#How to be a bestselling Substack writer

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

The Substack Eminence Book

An Original Book For Ultra-Advanced Writers Who Want to Scale with Clarity, Authority, and Integrity. Written by Dr Mehmet Yildiz, a Community Builder and Substack Bestseller The Substack Eminence Book Is Coming in August 2025 Dear Freelance Writers, Startup Founders, and Journalists, For those who don’t know me, I am the author of the best-selling book, Substack Mastery and Advanced Substack…

[peppershark]

He tilts his chin and locks his mouth to hers, knowledge to innocence, serpent to Eve.

Hermione can only think that the apple tastes so sweet.

You have no idea how many times I think about these lines everyday. This is my Roman Empire, I can't stop thinking about it. Your writing is so fluid and poetic, I'm in awe!

This came at just the right time, non! Thanks for your kind words!

I've been thinking a lot about creative risks today.

My last wolfer update (the story this line is from) disappointed a few readers who were upset with the way I've chosen to dole out certain scenes. That's their prerogative. Everyone is entitled to like what they like, and for lots of people that's a linear timeline.

But I'm not satisfied, as a writer, with doing things just because it's the way most people do them. I don't think it's wrong for a story to conform to most readers' expectations, but I personally don't want to write in order to conform to them.

This week, bestselling poet and writing instructor Joy Sullivan had this to say in her latest Substack after getting a lot of flak about a spicy essay she wrote last month:

Non, I don't take you for granted for one second, because it's a precious and magical thing that the words I put out into the void resonated with someone---and even more generous of you to tell me so. Thank you.

I can't expect everything I write to land with everyone, but as part of this gift and challenge of creating stories I want to sit down, throw back my imaginary shot glass, and let myself be an artist, a woman. Free.

Forget the peach, swallow the pit.

[hopetorun]

20 & 37 for the book meme :)

20. Where and how do you find new books to read?

stalk friends on goodreads

direct recommendation or friend mentions it

like the author's other work

recommended by author or writer/journalist whose work i like (i subscribe to a monthly substack of nonfiction recommendations from a transit/transportation/urban issues journalist i really like, which is one of my favorite newsletters)

picked up off the shelf at random at the library or (used) bookstore (my local library is currently in a tiny temporary space and it's terrible for browsing and very sad)

i feel like i ought to pay more attention to bestseller lists and new stuff just to be with the times but i'm terrible at it

37. The only example of your least favorite trope being written in such a way that you enjoyed it.

the best example of this is probably courtney milan's the heiress effect which i did cringe my way through a bit the first time but ultimately was able to get past my hatred of the deception and humiliation because it was handled well and still made for a compelling story

[ameliasoulturner]

How I’ve Been Successfully Selling Short eBooks for Over a Decade (And How You Can Too)

There’s something magical about short eBooks. They’re quick to write, easy to consume, and—if done right—surprisingly profitable. I’ve been in the game for more than ten years, and I’ve seen the landscape shift dramatically. From the early days of Kindle Direct Publishing to the rise of platforms like Gumroad and Substack, short-form digital content has never been more in demand.

If you’re wondering whether it’s still worth jumping into the eBook world—especially the shorter format—let me reassure you: absolutely. But like anything, it takes strategy, consistency, and a bit of hustle.

In this post, I’ll share how I market and sell short eBooks after over a decade of trial, error, and success. Whether you’re brand new or just need a refresher, you’ll find plenty of actionable advice here.

Why Short eBooks Work So Well (Even in 2025)

Attention spans are shorter than ever. People want bite-sized content they can finish during a commute, over lunch, or in one sitting before bed. That’s where short eBooks shine.

But there’s more to it than just convenience:

They're faster to write and publish

They're often priced lower, which attracts impulse buyers

They allow you to test ideas without committing to a full-length book

You can build a library of content, creating multiple income streams

I’ve written everything from 15-page how-to guides to 50-page productivity books, and I can tell you this—some of my highest earners were the shortest ones.

