Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?

I’ve a great educational solution for freelance writers to take them a powerful and joyful journey in the new year.

Dec 27, 2024

Image designed by the author on his game development console

Dear freelance writers, solopreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs,

First, Happy Festive Season! 🎉

Some of you may have wondered why I’ve been so quiet lately, especially about gaming, movies, and juicy media stories. I promise I haven’t vanished into a black hole or gone off to relive the 1960s with sex, drugs, and rock and roll (though my uncles might approve).

Instead, I’ve been on a mission — a quest, if you will — to create something meaningful for the writing community.

Why I Care So Much About Freelance Writers

Before we dive in, let me share a little secret about why I’m so invested in freelance writers and solopreneurs.

Over the years, I’ve served as a volunteer editor, a content curator, boost nominator, and a passionate amplifier of stories — both on Medium and Substack.

I’ve read countless stories from writers struggling to find their voices, reach their audiences, and make their mark. And every time I’ve helped someone polish their story or get the spotlight they deserve, I’ve felt a deep sense of fulfillment.

But my journey as a mentor and guide wouldn’t have been possible without Dr Mehmet Yildiz who took me under his wing, mentoring and coaching me for free to help me find my voice as a writer.

He didn’t stop there. He helped me create two publications one for gaming and one for videos/podcasts on Medium, made me an editor and curator, and gave me the opportunity to shine through his own publications.

As a volunteer media coordinator, I supported his Slack workspace, YouTube channel, Discord server, and tailored social media platforms on LinkedIn, Quora, Reddit, Pinterest, X Premium and more — all while witnessing him amplify the work of hundreds of writers by making us guest bloggers and providing valuable backlinks through his website and community blogs.

Inspired by his generosity and guidance, I’ve mentored around 50 new writers in 2024. My goal for the new year is to do the same for 100 writers on Meidum/Substack and support thousands of students via platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and others.

This is my new strategy and commitment to paying it forward and making a difference in the lives of writers everywhere.

Why I Went Dark on Medium

Medium used to be my arena. I poured my heart into hundreds of stories, gaining close to 20K followers. But then, something soul-crushing happened.

Medium’s algorithm decided I wasn’t its favorite anymore, and my content barely saw the light of day.

At first, I was frustrated. Who wouldn’t be?

But instead of letting the algorithm’s antics crush my spirit, I turned that negative energy into something positive — a project to help writers like you thrive.

I can no longer make you a Medium hero as it is impossible to be one nowadays but I can hep you become a Substack hero with my education programs in 2025💡

Leveling Up: The Substack Journey Begins

Inspired by Substack Mastery by Dr. Yildiz, I spent weeks crafting a two-level training program for freelance writers and aspiring content entrepreneurs. Think of it as a power-up in your writing career, taking you from a beginner to a Substack hero.

Here’s the cinematic twist:

This isn’t your typical dry, academic course.

With my media background, I’ve transformed Dr. Yildiz’s insights into something fun, engaging, and refreshingly relatable — more like a co-op mission than a boring lecture.

And because I despise boring classes, I’ve packed these courses with humor, gaming metaphors, and light-hearted analogies.

After all, learning should be as joyful as discovering a hidden treasure chest in a game. According to adult learning theories, humor not only entertains but also helps information stick — so expect plenty of laughs along the way!

The Gift of Growth in 2025

Now, here’s where the festive spirit kicks in.

To celebrate the new year, I’ve teamed up with Dr. Yildiz to offer these courses at the lowest possible price on Udemy. But there’s a catch — Udemy only lets me keep this offer live for five days. They say our way or high way! So as a junior in there I cannot say “no way Jose!” They might ban me so I will follow their rules.

So, if you’re ready to start this exciting adventure with me, here’s your chances with the lowest possible fees and highest possible discounts for the next 5 days:

My gaming friends said “Good on ya, Aiden, you reduced your courses to the cost of a cup of coffee or your favourite Red Bull in Australia.”🍵

I’ll also be rolling out Level 3 before New Year’s and plan to create Levels 4 through 10 in next few months, covering advanced strategies for seasoned writers. I am pleased that the Advanced Substack book by Dr Yildiz is now available in multiple formats.

