
How to Write for a Living 310: How going the extra mile for clients can build a life-changing solo business (with Christine McIlroy)
Season 3, episode 10 is here!
In this extra-special chat with my wife, Christine McIlroy, we peel back how our life together has intertwined with our creative work, the shifts we’ve navigated in solopreneurship, and how partnership can both challenge and fuel your writing career in surprising ways.
What we covered:
- Why going the extra mile for clients is a total game-changer as a solopreneur
- What it’s like when you partner in life and in creative purpose, and how sharing a “why” deepens what you publish.
- Our journey building businesses in parallel, and how we support each other along the way
- The tension between routine and inspiration: how to stay grounded when you work together but also stay individually creative.
- What happens when life milestones (moving, family, change) intersect with your writing career - not in polished form, but in real-time.
- Why transparency about process matters: how being open about failure, rewriting, and hustle builds trust with readers.
- The unseen work behind launching offers, courses, or publications: how support systems, tools, and trade-offs play a role.
- Our best mistakes, our biggest learnings, and how ‘doing the work together’ has changed what we believe about freedom, creativity and sustainability.
Make sure to check out Christine’s work before you go!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe
