A freelance writer has successfully transformed her newsletter, aimed at supporting other writers, into a thriving business that generates over $263,000 (approximately Rs 2.5 crore) in annual recurring revenue.
Amy Suto, a 32-year-old resident of San Francisco, launched her Substack newsletter titled “Make Writing Your Job” in June 2023. Initially created to address inquiries regarding how to secure writing jobs, it has evolved into a paid job board, a vibrant online community, and a comprehensive resource hub for writers.
“Establishing our Substack has been an amazing bonus,” Suto shared with Business Insider. “It started as a side project, while my main income still comes from freelance memoir ghostwriting.”
The newsletter has grown significantly, amassing over 58,000 subscribers, according to Business Insider.
Before venturing into freelance writing and ghostwriting, Suto began her career as a television writer in Hollywood. She has also penned a book focused on achieving a six-figure income in freelance writing.
The inspiration for her newsletter stemmed from the recurring questions she received about how she attracted clients and writing assignments.
While working from a café during a visit to Paris, Suto realized that she frequently had more work than she could manage, and she often struggled to find enough writers to recommend when declining projects. This experience laid the groundwork for “Make Writing Your Job,” which is designed to assist writers in uncovering paid opportunities while providing essential tools for career development.
In 2024, Suto launched a job board as part of her Substack. Initially, she shared assignments she was unable to accept, but the favorable response from subscribers encouraged her and her husband, Kyle Cords, to expand it into a more comprehensive service. They began sourcing writing opportunities online and sharing them with their audience.
The newsletter has since diversified beyond job listings, now offering free guides, author interviews, and a series called “The Guest Stack,” where creators discuss their strategies for building their audiences.
Regularly engaging with her audience has been crucial to Suto’s success. Since its inception, she has published a weekly newsletter, while platforms like LinkedIn, Threads, and Substack Notes have helped broaden her reach.
The enterprise has flourished primarily through organic growth, with Suto noting that she and Cords have spent less than $100 (Rs 9,619) on marketing.
The paid job board has become a pivotal aspect of her business, with subscribers able to select from various membership options, including a standard plan at $19 (Rs 1,829) per month and a founding membership available for $550 (Rs 53,000) annually.
By mid-2025, the business had achieved six-figure annual revenue, which has since more than doubled, with current annual gross recurring revenue surpassing $263,000.
Suto advises aspiring writers looking to create a similar venture to focus on providing valuable content for free before attempting to sell subscriptions. She emphasizes the importance of selecting a topic that sparks genuine interest, allowing for continuous exploration.
Despite the significant growth of the newsletter, it has not replaced Suto’s primary profession; her freelance memoir ghostwriting continues to be her main source of income.
Beyond the financial success, Suto finds the most fulfilling aspect of her work to be the feedback from subscribers who have secured paid opportunities through her platform.
