp.com/
• Tutorials: https://storyoriginapp.com/tutorials
• Contact Evan: evan@storyoriginapp.com

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Dale L. Roberts is an award-winning author and self-publishing educator with over a decade of experience in the indie publishing industry. He's the author of "Wide Publishing for Authors," a comprehensive guide that helps authors break free from Amazon-only publishing and expand their reach across multiple platforms. Dale is known for his conversational writing style and practical, actionable advice that comes from real-world experience managing his own wide publishing business. Through his website SelfPublishingWithDale.com, he provides resources, tutorials, and direct support to help authors navigate the complex world of multi-platform publishing while maximizing their royalties and reader reach.

In this episode:

• What wide publishing means and why it matters
• KDP Select benefits: free promos and countdown deals
• Hidden algorithm advantages of KDP Select enrollment
• The 90-day test strategy for new authors
• Why expanded distribution on KDP costs you money
• IngramSpark vs. Draft2Digital for print distribution
• PublishDrive's monthly subscription model (100% net profits)
• BookVault's superior print quality and special features
• LaterPress: keeping 100% of royalties minus processing fees
• The ISBN dilemma: free vs. owned ISBNs
• How to publish wide with free ISBNs (and avoid duplicate listings)
• Deselecting expanded distribution to go direct to Ingram
• The overlap problem: avoiding platform conflicts
• Royalty rate comparisons across platforms
• The 70% royalty asterisk: delivery fees explained
• Dale's two-hour upload workflow for multiple platforms
• Direct sales advantages: email lists and better margins
• PayHip + BookVault integration for print sales
• Tools for direct sales: Shopify, WooCommerce, Gumroad
• Why "build it and they'll come" doesn't work
• Marketing strategies for driving traffic to your direct store
• Offset printing vs. print-on-demand quality

Resources mentioned:

• Wide Publishing for Authors: A Guide to Expanding Your Book’s Reach and Finding More Readers (Self-Publishing with Dale): https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Publishing-Authors-Expanding-Self-Publishing/dp/1639250603
• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• KDP Select: https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200798990
• Draft2Digital: https://www.draft2digital.com/
• IngramSpark: https://www.ingramspark.com/
• PublishDrive: https://publishdrive.com/
• BookVault: https://bookvault.app/
• Laterpress: https://www.laterpress.com/
• Payhip: https://payhip.com/
• Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/
• Story Origin: https://storyoriginapp.com/

Connect with Dale L. Roberts:

• Website: https://selfpublishingwithdale.com/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Teddy’s Website: https://teddyagsmith.com/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/