What if the genre you dismissed as too dark was actually the most honest thing you could read?

Lee Murray has spent twenty years writing horror from the edge of the world. She’s won five Bram Stoker Awards, a New Zealand Prime Minister Award for Literary Achievement, and a medal from the King.

And she’ll be the first to tell you she’s barely making grocery money. That gap between recognition and reward is just one of the things Lee is refreshingly honest about in this conversation.

She also talks about what it really means to put yourself in a story, why horror is one of the most grown-up genres out there, and how building community from the bottom of the world changed everything for her.

Highlights

“Write what you know” means something deeper than you think.

Most writers hear that phrase and think about surface-level experience. When she was starting out, Lee did too.

She wrote about marathon running because she had run 25 of them. She knew the material. But something was still missing.

It wasn’t until she started writing from her identity as an Asian woman in a Western country, about her experience with depression and anxiety, and the tension between cultures she carries every day, that her writing found its real power.

“What I think they mean when they say put yourself in this story is you need to write the story that only you can write. You need to write the things that resonate for you, that make you frightened, that make you feel something. You need to put those things into the story.”

That kind of vulnerability is harder than craft. And it takes longer to find. But when you do, readers feel it.

Horror is the most grown-up genre in the room.

There is a particular kind of prejudice that follows horror writers around.

People assume it’s B-grade, gratuitous, not serious literature.

Lee pushes back on that because horror is where we go to face the things we can’t say out loud: losing control, shame, the unknown. All the parts of the human experience that we aren’t supposed to talk about.

“Fear is the most primal feeling. What frightens us, what worries us, what gives us the chills — exploring that is a universal thing because we all are afraid of something. And it drives our behavior.”

Monsters, she explains, are almost always metaphors. For trauma. For oppression. For the generational weight we carry without even realizing it. Horror allows us to hold those things up and examine them.

Everyone has their own process.

Lee describes herself as a slow writer. She does not do vomit drafts. She can’t turn off her editor brain long enough to just get words on the page.

For a long time, that felt like a flaw but now she sees it differently.

“I tend to kind of have an idea, kind of know where it’s going, and then I kind of write it... I’ll write a sentence and I’ll go back and revise the sentence and then I’ll write the next sentence. That makes me a slow writer. But at the end of the day, I tend to find that I don’t change too much.”

She has no stories on the backburner. Nothing is abandoned. Everything she has written has found its place.

Find the gap that only you can fill.

Lee did not set out to create a niche. She just started writing the stories she wanted to read and could not find anywhere else: horror thrillers set in the New Zealand bush, feminist Asian horror, stories about mental illness.

“Sometimes it’s a good idea to look for the gap. Where is the gap that you can fill that only you can tell that story? Your story.”

And once she found that space, she did something most people won’t do — she invited others in. She believes you don’t need to protect your niche because there’s more than enough room for everyone.

When you bring more writers into the space you helped create, the whole genre grows.

Survive and thrive through community.

Publishing from New Zealand is difficult because the industry mostly looks the other way. Traditional publishers are largely absent and literary agents are almost nonexistent. Shipping a $12 book to New Zealand costs $35.

And yet Lee has built something that spans the globe and she did it by showing up.

Through anthologies that built readerships around shared ideas. Through mentorship that she gives and receives. And through joining every writing group she believes in.

“If you want something to happen, you need to step up and do it.”

That lesson came from her parents, who ran school committees and sports clubs because they wanted to see those things exist. Lee brought the same energy to horror. And horror gave her a tribe in return.

Success means something different for everyone.

Lee is not a millionaire bestseller, but she also doesn’t aim to be one.

Instead she has a community she loves, a genre she is proud of, and a body of work that has earned some of the highest honors in the field.

“Once you’ve defined what is successful to you, what would successful look like, then you can step forward and say, how am I going to get there?”

That question is worth asking because the answer changes everything. The path to a bestselling series looks nothing like the path to a life built around craft, community, and meaning. There is no “right” path, only the path you choose to take.

Closing Reflection

Lee Murray reminds us that horror is not a guilty pleasure. It is literature doing serious work in a world that needs it.

Her journey shows what happens when a writer stops acting the part and starts putting the real, complicated, vulnerable parts of themselves on the page.

If you are an author who writes stories that feel too personal, too niche, or too strange for the mainstream, we want to hear from you.

Leave a comment and tell us about your work. You deserve the spotlight too.

How does a daughter’s simple wish become a full creative enterprise?

