author mindset – The Productive Indie Fiction Writer

Safe Writing Is Dangerous Now. Here’s What to Write Instead.

April 3, 2026 / Notetaking, Planning, Story Concept / 7 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment

Safe writing used to feel like the smart choice. Study the market. Follow the trends. Give readers more of what they already liked.

But in a world where AI can produce endless same-but-different stories, safe writing is becoming the riskiest strategy of all.

Readers do not know what they want until they see it. They cannot ask for the strange combination, the odd obsession, or the idea that should not work but somehow does. That is your advantage. The books that stand out now will not be the safest ones. They will be the ones only you could have written.

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The Easy Way To… (Get Ripped Off)

February 6, 2026 / Attitude, Stoicism & Perspective / 4 minutes of reading

Everyone’s teaching authors how to spot scammers with lists of red flags and warning signs. But none of that works if your mindset is wrong. Because if part of you still wants the “easy way,” you’ll explain away every clue. Here’s why modern scams work — and the one shift that makes you almost impossible to fool.

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Trad vs Indie in 2026, Part III

January 23, 2026 / INDIE PUBLISHING, Planning, Publishing & Production, Stoicism & Perspective / 6 minutes of reading / 1 Comment

Most authors aren’t confused about how traditional and indie publishing work. They’re confused because they’re emotionally attached to what they want those systems to be. In 2026, choosing between trad, indie, or anything resembling “hybrid” isn’t about legitimacy or dreams of a writing career. It’s about understanding which system you’re willing to depend on — corporations behaving well, or yourself. This is the part nobody says out loud.

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The Artisan Author Movement and the Myth of Slowing Down

August 1, 2025 / Creativity, Prolificacy, Publishing & Production / 5 minutes of reading

The Artisan Author movement is gaining momentum—and for good reason. Writers are burning out chasing algorithms and churning out books to appease invisible markets. But here’s the catch: slowing down your writing isn’t the solution for everyone. For some of us, our best, most joyful pace is fast. Not frantic. Not desperate. Just flow. The key isn’t to slow down. It’s to find your best pace—and protect it fiercely.

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