We didn’t bond with Taylor Swift, we bonded through her music. That’s the power of story: it creates a shared language and transforms us. Your work doesn’t have to be about you, it just needs to connect. Still Author Stack. Clip from How can other people like my writing if I don’t even like myself?

The creators we admire are the ones who take chances. They try, learn & come back stronger. If Kickstarter feels big, that's the signal. Lean in. Growth happens when you step beyond your comfort zone. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James from Comixlaunch

Relying on one platform can feel like a grind. But when you stack multiple streams, the money starts to add up. Launch systems like Kickstarter create momentum, deadlines, and clarity. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James, Comixlaunch

No launch is perfect. There will always be lessons and money left on the table. But waiting for perfect costs more than moving forward. Each launch is a chance to grow and level up. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James, Comixlaunch

You are not on your own. Kickstarter helps by sending notifications, reminders and creating urgency for you. That built-in marketing can be the difference between scraping by and surpassing your goal. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James, Comixlaunch

Every platform takes a cut. But on Kickstarter, the math works in your favor. When 90% of what you raise goes straight to you, it is more than a sale. It is the freedom to reinvest, grow and keep creating. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan w/ Tyler James, Comixlaunch

Believing in your work helps readers believe too. When you stand behind what you create, you show fans their support matters. Respect the work, respect the readers. That’s how trust is built. Still Author Stack. Clip from How can other people like my writing if I don’t even like myself?

Kickstarter gives you clarity. No endless grind, no vague metrics. Just X list, Y action, Z money. You know what works and can repeat it. Discrete launches are a cornerstone of sustainable growth. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James, Comixlaunch

Subscriptions can feel weighty because they’re tied to relationships with real people. Book launches work differently: you ask, deliver the transformation and let readers step away without pressure. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James, Comixlaunch

Buying is never about the object. It is about the shift inside you. A book, a retreat, even tea, every purchase is a transformation. Sell the change, not the thing. Still Author Stack. Clip from How can other people like my writing if I don’t even like myself? #theauthorstack #substack

Kickstarter proves it: your email list isn’t vanity, it’s revenue. Every launch shows the exact dollar value per subscriber. That’s why building your list is the most powerful move you can make. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James from Comixlaunch.

Kickstarter isn’t optional. It’s as critical as Substack, websites, retailers, and conventions. The more doors you open, the more chances readers have to say yes. Still Author Stack. Clip from Building a Kickstarter Master Plan with Tyler James from Comixlaunch #kickstarter #substack

Notes aren’t noise, they’re leverage. When they deliver value, they attract the right readers. The proof is in the signups. Subscribers came because of content, not audience size. That’s the real game. Clip from Building Sustainable $10K Months with Newsletter Strategies.

Writers used to need 3 jobs: coder, creator, marketer. Now you just need expertise. Substack brings the tools and the audience. Focus your craft, clarify your offer, and five-figure months are waiting. Simplicity. Scale. Still Author Stack.

Most authors think more fans = more money. Truth: I made $120K with 2,500 sales. Later, $400K with just 3,000. The difference wasn’t audience size, it was offers. Books have a ceiling. Add courses, events, sponsorships… and the readers you already have become enough.

Why isn’t Substack paying your bills? Because it rarely does. For most writers, it’s not full-time. What pays? Books, courses, launches. Use Substack as a funnel. Build trust, tell stories, guide readers to what scales. Objects draw them in. Stories keep them close. Still Author Stack.

The anatomy of a story. Stories aren’t just words. They’re architecture. Hook → problem → protagonist → journey → takeaway. Master the structure and readers will stick around every time. Crafted. Structured. Still Author Stack. #storytelling #writingtips

Storytelling isn’t fluff, it’s the foundation. Readers don’t just buy products. They buy trust. And storytelling is how you earn it. Show up with real stories, build credibility, and selling becomes natural. Trust. Connection. Still Author Stack. #storyselling #authormarketing

You are not the hero. Hard truth for writers: your story isn’t about you. Readers don’t care about your wins, they care about how your words transform their lives. That’s the job. Grounded. Honest. Still Author Stack. #authormarketing #storytelling

The secret power of anthologies. Writers say, “I write books slowly.” My answer: can you write one-twentieth of a book? And find 20 others? Anthologies take one-tenth the effort and give you 10x the growth. Build your network. Amplify your reach. Smart. Collaborative. Still Author Stack.

#TheDarkPrince by @russellnohelty.com ( #TheObsidianSpindleSagaSeries) Rose and Chelle are reunited in the Underworld, but peace is short-lived. Chelle is arrested for aiding in the release of Zabasha, a threat to the entire realm. (2/5)

From one win to repeatable success. The first $10K feels impossible. The second proves it wasn’t a fluke. The third? That’s when you’ve built a repeatable system. Growth isn’t overnight, it’s built step by step. Surprising. Grounded. Still Author Stack.

What happens when 15 creators team up? You get 10K Secrets. With chapters from Philip Hofmacher, Yana G.Y., Ana Calin, Landon Poburan, Alex Mathers, Karen Cherry, Derek Hughes, Veronica Llorca-Smith, Jari Roomer, Adriana Tica, David McIlroy, Claudia Faith, Nick Wolny, Sinem Günel, & Russell Nohelty

Why “why” matters most. Creators love to explain the what and the how. But the why? That’s where most people stumble. If you can’t explain why you made this book, course, or product…no one else will care enough to say yes. Your WHY is the engine. Without it, the work stalls.

Writing takes two opposite forces: Audacity - the confidence to put your work out. Empathy - the wounds that make it matter. Most writers just shout “Buy my book!” and disappear. But the real work is showing people why you love it so they can love it too. Unexpected. Honest. Still Author Stack.