Osayi Lasisi didn’t set out to launch a product line. She set out to find a brown plush doll for her daughter.

When that search came up empty, her daughter didn’t just get disappointed and move on. She said, let’s make them ourselves.

And that’s where everything started.

In this conversation, Osayi shares how Pocketlings was born, what it’s like to co-build a business with a 10-year-old, and the lessons that have emerged from just figuring things out as they go.

Highlights

Your idea doesn’t have to be brilliant.

Pocketlings didn’t start with a market analysis or a brand strategy.

It started with a kid who wanted something she couldn’t find.

“She couldn’t find brown plush dolls and she decided she wanted to start selling them.”

That’s it. That was the spark.

And it’s a good reminder that the ideas closest to our real lives, the ones rooted in genuine need, are often more powerful than the ones we manufacture trying to be clever.

Research is a skill.

Before anything was ordered or designed, Osayi asked her daughter to do the research: manufacturers, price points, competitors, and profit margins.

Not because she needed her daughter to do the work. But because she wanted her to build the skill.

“I asked her to research manufacturers and how much it would cost. She would find similar dolls and the pricing and then we’d discuss it.”

That’s real-world learning.

And it produced real-world results. Her daughter came back with data. They made decisions together. And the business became something they both owned.

You can’t learn everything before you start.

There’s a version of this story where they spent months researching the perfect doll size before placing any order.

They didn’t do that.

They started with the size her daughter wanted. And only after shipping real dolls to real customers did they realize a smaller size would have been easier to manage.

“There are some things that we understood better after we started.”

That sentence says it all.

Not everything can be researched in advance. Some knowledge only comes from doing the work.

Quitting can be a strategy but it must be intentional.

Osayi brought up Seth Godin’s concept of the dip:

The hardest moments are often the thing separating the people who figure it out from the ones who walk away before they get the chance.

“Quitting is always okay. My only thing is, if you’re going to quit, you want to decide to quit. Not because it’s hard. Because you’ve decided to quit.”

Decide with intention. Not with exhaustion.

Building in public means learning in public too.

One of the unexpected gifts of starting Pocketlings has been the conversations it opened up.

Other parents started asking how they could give their kids the same experience. That led Osayi and her daughter to libraries, to workshops, and to community entrepreneurship sessions for kids who want to build something of their own.

“We didn’t think we were going to be doing that when we were starting out with just dolls.”

That’s how it usually goes.

You start one thing and it opens a door to something you never planned for.

Closing Reflection

Osayi’s story isn’t just about dolls or books or tween period journals.

It’s about what happens when you take a child’s idea seriously.

When you let them research, make decisions, deal with real world problems, and experience what it means to build something from nothing.

And it started because a girl couldn’t find a doll that looked like her.

What if understanding money was the thing that finally set your creative work free?

That’s the quiet truth running through my conversation with Hannah Cole. She’s a tax educator, an artist with over 20 years of experience, and the founder of Sunlight Tax.

We talk about why there’s no standard path for creatives, how the story you tell about your worth shapes everything, and why financial literacy might be the most underrated superpower in your business toolkit.

Highlights

There is no standard path. And that’s actually the point.

Creative careers don’t come with a rulebook and for a long time, that felt like a disadvantage.

But Hannah reframes it completely.

“Believing there should be a standard route stifles innovation and self-direction; embracing the openness enables more organic growth and resilience.”

When you stop waiting for someone to hand you the map, you start drawing your own. And that map tends to be more honest, more durable, and more you.

The story you tell about your work changes everything.

Marketing is hard for a lot of creatives. Not because they don’t have something valuable to offer. But because they haven’t fully claimed the value of what they do.

Hannah connects this directly to how we price, pitch, and show up.

“Valuing your authenticity and the unique perspective you bring makes marketing more genuine and attracts aligned clients.”

When you believe in what you bring to the table, you stop underselling and hedging. And you start speaking to the people who actually need what you have.

Money is just value wearing a different name.

So many creatives carry a complicated relationship with money. It feels awkward to charge and uncomfortable to negotiate. It’s like asking for money means somehow caring less about the art.

Hannah flips that story.

“By reframing the way we perceive money in relation to our creative work, we begin to see it not as a barrier but as a reflection of the value we provide. This mental shift cultivates confidence and legitimacy, making it easier to set fair prices and negotiate contracts.”

Money isn’t the opposite of meaning. It’s what happens when your work matters to someone else enough for them to exchange something for it.

Financial literacy is a creative superpower.

