The Artisanal Author: Writing for Joy Instead of the Marketing Grind

The Artisanal Author: Writing for Love, Not for the Grind

There’s a phrase I’ve now claimed for myself: artisanal author. I heard it on a podcast by Joanna Penn and loved it.

Not because I’m hand-carving my books with a quill in a candlelit workshop (though, let’s admit, the aesthetic is tempting). But because I approach writing the way some people approach small-batch cheese or cosplay costumes—a slow and passionate process for an outcome that brings personal joy.

I don’t write to market. I don’t chase algorithms. I don’t plot my life around hitting bestseller lists.

Why? Because I don’t want writing to become a source of stress.

Full-time author life is a lovely dream, sure. But for me, it’s not worth the sacrifice of my peace, my health, or my true pleasure in the craft of writing. I have a full-time job that covers the bills. Writing is my playground, not my pressure cooker.

The Hobby That Deserves Respect

We live in a world where every hobby seems to come with a side hustle. Knit a scarf? Open an Etsy. Bake bread? Launch an Instagram. Write a novel? Better get those TikToks rolling.

But here’s the truth: not everything we love needs to be monetized.

Think of cosplayers (anyone else obsessed with it? I think it's INCREDIBLE). They’ll spend hundreds of hours sewing an elaborate gown or welding armor plates, knowing that costume may be worn once, admired briefly at a convention, then retired to a closet. Nobody scolds them for not turning it into a business. We admire the artistry, the devotion, the joy.

Writing should be treated the same way.

Some of us will naturally chase publication, sales, and rankings—and that’s wonderful! But others? We write because we love it. Because we want to get lost in our own worlds. Because we want to meet the characters who show up in our heads and see how their stories unfold.

And that is enough.

Why I’m Not “Hard-Core Marketing”

Yes, my books are out there. Yes, I’d be thrilled if more readers discover them. But I will not sacrifice the joy of writing for the grind of endless promo.

For me, marketing must be clever, sustainable, and low-burnout—or not at all. I’d rather have a small circle of delighted readers than exhaust myself chasing the mythical “Top 100.”

Because here’s the quiet truth I wish more authors whispered to each other:
📚 Your worth is not measured by sales rankings.
📚 Your creativity is not validated by algorithms.
📚 Your joy matters more than your metrics.

Let’s Protect the Spark

I write because I love to write. Because I want to read the worlds I create. Because nothing beats that delicious moment when you’re so deep in the scene you forget what time it is. (Or can't believe that you wrote those words!)

And I believe we should protect that spark.

So if you, like me, sometimes feel guilty for not marketing “enough,” for not optimizing every blurb and chasing every ad… be kinder to yourself.

Write because you love it. Write because it feeds you. Write because you’re the kind of person who finds joy in crafting stories the way others find joy in painting miniatures, sewing ball gowns, or baking perfect sourdough loaves.

That joy is reason enough.

Being an artisanal author means writing for love, not for grind. Like cosplayers or bakers, we create because it sparks joy—not because it must be monetized. Bestseller lists are fine, but so is savoring the craft. Protect your spark. Write because you adore it.

And if you're curious about my novels—check out my bookstore above. Grab your free copy of The Arrival if you haven't already.

Happy reading!