Tim Denning’s Tips on Making it as a Writer

He says if he can do it, we can too

All quotes by Tim Denning

If there’s anyone out there slaying this professional writer thing, it’s Tim Denning. I signed up for his newsletter and made a few notes:

So here’s the deal: If I can make money from writing, you definitely can too.

This is one of those plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face types of statements. Of course, it’s true. The thing with noses is that we know they are there, but we stop seeing them after a while. We, of course, know that if someone is making a living from writing, it’s possible that anyone can. With hard work and dedication, anyone can do anything they want to do. Thanks for the reminder, Tim.

Tim started 10 years ago and by his admission was a “really shit writer.” He said he wasted a lot of time and wants to help others avoid pitfalls. Here’s what Tim says NOT to do:

· Don’t start your own blog, as it wastes your time and people won’t find it

· Write everywhere in the beginning (Medium, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram)

· Pitch major publications to increase your distribution, fast.

· Do not spend a dollar on logos, paying to boost articles or portrait photos.

Getting Started

• Pick two topics

Tim chose entrepreneurship and personal development. I haven’t narrowed mine down to two yet but broadly speaking, I tend to write about psychology and writing.

Tim says to write about these two topics and nothing else. Find something that you are knowledgeable about, or at least excited enough to research and write compelling stories.

• Schedule the writing weekly

Tim recommends starting with one day a week. If it suits you to write more than one day a week, schedule the time in your calendar, and don’t let anything get in the way. I wake early and write for 45 minutes every morning before the teens wake and the pre-school chaos ensues.

• Do not think about money

Tim says:

In order to MAKE money, you’ve got to IGNORE money at the start.

Of course, we all want to be paid to write but we have to earn our stripes. If we’re not flexing those typing muscles, there’s no chance we’re going to make any cash from writing. Tim suggests we should write for enjoyment. If it’s not fun, we’re more likely to give up.

• Try not to overdo it

It’s exciting to begin with but don’t do too much. You might feel like you could write for hours a day, but it’s best not to. Tim says, “Overdoing it leads to you feeling as though you have run out of ideas.”

Another way to start is by using social media. Tim’s suggestions:

· LinkedIn article

· Long-form copy on Instagram next to an image

· Short posts on Twitter/X

· This one is really crazy: you could write a long-form article as a comment on someone’s post who has a big audience (someone like Gary Vaynerchuk)

Find somewhere you enjoy writing and can say something others will find useful, inspirational, or entertaining. Be consistent and your following will grow.

Making MONEY from writing

You’ve put the practice in, now it’s time to think about making money. It doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some routes Tim suggests following:

• Money from Medium

Medium has a partner program where they will pay anybody, despite their experience, based on the engagement on their article.

It might only be a few dollars in the beginning, but what is most important is this: Even only getting $10 a month from Medium makes you a paid writer and the mental shift that does to you is incredibly powerful.

Medium also has the option of Friend of Medium in which the earnings are promised to be 4x those of the Medium partner programme.

• A paid column

As your portfolio builds, you’re in a better position to get noticed. Large publications pay writers for exclusive content for their websites.

• Ghostwriting

Boy, this one is hidden and not something that you can Google. It’s the secret dark art of the writers’ world that many big names do not want you to know about.

Many famous names in business, politics, and entertainment often have someone who ghostwrites for them. This is an option if you are happy to write anonymously and be paid handsomely for the privilege.

These opportunities will come to you directly and you can also seek them out by sending direct messages on platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram to people who post a lot. Don’t spam them with sales pitches and just focus on sending them a link to your writing with a direct “I can do this for you.”

Tim also touches on FREE tools to help make money.

Here are underrated tools that will help you build a highly profitable side hustle for $0.

First off: The best tools to make money online are free.

You do pay with your time, though, so that’s why you need to sort through the crap and get straight to the good tools.

These are the free tools that made me 6-figures and allowed me to quit my job, no BS.

If you’re reading this, you consume content. The chances are, you also create content. Some people write, others vlog, and others make voice content such as podcasts. If you are just at the beginning of your content creation journey, choose your preferred method: writing, video, audio, or images. Then consider what your intention is. Do you want to inspire people? Do you want to educate people? Or, are you a born entertainer looking to crack a few smiles? When you work out what you want to do, you’ll have your target audience and can tailor your content accordingly. Naturally, as a newbie, your audience will be small. How does Tim suggest you get around this?

Go 1–1 with your audience.

To successfully sell a course or launch an eCommerce store requires decent traffic. I accidentally discovered what you can do instead.

He suggests using a FREE tool called Loom.

Loom is a video messaging service that sounds similar to Zoom, Teams, or Skype which allows you to go on camera and “meet” people. Although you could answer queries for free in the comments section of a post, or an email, Tim found some people are looking for a closer connection. They are looking for more because you have captured their interest. Time to go a step further. You can talk one-to-one and share screens. Tim said:

In the launch of my last course, I offered an online audit in the top tier package. It cost over $1400. I thought nobody would buy it.

Wrong.

People wanted the highest tier because they wanted that 1–1 interaction. I started doing the audits for customers. I wrote them long emails because I wanted to overdeliver — the secret to online business!

At one point my business partner said “Dude, it’s easier if you just do the audits using Loom.”

• e-mail marketing

Substack is a name I’ve seen appear several times on Medium. Substack is newsletter software that allows people to subscribe and receive regular updates on your writing, courses, events etc.

The key to a highly profitable side hustle is to understand the nuances. Look at the 1% differences.

Substack made people into publications. They pioneered the trend of newsletters being a webpage with a link rather than just an email non-subscribers can’t read.

Substack is free for an unlimited number of subscribers. If it costs us $0 to be on your email list, then it cost you $0 to use Substack and collect emails. Hell yes!

If people have chosen to sign up to your Substack, they have chosen to become a member of your audience. Give them a good show. Keep them in their seat.

Strategy

Build the list. Email the list.

Write the most helpful emails you possibly can. Save the audience time with your gorgeous curation powers that decode the internet.

At the end of every email promote one thing (not freaking ten things). That one thing can cost money — book, course, coaching, merchandise, eCommerce, membership, affiliate link.

$0 invested for nice cashola.

Loom and Substack seem a bit beyond me (in the early stages of my writing career, but I definitely won’t be discounting them, especially as they work for Tim!

So there we have it — advice from someone who is swimming in success. To recap:

• If Tim can make money from writing, we can too
• Pick two topics to write about (if not all the time, then most of the time)
• Schedule your writing time
• Show up and write consistently (choose one platform initially i.e. Medium and then when you are consistent, you can branch out)
• DO NOT start your own blog or spend money on a website or advertising to begin with. It might never be required. Go where the eyeballs are. Medium is well-established and a great place to start.
• DO NOT chase the money to start with. You need to hone your craft.
• DO NOT overdo it. Although it might be tempting to write all day, you will burn out and lose interest. You can be consistent in short periods of time every day and keep the desire and enthusiasm alive.
• When you have developed a writing habit, you can turn your attention to money. Join Medium’s Partner Programme or become a Friend of Medium. Look for paid opportunities in online publications. Create a digital product such as a course or book and sell via a free email subscription. More details above.
• Enjoy the process and keep going

Happy writing folks!

Thanks for reading!

This story was first published in Inside The Mind of a Writer on 18 January 2024.

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