Most of us weren’t taught this. We got great art education, maybe. But no one sat us down and walked us through estimated taxes, deductions, or what self-employment actually costs.

And that gap creates unnecessary stress.

“Financial literacy empowers creative professionals to maximize deductions, reduce anxiety, and reinvest in their craft.”

The less time you spend in financial fog, the more you can put into the work.

Simple systems beat complicated intentions.

Hannah is a big advocate of this one. You don’t need a complicated accounting setup. You need something easy enough that you’ll actually do it.

“People are more likely to sustain beneficial habits that are effortless to maintain, leading to better long-term financial health.”

Things like creating a dedicated account for business expenses or building a habit of tracking can go a long way. Small sustainable things compound into real clarity over time.

You don’t have to do this alone.

One of the most powerful things Hannah talks about is collective action. The tax laws that have protected artists and creatives didn’t happen by accident. They happened because people organized, showed up, and made noise together.

“Building civic engagement and belonging to professional groups magnifies influence and creates systemic change.”

Your individual voice matters. But when you join it with others, the impact multiplies in ways that go far beyond your own studio or business.

The creative brain is built for entrepreneurship.

Hannah makes a case I think a lot of us need to hear.

Pattern recognition, lateral thinking, and standing out in a crowded room all make us good artists and writers. And those same skills can make for a remarkable entrepreneur.

“Recognizing their own superpowers can help artists and creators craft authentic, compelling brands and find underserved markets.”

You’ve been business skills your whole life. You just might not have called them that.

Closing Reflection

Hannah’s work is about more than tax tips.

It’s about helping creatives step into the full picture of what they’ve built. To stop treating money like a foreign language and start seeing it as part of the creative practice itself.

Because when you understand the financial side of your work, you protect it. You grow it. You give it staying power.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur figuring out the money side of your work, leave a comment and tell us where you’re at. Because this conversation is worth continuing.

What if the stories you grew up with weren’t just entertainment… but training?

Dr. Bailey Lang didn’t become a book coach and editor by accident.

Her path moves from hyperlexic child… to marketing professional… to PhD… to founder of The Writing Desk. And when you zoom out, none of it is random. Every season sharpened how she sees story, structure, mindset, and the humans behind the pages.

In this conversation, Bailey and I talk about creative writing beyond fiction, the realities of academia, the power of marginalized voices, and why standing out has less to do with tactics and more to do with telling the truth about who you are.

Highlights

Creativity processes are personal and they evolve

So many writers assume there is one correct way to be creative.

One correct routine.

One correct drafting method.

One correct productivity system.

And when their process doesn’t look like someone else’s, they assume they’re doing it wrong.

Bailey gently dismantles that myth.

“People kind of assume there’s one right way to do it. And that is where people get stuck. The same thing is true with our creative processes, right? The actual practice of showing up to write, I think people often assume, I’m supposed to do it this one specific way, right? And it’s, no, you can do it in infinite ways.”

Different seasons of your life require different approaches. Different projects demand different rhythms.

When you stop trying to copy someone else’s creative process, you free up energy to actually create.

Marginalized voices reveal universal habits of mind

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when Bailey talks about her dissertation research.

She studied women writers outside academic spaces and asked whether the same “habits of mind” celebrated in academia showed up in their reflections on craft.

“I was looking specifically at women writers who were not working in academic spaces... And do we see these same habits kind of showing up in how they’re reflecting on their own work... But the answer that I found in my dissertation was more or less, yeah.”

This is why diversity is a strength. Different lived experiences expand the creative toolbox for all of us. When we spotlight marginalized voices, we don’t narrow the conversation. We deepen it.

Mindset will make or break your progress

Craft matters.

But mindset is often the real bottleneck.

Bailey works as both a coach and an editor, and she sees how the inner critic shows up when revisions land in someone’s inbox.

It’s not just about fixing sentences. It’s about facing fear.

“Mindset is huge, particularly in coaching engagements, right? So I also do editing. At that point, a lot of mindset stuff is like dealing with how do you make revisions once I give them to you.”

Revision isn’t a verdict on your talent. It’s part of the creative loop.

If you can separate feedback from identity, you unlock growth.

Authenticity Over Visibility Tactics

There’s a difference between being loud and being aligned.

A lot of creatives think standing out means reaching more people. Bigger audience. More noise. More reach.

Bailey reframes that completely.

“Standing out isn’t about broadcasting to a broad audience but about amplifying your unique perspective and personal qualities. Genuine authenticity attracts the right audience organically.”

