Slow Words Media
@slow-words-media.bsky.social
A home for people building a life around writing. Publications: How I Make Money Writing, Longform Profiles, Famous Writing Routines & My Writing Desk.
“I don’t think I’ll ever break into the middle class, but I live like a king most of the time.”
A conversation with @adamgnade.bsky.social about how he makes money writing.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
A conversation with @adamgnade.bsky.social about how he makes money writing.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview #82: How Adam Gnade Makes Money Writing
In this interview, Adam reflects on how moving to rural Kansas gave him the space and affordability to make art full time.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM
“I don’t think I’ll ever break into the middle class, but I live like a king most of the time.”
A conversation with @adamgnade.bsky.social about how he makes money writing.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
A conversation with @adamgnade.bsky.social about how he makes money writing.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
I really appreciated this moment in my chat with @otroedgargomez.bsky.social. We often assume that choosing a creative life means accepting financial chaos, but Edgar pushed back on that.
January 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
I really appreciated this moment in my chat with @otroedgargomez.bsky.social. We often assume that choosing a creative life means accepting financial chaos, but Edgar pushed back on that.
I’m really looking forward to sharing my interview with @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social. He's a veteran labor reporter with a very grounded take on why so many journalists are moving to Substack right now.
January 10, 2026 at 11:46 PM
I’m really looking forward to sharing my interview with @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social. He's a veteran labor reporter with a very grounded take on why so many journalists are moving to Substack right now.
When I first reached out to @richardscottlarson.com (The Long Hallway) for an interview, he hesitated. He actually wrote back wondering if his perspective would be valuable to the newsletter because, unlike the full-time dream we’re often sold, he relies heavily on a day job.
January 10, 2026 at 11:44 PM
When I first reached out to @richardscottlarson.com (The Long Hallway) for an interview, he hesitated. He actually wrote back wondering if his perspective would be valuable to the newsletter because, unlike the full-time dream we’re often sold, he relies heavily on a day job.
@mikebsacks.bsky.social had a really honest take on the danger of writing just for the paycheck in our interview. He warned that "if you’re forced to write pieces just for the money, it can be a very heavy slog."
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
@mikebsacks.bsky.social had a really honest take on the danger of writing just for the paycheck in our interview. He warned that "if you’re forced to write pieces just for the money, it can be a very heavy slog."
I really appreciated this breakdown from @philippaeast.bsky.social in our interview. She's spent seven years balancing two careers—one as a clinical psychologist and one as a suspense novelist—and she was incredibly open about how the math actually works.
January 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I really appreciated this breakdown from @philippaeast.bsky.social in our interview. She's spent seven years balancing two careers—one as a clinical psychologist and one as a suspense novelist—and she was incredibly open about how the math actually works.
We often hear stories about writers quitting their day jobs to take the leap, but we rarely hear about the financial logistics that actually make that landing possible.
January 8, 2026 at 10:56 PM
We often hear stories about writers quitting their day jobs to take the leap, but we rarely hear about the financial logistics that actually make that landing possible.
Aram Mrjoian (author and managing editor of Michigan Quarterly Review) once told me that he worries that too many writers are waiting for "one lucky break" to make everything fall into place.
January 8, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Aram Mrjoian (author and managing editor of Michigan Quarterly Review) once told me that he worries that too many writers are waiting for "one lucky break" to make everything fall into place.
When you see "Pulitzer Prize Finalist" next to an author's name, it’s easy to assume they have reached a level of financial security that the rest of us are chasing. We tend to think that kind of critical acclaim automatically translates into financial freedom.
January 8, 2026 at 10:53 PM
When you see "Pulitzer Prize Finalist" next to an author's name, it’s easy to assume they have reached a level of financial security that the rest of us are chasing. We tend to think that kind of critical acclaim automatically translates into financial freedom.
I’m so grateful to Edgar Gomez (author of Alligator Tears) for breaking down his income in our interview. It is such an illuminating look at what life as a full-time writer actually entails.
January 6, 2026 at 6:04 AM
I’m so grateful to Edgar Gomez (author of Alligator Tears) for breaking down his income in our interview. It is such an illuminating look at what life as a full-time writer actually entails.
I spoke with novelist, playwright, and memoirist @alicejolly.bsky.social, who has spent 28 years navigating the brutal economics of literary fiction:
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview #80: How Alice Jolly Makes Money Writing
In this interview, Alice shares how she’s kept writing literary fiction for nearly three decades, even when the financial returns were uncertain or nonexistent.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
I spoke with novelist, playwright, and memoirist @alicejolly.bsky.social, who has spent 28 years navigating the brutal economics of literary fiction:
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
In this upcoming interview with @davidwbrown.com (The New Yorker, The New York Times, author of The Mission), he offers a reality check that every freelancer needs to hear.
January 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
In this upcoming interview with @davidwbrown.com (The New Yorker, The New York Times, author of The Mission), he offers a reality check that every freelancer needs to hear.
