Jodie from I'm Just a Woman: She Stopped Waiting for Permission and Built a 3.9K+ Subscriber Substack Instead✨The Career Pivot Playbooks Series

This article was co-authored by I'm Just A Woman.

This Career Pivot Playbook features Jodie, the creator of I’m Just a Woman, a former drama school graduate turned Substack writer, who built a 3.9K+ subscriber community around one idea most creators overlook…

Your voice is your leverage.

She didn’t start out as a writer. She trained in performing arts, stepped into a world of scripts, roles, and expectations then quickly ran into a problem many creatives know too well: the stories didn’t feel like hers.

So she stopped waiting for permission.

What began as writing plays and monologues turned into something much bigger: a newsletter and community where she writes openly about women, identity, and self-expression on her own terms, without having to refer to a rulebook.

On paper, she had no traditional writing background. No roadmap. No guarantee it would work. Just a growing conviction that her perspective mattered more than perfection.

What she did next is the playbook.

Inside, Jodie shares how she went from writing in isolation to building a loyal audience of thousands, how Substack became her creative home, and why consistency mattered less than showing up authentically as herself.

She breaks down what helped her grow, and why trusting your instinct is often the deciding factor between staying invisible and building something people connect with.

She also reflects on publishing her first book, writing her second, and how building a voice-led platform opened doors she never planned for.

If you’ve ever felt like your experience doesn’t quite fit on the traditional path, or you’re waiting to feel ready before you start sharing your work, this one is for you.

A public archive of modern career blueprints…

Most careers no longer follow a straight line.

People pivot gradually.
They extend their work beyond institutions.
They combine roles, platforms, and income streams.

Career Pivot Playbooks is a weekly series curated by Katharine Gallagher documenting how professionals build resilient, future-ready careers by turning existing skills into income, often combining Substack with consulting, teaching, research, creative work, or business ownership.

The focus isn’t outcomes.
It’s about how careers are shaped in practice.

Jodie Whelan is an author, artist, and the creator of I’m Just A Woman, a successful Substack newsletter exploring storytelling, identity, and women finding their own voice.

She trained in drama school, where her questions around storytelling, representation, and creative freedom first began to surface.

Over time, she began exploring her own work more directly, moving from performance into writing and building a space that felt entirely her own.

Today, I’m Just A Woman has grown into a creative platform where she writes in her own voice, has published her first book, just released her second, and continues to grow a global readership ecosystem.

You can follow her work here →

Of course! So, I’ll be honest I’m still a bit of a novice when it comes to writing. I’ve never studied nor had a career in writing but I did study Performing Arts and graduated from Drama School back in 2017 (ew).

In my second year of studies, I started to have this frustration of how women are portrayed in some scripts, how women were compared and judged way more than the men. The roles never felt meaty enough for me, so I started thinking about “fuck it, why don’t I just try writing roles for me - instead of waiting?”.

Then my third year, the lack of control over our showcases and showreels felt even more frustrating. So, again - I took creativity into my own hands and in my final year of studies, I had written a full length play called “The Acquired Taste of Women”, me and a few girls from my class then performed it and it felt fucking increible. I threw out all the stereotypes and instead played against it. In my dissertation performance, I also wrote and performed a piece where I was doing everything a woman “shouldn’t” do and making fun of it in a stand up comedy style. Swearing, being “unladylike” and talking openly about sex, loud and proud. Looking back, I’m Just A Woman was always going to be inevitable, now here I am - with just over 3.7k subscribers on Substack, sold multiple copies of my first book, writing my second and it’s just fucking insane.

I think that once I started writing plays and monologues in my final year at Drama school and throughout lockdown - I still felt something missing. I was creating characters and stories based on real life experiences and true stories, but never felt quite confident enough to share my real truth. I didn’t have much self belief at drama school, I didn’t have loads of confidence speaking out and saying what I truly felt - due to so many different reasons. The main one being - gender stereotypes and sexism.

After drama school and throughout lockdown, I really was able to fully take time to strip everything back to its core and hold a mirror up to myself. I’ve always known deep down I was meant for something more, whatever that meant. I’ve always been how I am now but almost too afraid to fully step into my power without truly knowing why. Through researching and deepening my knowledge - I started to unpack so much more than I ever expected. I started reading Florence Given’s books and it all started to make sense.

From drama school, creating characters and writing plays for and about women that are outside of the “norm” - felt so risky. But, I started to discover other women that thought like me, I was slowly starting to feel more confident and understand why women for so long stay how they “should” be. At drama school there were so many rules and I get it.. But I fucking hated it. So, the lightbulb moment came after years of unpicking the rulebook and throwing it away - I’m Just A Woman has zero fucking rules.