The right people are not found through volume. They’re found through clarity.

Value of Authentic Self-Representation

We copy because it feels safer.

If it worked for them, maybe it will work for me.

But that instinct slowly erodes the very thing that makes your work compelling.

“Your unique personality, perspective, and vulnerabilities are your strongest branding assets—cloning or copying successful models dilutes genuine appeal.”

The more you sound like you, the less competition you actually have.

Adaptation Is Essential for Success

There is no fixed formula for a creative life.

What works this year may not work next year. What worked for one book may not work for the next.

“Different seasons of your life, different seasons of the year, different projects, they can all require some adaptation and flexibility.”

Flexibility keeps you in motion.

Rigidity is what burns people out.

The creatives who last are not the ones who find the perfect system.

They’re the ones who adjust without abandoning themselves.

Community is not optional

There’s a myth of the solitary genius.

Bailey rejects it completely.

“Find your people, make a cool thing, and then show it to all of the people that you know who like cool things. It’s great.”

That’s it.

Community accelerates courage. It also keeps you sane when the work feels heavy.

Writing is solitary. A creative life doesn’t have to be.

Closing Reflection

Bailey’s story isn’t about choosing the perfect path.

It’s about noticing where your skills, values, and energy intersect… and building from there.

From hyperlexic kid to marketer to PhD to book coach, every chapter informs the next. Nothing is wasted.

If you need help building a creative business, writing a book, or trying to find your voice in a crowded world, sign up for a free call and we’ll figure out your best path forward.

If you liked this conversation or want to share your own insights. Drop a comment and tell us what you’re building.

Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to see.

What if the book you want to write isn’t waiting for the “perfect time” but for a version of you who’s willing to start messy?

Jennifer Locke helps people turn ideas into books.

Not someday books.

Real books that get written in the middle of family life, busy schedules, self-doubt, and the very normal fear of being seen.

In this conversation, Jennifer shares what it really looks like to follow through on a writing life, how nonfiction and fiction require completely different muscles, why marketing can’t be an afterthought, and why community might be the thing that keeps you going when motivation disappears.

Highlights

Mastery comes from consistency, not perfection

Jennifer offers one of the simplest, and hardest, truths about writing.

You don’t finish a book by waiting for the perfect conditions.

You finish it by showing up.

“Writing a little each day, even if it’s just 10 minutes, accumulates into a completed book. Consistency outpaces perfectionism in long-term growth.”

Ten minutes doesn’t sound impressive.

But it’s how books get built.

Your unique voice is your greatest differentiator

So many writers spend years trying to sound like someone else.

Jennifer gently pulls you back to what actually matters.

The thing that makes your work stand out is you.

“Focus on what makes you feel alive and true to yourself, because no one else can replicate your authenticity, making it your most powerful asset.”

Your voice is your advantage.

Rejections and revisions are part of the job

Jennifer doesn’t sugarcoat the creative process.

Books don’t come out fully formed.

Drafts get rejected and ideas get reshaped.

The people who finish don’t avoid setbacks, they learn from them.

“My experiences with multiple rejections led to stronger drafts. Setbacks often precede breakthroughs when approached with curiosity and resilience.”

Rejection isn’t the end.

Sometimes it’s the edit that makes the work better.

Marketing should start earlier than you want it to

This is the part writers love to avoid.

But Jennifer makes it clear: Marketing isn’t something you add on at the end.

It’s something you build alongside the writing.

“Identify where you enjoy showing up and dedicate your efforts there, instead of chasing every trend or platform.”

You don’t need to be everywhere.

You just need to be somewhere that’s enjoyable.

The core of a creative business is self-knowledge

Jennifer keeps coming back to alignment.

The writers who last are the ones who know what matters to them.

“Focusing inward, what excites and energizes you, rather than external metrics or comparisons, is the key to long-term differentiation.”

Your work grows when it’s rooted in who you actually are.

Creativity is meant to feel joyful

Revision doesn’t have to be misery.

Writing doesn’t have to be constant pressure.

Jennifer reframes the creative process as something that can still be playful even when it’s hard.

“Turning edit and revision into playful opportunities for discovery, not solely tasks to be endured, keeps the joy in crafting.”

Community makes the writing life possible

Jennifer pushes back against the myth of the lone genius writer.

Books are personal but writing doesn’t have to be lonely.

Feedback, support, and people matter.

“Critique groups and collaborative relationships foster resilience and inspire continuous improvement.”

Community keeps you going when your brain tells you to quit.

