Most writers never make it past “publish” to a real paycheck. Derek Hughes did just that. Starting from zero and in two years, he built thousands of Substack subscribers, converted 100+ paying readers, and turned templates and tools into a steady income. In this conversation, we unpack the system behind his results: the platform he focused on, the cadence he keeps, and the products that actually sell.
Derek’s arc: from “nobody reading” to momentum
In early 2023, Derek started writing online with no formal writing or business background. The first months were crickets, until curiosity took over. He treated writing like an experiment lab:
* Share broadly → notice what spikes interest
* Double down on what readers respond to (in his case, writing about writing)
* Systematize what works → turn it into templates/tools → ship as products
By mid-year, he focused his niche and saw compounding growth. He joined Substack ~12 months ago, learned the culture, then leaned in. Last month: ~800+ new free subs, 100 paid overall.
“People don’t always want more tips—they want something they can use today.”
My new novel, Karma Unleashed, is out now. It’s a mystical suburban thriller set between the US and the Middle East.
Why Substack (according to Derek)
* The ecosystem connects: posts ↔ notes ↔ chat ↔ lives ↔ DMs
* The platform rewards keeping people in-platform rather than punishing links
* Once you learn the moving parts, it’s a built-in growth loop
Caveat: onboarding can feel complex (profiles, publications, posts/notes/chat). Learn the basics, then pick the features that serve your goals.
The model: free value → paid tools → products → cohorts
Derek doesn’t chase paid subs as the main business model. He makes most of his income from digital products and live cohorts—with paid subs as a tidy, targeted add-on.
Free subscribers: 2 posts/week with practical tips and examplesPaid subscribers: 1 actionable tool/week (templates, prompts, frameworks)Products & cohorts:
* Most popular product: Resource Bank (templates, frameworks, checklists)
* Cohort: The Substack Growth Map (6 live Zoom sessions over 6 weeks)
Hosting: digital products on a lean, low-cost platform.Pricing: cohorts are higher-ticket (fewer buyers needed), products stay accessible (<$100).
Derek’s cadence at a glance
* Substack (free): 2 posts/week
* Substack (paid): 1 tool/week (Mondays)
* Email list: 1 newsletter/week (Wednesdays)
* Sales cycles: 8–10 email sequences during launches
“If I send one or two emails, nobody buys. Focused sequences win.”
Notes → Posts → Email → Offer: the funnel
Derek is ruthless about the reader’s journey:
* Discovery: Notes
* Depth: Long-form posts
* Control & Sales: Email list (he imports new Substack subs monthly)
* Monetization: Cohorts and products
Workflow tip: Once a month, he exports last-30-days subs from Substack, imports them to his email provider, and sends a friendly welcome. Quick, no Zaps needed.
Tools readers actually want (a peek)
* 15 headline templates
* First-sentence frameworks (question, stat, bold claim, etc.)
* Short story checklist to keep anecdotes tight
* Outlines & prompts to speed drafting
The test: if it saved Derek time, it’s worth packaging.
Focus beats FOMO
Derek’s mantra: pick one platform, get good, then expand.He avoids scattering energy across socials, SEO, and websites. Substack is his public hub; his email list is the sales engine.
Mindset & stamina
* Treat everything like a learn → apply → share loop
* Morning deep work: 90–120 min writing → 40-min walk (idea generator)
* Reads widely to cross-pollinate (writing, productivity, psychology, business)
Influences: Nicholas Cole, Kieran Drew, Cal Newport, Adam Grant
What’s next for Derek
* Continuing to alternate live cohorts with digital products
* Upcoming idea: The Visibility Blueprint (how to get seen as a writer)
* Long-term: staying flexible, following what works, not chasing shiny things
TL;DR
Derek Hughes’ playbook for Substack growth:
* Give yourself a year — treat it as an experiment lab before expecting results.
* Build an email list — sell to it with focused sequences, not one-off posts.
* Paid = tools — subscribers want shortcuts they can use, not just more advice.
* Alternate products & cohorts — products give passive income, cohorts give higher-ticket live revenue.
* Focus beats FOMO — master one platform, then consider expanding.
“Walking in the same direction for a year beats hopping from shiny thing to shiny thing for a week.”
Thank you Juan Salas-Romer, Ja'Reese Moore, Laura Howard, Ruth O'Reilly, Wilmenda Mina, and many others for tuning into my live video with Derek Hughes!
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