Step 1: Pick a Topic That Solves a Problem (Fast)

If you're selling a short eBook, you're selling a solution. Period. That means your topic needs to be laser-focused. You’re not writing the definitive guide to photography—you’re writing “How to Take Stunning Instagram Photos Using Just Your iPhone.”

The key is specificity. Think about what your audience Googles when they’re desperate for an answer. That’s your book idea.

Here are a few examples that work great:

"How to Meal Prep for a Week in Under 90 Minutes"

"A Beginner’s Guide to Freelance Copywriting"

"10 Quick Ways to Boost Your Credit Score"

Don’t overthink it. Ask your audience (or browse Reddit, Quora, or TikTok comments) to see what questions pop up again and again.

Step 2: Outline Like a Pro (And Keep It Lean)

Short eBooks don’t need fluff. You’re aiming to deliver value quickly. I usually stick to a structure like this:

A personal or relatable intro

Set the reader’s expectations

Actionable content broken into clear sections

A call to action or bonus tip

For a 25-page eBook, I’ll usually write 4–5 core chapters, each around 700–1,000 words. That’s enough to deliver substance without overwhelming the reader.

Step 3: Design Matters More Than You Think

People do judge a book by its cover—especially a digital one. I’ve seen books with brilliant content flop because the cover looked amateurish. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Invest in a professional-looking cover. Use Canva Pro or hire a designer on Fiverr or 99designs.

Stick to bold fonts, legible titles, and clean imagery.

Design the interior with readability in mind. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points.

When in doubt, mimic the design of bestsellers in your niche. There’s no shame in drawing inspiration from what’s already working.

Step 4: Pricing Strategy—Keep It Simple

I typically price short eBooks between $2.99 and $9.99. It’s the sweet spot—cheap enough for an impulse buy, high enough to earn decent royalties.

On Amazon KDP, $2.99 gets you a 70% royalty. On Gumroad or Payhip, you keep even more. I sometimes bundle several short eBooks and offer them at a discount to boost value.

Here’s a trick: test multiple prices. Start at $4.99. If it doesn’t sell, drop it to $2.99. If it sells like crazy, try bumping it up to $5.99 or add a bonus to justify a higher price.

Step 5: Marketing—This Is Where Most People Get It Wrong

Most writers think their job ends when they hit “publish.” Nope. That’s when the real work begins.

Here’s how I market every short eBook:

1. Build a Launch Team: Even if it’s just 5–10 people, having folks ready to buy and leave reviews makes a huge difference, especially on Amazon.

2. Email List = Game Changer: If you don’t have one, start now. I’ve built a simple list using ConvertKit. Every time I release a book, I email my list with a story, a benefit, and a link to buy. It’s the #1 driver of sales.

3. Tease on Social Media: I post tips, behind-the-scenes snippets, or mini-stories related to the eBook topic. On TikTok and Instagram Reels, even short clips like “3 lessons from my latest eBook” can drive serious traffic.

4. Repurpose Like a Boss: Turn a chapter into a blog post. Share a quote on Pinterest. Record a YouTube Short. These micro-moments build awareness and keep your eBook top of mind.

5. Use Affiliate Boosts: Some platforms like Gumroad allow affiliate selling. That means others can promote your eBook and take a cut. It’s a win-win and has helped me sell books I never even marketed myself.

Step 6: Go Beyond Just One eBook

Here’s where the real magic happens: when people buy one eBook and come back for more.

Think in series. I’ve created mini-series like:

“Side Hustle Starters Vol. 1–3”

“Quick Fix Finance Guides”

“Mindset MicroBooks”

Readers who enjoy one book are 3x more likely to buy your next. You can even bundle older eBooks or sell them as a membership through platforms like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee.

And don’t forget upsells—offer a short video course, a checklist, or a workbook for $7–$27. People love a deeper dive when they trust your content.

Common Pitfalls I’ve Learned to Avoid

After 10+ years, here are some lessons the hard way taught me:

Don’t wait for “perfect.” Publish when it’s good enough and fix things later.

Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Specificity sells.

Don’t ignore customer feedback. Reviews can guide your next edition or future topics.