Closing Reflection

Jennifer Locke reminds us that writing a book is about building trust with your own voice, starting marketing earlier than feels comfortable, and surrounding yourself with people who understand what it means to create something from nothing.

If you need help bringing your book to life or balancing your endless to-do list, I want to help. Sign up for a free call where we get all those ideas out of your head and into the world.

What if the thing you thought was pulling you away from writing was actually preparing you for it?

Andy Hodges didn’t set out to follow a single creative lane. His path winds through anthropology, academia, fiction editing, and now novel writing, all held together by curiosity and a deep respect for story.

In this conversation, Andy and I talk about what it really means to balance structure and freedom in your creative work, why genre expectations matter more than many writers want to admit, and how building a sustainable creative life often requires letting go of the paths that once felt “safe.”

This episode is for writers who love the craft, feel pulled in multiple directions, and are trying to figure out how to make creativity fit into real life, not an idealized version of it.

Highlights

Creative freedom is intentional

Andy speaks candidly about choosing creative work because because it felt necessary. Writing fiction became a way to reclaim time and energy for the work that made him feel most alive.

“I just thought, well, you only live once. And I really, really want to spend some of the time that I have on this Earth doing this kind of creative work, like writing a novel, writing short stories, learning the craft of all of that.”

Genre tropes aren’t creative limits

Andy breaks down why understanding genre expectations isn’t selling out, it’s showing respect for your audience. Readers come to a book with emotional expectations, and ignoring that can break trust fast.

“There’s expected tropes when you’re writing for certain genres, especially, like you said, the mystery and the romance and people are expecting what they expect and that’s the reason they picked it and that’s reason that they like it.”

You can still surprise readers. Just don’t surprise them by giving them the wrong book.

There is no single “right” way to write

Andy pushes back hard on the idea that writers need to follow one approved process. His early fiction work was intuitive, unpolished, and deeply influenced by everyday life, and that wasn’t a weakness. It was the point.

“There’s no one right or wrong way of doing things. I think it’s important to lean into your intuition and do things in a way that just sits right with you.”

The goal isn’t to copy someone else’s system. It’s to build one that actually fits how your brain works.

Sustainability protects your creative work

Andy is clear that balancing editing, consulting, and writing wasn’t about diluting his passion. It was about protecting it. Financial stability gave his fiction room to grow instead of forcing it to perform.

“My route into that in a way that was sustainable for me was to strike a balance between doing this sort of academic editing and consulting work and the fiction stuff. The fiction stuff is the stuff I’m really passionate about.”

Originality comes from combination, not invention

Andy reminds us that no story exists in a vacuum. Every book is both familiar and new, shaped by what the writer loves, reads, and notices.

“Every new novel is not a completely novel invention. It’s very familiar in some way and it’s new in some way.”

Building an audience is about ownership, not platforms

After stepping away from social media, Andy refocused on what he could actually control. His takeaway is simple but powerful: your book doesn’t stand alone. It lives inside a bigger ecosystem.

“Your book is not just a book by itself, but it’s part of a wider platform that you cultivate.”

“Loads of people actually do make a decent living, not from the book by itself, but from the kind of ecosystem that they have linked to their book.”

Closing reflection

Andy’s journey is a reminder that creative careers are rarely neat or linear. They’re built through experimentation, financial recalibration, uncomfortable transitions, and a willingness to learn new skills without abandoning your core interests.

Whether you’re navigating publishing paths, trying to balance creativity with stability, or questioning how much structure you really need, I’m here to help you on your journey.

Sign up for a free consultation to see how we can build a better path creative path forward together.

What if the thing you’ve been taught to ignore is actually the thing guiding you?

In this episode, I talked with Julia Carmen, a curandera, spiritual healer, and founder of the School Without Walls. Julia has spent her life walking between the physical and non-physical worlds. Seeing, sensing, listening. Not as a party trick, but as a way of being.

Julia talks about presence, self-worth, grief, choice, and the courage it takes to listen to your soul in a very loud world.

Walking Between Worlds

Julia was born into a lineage of healers. Seeing spirits, hearing guides, sensing the unseen wasn’t something she learned. It was always there.

“I don’t know what it feels like not to see things.”

But walking in both the spiritual and physical worlds came with real challenges. Confusion. Fear. Being misunderstood. Learning how to stay grounded while holding what most people can’t see.

Actionable Insight:

You don’t need to escape the human experience to be spiritual. Take a moment that is especially chaotic and ground yourself.

