Most freelance writers dream of hitting six figures. But what does it take to scale beyond that milestone to seven figures?
In a recent live conversation, bestselling author and seven-figure memoir ghostwriter Amy Suto shared the exact strategies that transformed her business, and they might surprise you.
The Branding Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Amy's most dramatic income jump didn't come from improving her writing skills. It came from a $3,000-$5,000 investment that felt "ungodly" at the time: a professional website redesign and headshots.
"I had a pretty bad WordPress website that I designed myself," Amy recalls. "My partner Kyle took one look at it and said, 'Maybe you should upgrade this.'"
The result? Her monthly income skyrocketed from $4,000 to $50,000.
The lesson: The leap from six to seven figures isn't about becoming Shakespeare; it's about positioning yourself as a luxury service provider.
My new novel, Karma Unleashed, is out now. It’s a mystical suburban thriller set between the US and the Middle East.
Why Clients Pay Premium Rates for Ghostwriters
Amy discovered that clients aren't just buying writing skills. They're buying an experience, a brand, and the confidence that they're working with someone who understands their vision.
"When people are looking to hire freelancers, it's not just about skill," she explains. "It's about customer service, presentation, and making clients feel like they're getting something really special."
This shift in mindset, from craftsperson to entrepreneur, is what separates six-figure writers from seven-figure ones.
The Memoir Goldmine
Why did Amy choose memoir ghostwriting over other niches? The answer reveals why some freelance specializations command higher rates than others.
"Memoir ghostwriting pays so much better because a client is publishing a book that's going to lead to speaking gigs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, coaching clients, or capturing their legacy," Amy notes. "The value of a memoir is truly priceless."
Unlike copywriting projects with measurable ROI, memoir writing serves deeper emotional and legacy needs, which justifies premium pricing.
Building the Inbound Client Machine
Today, Amy receives 3-4 client inquiries daily without any outreach. Here's how she built that system:
1. SEO-Optimized Everything
Treated every platform (LinkedIn, Upwork, website) as a search engine
Used "freelance memoir ghostwriter" consistently across all profiles
Made herself findable for her ideal clients
2. Strategic Content Creation
Built a blog sharing the journey of freelance writing
Moved to Substack to fill the gap in transparent income discussions
Created valuable resources for other writers
3. The Job Board Ecosystem
When clients started reaching out for writers Amy couldn't accommodate, she created a job board that now serves her community while positioning her as the go-to expert in the field.
The Cold Outreach Reality Check
Interestingly, Amy's success didn't come from cold emailing memoir prospects. "I reached out to every single entrepreneur who has ever been on Shark Tank," she admits. "I had some great calls, but none of them were ready for a memoir."
Instead, she focused on being discoverable when clients were ready to find her—a strategy that proves the power of inbound marketing over outbound sales.
The Burnout That Led to Breakthrough
Amy's journey wasn't without challenges. In early 2021, she pushed herself to the brink, developing rheumatoid arthritis from stress and overwork. This crisis forced her to:
Raise her rates significantly
Work fewer hours
Implement better systems
Turn off phone notifications
Use her calendar as a comprehensive task management system
The result? She doubled her rates, worked half the time, and eventually put her autoimmune condition into remission.
Tools and Systems That Actually Work
Amy's approach to productivity is refreshingly simple:
Free Tools:
Calendar app as a to-do list (time-blocking everything)
Toggle for time tracking
Inbox zero commitment
Paid Tools:
Superhuman for email management
Notion for project tracking (she's creating a template for subscribers)
The key insight:
"You don't need a shiny automation tool to have a better system. Sometimes it's just turning off all notifications except texts from people you love."
The Self-Publishing Advantage
Amy believes self-publishing is the future for authors. Walking through an Oakland bookstore, she noticed self-published books sitting alongside traditionally published ones, with identical reader experiences.
"Why would you, as a writer, not want to keep the royalties and have total control over your books?" she asks.
Her publishing team includes line editors, proofreaders, cover designers, and interior formatters, but she notes that tools like Vellum make it possible for authors to handle typesetting themselves.
Building Community While Building Business
Amy's Substack serves dual purposes: it attracts ideal clients while building a community of writers. Her job board emerged organically from the overflow of client inquiries she couldn't handle.
This ecosystem approach, where content creation, client attraction, and community building mutually support one another, exemplifies how modern freelancers can scale beyond traditional one-to-one service models.
The Bottom Line
Amy's journey from $4K to $50K months reveals that scaling a freelance business often has less to do with improving core skills and more to do with:
Positioning yourself as a luxury service provider
Choosing a niche where clients see tremendous value
Building systems that bring clients to you
Creating multiple revenue streams that support each other
Prioritizing sustainability over short-term gains
For writers still in the feast-or-famine cycle, Amy's advice is clear:
"Get as many shots on goal as possible with jobs that feel like the right fit, while also building up those funnels for clients to find you."
The goal isn't just to make writing your job, it's to make it sustainable, profitable, and aligned with the life you want to live.
Want to learn more about building a successful freelance writing career? Amy Suto shares detailed strategies and hosts a job board for writers at Make Writing Your Job. She's also offering a free freelancing 101 class—check her Substack for details.
Do you want to become a ghostwriter? You may want to consider my self-led course, “Make Income from Ghostwriting,” available for only $79.99.
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