How Substack Writers Can Leverage Reedsy to Become Published Authors and Scale Their Publishing Business with Global Collaboration
Substack Mastery Book is now available in multiple online shops.
Dear Beta readers, welcome to Chapter 18 of my bestselling Substack Mastery book, where we explore another powerful tool for growing and scaling your Substack newsletters. This chapter promises to be an eye-opener for many freelance writers, as I have yet to come across a comprehensive guide on this tool across Substack, Medium, or other writing platforms.
Today, I am excited and delighted to bring this remarkable gem to light, as it can be a game changer for established and aspiring authors. Reedsy is so comprehensive that it could require writing a long book. In fact, I have a comprehensive manuscript for my content marketing strategy clients, which I plan to publish as a guiding book with many case studies soon.
As a seasoned author with a track record of successfully publishing multiple books on different topics and working as a content strategist for freelance writers and content entrepreneurs, I have learned that high-quality content, compelling design, and strategic marketing are essential for growing audiences on any platform, including Substack.
Whether you aim to expand your Substack newsletters or transform your best articles or stories into books, identifying the right tools and professionals to support your journey is crucial. That is where Reedsy comes in, and I will give you a glimpse.
For those unfamiliar, Reedsy is an online marketplace designed for writers, giving you access to professional editors, designers, and marketers. But it doesn’t stop there — Reedsy also offers self-publishing resources and tools to help you sharpen your skills. In this chapter, I shall explain how Reedsy can benefit you as a Substack writer and discuss its strengths and limitations in seven sections.
Purpose of Chapter 18 in Substack Masery Book
While I crafted this chapter primarily for advanced writers and published authors, aspiring writers on Substack who are thinking about writing a book may also find it helpful.
My goal is to introduce another powerful tool for Substack writers to consider — one that you can embrace if it aligns with your needs and aspirations or set aside if it doesn’t. I am simply a messenger and strategist offering you options to choose from.
In this chapter, I will profile a summary of the manuscript designed to onboard freelance writers and content entrepreneurs to Reedsy, highlighting compelling reasons for this and covering the pros and cons independently.
Please note that this is not sponsored content and does not represent Reedsy’s official stance. They may have a different perspective, and I respect their position with gratitude. Instead, this chapter reflects my personal experiences and observations from my collaborators, students, colleagues, and protégés to provide you with a comprehensive, unbiased perspective.
Chapter 18: How Substack Writers Can Leverage Reedsy to Become Published Authors and Scale Their Publishing Business with Global Collaboration
1. Professional Editing for Elevating Your Content
Keeping your content polished and error-free can be a real challenge for Substack writers. That is where Reedsy comes in. It connects you with professional editors — whether you need developmental editors, copy editors, or proofreaders — who can help refine your writing.
While Substack makes self-publishing a breeze, quality really matters when it comes to building your credibility as a book author.
Having a Reedsy editor review your work means it is grammatically correct, engaging, memorable, and eye-catching. A good editor can help you communicate your message more clearly, which can lead to better reader retention and more subscribers.
Pros: You gain access to experienced editors who know the publishing industry. Cons: The costs can add up, especially for freelance writers who are just starting out.
2. Branding and Design: Making Your Substack Stand Out
Reedsy isn’t just about editing. It is also a fantastic resource for professional design services. Strong and memorable branding can really set your Substack apart.
When you need a custom logo, newsletter headers, or eye-catching visual elements like infographics, Reedsy’s designers can help you create a cohesive and appealing look for your newsletter.
Having a clean and visually engaging design helps you stand out and enhances the overall reader experience. Good design gets overlooked, but it is necessary for building a loyal audience.
Pros: Custom branding from professional designers can elevate your newsletter’s visual appeal.
Cons: High-end design services can be pricey if you’re on a budget.
3. Expert Marketing Guidance: Growing Your Readership
While Substack provides basic tools for audience engagement, growing your readership often requires a strategic marketing plan. Reedsy’s marketplace includes marketing professionals with publishing experience who can help you fine-tune your strategies for SEO, audience growth, and social media.
A Reedsy marketing expert can provide tailored advice to improve discoverability and engagement. This could result in more subscribers and a more dedicated readership.
Pros: Expert, personalized marketing guidance.
Cons: Marketing services can be expensive, and results may take time.