Bonus:

Today, pause once. Put your feet on the floor and notice where you are.

The Container of Unconditional Love

At the heart of Julia’s work is one idea: the container of unconditional love.

Just hold space for yourself and for others.

This is the foundation of the School Without Walls, where learning happens through relationship, soul care, and deep listening rather than rigid systems.

Actionable Insight:

Growth requires a container. Ask yourself where you feel safe enough to tell the truth.

Bonus:

Identify one relationship or space where you can show up without performing.

Intuition vs. the Soul Self

One of my favorite moments in this conversation is when Julia separates intuition from the soul self.

Intuition, she says, is human.

The soul self is eternal.

Your brain matters. Logic matters. But so does the quiet voice underneath all of it.

“Shhh. Be still. Get quiet.”

That’s where clarity lives.

Actionable Insight:

Stop asking for louder signs. Start listening more carefully.

Bonus:

Before making one decision this week, sit in silence for two minutes.

Self-Worth, Creativity, and Value

Toward the end of the conversation, Julia drops something creatives especially need to hear.

Your work has value.

Your presence has value.

You don’t need to give yourself away to be worthy.

Self-worth is quiet. Steady. Rooted.

Actionable Insight:

Stop underpricing your energy, time, or creativity.

Bonus:

Ask yourself where you’re overgiving to earn belonging.

Key Takeaways

1. Being present is a spiritual practice
2. You can walk both worlds and still be human
3. Healing requires unconditional love
4. Intuition is human, the soul self is eternal
5. Grief can deepen, not derail, your growth
6. Self-worth is something you practice daily
7. Your creative work deserves respect and care

Closing Reflection

Julia didn’t set out to build a brand. She chose herself over and over again.

If you’re a creative or writer who knows there’s more in you, but you’ve been second-guessing your voice, your value, or whether your work even “fits” anywhere… you’re not broken. You just need the right container.

That’s where I come in.

I help authors and creatives get clear on their message, build visibility in a way that actually feels like them, and turn their work into something sustainable.

If you’re ready to stop circling the same questions and start moving with intention, let’s talk. You can book a free, low-pressure clarity call at The Standout Creatives.

What if writing the story you’re afraid to tell is the exactly what your readers have been waiting for?

Leigh Carron, author of Fat Girl and other body positive romance novels, didn’t set out to follow trends, chase algorithms, or fit neatly into what the publishing world expects. She set out to tell her truth. And in doing so, she’s built stories centered on body diversity, biracial identity, desire, and authenticity, even when it felt risky or uncomfortable.

In this conversation, Leigh opens up about choosing self-publishing, navigating imposter syndrome, writing spicy romance that centers fat and marginalized bodies, and learning how to market without losing herself in the process.

Highlights

Diversity in writing as lived experience

For Leigh, diversity is personal. Her stories are shaped by who she is and who her readers are, and she writes with the intention of reflecting real bodies and real identities on the page.

“I write spicy, diverse, body positive romance. That’s sort of my niche, my brand, and I love doing that, bringing body diversity and racial diversity to my stories. I want them to reflect me and the people that read my books.”

Empowerment through characters who take up space

Leigh is intentional about who gets centered in her stories. Her characters aren’t there to support someone else’s arc. They get to be seen, desired, and fully human.

“I want to show fat characters being loved on, being desired, feeling good about themselves, not being the side characters in stories, but being their own leads.”

Choosing the indie path without a roadmap

Traditional publishing wasn’t the only option, and Leigh chose to take the leap without having everything figured out. What mattered more was resonance and momentum.

“I decided I’ll just venture out into this wild world of indie publishing. And I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but… it sort of resonated.”

Marketing as an ongoing experiment

Marketing isn’t something you master once and move on from. Leigh talks honestly about the trial-and-error nature of showing up, learning, and staying curious without burning out.

“You have to be your own marketer and you have to figure that out... I’m still learning those things. Why do some posts hit? Why do some books resonate and others don’t?”

Writing authentically even when it feels risky

Chasing trends might feel safer, but Leigh chose alignment instead. That decision comes with risk, but it also comes with clarity.

“I have stayed true to what I want to tell and haven’t followed what’s popular in tropes, and I know that can also be a risk.”

Writing through cultural and racial identity

Leigh shares how early experiences shaped her understanding of identity and belonging, and how those experiences continue to influence her storytelling today.

“I learned very quickly that being biracial was not a good thing then. Like that was not something to be proud of. That was something to be worried about and to fear what people would think.”

