A newsletter that began as a way to help fellow writers find work has grown into a business generating more than $263,000 (around ₹2.5 crore) in annual recurring revenue.
The creator behind the project is 32-year-old writer Amy Suto, who launched her Substack, “Make Writing Your Job,” in June 2023.
From Hollywood to Freelance Writing
Suto began her career as a television writer in Hollywood before moving into freelance writing and memoir ghostwriting. Over time, she started receiving questions from other writers about finding clients and building sustainable careers.
Those conversations eventually inspired her to create a newsletter focused on practical opportunities and advice for writers.
A Newsletter Becomes a Business
What started as a newsletter has expanded into a paid job board, online community and resource platform. According to Business Insider, the publication has grown to more than 58,000 subscribers.
Suto has also described the Substack as a side hustle, with freelance memoir ghostwriting remaining her primary source of income.
The Idea Took Shape in Paris
The concept became clearer during a stay in Paris. While working from a café, Suto realised she was receiving more freelance work than she could accept and often needed other writers to recommend when turning assignments down.
That experience helped shape the idea of building a platform that could connect writers with opportunities while sharing lessons from her own career.
Consistency Played a Major Role
Suto has continued publishing the newsletter every week since its launch. The steady publishing schedule, combined with paid offerings and a growing community, helped turn a simple newsletter into a larger creator-led business.
Her journey highlights how newsletters are increasingly being used not just for sharing ideas but also for building audiences, communities and independent income streams.
The Growing Creator Economy
Suto’s story reflects a wider shift in digital work, where writers and other creators can build businesses directly around their expertise and audiences.
For aspiring writers, the example also shows that a single piece of content does not necessarily have to remain a standalone product. With the right audience, it can develop into a community, service or broader digital business.