I've Restructured My Writing Business Four Times
(And I’ll probably have to do it again)
Today’s Post is written by
, member of The Lemon Tree Mindset 🌳🍋Phil is a ghostwriter, author and coach with a focus on English for non-native English speakers. He has an impressive following of 23K+ on LinkedIn and has published multiple books but what I love most about him is his sense of humour.
‘Write what you know’ is good advice… until the market changes.
Then you have to learn something new. You have to make sure your words are still valuable so you avoid writing to an audience of none.
I’ve revamped my writing business at least four times. Sometimes through necessity and other times because of my vision. One thing is for sure: the writing business is not a linear path to success, and sometimes, you have to pivot.
Drastic Changes to my Writing Business
1. From Literary Magazines to Books
I published my first story in Flash Fiction Magazine in 2016. The publications came thick and fast after that. Write, edit, submit, revise, submit and go again. I was prolific — around 30 short stories accepted in under two years. But my goal was not to earn big bucks or become the next Neil Gaiman. I just wanted to share my creativity with readers.
I won a competition, placed in more, and even received payment here and there. But literary magazines are read almost exclusively by writers. The audience is niche.
If you want the wider world to know you are a writer, give them a book.
Of course, I quickly realised that few agents or publishers were willing to take a gamble on short fiction, so I collated my already available works and self-published.
The difference was palpable. Friends, acquaintances, and people I’d never even met read my stories and saw me as a writer — a real one.
As long as you publish your best work, books give you a massive injection of confidence. Soon, I was teaching workshops and believed that I could offer much much more.
2. From English Teacher to Writing Coach
If you think the pay for writers sucks, try being an English teacher!
I’d been working for predatory academies in a dead-end industry for 8+ years and decided enough was enough.
After helping hundreds of students with writing tasks (and being an author myself), I launched my online business — English Writing Coach.
There are millions of teachers and writers out there, but I noticed that no one was specifically helping multilingual writers to improve the quality of their text and succeed in business. No, I wasn’t a seven-figure copywriter saying ‘Follow my strategy for success’. In fact, I hadn’t done much freelance writing, but I backed myself to guide clients towards their goals.
Running your own business involves a lot of failure and readjustment. A lot. The lows can be crushing. But I love that I control who I work with and what I do. And I get to talk about writing all day!
After several years (and a lot of missteps along the way), I now run group courses and a paid community with over 60 members.
3. From Professional Coach to Totally Human Ghostwriter
In 2023, AI crashed the party. The effects of rate cuts, shrinking marketing budgets and layoffs are still being felt today.
I do most of my marketing on LinkedIn, and there, I turned the dial from 50 to 100.
The dial wasn’t quantity, effort, or the number of topics I wrote about.
It was my personality.
After reading so many tired ‘tips and tricks’ (as well as ChatGPT copypastas), I decided to amp up my own writing voice.
I wrote stories about my wins and failures.
I made fun of crumby 4 am writing routines and yawn-worthy buzzwords.
I wrote slideshows about saving kittens going on a quest with a badger.
I raged at industry discrimination.
Focusing on my writing persona positioned me as a unique voice, not a follower (or as I once put it, ‘buttocks, not white noise’).
Now I help clients bring out their own writing voice (or that of their employer). And I’m writing more for others. Writing standout content which matches your clients’ different voices is a key skill in 2024. With this skill in my tool belt, I now offer ghostwriting services — but of course, in a totally human way.
4. From Traditional Author to Self-Publishing a Kids’ Book
Alongside my coaching and other projects, I continued writing fiction, publishing two novellas with indie presses in the UK and US. Those experiences were both positive, but they didn’t bring me thousands of sales or many readers outside of my circle.
You might have guessed what comes next, as I’m not someone who stands still. Like the resplendent Optimus Prime, I transformed.
I’ve had a children’s book in the works for a little while, and without an agent or best mate who works for Scholastic, I’m returning to self-publishing. The A-Z of Rotten Uncles will be the third book I’ve self-published (and will perhaps be the most personal, as I am, indeed, a very rotten uncle). Release is scheduled for November 2024.
I’m so determined to get this book into the hands of nieces and nephews around the world, I’m teaming up with an illustrator friend of mine (and hopefully some translators in my network too).
Recently, I rebranded my Substack to document my journey to get self-publishing right at the third time of asking. Follow along for updates on the project.
You’re probably as confused about my writing career trajectory as I am.
There is no clear path, career ladder, silver bullet, well-placed stepping stone, or any other metaphor you care to imagine. Writers make their own way, and they have to adapt.
However, one thing has NOT changed — an unwavering belief that my creativity and writing voice are valuable.
What I offer may change over time, but I will continue to deliver the words which keep my creative spirit and my business running.
Lemons & Lemonade 🍋
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I love your story so much, Phil because I feel that it's every writer's story.
We are constantly evolving, trying new things and adapting.
I bet you could write a very different story if you were to write this in a couple of years.
In my case, my writing has taken me to public speaking and now coaching other writers. I wonder what's next and I'm open to new possibilities.
Thank you for a keeping-it-real article!
Such a lovely story and I agree that the path to a writing career is anything but linear. I particularly love your approach to your LinkedIn voice. It's a platform I have recently started being more intentional with and it's great to always focus on one's writing voice. I also always tell myself that while the expression of my writing/creator career may change/evolve over time, the core which is the writing itself and what that means to me being will always remain as a huge part of my journey and life. Wonderful read, Phil.