Writers don’t need another tactic. They need a damn filter.
A Quick Recap (in case you’re just joining us):
Over the past few weeks, we’ve reframed your identity as a writer:
✅ That publishing isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting line.
✅ That writing isn’t a step-by-step project—it’s a layered tapestry.
✅ That you’re not “just” a writer—you’re a founder.
And last week, I gave you six truth bombs every writer needs to hear.
Today, we’re putting those truths into motion.
Because now that you’re thinking like a creative CEO…
Let’s talk about what it looks like to act like one.
A lot of writing advice feels like a shotgun blast.
Step 1: Write the book.
Step 2: Publish it.
Step 3: Market it.
Step 4: Retire to a castle in Scotland.
If only it were that simple, right?
Sadly, it’s not.
Because between those steps are 10,000 decisions of varying size and impact.
And no one tells you how to make them.
Do you start a Substack? Go on a writing retreat? Run Facebook ads? Write a newsletter? Learn how to meditate? Start a Pinterest? Join a pitch contest? Hire a publicist?
And when you’re already juggling work, family, doubts, and draft #6?
It’s easier to just ignore everything… and write another book.
It’s not just the to-do list that’s heavy. It’s the fear of getting it wrong. Of wasting your one shot. Of being too late or too lost to get traction.
Here’s the real problem:
You’re starting and trying to run a business, but no one taught you how to think like a CEO.
Because CEO thinking isn’t about knowing all the answers.
It’s about knowing how to make purpose-driven, aligned decisions.
That’s the skill no one talks about.
You're just expected to know what it is and how to do it.
(Isn’t that just… typical?)
So how do you think like a creative CEO?
It starts with changing how you evaluate your choices. Not just what’s on your to-do list.
Creative CEOs don’t ask: “What should I be doing?”
They ask: “What moves me closer to the writing life I actually want?”
That one question alone can transform your relationship to your book, your time, and your strategy.
Here’s how to start:
📌 1. Step out of the noise.
Most of your stress doesn’t come from not knowing enough—it comes from knowing too much without a filter.
Give your brain a break. One full day with no new inputs. Just you, your work, and your gut.
📌 2. Build your CEO filter.
Ask yourself:
What do I want this book to do for me and for my reader?
What kind of writing life do I want three years from now?
Use those answers like a compass. If a tactic doesn’t point you toward those goals, it’s not for you. Let it go.
📌 3. Make one intentional decision.
Not all-in. Not all-at-once. Just one clear, confident choice that supports your vision.
That might be:
Identifying your ideal reader and writing with them in mind.
Choosing one platform to grow steadily without guilt.
Planning your next three months to reflect your values and pace.
Remember: Creative authority isn’t about control. It’s about clarity.
You don’t have to do everything.
You don't have to do what everyone else is doing.
You just have to decide and do what matters to you and your business.
That’s the first step to thinking like a creative CEO.
🧭 Your Next Step:
Write down your two CEO filter questions:
What do I want this book to do for me and for my reader?
What kind of writing life do I want three years from now?
Keep them visible. Use them every time a shiny new “should” shows up.
That’s how you move from chaos to clarity.
That’s how you stop running in circles with your brain on fire and start building with intention.
Because you're not just writing a book.
You're creating the strategies that will carry it—and you—forward.
And that changes everything.
Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.
Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.
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