Don’t forget your bio and call-to-action. Every book should tell readers where to find more of you—website, email list, social media.

Final Thoughts: This Isn’t a Get-Rich-Quick Game (But It’s Worth It)

Selling short eBooks isn’t about chasing trends or gaming the system. It’s about building trust, delivering real value, and showing up consistently. Some of my books sell a few copies a week. Others sell hundreds a month. It’s the collection of efforts that makes this a sustainable business.

If you’ve got knowledge, a story, or a solution to share, there’s someone out there willing to pay for it—especially if it’s wrapped up in a neat little eBook.

So whether you’re writing your first book or your fiftieth, keep it simple, solve a problem, and share it with the world.

Because short eBooks might be small in size—but they can make a big impact, both for your readers and your bank account.

[allthingslinguistic]

Part I - What is a Weird Internet Career?

Lately, as I’ve been doing fancy things like publishing a NYT bestselling book about internet linguistics and writing a column about internet linguistics for Wired, I’ve also been hearing things from people like “how did those come about?” or “I want to be you when I grow up.” 

The bad news is, there’s no magical shortcut. The good news is also, there’s no magical shortcut. What there is, is a series of smaller and less glamorous things that I did as I was starting out, which eventually built into something larger and more glamorous. So this is a series about the early days of building all these things that came to fruition in the past year or so, in the hopes that it may be useful for other people.

I call myself an internet linguist for two reasons: one is that I analyze the language of the internet and two is that I do so in a very internettish sort of way. In other words, I have a Weird Internet Career for linguistics. You may never have encountered an internet linguist before (hello, welcome!), but you've definitely encountered other people with Weird Internet Careers. 

Weird Internet Careers are the kinds of jobs that are impossible to explain to your parents, people who somehow make a living from the internet, generally involving a changing mix of revenue streams. Weird Internet Career is a term I made up (it had no google results in quotes before I started using it), but once you start noticing them, you’ll see them everywhere. 

Weird Internet Careers are weird because there is no one else who does exactly what they do. They're internet because they rely on the internet as a cornerstone, such as bloggers, webcomics, youtubers, artists, podcasters, writers, developers, subject-matter experts, and other people in very specific niches. And they're careers because they somehow manage to support themselves, often making money from some combination of ad revenue, t-shirt sales, other merch, ongoing membership/subscription (Patreon, Substack), crowdfunding (Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Ko-Fi), sponsorship deals, conventional book deals, self-published ebooks, selling online courses, selling products or apps or services, public speaking, and consulting. 

But there isn’t necessarily much relationship between the type of weird internet thing someone makes and how they make money from it — one webcomic artist and one youtuber may both support themselves from t-shirt sales and ad revenue, while another webcomic artist and another youtuber may both support themselves from Patreon and conventional book deals. Some Weird Internet Careers have entirely transparent incomes through crowdfunding or posting their finances online; some have mysterious revenue that's entirely surmise (or may not be enough to actually be a career). 

People who have Weird Internet Careers sometimes start out unintentionally, by making things for personal expression or because they like being helpful, but they eventually realize that they're providing a thing that people need or want, and that there's a version of it that someone will buy, and that they've build up the kind of reputation which means that people will buy from them. (You can also definitely make things that stay being just about your personal expression, as long as you're aiming for a hobby rather than a career. Hobbies are great, you don't have to monetize your hobbies, they're just not what this series is about.) But I think a person could also start a Weird Internet Career more intentionally, or at least be more intentional about building an existing "making things for free on the internet" habit into a career, which is why I'm writing this series. Also, I want more people doing public-facing linguistics, at a purely personal level. 

The cornerstone of a Weird Internet Career is that you a) make a thing on the internet that people value and b) provide a way to convert that value into money. (If you have the first but not the second, it’s not a career, at least not yet. If you have the second but not the first, well, you probably don't have much in the way of career yet either.) The thing you make might be a recipe blog, and that money might be from ads and an associated cookbook, or it might be email advice on developing a new skill and the money from an e-course on the skill, or it might be a podcast and the money from bonus episodes and merch. And so on. I know one person whose Weird Internet Career is basically "making zines about Linux (some free, some paid)." There are so many niches.

