I Was A Terrible Writer. Now 28,000 People Pay Attention. Here’s What Changed.

7 simple moves that will get you noticed

Struggling to grow on Substack? I was too—until I made 5 simple changes that helped me attract 3,500+ subscribers. I’m breaking it all down in a live workshop (replay included). If you want real growth, you don’t want to miss this.

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I used to be a terrible writer.

Not modestly bad. I mean cringe so hard you want to throw your laptop bad.. But now? Over 28,000 people read my stuff. And it’s made me an unbelievable amount of cash.

Don’t worry. This isn’t one of those “just be authentic and the money flows” stories. I’m not a wizard. Just someone who figured out what actually works.

These are the 7 dead-simple shifts that changed everything. No magic. No hype. No sacrificing your soul to the Algorithm gods. Just stuff that works for real people, writing real words.

1. Write to one person, not the whole damn internet

Your content isn’t a town hall speech.

If you try to reach everyone, you’ll sound like a robot with a PR team. Instead, picture her. Your ideal reader. The person refreshing her inbox, hoping today’s the day someone finally says the thing she’s been thinking but couldn’t put into words.

Write just for her. Make her feel seen, understood, maybe a little called out—in the best way. And here’s where the magic happens. Everyone else who needs to hear it will lean in too. Like they’re eavesdropping on something real.

Because they are.

2. How To’ is dead. Do this instead.

Everyone’s swinging their “expert” badge like it means something.

Another day, another beige LinkedIn growth post Your reader isn’t craving another how-to. She’s drowning in how-tos. What she’s desperate for is proof. Proof that someone like her tried something. And lived to tell the story.

What flopped. What clicked. What made you cry into your keyboard. That’s what builds trust. Because while there are 8,493 versions of “How To Grow on LinkedIn.”

There’s only one “I embarrassed myself online and somehow turned it into momentum.”

And that’s the one we remember.

3. Feeling scared? Publish anyway.

You will never feel ready.

Your first draft won’t feel good enough. Your fourth won’t either. That’s not a sign to wait. That’s a sign you’re doing it right. The writers who win? They’re not the ones with flawless sentences. They’re the ones who show up anyway. While sweating, overthinking, and questioning their life choices.

Perfection is a delay tactic. The only cure is to publish something before you feel ready. Do it scared. Do it imperfect.

Do it now.

4. Wanna be seen as interesting? Do something interesting.

Brace yourself. This will sting.

Nobody’s refreshing your feed to hear your thoughts on success. Not until they’ve seen you do something worth listening to. Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

So stop waiting for a brand deal, a blue check, or someone to give you a “platform.”
Pick yourself. Start messy. Share before it’s ready. Let them watch you figure it out.

When I went live on a MasterClass to 897 people. I nearly threw up from nerves.
But I did it anyway. And it changed everything. You don’t need credentials to be compelling. You need nerve.

And the guts to put your name on something today.

5. Write more. Then write more. Then—guess what—write again.

You want a shortcut? Great. Here it is: volume.

Not genius. Not perfection. Just reps. Because writing isn’t a talent contest. It’s thinking… in public. And let’s be honest: most of us have a few mental dust bunnies to sweep out before anything shiny shows up.

So hit publish. Even when it’s not perfect. Especially when it’s not perfect.
Forget viral. Forget applause.What you need is rhythm. Momentum. Muscle.

And the only way to get it… is to keep showing up.

6. If it’s not clear, it doesn’t count.

Here’s a rule I swear by: If I have to reread your sentence, I won’t. And neither will anyone else.

Your reader’s not lazy. She’s busy. Drowning in tabs, texts, and toddlers. If your message makes her squint, you’ve already lost her. So edit like a hitman: ruthless, silent, and fast. Trim the fat. Kill the filler. Sharpen every line until it snaps.

Make your ideas snackable. Give them crunch.

If it’s delicious in one bite, she’ll come back hungry for more.

7. Follow your freaking curiosity.

This is the compass that never points you wrong.

Not trends. Not “high-converting hooks.” Not whatever that bro with a funnel obsession said worked last week. Because if you don’t give a damn while you’re writing it, we sure as hell won’t give a damn reading it.

Your curiosity is the spark. The soul. The secret sauce. Algorithms are designed to sand down your edges. Your job? Stay pointy. Stay weird. Stay you. That’s what makes people stop scrolling.

That’s what makes writing sustainable. Not strategy. Not hacks. Just truth with a pulse.

This is my 604th article. Here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need to go viral. You don’t need to mimic someone else’s “personal brand.” You definitely don’t need 10,000 followers to get paid.

What you do need? To write like a human. To other humans. The kind with feelings, not funnels. If you’re done feeling frustrated and ready to get noticed for real. Start with this.

It’s how quietly brilliant people finally get seen.

Join 3,500+ writers who don’t want to sound like everyone else:

Derek

PS. Don’t miss my live workshop: 5 Smart Substack Moves That Got Me 3,500+ Subscribers. It’s full of stuff I wish I knew sooner. And if you’re a Founding Member, you get access for free. Another reason to upgrade if you’ve been thinking about it.