Why Most Writers Don’t Make Money (How To Escape Your Penniless Misery)

How I built a $60,000 writing business in 2025

My writing’s sharper, faster—and getting more attention than ever.

The secret? A few AI tools I’ve been quietly testing behind the scenes. I’m revealing all 5 in Monday’s live workshop. If you love shortcuts. This one’s for you.

Book your seat here.

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Most writers struggle to make money.

Not because they lack talent, but because they don’t understand the game. They pour their hearts into their work, publish consistently, and hope for the best. Only to watch their bank accounts stay empty.

I’ve been there, chasing vague advice like write every day or build an audience, wondering why nothing clicked. Everything’s different now. I easily make $4000/month working 2 hours/day.

The truth? Making money as a writer isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter. Let me show you the big mistakes keeping writers broke. And how you can avoid them.

I don’t want you wasting another second on what doesn’t work.

Stop dreaming about money and start earning it

Writing lots and hoping money lands in your bank account doesn’t work.

Yet that’s what many writers do. Most writers fail because they don’t treat writing like a business. You need a clear strategy. Some writers grasp at snippets of advice:

• write daily

• give away free content

• comment on 20 accounts/day

These actions might help you make money. But only if they fit your strategy. There are sooo many ways to make money writing:

• affiliates

• freelancing

• ghostwriting

• selling courses

• creating products

• paid subscriptions

Each requires a different approach. Don’t take advice from a ghostwriter if affiliate is your strategy.

Let’s get clear on the options so you can make the right choice for you.

Want to sell products? Build trust first

If you want to create products to sell then you need a newsletter.

Here’s a simple way to build one:

• go where your target customer hangs out (X? Linkedin? Substack?)

• offer something free to get them on to your list

• provide quality content so they trust you

• pitch your product

Look for someone who has done this. Listen to their advice on these 4 steps. Ignore everything else.

(If you want my 3 secrets. Sign up to my free masterclass here).

Ghostwriting? Nobody cares about your newsletter

If you want to ghostwrite for a specific industry, a general newsletter won’t cut it.

You need credibility.

Skip the broad content. Instead, engage directly:

• Comment on posts from industry leaders

• Start a niche-specific newsletter to showcase your insight

• Offer free work to earn testimonials and social proof

Use what you learn to refine your pitch.

Focus less on building an audience—more on understanding the industry you want to write for.

Stop trying to sell to people who don’t care

I was approached by one of my readers. He offered to ghostwrite for me!

How stupid.

He got his approach sooo wrong. Don’t approach a writer and offer to ghostwrite. Approach non-writers with this offer. If you want to sell something to a writer. Create a product that will help them improve.

Get clear on who you want money from. And build an offer for them.

Writing skills don’t pay the bills

Once you’ve chosen your strategy, identify the skills you’ll need to succeed.

Writing alone won’t be enough. You might need to learn sales. Basic design. A bit of tech. If you’re ghostwriting, networking is essential.

Here’s the part most people miss: Match your strategy to how you actually want to spend your time.

Do you enjoy hopping on sales calls? Or does that drain you? Would you rather build products quietly behind the scenes? Too many writers waste years forcing themselves to do things they hate—then wonder why they aren’t getting anywhere.

You don’t need to have every skill today. Most are learnable. But make sure you want to learn them. Success doesn’t come from willpower. It comes from alignment.

Solve problems that matter

At the heart of making money is solving problems people are willing to pay for. Let’s unpack both aspects.

Solve problems

My reader who tried to sell me ghostwriting had no chance. Because he was solving a problem I didn’t have.

Consider your target market. What problems do they have? Spend time talking to them. And listening. This could be individual conversations. Or you could write content and see what people like. Analyse their comments for clues.

I designed a course to help people craft compelling headlines. I asked my email list for their big headline questions. A lot asked about the use of AI and headline analyzers. So I included a module to address this issue. My course is now more likely to sell. Because it solves a real problem.

But you don’t get to pick the problems. Your audience does. So ask them.

Will they pay for it?

Solving problems isn’t enough.

You need to solve problems people will pay for. You offer to write a blog for your dentist to get more hits on her website. But they place a low value on their website. You’ll struggle to earn money. It’s tough selling products to those without money (eg. students or the unemployed).

Find people with money. And problems they’d pay to solve.

Asking for money feels weird

I know many writers feel uncomfortable selling.

They don’t want to come across as manipulative or salesy. But if you want to earn money, at some point you need to make the ask. You have to invite someone to give you money in return for your writing.

People won’t act unless you do.

But you need to get the balance right. For my newsletters, I adopt a 3:1 ratio. I give free value 3 times. Then I’ll make an ask. Ask includes encouraging email sign-ups, promoting an affiliate link or asking for a testimonial. Even though these don’t cost money they’re still an ask. They are withdrawals on your relational capital.

I’ve found by having this ratio. I feel more comfortable asking. I know I’ve given away a ton of value. And have built up enough trust to earn the right to ask.

Giving value earns you the right to make the ask. Don’t shy away.

You can use your writing skills to make money. But only if you pick one strategy. Pursue it hard. And learn from others how to execute it well.

Derek

P.S. Monday’s workshop is called “5 Ways I’m Using AI to Grow My Writing Business.” I’ll walk you through the exact tools and tactics I’m using right now to write faster, attract more readers, and make more money. Grab your spot here.