Thoughts on Writing,
Tech, and Life.
Writing online since 2008.
Best Tools for Solo Creators in 2026 — My Entire Business Runs on These 7
I've been a tool person my whole life. I try everything. Love it. Notion, Bear, Obsidian, Ulysses, iA Writer, Craft, Drafts. I've set up dashboards. I've con…
Read articleHow to Start Writing Online in 2026 (What I'd Do Differently After 20 Years)
Everyone tells you to just start. Nobody tells you where. After twenty years of writing online, here's the setup I'd choose if I had to start over tomorrow — platform, niche, rhythm, and the one mistake that costs most beginners their first year.
Read articleHow to Monetize a Newsletter in 2026 — I've Tried Every Revenue Stream
Paid subs, sponsors, affiliates, digital products, referrals — I've run the numbers on all of them. Some scale. Some don't. Here's what each one actually pays at different list sizes.
Read articleThe Best Mac Apps for Writers in 2026 — My Actual Daily Setup
Every 'best apps' list is too long and the author hasn't used half of them. These are the ten Mac apps on my machine right now — from Apple Notes to Claude Code. All of them earn their spot.
Read articleBest Blogging Platform for Writers in 2026 — I've Published on All Four
Ghost, WordPress, Substack, Medium — I've published on every one of them. They're built for different writers with different goals. Here's how to pick without switching three times first.
Read articleMedium vs Substack Earnings — I Ran the Numbers at Every Audience Size
At 500 readers, Medium wins. At 5,000, Substack pulls ahead. I compared both earnings models side by side — same audience, same effort, very different math.
Read articleMedium Writer Earnings in 2026 — The Numbers Nobody Wants to Show You
Some writers claim $5,000 months. Most earn under $100. Here's what the median Medium writer actually makes — and what separates the top 5% from everyone else.
Read articleHow Much Does Medium Pay Per 1000 Views? Anywhere From $2 to $50.
I've had articles with 20,000 views that earned $40 and articles with 3,000 views that earned $80. The per-view rate is almost meaningless — here's what actually determines your payout.
Read articleSubstack for Beginners — I Started Mine Without Knowing Any of This
I launched my first Substack without a plan, without a niche, without understanding how recommendations work. It showed. Here's what I learned the hard way so you don't have to.
Read articleHow to Get Paid Subscribers on Substack — What Moved the Needle for Me
Free subscribers are vanity metrics. Paid subscribers are a business. I tracked what actually converts readers into paying supporters — most of it isn't what the growth guides tell you.
Read articleMedium SEO Tips for Writers — Google Changed Everything in 2024
Medium's algorithm update flipped the playbook. External traffic now matters more than internal reads. Here are the SEO tactics that actually move the needle for Medium writers now.
Read articleBest Topics to Write About on Medium — What the Platform Rewards (and Ignores)
Not all topics are created equal on Medium. Some niches have a paying audience, others have readers who will never subscribe. After six years, I know which is which.
Read articleSubstack Notes Strategy — The Growth Channel Most Writers Sleep On
Notes is Substack's social feed. Most writers either ignore it or use it like Twitter. Both wrong. Here's how to use Notes strategically without becoming a content machine.
Read articleSubstack vs Beehiiv in 2026 — Two Very Different Bets on Your Writing
Substack bets on your voice. Beehiiv bets on your growth engine. They look similar on the surface, but they're built for completely different kinds of newsletter writers.
Read articleSubstack SEO — Yes, Your Newsletter Can Rank on Google. Here's How.
Most Substack writers don't even think about search. That's a mistake. Your posts are public web pages — and with the right structure, they rank. Here's what you can actually control.
Read articleMedium Partner Program 2025 — The Rules Changed, Here's What Matters Now
Late 2024 rewrote how Medium pays writers. Member reading time, external traffic bonuses, new eligibility rules — the updated playbook and what it means for your earnings.
Read articleIs Medium Worth It in 2025? After 6 Years, Here's My Honest Answer.
I joined Medium in 2021, saw the boom, lived through the decline, and I'm still here. Conditionally. Here's when it's worth your time — and when you're better off building somewhere else.
Read articleHow to Make Money on Substack — What the Numbers Actually Look Like
The Substack success stories show the top 1%. The reality is messier. Here's what paid subscriptions, sponsorships, and tips actually pay at normal audience sizes — no rounding up.
Read articleSubstack vs Medium in 2025 — I've Used Both for Years. Here's What I'd Pick.
One owns the audience, the other owns the distribution. I've published on both for years and the right answer depends on exactly one question most writers never ask themselves.
Read articleHow to Grow on Substack in 2025 — What Works, What Doesn't, What's Changed
I tried everything — SEO, Notes, recommendations, cross-promotions, paid ads. Some worked. Most didn't. Here's the honest breakdown of what actually grows a Substack in 2026.
Read articleApple Notes for Writers — Why I Ditched Notion and Never Looked Back
I ran my entire writing system in Notion. Databases, kanban boards, the works. Then I moved everything to Apple Notes. It's been two years. I'm not going back.
Read articleHow to Build an Email List as a Writer — What Actually Works in 2026
Followers don't belong to you. Views don't belong to you. Your email list does. Here's how I'd build one from zero if I had to start again today.
Read articleHow to Repurpose Content — The System I Use to Publish Everywhere
Write once, publish on your blog, Substack, Medium, and social. Not by copy-pasting — by adapting strategically. Here's the exact system I use every week.
Read articleHow to Write a Newsletter That People Actually Read
Most newsletters die within ten issues. The ones that survive have one thing in common — they're written for the reader, not the writer. Here's what that looks like in practice.
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