Hi!

IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR INDIE ARTISTS:

What’s the difference between the independent artist who spends all their brain power on trying to “hack the system” to gain more followers

and an independent artist who says whatever they want, whenever they want, how they want, with no algorithmic rhyme or reason and can still sit back and watch their career and audience grow?

If you think it’s “right place/right time” magical luck, you’d be sadly mistaken.

Or, if you’re certain *some* art is just more popular than others, that’s not it either.

If you’re guessing:

* they’d have to be famous…

* or maybe they’ve been working on it for decades…

* or they have a trust fund, so they can actually put time and effort into their growth strategies?

That’s a no, no, and absolutely not.

While some of these situations could potentially help, they’re not where real power exists. In all of those examples, the artist is still relying on outside forces of time, money, luck, or status.

But real power (life-changing power) isn’t built from time, money, luck, or status.

It’s built from attention. And what drives attention?

Writing that hooks.

If you could grow your career by using writing that hooks instead of chasing constantly-changing algorithms, would you finally take yourself seriously?

In today’s episode, I’m going to convince you of the power of writing that hooks AND I’m going to show you how to do it.

IN TODAY’S EPISODE, we’ll answer these questions:

* Why is writing the most important skill for indie artists?

* How does writing that hooks push your career forward?

* Why should I spend time on writing when I have so many other important things to do as an independent artist?

* How can I use specifics to quickly hook my reader?

* How does tension work in hooky writing?

* What do the 3-Act and 5-Act Structure writing models prove about writing that hooks?

* Why is my audience’s “repetition of ideas” an important part of my career growth?

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

😬 Using surprise and absurdity in Kinsley Vs. to create a hooky writing moment. David Gow and Lauren Karaman never cease to make me laugh-cringe-cry.

⚡️ Colin Corrigan’s “Attachment in Severance” from his fantastic Substack: The Story Energies

🔮 Octavia Butler’s essay “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future” from Essence Magazine, 2000

I'm offering a 1:1 experience for my fellow indie artists in April and May. These are the tracks available:

* Copy & Content Sessions: helping you craft noise-cutting copy

* Mastering the Release: designing a release campaign for your work

* Scene-Building Startup: setting up infrastructure for your indie career

We can work on one of these tracks two different ways: either a one-time private intensive, or a 4-week work sprint.

Curious? Let me know what you need here…

And I'll email you directly with what I think could help.

⌨️ Tell me in the comments: where do you think you can add more tension to your writing?

✨ If you like this episode… please consider texting it to a friend! ✨

You’re back. I’m back.

GOTTA ASK YOU THIS:

Instead of giving up on getting an audience to see your art because you’d rather scoop your cat’s litter box for all of eternity than research SEO keywords for another second,

What if “making content” felt more like divulging secrets to your best friend?

What if content marketing was as easy for you as pickleball is for Serena?

What if your content (non-derogatory) loaded people onto a proverbial express train to your work and created a scene even Warhol would envy?

If making content felt fun, would you finally put yourself out there with your full chest?

In today’s episode, I’m going to give you a total reframe on content. And before I lose you, here’s what this episode is NOT:

* It’s not about lack mindset!

* It’s not about believing in yourself!

* It’s not about changing your self-perception!

* It’s not about your fear of being seen!

Don’t get me wrong. I love to talk about those things, too. But that’s not this episode.

Today, I’m sharing one crucial shift in the actual act of making content that will make you feel like a celebrity multi-millionaire infused with their daily vitamin IV drip. In other words: invigorated.

IN TODAY’S EPISODE, we’ll answer these questions:

* What qualifies as content and what qualifies as art?

* What is the function of content for indie artists?

* What are the different quality levels of content that artists should focus on?

* How do you make boring “content marketing” into something more dynamic and easier to produce?

* What are some examples of artists who are using this strategy and how does it work across industries?

* Can content be part of your body of work without selling out or copying everyone else?

* Will your art suffer if you focus on content?

AND DON’T MISS:

More Lore Less Bore, from the Twelfth House+ Podcast (A good place to start if you’ve never written a manifesto.)

Vulfpeck’s website. (Purists through and through!)

🥳 Join 60+ creative folks who have already signed up for this…

I’m teaching a free one hour class tomorrow, Friday March 28th, at 12pm EST / 9am PST called HOW TO WRITE SO PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION.

What class will cover:

* How to use emotional accuracy to make people guzzle your writing like a freshman doing a keg stand.

* The one trick to stop your audience mid-scroll whenever your writing pops up.

* How to transform a boring social media caption or stuffy cover letter into a POV-defining calling card.

* Why you’re missing emotional heat, and where to increase it.

* How to magnetize your audience in a way AI could never.

If you can’t make it in real time, you can still get the recording if you RSVP. Hope to see you there!

⌨️ Tell me in the comments: how does making content usually feel for you?

✨ If you like this episode… please consider texting it to a friend! ✨