4. Learning Resources and Courses: Strengthening Your Writing and Marketing Skills
Beyond hiring professionals, Reedsy offers free and paid courses on writing, marketing, and self-publishing. These resources are perfect for Substack writers wanting to improve their skills or explore strategies to grow their newsletter.
If you are new to freelance writing and just started with Substack, Reedsy’s courses can guide you on email marketing and content structure — both crucial for building a loyal following. These courses also help improve storytelling, which is key for keeping your readers engaged.
Pros: Self-paced courses to boost your expertise.
Cons: While some resources are free, more in-depth courses often come with a price tag.
5. Collaboration Opportunities: Expanding Your Content Offerings
Reedsy can be a hub for collaboration. Writers, designers, and editors working together can lead to new content ideas and joint projects that add value to your newsletter.
You might collaborate with a Reedsy designer to create infographics or e-books, adding visual appeal and increasing reader engagement. Collaborations like this can boost your subscriber rates.
Pros: Creative collaborations that enhance your content.
Cons: Managing collaborations can require extra time and resources.
6. Self-Publishing Your Substack Content and Turning Articles or Stories into Books
Many Substack writers dream of expanding beyond newsletters, perhaps by publishing an e-book or printed book. Reedsy offers a full suite of self-publishing services, from formatting to cover design and distribution, on platforms like Amazon, Kobo, Apple, or Google Books.
For instance, you could compile your best Substack articles into an e-book with Reedsy’s help, giving your readers more value while opening a new revenue stream. I provided additional guidance to turn your stories into book chapters in an article. Here’s How to Create A 30,000 Words E-book in a Month and Start Earning. For example, Aiden (Owner of Illumination Gaming), used this approach to write his first gaming book, which I wrote a forward.
Last year, editors also interviewed me and published the script in a story on this platform titled How Writers and Bloggers Transition to Become Published Authors. Curators of my stories turned the interview script into an interactive video and donated it to my Patreon library as a valuable resource for free members.
Pros: Streamlined process for turning Substack content into a published book.
Cons: Self-publishing can be costly, and success often depends on effective marketing.
7 — Leveraging Reedsy Discovery for Promotion
Reedsy Discovery is a specialized platform that helps authors showcase their work to a broader audience. It enables readers to discover new books and offers authors the opportunity to submit their books for reviews and promotion.
Reedsy Discovery can be an effective tool for authors seeking to market their books and gain an audience, particularly those looking for curated exposure and professional reviews. However, it is important to manage expectations, as success will depend on both the platform’s reach and the reception your book receives.
Pros:
Increased visibility: Your book can be featured in front of a dedicated audience of readers who are actively searching for new books.
Curated reviews: Professional reviewers offer feedback, which can increase credibility and boost interest in your work.
Audience building: By being part of a well-curated collection, you have a greater chance of gaining loyal readers who are interested in your genre.
Cost-effective promotion: Compared to some marketing services, Reedsy Discovery provides a relatively affordable means of gaining exposure.
Cons:
Not guaranteed acceptance: Your book needs to pass a submission process, and not all submissions are guaranteed a feature.
Limited reach: While it can boost visibility, the audience is still relatively smaller compared to major platforms like Amazon or Goodreads.
Review dependence: The success of your book on the platform may depend heavily on the quality and impact of the reviews it receives.
The Costs of Using Reedsy for Book Authors from Substack
Reedsy doesn’t charge for signing up or browsing professionals, but hiring editors, designers, or marketers comes at a cost. I’d like to provide a breakdown to give you a high-level perspective with an additional reference from an experienced book author.
Professional Editing:
Developmental Editing: $0.02–$0.05 per word
Copyediting: $0.01–$0.03 per word
Proofreading: $0.007–$0.015 per word
Design and Branding:
Book Cover Design: $500–$1,500
Newsletter Branding: $200–$500
Marketing Services:
Marketing Plans: $500–$2,000
Self-Publishing:
Formatting and Layout: $500–$1,500
For freelance Substack writers, these costs can add up quickly. But if you’re focused on building a high-quality, sustainable content business, investing in Reedsy services can pay off over time.
Additional Perspective:
Around this time last year, an experienced book author Alison McBain, wrote a comprehensive and eye-opening piece titled Hidden Costs of Self-Publishing. You can gain additional insights from this boosted and exceptional story.
