Over the past season, I’ve been paying attention.

Not to trends.
Not to algorithms.
But to where my work feels most honest, most life-giving, and most sustainable.

And the answer has become quietly, clearly obvious.

I am shifting my primary focus back to design: book formatting, cover design, and logo design.

For the past few months, my work has been centered around sustainable marketing—helping writers and small businesses step off the hamster wheel of trends and instead build rhythms that last. That work has mattered deeply to me, and it still does.

But as this new season has unfolded, I’ve felt a familiar tug—one that’s been with me from the very beginning.

Every creative business has moments where the work begins to whisper something new.

Not loudly.
Not all at once.
Just enough that you notice.

Marketing as an author can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling writing, editing, publishing, and your daily life. One week you feel energized and posting consistently; the next, you’re burnt out and struggling to show up online.

The secret to sustainable, stress-free marketing isn’t working harder—it’s aligning your marketing goals with your natural writing seasons. When your goals reflect your creative cycles, your marketing becomes intentional, manageable, and even enjoyable.

If you’re an author, you know the feeling: you post, you wait, and . . . crickets. Social media can feel overwhelming, lonely, and even discouraging. But it doesn’t have to be this way. What if, instead of chasing likes or followers, you focused on building a loyal reader community—people who not only read your books but genuinely connect with you and your stories?

That’s the heart of sustainable marketing. And it starts with three simple pillars: Rooted, Rhythmic, and Relational Marketing.

Marketing your books doesn’t have to feel exhausting. You don’t need to chase every trend, post constantly, or force yourself into loud, chaotic strategies. What you need is a simple, repeatable system that lets you clarify your brand, share your stories, and connect with readers—sustainably, thoughtfully, and joyfully.

That’s exactly what the Sustainable Author Marketing Starter Kit offers. Create once, repurpose wisely, and watch your content work harder while protecting your time and creativity.

If you’re an author, you know the struggle: writing your book is just the beginning. Once your manuscript is done, the marketing begins . . . and suddenly, you’re juggling social media, email newsletters, and building a reader community. It can feel overwhelming.

That’s why I created the Writing Seasons: 18 Months of Sustainable Content Creation, a 76-week roadmap for authors designed to make content creation sustainable, intentional, and aligned with your creative seasons.

Marketing as an author can feel overwhelming. Social media trends change daily, algorithms shift, and everywhere you look, someone is promising the “secret” to instant visibility or viral growth. But if chasing every trend has left you burned out or disconnected from your readers, it’s time for a different approach . . . one that’s sustainable, authentic, and actually enjoyable.

Enter Rooted, Rhythmic, and Relational Marketing. These three pillars help authors market their work without losing their creative spark or their sanity. Let’s break down what each means, and how you can apply them today.

Every year has a rhythm of its own. Some seasons feel wildly productive; others feel slow, stretchy, and reflective. But no matter what your year looked like, taking intentional time to pause and look back is one of the most empowering things you can do as an author—both for your creativity and your marketing.

End-of-year reflection isn’t about judgment. It’s about clarity. It’s about understanding the path you walked so you can step into the new year with confidence, vision, and peace.

If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media as an author, you’ve probably heard the advice: “Grow your following.” But follower count alone doesn’t sell books. What matters is connection–real, human-centered connection that turns passive scrollers into engaged readers . . . and eventually, into friends who champion your stories.

This is the heart of sustainable marketing. And when you build it on a foundation of Rooted, Rhythmic, and Relational marketing, everything becomes easier, lighter, and far more meaningful.

Most authors don’t struggle because they’re bad at marketing—they struggle because they’re trying to fit themselves into routines that were never designed for them. The truth is, the “perfect” marketing routine doesn’t come from a template, an expert, or an algorithm.

It comes from you. Your energy, your writing seasons, your creative rhythms, and the kind of connection you want with readers.

A sustainable weekly marketing routine isn’t about doing everything.
It’s about doing the right things consistently.

Marketing for authors has changed dramatically over the past few years. Algorithms have shifted (anyone else stuck in the 2k follower hole?). Platform expectations have climbed. Readers consume content differently. And authors—especially indie authors—are feeling the pressure to keep up with everything while still finding time to actually write.

But 2026 is bringing something important into focus: Sustainable marketing isn’t just a strategy anymore. It’s a necessity.

If you’ve ever sat down to write and felt that familiar tug, the voice whispering, “You should be posting . . . shouldn’t you be marketing right now?” Then you already know the tension between creativity and marketing.

Most authors think they have to choose: Write OR market. Create OR promote. But the truth is this: you don’t have to sacrifice creativity to market your work, and you don’t have to sacrifice visibility to stay creative.

You just need a way to blend the two.

If you’ve spent any time in online author spaces, you’ve seen the constant push: post more, sell more, hustle harder, promote your book every day, master the algorithm or get left behind.

But here’s the truth most authors quietly know: Marketing that feels transactional rarely builds long-term readers. And it definitely doesn’t feel good to create.

If you’re like most authors, you want to be consistent in your marketing.
You want to nurture your audience, share your stories, and build the kind of reader community that grows steadily over time.

But then real life happens.

If you’ve spent time on social media as an author, you’ve probably felt it: the constant pressure to post the right thing at the right time, to chase trending audios or memes, and to optimize for likes and shares. It can be exhausting. Worse, it often leaves you feeling like you’re marketing someone else’s brand instead of your own.

Here’s the truth: the most sustainable and effective marketing doesn’t come from chasing trends—it comes from knowing who you are as an author and letting that guide every post, tweet, or newsletter.

You’ve probably seen indie authors rapid-release books and think, “How do you do that?” I know I wondered for a long time. I even asked several authors, all of whom were kind to respond and willing to share, but most never found time in their busy schedules. 

It’s a trap most authors fall into: measuring your success by watching your numbers. And don’t get me wrong, we should review our metrics, and we need money to pay the bills, but is that your purpose for being an author?

Likely the answer is no.

I was originally going to write a different post. One titled “What to Do When You Feel Invisible Online,” but it didn’t sit right with me. I realized that, again, I was trying to fit a “marketing mold” instead of remaining true to the work I believe God has called me to do. And that is to help other christian authors live a simple life that pleases the Lord and to teach sustainable social media. 

You don’t have to follow trends. You don’t need to try to replicate videos. You don’t have to rush to produce content, just to get something posted before it becomes overused.

Every author I’ve met has said that they love it when readers send them messages about their books. It’s a way to feel connected to your readers and to relive your story through the reading experience. 

It’s a way to become more familiar with your readers. But it’s not the only way.

Think about your most used social media platform. What does it look like? Does it reflect the emotions you wish to convey in your books? What about your website? Does it draw in your ideal reader?