Interview with Sinem Gunel
An established writer and a digital entrepreneur now shining on Substack
Medium readers can read this interview via this link
Dear writers and readers, today, I will introduce you to one of our bright stars,
, who has been part of our community since our beginning. I interviewed Sinem in 2020. However, since then, she made remarkable progress, so I want to introduce her again to share her success stories with you. Sinem always writes inspiring and educational stories on Medium. She built a large audience and recently has started a publication on Substack and made significant progress. She continues educating and inspiring writers. If you haven’t met her yet, this is a great opportunity.
Hi Sinem, thank you for your time. It is always a pleasure to chat with you and pick your great brains. Please tell us a bit about your background for new readers.
Thank you for the opportunity, Dr Yildiz. I am a digital entrepreneur, writer, and educator based in Vienna/Austria.
I started my first business at the age of 20 and have since grown from hosting in-person workshops to running a fully digital business with my fiancé Philip Hofmacher and our Dutch business partner, Jari Roomer.
We help writers, creators, and entrepreneurs to grow their audiences and monetize their work. A huge part of our work revolves around Substack and Medium as key channels to reach an audience.
The monetization strategies we build with our clients are diverse and vary depending on each creator’s desired business model and lifestyle.
You have been writing on Medium for a long time. Now tell us about your Substack experience, which is a new adventure for you.
Yes, after writing on Medium for seven years, I launched the Write • Build • Scale Substack publication in 2024. Our key goal was to reach a new audience on Substack, and we haven’t been disappointed. In fact, I have to admit that I vastly underestimated Substack’s relevance for writers like me who already have a big catalog of content.
We’ve been able to gain almost 5k subscribers within only 6 months and have received the Bestseller Badge on Substack in less than 60 days.
Even though the platforms are fundamentally different, we’ve been able to strongly leverage our existing audience, content, and know-how when we joined Substack. Right now, we’re using Substack, Medium, and Kit to grow and serve our audience.
What are your values as a writer and entrepreneur?
Authenticity and action are my guiding principles. I believe in teaching only what I practice and have seen work firsthand. Everything I do is about empowering others to take action and build lives filled with freedom and purpose.
I also deeply value community and collaboration. Writing can feel like a solo journey, but the truth is, your success grows exponentially when you surround yourself with the right people who challenge and support you.
What are the top books that have shaped your journey?
So many books have had an impact, but here are my current top four:
Atomic Habits by James Clear — A game-changer for habit-building and personal growth.
Dotcom Secrets by Russell Brunson — It shaped how I think about online marketing and sales funnels.
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard — A book that constantly reminds me to aim higher.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson — A brilliant guide to wealth, happiness, and decision-making.
What are your current hobbies?
I work out at least five times a week and read a lot of fiction books. In summer, I spend as much time as possible outdoors. In winter, I love to host dinner parties for my friends and family.
I also love hiking, traveling, and exploring new places — one of the perks of running a fully digital business.
How do you connect with your readers and students?
I’m highly active on Substack Notes, where I share thoughts, engage with my community, and start meaningful conversations. I also respond to as many comments and DMs as possible, especially from those who take part in my programs. My Substack Mastermind Community has also been a huge part of building genuine relationships — it’s where collaboration and mutual growth happen.
Additionally, I write personal updates and insights in my newsletters on Kit, giving my readers a behind-the-scenes look at my journey.
What are your future plans as a writer and entrepreneur?
My ultimate goal is to empower writers and creators to achieve financial freedom and creative independence while scaling Write • Build • Scale into a globally recognized platform for online writers.
Right now, we’re preparing a brand-new live training to help writers grow their audience and income on Substack in 2025.
What advice do you have for new writers?
Write consistently and prioritize action over perfection.
Start small, and don’t be afraid to experiment — you’ll only learn by doing.
Focus on building relationships with your readers and other creators because success in writing is rarely a solo effort.
Remember, the answer to most writing challenges is volume. Publish more, connect more, and improve more.
Many thanks to Sinem Günel for allocating her precious time. You can now connect with her via Substack and learn from her wonderful community-building experience.
If you want to be interviewed, you can contact me on our Slack Workspace or via this link on my website.
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