Free Alternatives to Reedsy
If you are not ready to invest in Reedsy services, you may consider the following free or low-cost alternatives:
Editing: Tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid offer free grammar and style checks. You may also consider Hemingway Editor to simplify your content.
Design: Canva can help you create basic branding elements.
Marketing: Substack’s own recommendation features and organic social media growth can be effective with the right strategies.
My editing and curation team also offer a new 3-tiered low-cost service including marketing as documented on my website. Mike Broadly, DHSc, a founding member of my community articulated the service in an editorial bulletin.
I also covered additional marketing and sales options for self-published authors a few years ago in a story titled Here’s How I Sold 1,000+ Books in a Month with Minimal Investment First Time.
Summary of Key Features of Reedsy
Reedsy simplifies the freelancer hiring process, enabling authors to manage their budgets and requirements effectively. Here is a summary of key features.
Marketplace: Allows authors to hire editors, designers, marketers, and ghostwriters across various categories such as editing, design, marketing, and translation.
Writing Tools: Offers a free online book editor for writing and formatting, including collaboration features.
Learning Resources: Provides courses, webinars, and articles on writing, publishing, and marketing.
Book Marketing: Tools and advice to promote books and reach broader audiences.
Community: A space for authors to connect with peers and industry professionals.
Here are additional features:
Reedsy Discovery: Curated reviews of indie books and a submission option for authors.
Reedsy Blog: Offers articles on writing topics.
Reedsy Live: Free access to past presentations and events.
Reedsy Prompts: Weekly writing contests with cash prizes.
Literary Agent Directory: A resource for authors seeking traditional publishing routes.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways for Established or Aspiring Book Authors
Reedsy can be a strategic tool for established and aspiring book authors who write on Substack. However, Reedsy isn’t a magic bullet for instant success. It is a powerful platform that can help you elevate your content, grow your audience, and even transition from Substack to book publishing.
The flexibility to choose only the services you need — whether it is editing, design, or marketing — makes Reedsy a valuable tool for scaling your Substack newsletters and achieving your long-term writing goals.
Ultimately, success on Substack requires consistent effort, experimentation, and smart use of tools like Reedsy or Patreon, which I introduced in another chapter. By leveraging the platform’s professional services, you can boost your capabilities and position yourself for sustainable growth and success in the content business.
I invite all freelance writers and content entrepreneurs to join my Patreon for free and benefit from the resources I provide and those curated by the volunteer editors and curators of my writing and reading community on multiple platforms.
Interestingly, Reedsy once maintained an active presence on Medium, publishing stories until 2019. However, they seem to have ceased contributing, likely due to a lack of visibility and engagement. Their final post in 2019 received only two comments and a handful of claps.
In a platform with over a million paid readers, 50,000+ writers, and many book authors, even authoritative content from an organization supporting millions of published authors struggled to gain traction. I don’t blame them. Medium, as it stands, is not conducive to this type of content thriving.
That’s why I am now strategically publishing my work on more powerful platforms to gain more visibility — those that amplify my voice, reach a relevant audience, and distribute content without unnecessary censorship. However, I am still grateful to Medium as it allows book authors to showcase their books on top of their profiles, as shown in my profile with a book author badge.
In terms of beta reading for book authors, I want to share an example from one of my favorite fiction writers Scarlet Ibis James 🦩who published a beautiful book titled Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire which is now featured in Goodreads.
Scarlet, as a collaborator, kindly invited me to be a beta reader for her book on Reedsy, which I can read chapter by chapter on my PC, tablet, or smartphone screen easily. I interviewed Scarlet and will publish it soon on Medium, Substack, Patreon, and Digitalmehmet platforms to introduce her talent to my audience.
Last year accomplished freelance writer Nishi Tiwari wrote a valuable piece titled 15+ Free Reedsy Courses to upskill you as an Author. You may checkout some free courses that might improve your writing, editing, and marketing skills.
If you are a book author, you may also share chapters of your book on my publication on Medium.com called ILLUMINATION Book Chapters, which I established in 2021. It is open and available to all authentic authors who want to leverage the audience of the ILLUMINATION community on Medium, Substack, Patreon, and Digitalmehmet.com platforms.