You don’t need to be famous to have a Weird Internet Career, though it often involves building a certain amount of reputation for you or your thing in some corner of the internet, but most of that reputation is built by doing the thing, not by starting off as notable from something else. Some people start off with Weird Internet Careers as a springboard into more conventional jobs, some people have conventional jobs that they find unsatisfying and develop a Weird Internet Career in their spare time (that they may eventually quit their jobs for), some people keep going with both at the same time and enjoy how they feed off each other. 

So, I said I have a Weird Internet Career as a pop linguist. How did I get it? Well, I built it. The next part is about how that happened. 

I’m posting this series about Weird Internet Careers and how to build them to my blog over the next few weeks. However, if you want to get the whole series now as a single doc, with bonus Weird Internet Career-building questions to think about, you can sign up for my newsletter on Substack here, which will also get you monthly updates about my future Weird Internet Career activities as an Internet Linguist. 

Part I - What is a Weird Internet Career? Part II - How I Built a Weird Internet Career as an Internet Linguist Part III - How to start a Weird Internet Career Part IV - How to make money doing a Weird Internet Career Part V - What can a Weird Internet Career look like? Part VI - Is it too late for me to start my Weird Internet Career? Part VII - How to level up your Weird Internet Career

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Why Print Books Are Not Dead and How to Be a Successful Author

For Book Authors, Substack Is Vital, & Medium Can Accelerate Your Growth I explain why print books are not dead and they are livelier than before. You can also read this story in my Substack newsletter for free or if you an account you read it on Medium to engage with your writing and reading community there. Inspiration for Book Authors As a seasoned book author who tried both traditional…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Curated Collection: Featured Newsletters by Substack Mastery Boost Pilot

Community-nominated newsletters of writers contributing to the Substack Mastery Boost, Curated Newsletters, and Magnetic Newsletter Pro publications on Medium and Substack to create synergy and fusion Curated Newsletters You can read this story on our community blogs and our Medium publications. We also publish these featured stories on the Substack Mastery Boost publication. Dear Writers and…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Rise Above Mediocrity to Win as a Creator or Freelancer

Inspiration for Skeptical Creators and Freelancers on Medium Stop Thinking Small and Manufacturing Excuses Congratulations, Aiden, the instructor of From Zero to Substack Hero, for becoming a Bestseller on Substack, gaining 99,000 subscribers in a short time. There are more success stories in this post that can inspire you. Do not stop writing about your Substack experience — just because…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

I Found 10 Vital Mistakes After Reviewing 500+ Substack Accounts

Inspiration and Education for Freelance Writers on Substack Why are they problems, and how can we corect them? Over the last 12 months, I have had the privilege of reviewing and completing health checks for over 500 Substack profiles or publications created by my proteges and collaborators as a giveback activity or as a low-cost service of my Substack Mastery Boost Pilot. My findings helped…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Section 20: How to Sustain Your Substack for Long-Term Success

Summary of my Udemy Course “From Zero to Substack Hero.” Image source from the video location I will also upload them to my Substack soon. Dear Readers and writers, happy weekend! I am pleased that my account became a Substack bestseller in April 2025, gaining 99K subscribers for my education and community activities as a writer, editor, content curator, and nominator of the Substack Mastery…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 18: A Special Chapter for Book Authors

How Substack Writers Can Leverage Reedsy to Become Published Authors and Scale Their Publishing Business with Global Collaboration Dear Beta readers welcome to Chapter 18 of my bestselling Substack Mastery book, where we explore another powerful tool for growing and scaling your Substack newsletters. This chapter promises to be an eye-opener for many freelance writers, as I have yet to come…

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 15

Why and How to Integrate Substack with Patreon for Compelling Reasons Based on Experience and Observations of Bestselling Freelance Writers and High Earning Content Entrepreneurs I have a deep appreciation for Substack, which is why I wrote this Substack Mastery book. But before discovering Substack, I had already been using Patreon for quite some time, finding it incredibly versatile for…