So you’re a writer… How do I even define myself? Honestly, I usually babble for 5 mins. Yes, I’m a USA Today bestselling author. Yes, I built The Author Stack to share everything I’ve learned. Strategy exists so we can make the weird books we want to read. Unexpected. Honest. Still Author Stack.

The internet in one sentence. Claire Venus once told me: “People don’t need to be right. They just want to feel heard.” That blew my mind. Most of the internet? Just people wanting to be heard…while also telling someone else they’re wrong. Unexpected. Honest. Still Author Stack.

The two wolves of the internet. People don’t want the right advice. They want to be told the advice they already believe…is right. The problem? A lot of that advice is terrible. So you end up nodding along while thinking…we all gotta live our life, I guess. Unexpected. Honest. Still Author Stack.

The weird truth about having followers. Alex Dobrenko asked if I was starting a cult Confession: I already own cultofrussell.com 😂 This isn’t one of those “how to grow your newsletter” clips It’s just me + Alex being weird about followers and creator life Lighthearted. Honest. Still Author Stack.

I focus on: ✅ Recommendations ✅ Shares & saves ✅ Self-contained posts strangers can share ✅ Collaborations & anthologies I skip: ✖️ Performative comments ✖️ Vanity metrics Result: 📚 Books sold 🎓 Courses taken ✨ Readers transformed Stop chasing noise. Build leverage.

Started as a simple blog. Became a home for every idea I’ve had since 2008. Then one day… it turned into a $400K creative business. ✍️💡 Not because I chased money but because I chased the work that mattered. Create what you love. Let the platform grow with you. #substack #creativebusiness

Not all creators sell to fix a pain. Some of us sell to share what we believe in. That’s soul-resident selling. It’s purpose-first, not profit-first. Create what matters. Sell with heart. ❤️ Let money support the mission not define it.

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱 ➡️ 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 ➡️ 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Most folks sell to fix pain. Creators? We sell to create. We're not chasing wallets, we're building worlds. Whether it’s novels, nonprofits, or Beanie Baby newsletters, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.

Consistency + curiosity = growth you never saw coming. I started a Substack just to think out loud—and it took off. Sometimes momentum finds you. #substack #creatorlife #buildyouraudience #writingcommunity #creativebusiness

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. It grew because we gave the right things, at the right time. And when it was ready, the work started working for us. Creators, you don’t have to give it all. Protect your energy, price your value & let your best work carry you.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗱? Give away the thing I believed in, then wait. ✨🕰️ Creators, your words have power, especially when shared freely. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. And that community? It carries your work farther than you ever could alone. #trustmarketing #shareyourwords

Sometimes raising your price isn’t about earning more—it’s about doing less. Protect your energy, your creativity, your joy. Especially if you’re a coach, solopreneur, or author building a sustainable business. #pricingstrategy #creativebusiness #joydrivenbusiness #coachinglife #indieauthor

Money is just the fuel. The goal is the art, the audience, the impact. But without fuel, you’re stuck. This is how creators can think about money without selling their soul #creativebusiness #heartbasedbusiness #moneyandmindset #writingcommunity #purposeled #creatorgrowth #indieauthorlife

Ever try a growth hack and instantly regret it You’re not alone. The real trick is making strategies feel like you—not just chasing results. Build your business without burning out. #creatorgrowth #authenticaudience #emailmarketingtips #creativebusiness #ethicalmarketing #indieauthorlife

Don’t want to talk about money? Let’s talk about impact. 💥 Even if you're not chasing dollars, audience growth still matters—because readers = reach. #authortok #creativebusiness #audiencebuilding #writingcommunity #heartbasedbusiness #creatorgrowth #substacktips

Creators, this might sting… but you need to get over yourself. 🙃 Nobody’s thinking about you and “I don’t do marketing” isn’t a flex. #authortok #writingadvice #marketingforwriters #toughlove #creativemindset #writingcommunity #indieauthor

Another great article in The Comics Panel series from @sfwa.bsky.social @russellnohelty.com digs into marketing books vs. marketing comics!

Your book can sell you—even when you’re not in the room. 📖✨ Let it share your voice, your values, your magic—on autopilot. #authortok #bookmarketing #passiveincome #writingtips #digitalproducts #creativebusiness #onlinecreator #substackauthor

Overwhelmed by Substack? 😩 That’s exactly why we wrote this 80,000-word shortcut. One book. Everything you need to know. #substacktips #authortok #emailmarketing #buildtrust #audiencegrowth #bookmarketing #writingcommunity #creatoreducation

Want big names to come to you? 🚀 Hitting 35K email subscribers changed everything. Here’s how list size flips the power dynamic. #emailmarketing #buildyouraudience #creatorgrowth #substacktips #authortok #onlinebusiness #audiencebuilding #newslettergrowth

Ever feel like business advice wasn’t made for you? You’re not broken—you’re just a heart-based creator. 💖🐬 #indieauthor #creativeentrepreneur #soulfulbusiness #heartcentered #writingjourney #creatorlife

Burned through $50K on ads… then realized Substack was doing all the work. 😅 #contentcreatorlife #indieauthor #writingjourney #buildyouraudience

I just backed How to Thrive as a Writer in a Capitalist Dystopia by @russellnohelty.com on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/rus...

This is the first article in the new SFWA comics series! featuring art from @richardfairgray.bsky.social and Anna Wieszczyk Some great articles coming from @mcholly1.bsky.social @kris10simon.bsky.social @barbrajdillon.bsky.social @thesurrealari.bsky.social @russellnohelty.com and Tim Susman

If writing, selling, and blowing up were easy, everyone would be doing it. It being hard is your advantage because most people quit. So, you got two choices: 1. Wish it were easier. 2. Get better, get louder, and make it happen anyway. The real flex? Making the hard stuff look effortless.