Early in my writing journey, I joined a writers’ group.
It was an off-shoot from a writing course I did.
We met once a month for 15 years.
We wrote stories about our life.
But more than that, we supported each other through life’s ups and downs.
The group only ended when two of our members passed away and another moved away.
A decade later, in 2015, I joined another writing group.
This time, formed from a fiction writing course called A Year of the Novel.
Five of us bonded over our novels, critiquing each other’s work and offering unwavering support.
We called ourselves Gutsy Gals.
It was more than just writing. It was a safe space to share ideas, struggles, and dreams—knowing we had each other’s backs.
When this group eventually dissolved, I found myself longing for that connection again.
So I created one.
Author Circle, a writing community on Substack.
We meet online every week to support each other’s writing journeys.
Rather than facing the challenges of writing and business-building alone, join us.
Let’s grow together.
Category: Writing
Do you have a book in you?
If you wait to be a ‘good writer’ before you start writing your book,
you’ll never write it.
Perfection is the ultimate creative trap.
The truth is, no writer ever feels ready.
After years of working with aspiring authors, I’ve seen it time and again: those who wait to “get better” never start, and those who start, imperfectly, actually do get better.
Writing is a craft you learn by doing. But the myth of needing to be “good” keeps so many talented voices locked up.
The irony? You’ll become a better writer through the act of writing your book, not by waiting.
Every successful author I know took that leap before they felt fully ready.
They wrote through their doubts, learned from the process, and improved with every chapter.
They didn’t wait for permission or for some mythical moment when their writing was “good enough.”
– Writing a book isn’t just about the end result; it’s about growth.
– It’s about learning to express, organize ideas, and find your voice.
– There is no perfect moment to begin, but you’ll always grow if you start.
If you have a message, a story, or expertise worth sharing, don’t wait for “good.” Write your book, and watch yourself become the writer you aspire to be.
The only way to become a “good writer” is to start writing.
Do you have a book in you?
P.S.: Are you ready to get out of your own way and start writing it?
Subscribe to my newsletter ‘Author Circle’ to get the support you need.
You don’t write a book to preach
You write a book to share your journey
Your readers connect through your experiences.
It’s not about teaching, it’s about transformation.
Stories resonate when they reflect real-life struggles.
Your growth becomes a source of inspiration for others.
When you show your vulnerability, you build trust.
People see themselves in your challenges and victories.
Your story gives them hope for their own path.
It’s not about telling them what to do, but what’s possible.
Through your transformation, you inspire theirs.
Subscribe to my newsletter ‘Author Circle’ to learn more.
A Note That Changed Everything For Me
How I went from being invisible to game-changing 350+ subscribers
with one note at Substack.
A few weeks ago, I made myself a quiet promise.
No overthinking. No big expectations. Just one simple challenge:
Write 2 Notes a day on Substack for the next 30 days.
Why Notes?
Because I knew I was writing in the dark.
Notes are little posts on the Substack platform like X(Twitter).
Publishing my weekly newsletter was great, but my audience wasn’t growing.
I wasn’t building visibility.
I wasn’t getting feedback.
And let’s be honest: it’s hard to stay motivated when you feel like no one’s reading.
So I started posting daily Notes.
Note #1: A simple tip.
Got 3 likes.
Note #2: A short story.
2 likes and a kind comment.
Note #3 through #6?
More of the same, low numbers, low traction.
But I kept going.
Because that was the deal I made with myself.
Just show up. Twice a day. For 30 days.
Then came Note #7.
It wasn’t revolutionary.
I just told my journey of retiring early to follow my dream of writing.
For some reason, it resonated.
1,400+ likes.
190 comments
63 reposts
Over 350+ new subscribers.
It may not be big in LinkedIn terms
But it is huge on Substack
My inbox lit up with subscription notices.
I spent hours responding to people’s comments.
Some said they were amazed at my achievements.
Others said I gave them hope that it’s never too late to
– Follow a dream
– Write a book
– Start a business
What changed?
Nothing, except visibility.
I was the same person with the same ideas.
But now, people saw me.
That’s the real lesson here:
👉 If you’re not consistently visible on the platform you’re using,
you’re not giving your work a fair chance.
You don’t need to go viral.
You just need to show up often enough to get noticed.
Because your Note #7 moment won’t happen if you quit after Note #3.
Now, I use Notes to build momentum, test ideas,
and attract the right people.
And you can too.
Pick a platform.
Commit to showing up.
Even if it’s small. Even if it’s slow.
You’re only one post away from being seen.
Want to read the Note that started it all?
Here it is: Activate to view larger image.
Stop Chasing Niches. Start Solving Problems
“What should my newsletter be about?”
I’ve heard this question more times than I can count.
After running a Substack newsletter for 4.5 years, here’s what I’ve learned:
You don’t need a flashy niche.
You need a clear promise.
Not:
“I write about marketing.”
But:
“I help coaches turn their knowledge into a paid newsletter that builds trust and income.”
See the shift?
It’s not about being broad, clever, or hyper-niche.
It’s about being clear. Clear about who you help, what you help them do, and why it matters.
Start with what you already know—your lived experience, your work, your wins (and even your failures).
Then ask: Who needs this knowledge in a focused, practical way?
Because here’s the formula I swear by:
Your zone of genius + A real problem people will pay to solve = A profitable newsletter niche
And before you fall into the rabbit hole of “But it’s been done before”—let me say this:
Don’t overthink it.
Don’t try to be original.
Don’t try to sound smart.
Just be useful. Be helpful. Be you.
That’s more than enough.
PS: Download this guide if you want to learn more.
An Open Letter To Writers
Dear Writers,
I hope this letter finds you well, or at least well-caffeinated and surrounded by a few crumpled-up drafts
that resemble more of a paper mosh pit than a literary masterpiece.
If not, I have a message for you.
Stop organizing and start writing!
I get it, I really do. Organizing can be a blast.
It gives you that delightful sensation of doing something useful while secretly avoiding the terrifying blank page.
It makes you feel like you’re the Marie Kondo of your own writing space.
But let’s be real here—if your writing desk is so clean you could perform surgery on it, you’re probably not writing enough.
So, how about we make a deal?
Let’s embrace the chaos, the spilled coffee, the tangled earphones, and the breadcrumbs scattered all over the keyboard.
Let’s write first and organize later (or never).
After all, the world needs our words more than our perfectly organized filing system.
Writing is a wild adventure.
It’s like trying to tame a herd of feral plot bunnies while riding a roller coaster with your muse screaming in your ear.
And guess what? That chaos is precisely what makes it beautiful.
It’s the messiness that gives birth to those unexpected ideas, quirky humor, and brilliant one-liners.
So, why on earth are we spending hours alphabetizing our collection of writing prompts?
Now, go forth, brave scribblers!
Unleash your creativity with the ferocity of a squirrel raiding a bird feeder.
Write with wild abandon, and remember that the messier your drafts, the more brilliantly unique your stories will be.
Yours in writerly solidarity,
NM