Balancing creativity with real life

Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Leigh balances her creative work with a demanding professional career, and some days are harder than others.

“It’s a challenge some days, especially because I’m a change management consultant. So I work with companies in helping them kind of reframe their culture.”

Reader connection over perfection

Not every conversation has to end in agreement. For Leigh, the value comes from connection, curiosity, and dialogue.

“I love the reader interaction, even if we’re not on the same page with things, just learning and having that conversation, I think, is great.”

Advice that leaves room for both art and strategy

Leigh encourages writers to stay grounded in their creative vision while still acknowledging the realities of publishing and marketing.

“Write the story that you want to tell and make that your focus. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be mindful of the marketing and all of those pieces.”

Authenticity is what lasts

At the core of everything, Leigh believes readers respond to honesty more than polish.

“It comes down to authenticity, of being true to yourself. I think that’s what people will see. That’s what will resonate, that authenticity that people can relate to.”

Closing reflection

Leigh’s story shows us that our most resonate work comes from honesty. We just need to trust our voice and keep writing, even when it feels vulnerable.

If you’re an author navigating visibility, representation, or the pressure to do things the “right” way, this conversation is for you.

You might be sitting on a story that the world has been waiting to hear, so let’s share it.

If that sounds like you, leave a comment about your journey in the comments.

What if the thing you’ve been trying hide is actually the reason people remember you?

Rachel Lee is a brand stylist and designer who built her business by doing the opposite of what she thought “serious” creatives were supposed to do. From growing up as an imaginative art kid to hiding parts of herself in traditional design roles, Rachel spent years trying to fit in before realizing that belonging to herself mattered more.

In this conversation, she shares what happened when she quit a stable job, stopped performing professionalism, and let her real personality lead, cat ears and all.

From Art Kid to Self-Trust

Rachel’s story starts the way many creative stories do: curiosity, imagination, and a slow drift away from those instincts in order to be accepted. The farther she moved from herself, the harder it became to feel fulfilled.

“I spent so long thinking that fitting in was the safer option, but over time I realized it was costing me way more than it was giving me.”

That realization didn’t arrive all at once. It came through frustration, burnout, and the quiet feeling that something was off.

Actionable Insight: Pay attention to where your work feels heavier than it should.

Bonus: Name one part of yourself you’ve been muting to feel more legitimate.

Choosing Alignment Over Safety

Rachel left a steady job because she refused to keep living out of alignment. She talks openly about fear, family expectations, and learning business without a roadmap.

“Walking away from something stable was terrifying, but staying would’ve meant ignoring the part of me that knew this wasn’t it.”

Actionable Insight: You don’t need certainty to move forward, just clarity on what you’re done carrying.

Bonus: Identify one small step toward work that feels more like you.

Personal Branding That Feels Human

For Rachel, personal branding stopped being about aesthetics the moment she stopped pretending. Her brand worked when she did.

“Personal branding isn’t about looking polished or put together. It’s about letting people see who you actually are when you’re not performing.”

The cat ears weren’t a tactic. They were a signal. And people remembered her because she felt real.

Actionable Insight: Make your brand feel like you.

Bonus: Ask yourself where you’re trying to sound like someone else.

Attracting the Right People by Being Clear

When Rachel showed up as herself, the right clients leaned in and the wrong ones drifted away.

“The moment I stopped trying to appeal to everyone was the moment the right people started finding me.”

That clarity made everything simpler.

Actionable Insight: You’re allowed to be specific, even if it means being less universal.

Bonus: Remove one message from your site or bio that feels watered down.

Staying Human in a Noisy World

As Rachel moves into content creation, her focus stays the same. Connection over polish. Practice over perfection.

“With everything becoming faster and more automated, the thing people are craving most is something that feels human.”

Let yourself evolve without abandoning who you are.

Actionable Insight: Growth comes from repetition, not reinvention.

Bonus: Show up once this week without overthinking the outcome.

Key Takeaways

1. Fitting in costs more than it gives.
2. Your quirks are signals.
3. Personal branding starts with self-trust.
4. Art and business don’t have to compete.
5. Standing out begins with letting yourself be seen.

Closing Reflection

Rachel didn't want to fit in. She wanted to be memorable by telling the truth.

Remember, the people you’re meant to reach are looking for you, not a generic version of you.

If you want support marketing your book or creative business that showcases the real you, I’m here to help. Sign up for a free consultation at TheStandoutCreatives.com.

Let’s amplify your work in a way that is fun for you.

What if the story you’ve been holding onto is the one someone else has been waiting to hear?