I think the creativity aspect of studying drama has helped me massively in terms of creating a brand identity. I’ve always loved Art but took a step back from it throughout my studies.

At drama school there were so many chances to speak up, but it had to be the “right” thing. Even though creativity was encouraged, it was also limiting for me. The fact that I am in charge of everything, not following any rules and creating with no limitations feels incredibly liberating.

Also, this might not make sense but remembering how silly some of the things were that we did, how physically freeing some of the tasks were that we did at drama school. These are the moments I always remember and try to take into every aspect of my life - life is far too short to not be, say and do whatever the fuck you want.

So, drama school taught me many things that help me today - in ways that I never honestly planned. I didn’t trust my gut enough with things back then, now? I always go with my instinct and so far, I’ve not regretted a single thing.

After lockdown, I truly connected so much to multiple women that made me feel like I could try anything. Florence Given, Fearne Cotton, Megan Barton Hanson, Mel Robbins… All these women truly connected to me in ways I never thought anyone could understand - in so many different ways! I started to really consider writing becoming a career, because why not? Did I feel silly considering it? Yes. Did I still make plans to go ahead with it? Damn right.

I started researching blogs and how to begin, what did I want to write about and why? Then I used the classic Wordpress, at first - nothing. Then I got a couple of comments, wow. I had about 5-10 followers on Instagram but still kept posting. Then, I discovered Substack… I had no clue what it was, how to use it or how it could work but still - I posted and researched how to use it and what works well. Silence.. Nothing. But I kept posting, kept writing, kept trying to connect with other women and then BOOM - the likes, comments and subscribers started to rack up and the rest is history!

I did and still do have my paid subscriptions switched on, but I soon realised that I loved connecting with women from all over the world and that was more important than pressuring myself to have a piece ready for a certain day or time every week. I’m such a fluid and free writer, income wise - I have made money from my digital products that I write about and mention on Substack. I’m still learning, so any advice on how to make this my full time career would be much appreciated! Teehee.

It’s for women all over the world. It’s for the woman I was years ago - the woman that doubted herself, that thought she was weird for not wanting the same things that a “real woman” should want. For the woman that felt like an outsider for being “too loud”, for the woman that used to overthink everything she would say, do and wear but not know why. It’s for the women that want to become the woman they envision in their mind but feel they will never become. I write for the women that are afraid to speak up, so I hope to speak for them and with them.

I strongly believe that women all over the world all think and feel the same in some way, yet sometimes it is clouded by those around that try to diminish the thoughts, feelings and opinions with negativity, sexism and internal misogyny. I hope that my writing is the woman that younger me needed, that many other younger women may also need.

I always thought I’d have to “write like a writer”, but I don’t - I write like me. I write how I speak because I want women that read my work to know that I see them, these are my genuine thoughts, feelings and opinions and in every piece I do there is a “subtle nod” to the reader, quietly saying “I got you, you’re not alone” - without them even needing to comment or subscribe.

Unfortunately, as mentioned - I don’t get paid but I do have a book out which I have sold multiple copies of and some affirmations which have also sold, which is INSANE. I have had some of these women reach out to me and tell me how much my book has made them think differently and grow in confidence - to prioritise self love above everyone and everything else. I am writing my second book which delves even deeper and is more personal and touches on all of this, so keep an eye out!

Ooh good question! I think what turned out harder than expected was the mental strength it takes to keep going, especially when it’s something you’ve not done before.

The self belief has to be so fucking strong, because luckily I have an incredible fiance and best friend who have believed in me right from the beginning but even my own family didn’t understand it. So if you really look at it - I had myself and two others believing against the whole world essentially. This is why I think you truly have to LOVE what you’re doing and creating, you can’t just do what you think is right it has to FEEL right, otherwise it will be way harder to stay strong in those quiet moments where you’re not getting likes or comments.

I had many doubtful moments where I felt silly and delusional for believing that this could actually become something. But then it did, and then everything else started to become easy - all whilst feeling scared that it could all stop and people could change their minds and I lose all the subscribers.

Surprisingly, I found the moments hard when I would have some fast growth - because I almost felt this kind of pressure to post every five minutes on my notes in case everyone got bored. It’s a fucking rollercoaster to be honest, but it’s a ride I never ever want to get off. But yeah, self belief is EVERYTHING.

Difficult at first but so fun all the same! I actually had a guidebook on this a while ago and I helped multiple women with their profiles. I think one of the most important piece of advice I could give is just BE YOU. It’s so simple but I think a lot of people forget that not everything has to be so complex. People invest in people, they don’t care about all the fancy stuff or the correct words. Authenticity is KEY.

