Blog

Stories, Updates, and Craft Notes

Thoughts on author video, storytelling, and building a marketing asset that keeps working long after launch day.

Am I Really a Writer? Impostor Syndrome and the Author

When I was studying photography in college, there was an ongoing debate among the students about when you were allowed to call yourself a photographer.

Shelah JohnsonSeptember 10, 2026

From Typwriters to AI:

The tools keep changing, but real work remains the same: getting the story from one human being to another. There's a romantic lie that gets handed to writers in every generation.

Shelah JohnsonJune 20, 2026

I Put a Curse on a Book Scammer — And Then I Turned My Phone Off Forever

Book promotion scams are getting slicker. Here’s how they sell hope to authors — and the red flags worth memorizing before you pay anyone...

Shelah JohnsonJune 14, 2026

Stop Asking Authors to Become Influencers

Writers need visibility, but forcing every author to perform for the feed is not a book marketing strategy. Here’s how to build better entry points into the work...

Shelah JohnsonJune 11, 2026

Getting Above the Noise Isn’t About Being Louder

Why indie authors need more ways for readers to enter the work — not more pressure to feed the algorithm...

Shelah JohnsonJune 11, 2026

Nobody Is Coming to Ask You to Dance

Why indie authors need to stop waiting for permission, think like small business owners, and build real paths to readers...

Shelah JohnsonJune 11, 2026