The First Chapter of My New Book "Substack Mastery" for Beta Readers

Dear writers and readers, a few months ago, when I publicly announced that I would dedicate 80% of my time to Substack, 15% to Newsbreak, and just 5% to Medium, I received an intriguing call from one of my book publishers. This serendipitous encounter was inspiring, much like one of my stories that also brought serendipity. Whenever serendipity knocks on my door, I answer graciously.

The company's CEO, who also happens to be a close friend, told me they were looking for a seasoned writer to write about Substack as a trendy topic in the publishing world. With my background and proven track record of publishing best-selling books, she said I was the best candidate for the job. So she approached me first.

She asked if I would be interested. I said yes, but I was clear that I didn't want to pursue traditional publishing as we had in the past. Understanding my need for freedom, she offered a hybrid publishing model that nicely suited my needs.

However, she emphasized that the market on this topic was growing rapidly, and they wanted the book to be marketed to their clients within a month, so she requested the book proposal within three days. I agreed and sent the proposal with a table of contents. Within a day, they approved it with some additional suggestions.

The key point was that the book needed to be written in an autobiographical format, filled with hands-on experience and evidence-based claims, not just theoretical or motivational content. There are already plenty of such books, and they don't sell well.

As you may know, publishers are focused on the bottom line, and even though she is my friend, she had to ensure the company's financial success in this economic climate.

They then gave me one month to complete the first draft for approval. Compared to my technical and scientific books, this was a breeze to write.

After work and daily meditation, I simply talked to myself in a flow state, turned those self-conversations into text, and, with minor self-editing, sent it to a proofreader sponsored by the publishing company. This week, I submitted the manuscript, which will now undergo professional editing.

I have set up preorders for both the digital and paperback versions of my book on Amazon and will soon make my editions available through my syndicated publishing company, which offers a lower commission.

The traditional publishing company will manage its own sales in global markets, but based on my past experience, the commission I receive from them is minimal-essentially pocket money. That's why I've moved away from exclusive traditional publishing, as I explained in a previous story a few years ago.

After this background, here is the first chapter of my book for beta readers.

Chapter 1: Why I Wrote This Book About Substack

Welcome to an exciting virtual journey that could transform your approach to digital content creation, marketing, distribution, and sales. I will introduce a simple yet very powerful tool: Substack.

Imagine diving into the vast ocean of online writing as a freelancer, only to find yourself lost in the waves of noise and competition, causing stress and anxiety.

Finding your voice, growing your audience, and building a sustainable newsletter can feel like solving a complex puzzle. But what if you had a clear map to guide you through this labyrinth? That's exactly what I have aimed to provide with this new book.

For the past five years, I have been deeply immersed in the Substack ecosystem, weaving together my 42+ years of experience in content development, strategy, and marketing with a background as a scientist, technologist, inventor, and community leader.

This book is the product of this journey, with its ups and downs, written in an autobiographical style. It is a practical, heartfelt guide designed to help freelance writers and content entrepreneurs discover and amplify their unique voices, grow their audiences, earn income from their creations, and build a sustainable newsletter-based content development and marketing business.

As a beta reader, you might be asking, "Why should I invest my precious time in another book about writing?" The answer is simple and personal.

Throughout my career as a now semi-retired technology/science consultant for large organizations and startup companies, I have witnessed countless talented people struggle with the same challenges freelance writers face.

Finding their footing in the world of digital content creation and audience building is a daunting task. As a person with high digital intelligence, strong emotional intelligence, an admirable adversity quotient, and a reasonable IQ, I struggled and even failed multiple times with strong fallback positions. Those who don't have sufficient levels of these types of intelligence are prone to a more painful failure even before they start.

I witnessed that despite the flashy success stories and grand promises, there has often been a missing piece in the publishing industry: real, hands-on guidance that addresses the everyday struggles of content creators. My new book is my way of bridging that gap.

Although I come from an academic background and know the importance of solid theory behind practice, my new book is not just about theory or abstract concepts.

I offer my struggles honestly and humbly, my true feelings, my triumphs, and failures with practical and actionable insights born from my own experience of growing a Substack to around 30,000 subscribers, my publications to 100,000+ subscribers, and earning the endorsement of 455 fellow Substack writers without even promoting my services.

