Many of you here know I write for a living- a dream job, to say the least. I have been doing it as a full-time job for over three years now, and I must say that the rewards outweigh all the stress and obstacles that come along the way. My income is divided between client work, commissioned articles, ghostwriting products, coaching, and teaching. It took me over three years to understand the business side of things, and I'm still learning and growing, and enjoying every second along the way. That being said, I'm leading a live cohort on Maven, where I'll share all my tricks of the trade and show you how I monetize my writing to pay my bills. The cohort is designed to cater to a diverse range of writers, including freelance writers, content creators, and writers. No matter your background or experience, you're welcome to join and learn how to monetize your writing. The cohort, which will start May 6, will include three live sessions a week for three weeks. If you want to find ways to monetize your writing, then this cohort is a good fit. You can sign up here. I hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, and we can jump on a quick call. Keep creating.
🖼️ Photo of the week🤩 Things that wowed me📚 Book review: Great reviews keep coming in for the book Stories from the Center of the World, in which my story, "The Agency," is included. This review from Kirkus mentions my story: "Natasha Tynes’ satirical “The Agency” turns on a Jordanian matchmaker and her impossibly demanding and sexist clients." I can't wait to put my hands on this valuable collection that includes some of the top Arab and Arab-American writers. You can pre-order the book. 🎙Podcast: I was interviewed on the Get Writing podcast by Liz Mugavero, where we discussed the importance of mindset when you are a writer and the critical role perseverance plays in achieving your writing goals. You can listen to the episode here. 📚 Book: I just finished a fast thriller called The Housemaid by Freida Mcfadden, which follows a new housemaid who uncovers dark secrets hidden beneath the seemingly perfect facade of a wealthy family. It was definitely a page-turner. I saw a number of twists coming, so I was not completely awed. Overall, it was a good pallet cleanser in between heavy non-fiction books. 📹 YouTube: I have been hooked lately on vlogs. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the raw nature of these videos. I'm particularly enjoying the vlogs of one of my favorite YouTubers, Ali Abdaal. He definitely has a lot of lunch meetings! I also love how he works while taking an Uber. ✍🏻 Quote: "Insufficient resources are never the main challenge in achieving your dreams" - Michael Hayatt
🎙️ Read and Write with Natasha podcastIn this episode, Shireen Sabanegh shares her journey from museum management in Jordan to creating children's stories in the UK. She reveals the intricate process of traditional publishing, from the excitement of having two manuscripts accepted to collaborating with publishers and illustrators. The discussion delves into themes like representing disability in children's books through empowering narratives and the impact of storytelling on fostering inclusivity among young readers, particularly in Arabic children's literature. We explore Shireen's methods for teaching Arabic to children in the diaspora, blending classical and colloquial language You can listen to the full episode here.
🎥 The YouTube experimentHave you ever found yourself stuck in a creative rut, staring at a blank page, unsure of what to write next? What if the key to unlocking your next big idea was as simple as stepping outside for a walk? Walking has been the silent muse of tech giants, philosophers, and authors alike. Watch this episode on my YouTube channel, and please don't forget to subscribe. (I'm trying hard to get monetized, so if you could help me, I would appreciate it!) 📚 Published workI published a number of articles on Substack (which is becoming THE place for writers) these days. Here is the latest: No, not lack of confidence in which I talk about how I;m grateful is that for as long as I can remember, I have had a beginner's mind or Shoshin. Connect with meDo you need help with your digital media strategy? Are you looking for someone to write your newsletter? Are you trying to get published and looking for a book coach to guide you through the murky publishing world? Do you need a ghostwriter? Let's chat! 📧 Email me at natasha@natashastynes.com
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I'm a Jordanian-American author and journalist with over two decades of experience. I have been published in the Washington Post, Nature, Elle, Esquire, among others. I'm also the recipient of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award Literary Conference for my short story Ustaz Ali. I publish the weekly newsletter "The Writing Goldmine," in which I give tips on monetizing your writing and the content creation journey.
Hi friends, It has been a while. A lot has happened in the last few months—the good, the bad, and the ugly—but let's focus on the good—or at least try to since it's Friday. The best part of the past few months was that my short story, The Agency, was included in a beautiful anthology of stories from the Middle East titled Stories from the Center of the World, which was published by San Francisco-based publisher Greenlights. Grab a copy if you want to lose yourself in the stories from the...
The other day, I had a discovery call with a potential client who was looking for a newsletter ghostwriter. This is one of the services I provide that generates the bulk of my business income. When I asked him how he stumbled upon my services, he said, “Google.” He searched for a “Newsletter Ghostwriter,” and according to him, I was “well-placed.” That threw me off a bit. I was expecting him to say LinkedIn, Substack, or even X, but Google? So I googled “Newsletter Ghostwriter,” and an...
Hi Reader I have great news! I have been getting a lot of questions and requests for a ghostwriting course, so I'm happy to tell you that "Make Income from Ghostwriting," my mini-course, is now ready for only $79.99. Ghostwriting makes up 80% of my income, and it can do the same for you. My mini-course is designed to guide you through every step of the process, from understanding the ghostwriting basics to securing high-paying projects. You can take this course at any time and at your own...