Also, developing your brand isn’t a one stop situation. Choose your colour scheme, choose your brand name - the rest of it can transform and transcend the more you develop on your journey. I changed my logo twice, because the first one I had became ‘meh’ to me and I felt I’d outgrown it already and if I’m not in love with my logo - no one else is.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is just be consistent, have self belief - even if it’s not ounces of it yet (that will come) and be authentic and say, be and do whatever the fuck suits you and your branding.

The journey on substack has just been so much more magical than I ever anticipated. I’ve connected with so many gorgeous women, guest starred on a couple of podcasts, collaborated and so much more! I’m so proud to have built such a strong community of women.

Hmm, you know what? I am so beyond passionate about what I’ve created, quitting is simply not an option for me. But, I nearly didn’t even start and I think that’s crazy. It wasn’t a sudden idea that I had and just simply went for it, I was debating with myself for a while before hitting publish. I had written so much but unsure of what I would actually post, if I actually would because it all felt too vulnerable and risky. But that small voice in my head saying “but what if it turns out how you plan?”. That tiny voice in your head, no matter how small that creeps in amidst all the doubts and fears is fucking worth listening to, 100%. I had about 100 doubts but that ONE tiny voice saying “what if” is what pushed me forward. That’s all it takes, that one tiny voice telling you to go for it, it will become louder and soon the doubts will be so miniscule you’ll barely notice them.

I’ve never felt like quitting but I have had these doubts creep in some days when I’ve either lost subscribers or not had as many comments on a post I was really proud of - but that’s normal! And it is so bloody worth it. For every zero comment post, there is 100 other reasons to keep going and the main one being - the women that read my work and the women that are yet to discover me. I’m not going anywhere, Queens.

I wish I could advise more on the monetizing to be honest, I could do with some advice please - haha! I mainly monetize by my e books and other digital products. And regarding the advice, I feel like a parrot now but I just cannot stress it enough, believe in yourself. Whatever you do, whatever path you take, whatever it is you want to write about: do it fully. Go balls to the wall! But also do your research, look at other accounts in your niche - I think so many people see other similar accounts as “competition” but unless they are copying you (which is such an icky compliment) then go for it. Connect with them, collaborate, reach out!

Not one single person in the entire universe is the exact same as another person, we are all so fucking unique - how exciting is that?! So, be just that. Be authentically you, always and the right people will find you, I promise.

Ooh what a juicy question to end on! One decision that changed everything was the decision to “hit publish” when I still had doubts. If I hadn’t done so much growth I wouldn’t have ever hit publish - I promise you. This is why I cannot stress enough how crucial growth is and to fully hold a mirror up to yourself and to prioritise self love. It doesn’t eradicate all doubts and confidence knocks but it gives you courage. The courage to try even with doubts and worries. This is why I am so bloody passionate about helping other women because I always look back on the moment where I decided to just go for it by listening to that tiny voice inside my head instead of all the doubts. It was one of the first times I actually did that, no joke. I can literally picture it so vividly - me, in my small office in my house up north “umm’ing and “ahh’ing” for hours, days even! “What if no one reads it?” “What if no one understands it?” “What if everyone laughs and thinks it’s stupid?” Fuck it. Life’s too short. Fast forward a year and half and look where I am. I’m Just A Woman has become my life, it’s literally a part of me and I am still growing and learning. We all are and it’s so fucking magical!

I think about what I’d be doing if I didn’t hit publish that day, I think I’d have always ended up doing this to be honest but I’m so glad I didn’t wait any longer, because life really is too precious and short to waste worrying and doubting when you can do that whilst simply going for it! What’s the worst that can happen?

Next in my career goals is to sell my Art work and publish my second book! Eeek. I also would love for writing and creating art to become my full time career, I would love to have my own podcast one day too so I can truly engage with so many amazing women and get their voices heard!

I’m Just A Woman is literally less than 2 years old which is crazy to me, so I am so beyond excited for what else lies in store for me! Keep an eye out my darlings and as Shania Twain famously said - Let’s Go, Girls!

Connect with Jodie…

Read her new book ‘The Mindset Glow-Up’ on Amazon

Digital Products on Lemon squeezy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realimjustawomanblog/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imjustawoman01

The Director’s Cut: Reclaiming Your Life and Power

Keep Your Standards High and Your Tolerance For Bullshit Low

Real-world career pivots, portfolio paths, and practical lessons from some of your favourite Substackers you can apply to your own next move.

Practical, strategic answers to the career questions ambitious professionals are asking as work, security, and opportunity continue to change.

Learn how to turn your current skills and experience into income and build a portfolio career beyond a single job, so you’re more resilient and in control.

I’m Katharine — a future-focused career strategist helping professionals build income options and stay relevant as work evolves.

🙏 I appreciate you being here and supporting this growing archive… and thank you to all the creators who contribute, it’s such a pleasure to learn from them.

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