I spoke with culture writer & author @carriesnotscary.bsky.social on the economics of her 14-year media career:
💸 The transparency of spousal support as a safety net
📉 Why name recognition no longer guarantees better rates
✍️ Writing "bullshit" clickbait to fund the work you actually love
💸 The transparency of spousal support as a safety net
📉 Why name recognition no longer guarantees better rates
✍️ Writing "bullshit" clickbait to fund the work you actually love
January 2, 2026 at 12:57 AM
I spoke with culture writer & author @carriesnotscary.bsky.social on the economics of her 14-year media career:
💸 The transparency of spousal support as a safety net
📉 Why name recognition no longer guarantees better rates
✍️ Writing "bullshit" clickbait to fund the work you actually love
💸 The transparency of spousal support as a safety net
📉 Why name recognition no longer guarantees better rates
✍️ Writing "bullshit" clickbait to fund the work you actually love
"I chose a life where I could still do the meaningful work of journalism and my novel writing would be free of financial and professional pressure. And I have no regrets about that decision."
— @knguyen.bsky.social
— @knguyen.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
"I chose a life where I could still do the meaningful work of journalism and my novel writing would be free of financial and professional pressure. And I have no regrets about that decision."
— @knguyen.bsky.social
— @knguyen.bsky.social
I spoke with comedy-horror author @jeffstrand.bsky.social on quitting his day job & going indie:
💸Trading traditional advances for indie
🎥Why Hollywood rights pay peanuts unless you write the script
🧟How a 50-book backlist creates stability
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
💸Trading traditional advances for indie
🎥Why Hollywood rights pay peanuts unless you write the script
🧟How a 50-book backlist creates stability
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview #77: How Jeff Strand Makes Money Writing
In this interview, Jeff reflects on quitting his day job, going indie, and why he should’ve started sooner.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I spoke with comedy-horror author @jeffstrand.bsky.social on quitting his day job & going indie:
💸Trading traditional advances for indie
🎥Why Hollywood rights pay peanuts unless you write the script
🧟How a 50-book backlist creates stability
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
💸Trading traditional advances for indie
🎥Why Hollywood rights pay peanuts unless you write the script
🧟How a 50-book backlist creates stability
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
“Have a partner who makes more money than you do. There is no viable business model for non-topical, freelance, slowform journalism.”
— Elon Green (Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing)
— Elon Green (Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing)
December 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
“Have a partner who makes more money than you do. There is no viable business model for non-topical, freelance, slowform journalism.”
— Elon Green (Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing)
— Elon Green (Interview #4: How Elon Green Makes Money Writing)
“Keep your expectations in hell, because that's where writers live. Enjoy the act of writing. Enjoy what you write. Do it for yourself first. Be grateful for whatever opportunities or monies come from it. The crumbs are few, and the mouths are many.”
— Ashley Hutson (HIMMW #43)
— Ashley Hutson (HIMMW #43)
December 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
“Keep your expectations in hell, because that's where writers live. Enjoy the act of writing. Enjoy what you write. Do it for yourself first. Be grateful for whatever opportunities or monies come from it. The crumbs are few, and the mouths are many.”
— Ashley Hutson (HIMMW #43)
— Ashley Hutson (HIMMW #43)
Love this advice from @nickbowlin.bsky.social for journalists:
"Go to where the other reporters aren’t, find the stories that haven’t been told. It’s the only way I know to consistently get responses from editors."
"Go to where the other reporters aren’t, find the stories that haven’t been told. It’s the only way I know to consistently get responses from editors."
December 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Love this advice from @nickbowlin.bsky.social for journalists:
"Go to where the other reporters aren’t, find the stories that haven’t been told. It’s the only way I know to consistently get responses from editors."
"Go to where the other reporters aren’t, find the stories that haven’t been told. It’s the only way I know to consistently get responses from editors."
I spoke with Verge reporter @miasato.bsky.social on navigating the volatile economics of the internet:
🏆The reality of journalism awards: prestige vs. paycheck
📱Why she posts on TikTok
💼Why she chose a staff role over the "freedom" of freelancing
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
🏆The reality of journalism awards: prestige vs. paycheck
📱Why she posts on TikTok
💼Why she chose a staff role over the "freedom" of freelancing
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview #78: How Mia Sato Makes Money Writing
In this interview, Mia explains why she’s on TikTok, not to go viral, but to make sure her work finds readers wherever they are.
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I spoke with Verge reporter @miasato.bsky.social on navigating the volatile economics of the internet:
🏆The reality of journalism awards: prestige vs. paycheck
📱Why she posts on TikTok
💼Why she chose a staff role over the "freedom" of freelancing
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...
🏆The reality of journalism awards: prestige vs. paycheck
📱Why she posts on TikTok
💼Why she chose a staff role over the "freedom" of freelancing
howimakemoneywriting.substack.com/p/interview-...