✍️ How to Thrive as a Working Writer in 2025

Setting yourself up for writerly success in the New Year.

By the time you read this, I’ll be on a plane to chilly Canada! 🍁 I’m being flown to the Great White North to conduct interviews for a book I’m ghostwriting — and to load up on maple syrup-flavored treats!

In this issue, I’m sharing strategies for making 2025 the year you thrive as a working writer, some behind-the-scenes of designing the fantasy world map for my new book, and much more.

Plus: check out a recent ✨ success story ✨ from the writing job board below!

🎉 Writing Job Board: Corinne’s Success Story

Corinne S. is an awesome editor, and she’s among one of the recent writer/editors who has landed a job on my writing job board. Here’s what Corinne has to say:

“As an editor of narrative nonfiction and poetry, I was recently able to connect with a new client and creative collaborator through Amy's job board. I spotted a listing that sounded like an incredible project, combining a number of different narrative approaches that are in my skill set. I applied and, within a week, I was able to meet with the client, hear more about her project, and talk to her about where I could fit into her process; after our first conversation, she hired me. If you're working on a manuscript, too, feel free to reach out — I'd love to hear about it!” –Corinne

Want to work with Corinne on your project? Check out her website here.

Have a success story of your own to share after landing something on my writing job board? Would love to hear about it! Email me at amy@amysuto.com with the details.

✍️ New Writing Job Board Comes Out Tomorrow!

If you missed the last issue of my writing job board, check it out at the link below:

Also, calling all web3 writers! This week’s featured job is still open for submissions.

🫖 Sunday Tea: How to Thrive as a Working Writer in 2025

It’s almost 2025 *screams in unfinished to-do list*!

Even though some parts of 2024 had me asking, “2024, who hurt you?” it was ultimately a really cool year. I kept my autoimmune condition in remission (which I know I keep mentioning but I’m so grateful!) and wrote 2 books when I was unsure if I could even finish 1.

Looking ahead to 2025, I think it’s going to be a great year for writers, and I keep seeing so many cool opportunities flood my inbox that seem to confirm my hunch.

But before we move ahead into the New Year, now is a good time to slow down and do some reflecting.

When you reflect on 2024, ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I happy with the amount of writing I’ve done this year?

2. Did I give myself chances to creatively recharge, seeking out things that inspired me?

3. Did I block out enough focus time for my writing projects, and stay consistent?

These 3 questions will help guide you when you’re looking ahead to 2025 — and creating your gameplan for how to thrive as a working writer.

Being a “working writer” can mean a number of different things: your primary income might come from publishing books, posting on Substack, freelancing, blogging — or a combination of all of the above.

But you can’t start by doing it all: you have to start by doing one thing really well.

I started by mastering storytelling. I went to USC for screenwriting, worked as a TV writer, and then found myself wanting to do something different.

From there, I went all-in on freelance writing as I traveled the world, and mastered the art of doing great work for high-paying clients. Then, after years of learning the ins and outs of freelancing, I put together all of my knowledge in my book Six-Figure Freelance Writer to share with other writers how to do the same.

Now, I’m still happily freelancing away, but my focus this year was on my fiction writing. I wrote two fiction books (The Nomad Detective: Volume I and my upcoming romantasy novel The Ash Trials!) and next year I’m doubling down on fiction writing and running this Substack.

Having just one main writing focus each year can help you move the needle forward much more quickly.

Staying focused is much more effective than if you were just blindly scattering your energy across several different writing goals.

If you’re not a working writer already, I recommend starting with freelance writing. Why? It costs nearly $0 to start, and it’s one of the fastest pathways to earning a living as a writer.

Then, once you’ve created a financial cushion with your writing, you can start optimizing your freelancing so that you can make space for the other writing projects you want to embark on, such as running a successful Substack newsletter or writing novels.

If you try and do it backward, you’ll likely need to maintain some other non-writing day job, which can eat up a lot of your writing time and energy. I’ve found that freelance writing (done right!) can help you earn more and carve out more space once you start charging enough for your work. Plus, freelancing is kinda like subsidized writing practice.

But everyone has to carve their own path, so pick your focus for next year based on your goals and where you’re at.

Here are 4 questions to ask yourself when you’re preparing for 2025 as a writer:

1. What do I want my main writing focus to be in 2025?

2. What are some of the daily practices I need to do to reach my writing goals?

3. What are some of the obstacles that might come up to stop me from reaching my goals? How can I prepare plans in advance to help set myself up for success against these obstacles?

4. Who can I go to for advice or ask for help when I need it?

The last one is key. Whether you have a writers’ group, a supportive partner, or a friend you can rely on, you need to identify the people who can help hold you accountable and support you in your goals for the New Year.

So what are your biggest and boldest writing dreams for 2025? Feel free to discuss in the subscriber chat:

Here are some of my other posts that will help you plan for a brighter 2025:

✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: How to Make Writing Your Job

✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: Growth Weeks vs. Maintenance Weeks

🗞️ Writing News: Callie Hart’s Self-Published Book Quicksilver Sells Movie Rights to Netflix for 7-Figure Deal

I was watching a clip of Callie Hart being interviewed at a book event, and she said she wrote her breakout romantasy hit Quicksilver in just 8 weeks.

The audience audibly gasped (as did I!) because while the book is self-published, the fun plot rivals nearly all of the traditionally published romantasy books that came out this year. I reviewed Quicksilver here on my blog.

Recently, Netflix just won a 7-figure auction for the book’s movie rights, and this is such a huge win for authors who are self-publishing their books.

You don’t need a gatekeeper: you just need to write a great book.

📚 Author Corner: Behind-the-Scenes of Making the Map for My Upcoming Romantasy Novel The Ash Trials

I’m almost done writing The Ash Trials — and wow, what a journey it has been.

I spent 2 weeks in NYC and 2 weeks in the desert writing nonstop — with just a short break for Thanksgiving with family :) In this short period of time, I passed 100,000+ words written and I’ve done multiple edit passes already.

One of the unexpected joys of writing this book has been creating the map that will go in the front of the book.

I’m (loosely) basing my world after my time spent on the island of Madeira this year, but with a lot of cool magical elements.

Here’s my rough initial sketch for the map of the island:

And here’s the in-progress map so far, created by the awesome map designer Melissa from the UK:

Melissa added so many amazing details to the map already, including a version of the crown from the book cover to the map’s compass design on the top left. It’s everything I hoped for in a fantasy map design!

If you need a map designed, you can hire Melissa here.

Next up is the coloring and finalizing of the map to get it ready to go for the book interior!

✨ Wellness for Writers: It’s Okay to Have “Nothing” Days

There have been a few days over the past two months where I did absolutely ✨ nothing ✨ and it was sublime.

I got off of the hamster wheel of life, and just read a book in bed and got food delivered. I didn’t do any chores, didn’t answer any emails… just existed.

I’ve designed my schedule and work life as a writer over the past 4 years specifically to make space for days like this, and it helps me be happier and more productive.

So don’t be afraid to draw yourself an Epsom salt bath once in a while and just spend the day lounging around. Don’t let hustle culture burn you out!

🎥 Video of the Week: My 3-Month Book Launch

I’m launching my book The Ash Trials on a very accelerated timeline! If you’re curious about what the behind-the-scenes journey looks like as a self-published author, I’ve put together the first video in this series for you.

📸 Photo of the Week: Taiwan Travels

my may 2024 trip to taiwan

I visited Taiwan this year and was floored by how beautiful and unique this place was. And yes, the boba tea there was exceptional. Get my Taiwan travel guide here.

👀 Follow me on Substack Notes and Instagram for more!

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Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,

-Amy