Building a Community with Substack with Milli Hill [S4 E3]

In our latest episode of the Business Book Bites podcast, Karen Williams is joined by accomplished writer and freelance journalist, Milli Hill. With a passion for challenging and reframing the narrative around women's bodies, Milli has authored three books, and her fourth, "Ultra Processed Women", is set to release this spring. 

Milli shares her remarkable journey from therapist to writer, spurred by her transformative experience of motherhood and her foray into mommy blogging. Discover how she transitioned into journalism, writing for prestigious publications like The Telegraph, and landed her first book deal with Harper Collins.

We delve into the world of Substack - a platform she believes is the future of writing. She provides valuable insights on how Substack has revitalized her writing career, offering both creative freedom and financial stability. Milli discusses the importance of consistency, finding your passion, and experimenting with content to build a loyal subscriber base. 

Whether you're an aspiring author or seasoned writer, Milli's advice on leveraging Substack to enhance your writing journey and connect with a dedicated audience is not to be missed. 

 ** Join our Community **

This podcast is brought to you by Karen Williams, The Book Mentor at Librotas. If you’d love to be part of our community and get inspired to write your book, join us at our next Coffee and Connect Café - a friendly online networking event held on the first Tuesday of each month from 12–1 pm UK time.

Check out all our events and sign up here: www.librotas.com/librotasevents.  Or visit our website to discover how we can best support you in writing a successful business-building book.

Key Takeaways

Embrace Your Authentic Voice: Milli emphasized the importance of writing about what truly interests and excites you. Whether it’s feminism, motherhood, or your unique life experiences, being genuine will resonate deeply with your audience.

Utilize Substack for Financial Stability: Substack offers a sustainable model for writers by providing multiple monetization options. From paid subscriptions to exclusive content, it helps in creating a predictable revenue stream while allowing you to own your mailing list.

Consistency and Community: Milli highlights the significance of consistency in content creation. Regular posting schedules not only build a loyal audience but also create a supportive community that engages and grows with your work. She also runs an online writing group through Substack, creating deeper connections with her readers.  


Bio

Milli Hill is a writer and freelance journalist with a passion for reframing the narrative around women’s bodies. She is the author of the bestselling Positive Birth Book (2017), Give Birth like a Feminist (2019) and My Period (2021, for preteen girls). Her fourth book, Ultra Processed Women, will be published by Harper Collins in 2025, with a fifth book to follow in 2026. To date, her books have been translated into seven languages. 

From 2012 to 2021 she founded and ran the Positive Birth Movement, a global network of antenatal discussion groups aimed at improving birth and giving women better access to support and information. She ended this work, in part, due to the online abuse she received as a result of advocating for sex-based language in maternity care. Milli has spoken nationally and internationally about positive birth, obstetric violence and female autonomy in health. 

As a journalist since 2013 she has written for many publications including Telegraph, Mail, Guardian, Independent, ipaper and Mother&Baby, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast news, BB