Don’t be afraid to rebel—just do it wisely.

Too often, writers stick to the “safe” path when it comes to marketing—social posts, newsletter swaps, maybe a hopeful BookTok attempt, and then wonder why no one’s noticing. The truth? In an overcrowded market, sometimes you need to step a little outside the lines to get seen.

This livestream of the Author Culture Podcast with special guest J.J. Johnson is all about low-risk, high-creativity marketing moves that help authors stand out without burning out—or breaking the bank.

Think: experimental fiction drops on nontraditional platforms, story-first marketing on Substack, Royal Road, small-scale stunts that get people talking, and ways to build a reputation that doesn’t rely on chasing algorithms.

Author Culture is a reader-supported podcast that I create to help scifi and fantasy authors just like you. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber (paid subscribers get bonus current event episodes, live chat, and can request topics).

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorculture.substack.com/subscribe