I have walked the path you are on, and I want to share the lessons I have learned - both the triumphs and the trials - with you.

As you turn the digital or paperback pages of my new book, here's what you will be surprised by and what you will uncover as unspoken truth:

You will discover how to unearth and develop your unique perspective, making your content stand out and deeply connect with your readers.

You will learn proven strategies for attracting and retaining readers, from crafting captivating content to effective promotion techniques that work.

You will gain insights into creating a content ecosystem that supports long-term growth and engagement, ensuring your newsletters or platforms remain vibrant and relevant.

You will get practical guidance on transforming your Substack newsletters into a viable income source tailored to your current growth stage.

Last but not least, you will find real-world solutions to common obstacles faced by content creators like freelancers or content entrepreneurs, including maintaining consistency and managing reader requirements and expectations.

As a bonus, I will give an opportunity to the readers of my book to be part of my diverse and supportive community and vast network.

My initial consultant editors posed the question, as usual: "What sets this book apart?"

I told them this wasn't another book filled with flashy promises or theoretical fluff. This is a grounded, hands-on guide distilled from years of practical experience in simple language anyone can understand.

I designed it to serve as a tool that freelance writers or content entrepreneurs can use immediately, offering actionable strategies and real-world guidance and tips in a constructive and realistic way.

This book isn't about quick fixes or passing fads. It covers insights into building a sustainable legacy of professional growth and personal fulfillment through captivating, meaningful, impactful, helpful, memorable, inspiring, and nuanced content creation.

I am excited to start this journey with my fellow writers and editors. By the end of this book, you will have the knowledge and confidence to grow your audience, build thriving Substack newsletters, and make your mark in the world of content creation and distribution.

Thank you for joining my journey. Let's start the learning process with meaningful engagement for mutual benefit. Together, we can navigate this content labyrinth and build something truly extraordinary.

I look forward to your feedback as a beta reader. I will publish this on multiple platforms for free to give my beta readers the opportunity to refine it and make it a valuable knowledge source and illuminating reference for society

If you want to purchase the book at a reasonable price or gift it to someone you care about, you may order it from multiple online book stores. It is available in digital, paperback, and audio formats. I also share chapters on my Substack publication, Content Marketing Strategy Insights.

Recently I developed a discount bookstore on my author platform Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem using WooCommerce. It can be very helpful for book authors to create a bookstore like this. I wrote a book about it titled Monetize Your Passion with WooCommerce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writers, Podcasters, YouTubers, and Solopreneurs. I can guide you when needed. You can contact me via

Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow…www.amazon.com

I have good news for those who cannot monetize their content on Substack due to Stripe issues. Please share this story with those affected by the problem. There is a viable solution. My book will include the details.

If Substack Does Not Support Your Country via Stripe, There Is an Alternative Monetization…

I also invite you to my new program Substack Mastery Boost Pilot in tier tiers. The new version of Substack Mastery V2 is also available on my discount book store and will be offered via the new substackmastery.com site. The Illumination Writing Academy will be offered via the external site illumination-curated.com. Aiden MC, the owner of Illumination Gaming will curate our stories.

I interviewed a freelance writer who solved this difficult problem as a workaround with rigor, successfully implemented…medium.com

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

I am the owner and chief editor of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium.com and Substack.com. We support over 38K authentic writers. You are welcome to join my publications and repurpose your Vocal stories to reach a broader audience. You can contact me via my website.

If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 38,000+ writers who contribute to my publications on Medium. You can contact me via my website.

I also established a new publication for advanced writers called ILLUMINATION Scholar. If you write research-based and scholarly articles, essays, or stories, you are welcome to join this unique publication.

You can find out about my scholarly work on my Google Scholar or Bohrium profiles. You may check out my other most loved stories on this platform. As an instructor, my Udemy profile includes 3 Substack courses, and I will publish more soon.

Here are links to my FEATURED series of 50+ books on Amazon markets:

Health, Wellness, and Cognitive Performance Series

Technology Excellence and Leadership Series

Substack Newsletter Mastery, Excellence, and Eminence Series

Check out my books at Apple Stores.

If you are new to Vocal Media, I invite you to upgrade to Vocal+, which can bring many benefits to you as a writer and book author.