Feeling like an outsider became my greatest writing advantage
My greatest writing advantage didn’t come from following the rules. It came from having the courage to break rules the gatekeepers set.
If I followed the rules and wrote mass market fiction, chances are I’d have been lost in cyber dust. Writing to market may give authors the largest pool of prospective readers, but there’s a lot of competition there.
That’s what they don’t tell you. So it wasn’t long before I said “fuck it. I’m doing this my way.” That happened in Apr. 2025, when I went from the typical cheerful, “hey, how are you doing” author to one with an edgier voice. A voice that matched my works’ themes.
Is it for everyone? No. Hell, people even said, “TC, don’t do this.” And I even said, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
But you know what? Almost a year later, I don’t care. My readership has grown, my readers open my emails, they check out my books, and I have a blast creating content. So what if I don’t show off cat pictures? Big deal. There are thousands of authors who do that.
No. I’ve used a self-hosted blog and a mailing list to build a brand. That beats large social media followings that may or may not convert. And when I say “mailing list,” don’t think for a second that I’m just sharing free books and group promos with my readers. Most authors do that, and it defeats the purpose.
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Owning a unique voice is a writing advantage most authors miss
I’ve been on a lot of mailing lists. Know how many I read these days? Zero. There’s no point. They all sound the same. Or, better yet, I can cleanly fit them into a few categories. And it’s not saying much. There’s no personality or anything that sets them apart from one another. So why even bother?
Know why I’m a big fan of Tom Woods’ newsletters? It has more to do than the fact he sees through the political BS. Woods has a voice you don’t forget. He’s scholarly, yet rough enough around the edges to where he’s not scared to offend. If you let him know he offended you, he’ll point you to the Unsubscribe button.
He’ll say things like, “Unless you have brain damage…” which is great in a world full of sanitized political correctness. It’s one of many reasons why Woods, while polarizing, draws an audience.
Most authors are too scared to own their voice
I’ll get flak on this, since a lot of authors think they’re “a force for good.” But what is a “force for good?” To them, it often goes hand-in-hand with supporting Alphabet Mafia rights, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), multiculturalism, antiracism, general wokeism, and in extreme cases, anti-capitalism.
All the “shared values” someone else told them were “shared values.” Or, “shared values” they picked up on and said, “Oh, I’m supposed to support this.” Before they know it, they’re in lockstep with what they think they’re supposed to be doing. And really, for who’s benefit? The people they claim they’re supporting and defending, or their own?
Meanwhile, others like me who quietly dissent from this new age status quo refuse to play the “cheerful author” card. I played it for years, starting each email with “Happy Monday,” or whatever day of the week it was.
Even if my books preached a brand of Misesian and later Rothbardian libertarianism, my author voice didn’t match the value. Fast-forward to Apr. 2025, and it changed in a heartbeat. Best yet, as opposed to a mass exodus from my list, it grew, and the exits were mostly minute.
Sanitized, safe, sensitivity-driven writing was a fad
While it’s not the case with traditional publishing, you’re seeing the shift elsewhere. Indie and self-publishing included. Hell, one reason I opted for the indie and self-publishing route is because I wanted to keep my voice. So it made little sense, looking back, to have somewhat sanitized it to begin with. All while hiding the themes I write about in my books instead of speaking openly about them.
But no, if I wanted to be different, I needed to do what others are doing: buck the safe, sanitized way. It might result in fewer mass market readers and subscribers, or they might appreciate the fact there’s an honest voice in the room.
At the end of the day, it became a writing advantage. Now, the choice is yours. Keep writing for vanity — getting likes and shares on social media from people who’ll probably never buy your books. Or, own your audience and your list, own your voice, and own your platform.
And best yet — sell the books you put so much time and effort into writing. If you’re craving to be different but are still on the fence, let this article be your sign.
👉 If you need inspiration then check out my hard-hitting fiction