Thank you for reading this chapter, providing feedback on the versions of this chapter you read, and also participating in my online poll today.
Many writers ask why I emphasize the community aspect of platforms so much. The answer is simple: platforms like Substack can feel lonely and isolated without a strong community.
I learned this firsthand during my first six months on Medium, which was anything but enjoyable. Building a supportive community changed everything.
Besides, I have yet to encounter any successful writer, bestselling author, or leading Substack creator who thrives without being part of or leading a community. Community isn’t just an add-on; it’s essential for lasting success.
Community Building on Substack Bridging with Other Platforms
Integrating Substack with Medium is a great idea. To this end, as a community builder, I created a philanthropic organization that will empower creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs with a commercial arm. I documented the strategy and high-level plan in a story. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. Refraining from perfection, I choose a progressive path.
Here are our draft service definitions for creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs. We will explain the details in our upcoming newsletter. Here is an invitation from a founding member.
If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers. ILLUMINATION-Curators curate, feature, and promote newsletters of our contributors in collections like this one. Being part of a community can bring many benefits, such as a fast-growing audience. Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 12.
For advanced writers, we also have a publication called Curated Newsletters, which replaced the former ILLUMINATION-Curated. As I withdraw from the boost program, I now allocate more time to support writers in extending their services to Substack or other platforms.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 32K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.
New Submission Guidelines for ILLUMINATION, Curated Newsletters, SYNERGY, and Technology Hits.
You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack and our education tool, Substack Mastery, curated by ILLUMINATION-Curators. Here is the Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers.
Invitation to Be a Guest Blogger for Creating Visibility for Your Content and Profile
I recently opened my website to welcome all writers as guest bloggers, offering a platform to boost visibility for your profiles, Medium stories, and Substack newsletters.
I have outlined the compelling reasons to join our community blog in detail, making it an ideal space for authentic and ethical writers who want to share their work freely.
Here’s Why I Opened My Website to Freelance Writers as Guest Bloggers from Multiple Platforms
I explain why and how writers can benefit from this free blogging opportunity, empowered by a non-commercial writing…medium.com
Here, no legal content is censored! I strongly value diversity, inclusion, and equality in distributing content. If you want a supportive environment to amplify your voice, I have created this accessible and supportive place for you.
About the Substack Mastery Book for Review or Purchase
As I shared in a previous post, this book has already hit the top 100 and (even top 10) bestseller list in multiple categories in various Amazon marketplaces. Thank you, my loyal readers, for making this book a success and a valuable knowledge source for the community.
Many thanks to beta readers who started leaving honest feedback on this evolving book on Goodreads. If you enjoy and benefit from this book, I’d appreciate leaving honest feedback on Goodreads, as the Amazon version is not ready for review yet.
If you want to purchase the book at a reasonable price or gift it to someone you care about, you may preorder it via various Amazon markets. If the editing process is complete on time, I can get it published faster. The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics…
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow…www.amazon.com
Several beta readers wrote five-star reviews about the book, which warms my heart. I’d like to share a few resources that can speed up your learning from the content of the comprehensive and unique Substack Mastery book.
I found remarkable interactive podcasts created by Britni Pepper on her site, which can be helpful to readers: The Substack Mastery Podcast: Hello! (summary of first three chapters) and The Substack Mastery Podcast: Diving Deeper (summary of chapters 4, 5 & 6).
I enjoyed this podcast by Mike Broadly, DHSc. Integrating Substack with Patreon Seamlessly for Greater Benefits for Creators.
Here is another summary by ILLUMINATION-Curators:
Audio Summary of Chapter 17 in Substack Mastery Book by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
How to Use Online Polls on Substack Effectively to Improve Your Content and Grow Your Audienceopen.substack.com
Here is how a book author found the chapter about book authoring and using Patreon for book projects.
Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.
Get an email whenever Dr Mehmet Yildiz publishes. He is a top writer and editor on Medium.
dr-mehmet-yildiz.medium.com
This story was initially published at DigitalMehmet.com. My blogs and website offer free access to inspiring and educational stories for freelancers and content entrepreneurs. Membership Tiers and Benefits of ILLUMINATION Substack Mastery Community. Please use this portal to contact me with inquiries and feedback. You can also read this chapter for free on my Substack.
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