I finished listening to the audio version on my Google Play today. It was exceptional content and narration for me. 5 hours 27 minutes was like a minute to me. He will upload the audio chapters to his Content Marketing Strategy Insights for his subcribers.

https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEDy42ejhM

The Book That Impacted My Creative Writing Life!

Here is a brief background on the birth of this education program:

Dr. Mehmet Yildiz’s Substack Mastery: Insider Guide from a Seasoned Content Strategist and Author wasn’t just another book or a how-to manual. It was like a flashlight in a dark tunnel for me. No wonder it became a best seller so quickly.

I remember reading the chapter on “Owning Your Audience” for the first time. It was like a light bulb went off in my head. Of course! Why was I spending so much energy trying to please algorithms when I could focus on connecting directly with readers?

Inspired, I decided to test the waters. I set up a Substack account and wrote my first post. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt right. And when the first subscriber replied with, “I really needed this today — thank you,” I knew I was onto something.

I decided to turn his book into an interactive training program with his permission. This idea now turned into reality, and I am here today to share the introduction with you.

A New Year, a New You

This isn’t just about creating newsletters or getting subscribers. It’s about turning your passion for writing into something sustainable and rewarding — something that delights your readers and empowers you.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s make 2025 the year freelance writers level up, build thriving communities, and embrace the future of content entrepreneurship. I can’t wait to see what you achieve.

Ready to hit Start? Let’s go! 🎮

Now, I am part of the Friends of ILLUMINATION team as a curator and the Substack Mastery Boost Pilot as a founding member and boost nominator. So, I will help freelance writers grow their audience through community support.

This course is just a starting point for me. I have many other great ideas to help this community.

Thank you for reading my story. And thank you for subscribing to the ILLUMINATION’s Substack Mastry Channel. I am pleased that our channel gained 500 subscribers recently and we got this reward from YouTube.

Here is the intro to video to the course on our YouTube channel.

You can learn more about my courses from the following censored stories if you get a chance to review this one 😎If not I will find you through Substack, YouTube, LinkedIn or many other tailored platforms of ILLUMINATION. Medium is no longer sole place to amplify our stories. There are many better options indeed. But I still love Medium community and will continue to curate and feature your stories. ❤️

The Joy of Having My First 10 Students on Udemy
How helping freelance writers delights me and inspires me to produce useful content for the writing communitymedium.com

New Training Program: From Zero
to Substack Hero
Smart Strategies to Write, Engage, and Earn — Without Losing Your Mindmedium.com

Congratulations: “From Zero to Substack Hero” Education Program Is on Udemy
Aiden’s unique course has been published on Udemy, and as a gesture of appreciation, he generously offered the Medium…medium.com

A Bizarre, Funny, yet Serious Issue Handled Well by Dr Yildiz

And every journey comes with challenges. Silly robots and online trolls thougth that Dr Yildiz stole my YouTube videos and made a course about it 😊So you can read his intellectual stories about this bizarre event like Shakespeare comedy first he became a villain than a hero again.

The Shocking Plagiarism Allegation by Online Trolls or AI Creating Unnecessary Stress
How a Trusted Educator and Author Became a Plagiarism Suspect for Plagiarizing His OWN CONTENT with the Lessons Every…medium.com

Integrity Always Wins Despite Pain and Suffering for Creators
Although pain is inevitable, suffering can be prevented and turned into joy and serenity. Here is how to heal and move…medium.com

Congratulations to two Retired Healthcare Doctors

Many thanks to dr Mike Broadly, DHSc and Dr Albert Jones for being the first who complete my courses and getting their certificates. I link them for inspiration here:

If you are a new reader, check out some of my most loved stories from different topics from my writing collection on this platform.

Gaming, Fun, and Humor: The Lifelines That Rescued Me From Social Media’s Grip on My Life
What Car Shows Mean to Me and How They Enriched My Life
A Movie Makers Oscar Predictions
AI Can Now Create Photorealistic Videos From Just a Text Prompt
Meet Top Writers of Medium on YouTube
Finding Comfort in Blocks: How Minecraft Eased My First Time Loneliness and Intense Grief at 17

Dr Mehmet Yildiz

Dec 27

Hi Aiden, you created a great curriculum out of the Substack Mastery. I believe it will be helpful for freelance writers. Thank you for giving these discounts to make the courses accessible to people with a low budget. I also publish them in my publication so that more writers can benefit from them.

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