DiscoverHow to Write for a Living218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)
218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)

218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)

Update: 2025-07-15
Share

Description

Season 2, episode 18 is here!

In this episode, Erica Schneider shares what it really takes to go from full-time agency work to running your own solopreneur business as a writer.

We chat about personal pivots, marketing strategies and emotional clarity in writing - this one’s a real deep dive into the mindset and mechanics of modern creative work.

What we covered:

- Why Erica left a stable agency job and what she learned from cycling through multiple business models before finding the right fit

- The surprising pressure behind selling cohorts and one-on-one offers, and how to know if they’re right for you

- How Substack Notes helped Erica gain traction and drive hundreds of subscribers from a single viral post

- What it actually takes to thrive as a solopreneur, and why charisma, bias for action, and self-awareness matter more than a polished plan

- A breakdown of how Erica writes emotionally resonant emails, builds confident offers, and uses AI as a creative partner, not a replacement

- Her “MP3” framework for building a personal brand that connects

- How to close the recognition gap and future-proof your writing business in the age of AI



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)

218: What no one tells you about going solo as a writer (with Erica Schneider)

David McIlroy and Erica Schneider