Marc Cordon and I had a great conversation about the upcoming Book Summit. It will be a creative space built for writers, not-yet-writers, and anyone who feels a tug to put their story into the world. If you’ve ever felt like your experiences aren’t “big enough,” or you’re nervous about sharing something personal, this conversation might shift something for you.

We talk about why storytelling is such a powerful form of liberation, how writing in community can dissolve fear, and why personal stories, especially the ones about transition, liminality, and rebirth, resonate universally.

We also dig into the anthology we’re creating together, the therapeutic nature of writing, and the collaborative energy that makes this summit feel different from anything else.

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for permission and start exploring the story that’s already living inside you.

If you are interested in coming to the Book Summit. It is this Saturday December 13th at 1pm ET. You can read all about it here.

Highlights

Stories are a form of freedom

Writing isn’t just an art. It’s a way to reclaim your voice.

“Books, storytelling… that’s the new form of freedom and liberation.”

Everyone is a storyteller (even if you don’t believe it yet)

You don’t need a title to begin. You only need curiosity.

“Everybody is a writer and a storyteller.”

Community makes your writing stronger

When you share in a circle, something shifts in you and in the people listening.

“The fact that we can all hear and experience these stories together is what really makes it powerful.”

Feedback forms connection

When people lean in to your story, you can feel it.

“It’s really cool to see people at the edge of their seats leaning forward when it comes to you and your story.”

Specific stories create universal resonance

The more personal you get, the more people see themselves in your words.

“The more specific you are… the more people will say, I see myself in your story.”

Creation is a transformation

Something magical happens when you start with nothing and end with something only you could have made.

“There’s an ebullience that happens when you leave with something you created.”

Closing Reflection

If you’ve been telling yourself you’re not a writer… consider this your gentle interruption.

You don’t need a polished story.

You don’t need a plan.

You just need a spark.

And if you’re feeling that nudge, the Book Summit and the Story Circle are the places to explore it. These spaces are designed to help you uncover your voice, shape your story, and feel supported every step of the way.

If you’re curious about writing a book someday… come.

If you want to share a personal story but don’t know where to start… come.

If you want community, feedback, and a little creative courage… come.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Let’s see what unfolds when you step into a room where your story is already welcome.

Links

Book Summit

Marc Cordon

What if the thing that makes you feel “different” in business is actually the thing that makes you magnetic?

In this special conversation, I sit down with Aicila from the Business as Unusual, where we talked about what it’s like to build a business as an introvert. If you’ve ever felt drained by networking, overwhelmed by visibility, or unsure how to show up without feeling fake… this one will feel like a deep exhale.

We talk about what it really means to be an introverted creative in a world that wants you to be “on” all the time. The pressure. The awkwardness. The energy dips.

But also the parts we don’t talk about enough: the power of authenticity, the ease that comes from true connection, and how collaboration can actually give introverts energy when it’s rooted in trust.

This episode is an invitation to stop forcing yourself into strategies that don’t fit, and to start building your creative business in a way that feels like you.

Highlights

You’re not broken — you’re wired differently, and that’s a strength

Many creatives are introverts, and the business world wasn’t built with you in mind.

“Creatives are often introverts.” — Aicila

Authenticity makes networking tolerable — even enjoyable

When you stop performing, conversations get easier.

“Authenticity leads to genuine connections.” — Aicila

Relationships matter more than the transaction

Networking isn’t a sales funnel — it’s a human one.

“Networking isn't just about sales.” — Kevin

Energy awareness is a form of self-trust

You get to honor your limits without apologizing for them.

“Energy management is crucial.” — Aicila

Collaboration doesn’t have to drain you

When you’re with the right people, co-creation feels nourishing.

“Co-creation fulfills introverts.” — Aicila

Your lived experience is your creative advantage

AI can help, but it can’t replace your perspective.

“AI lacks the human touch.” — Kevin

Authenticity lands because it’s human

When you show up as yourself, your work resonates more deeply.

“Presence enhances creative impact.” — Kevin

Real success is built on reciprocity

Positive, generous relationships carry you further than any strategy.

“Positive relationships drive success.” — Kevin

Closing Reflection

If you’ve ever felt like you had to push, perform, or “be more extroverted” to succeed… this conversation is your permission slip to stop.

You just need to learn how you work best and build from there.

If you want support creating a book or creative business that honors your energy, I'm here to help. Sign up for a free consultation at TheStandoutCreatives.com.

Let’s build something that feels true to you.