💡Why Every Writer Needs a Creator CEO Mindset (Yes, You Too)
You’re not only a writer. You’re the boss of your own damn empire.
Two weeks ago, I was on a trail in Tahoe, climbing past pine trees and doing lakeside hikes with my family. No deadlines. No rush. Just fresh air, long hikes, and quiet mornings catching up with the people I love.
Of course, I still brought my laptop.
Not because I had to — but because I wanted to. I wrote a little each day, not out of obligation, but out of habit. Rhythm. Identity. Writing isn’t something I clock in and out of anymore — it’s how I move through the world.
Then, last weekend: Vegas.
I wandered the canals of the Venetian like a tourist in a parallel universe, stopping by Aritzia for a wardrobe refresh. A robot made me a mocktail — because of course it did.
Then my partner Kyle and I headed to Area 15 for the John Wick Experience, where we became assassins on the run in a full-blown immersive thriller. We dodged lasers in bank vaults, lost fake fortunes at roulette, took out targets in a firing range, and followed actors through backroom deals and neon-lit escapes like we were living inside an action movie.
Then came the Sphere — a $2.3 billion technodream — where we watched the Backstreet Boys, the same boy band whose CDs lived in my Walkman on repeat back in middle school.
That kind of full-circle moment doesn’t happen on accident.
It happens when you stop seeing yourself as only a writer — and start thinking like a Creator CEO.
When you’re not just writing stories, but building the business that supports them. When you own your work and the distribution of your work. When your creativity is the foundation of your freedom.
That’s what this post is about — the mindset shift from “I’m a writer” to “I run a writing empire.”
It’s not just a sexy idea. It’s the future.
And if you’re freelancing, self-publishing, writing on Substack, or building anything of your own — congrats, you’re already halfway there.
Let’s close the gap.
❓ What Even Is a Creator CEO?
A Creator CEO isn’t just a catchy term to slap on your LinkedIn bio.
It’s a mindset. A survival tactic. A map to freedom.
If you write on Substack, you’re a creator. If you post reels, launch courses, publish newsletters, or publish books — you’re a creator. Even if all you do is scribble personal essays into the void? Still counts.
But here’s the thing:
Being a creator doesn’t automatically equal a sustainable career.
That’s where the “CEO” part comes in.
A Creator CEO is someone who doesn’t just make things. They run things. They treat their creative work like a business, because that’s what it is. That’s what it has to be if you want it to last.
Turning on monetization for your newsletter? CEO move.
Pitching a freelance client on your writing services? CEO move.
Protecting your calendar like it’s Fort Knox? Ultra-CEO move.
And the better you get at thinking like a CEO, the more space you create for your most powerful creative work.
📚 Why Writers and Creators Need the CEO Mindset Now
I recently hopped on a Substack Live with Natasha Tynes (catch the replay on ✍️ Make Writing Your Job if you missed it). We talked about what it takes to build six- and seven-figure writing careers. Branding. Systems. Sustainability.
It’s all connected.
You don’t need to become a tech bro with a pitch deck.
But you do need to realize: if you want creative freedom, you can’t skip the business brain.
Because otherwise?
You’re forever chasing exposure instead of income.
You’re bending to brands instead of building your own.
You’re burning out, not breaking through.
There is no artist-vs-entrepreneur binary. That dichotomy is outdated and deeply unhelpful. The truth? Your art needs your entrepreneurship.
Commerce isn’t the enemy of art. Commerce funds art.
✨ CEO Energy Means You Set the Pace
I get it. Some people flinch at the term CEO. It sounds… well, very spreadsheet. Very “exit strategy.”
Some people might even frown at what my schedule looked like this past Friday:
Woke up at 5:30am to work on a client’s memoir
Hopped on Substack Live to talk all things writing with Natasha Tynes
Took 13 back-to-back meetings to vet new backend developers for OmList, the app I co-founded (it starts with movie recs, ends with soulmates — more on that later)
Wrapped up at 4pm to go on a hike and clock out
(You can see the unhinged day-in-the-life below or here)
But two weeks ago? That week looked very different:
Sleeping in until 10am everyday
Hiking through Tahoe
Drinking tea by the Venetian canals
Watching movies and cooking with family
Writing when I felt like it
Zero calls on my calendar
That’s the thing about being a Creator CEO: this isn’t hustle culture cosplay. It’s sustainable sprinting. It’s building a life where you can go hard when needed, then hit the brakes when you want.
That is the reward of CEO energy. Not burnout. Not spreadsheets. Freedom.
💻 Creator CEO vs. Starving Artist
Here’s the difference:
The Starving Artist waits to be chosen. The Creator CEO self-publishes, self-funds, self-hypes.
The Starving Artist fears selling out. The Creator CEO knows selling = staying in the game.
The Starving Artist hoards time. The Creator CEO invests it wisely.
And no, you don’t have to do it alone.
You can hire an accountant. Partner with a co-founder. Bring in a VA or freelance editor to help you with your weekly writing commitments. But even if you outsource parts of the job, you still set the vision. You still steer the ship.
You don’t need an MBA. You need boundaries. You need clarity. You need the guts to charge what you’re worth.
🖊️ So What Does a Creator CEO Actually Do?
Let me break it down:
They protect their time. Deadlines, not distractions. Creatives aren’t free 24/7. Boundaries are the brand.
They invest in tools. Not just notebooks. CRMs, accountants, contracts. Whatever clears the path.
They own their monetization. Multiple income streams. Clear offers. Revenue with range.
They prioritize distribution. Great work isn’t enough. You need an engine to get it seen.
They think long-term. Not just today’s launch, but next year’s ecosystem.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to stop winging it.
🧪 Takeaways from Today’s Sutoscience Lab
You can call yourself a creator. An artist. A writer. A solopreneur. A newsletter weirdo. Doesn’t matter.
But if you want to do this for the long haul —
If you want your writing to fund your life instead of drain it —
If you want to be at the Sphere watching your childhood icons instead of stuck in your inbox praying to be chosen —
Then it’s time.
Think like a CEO.
Act like a CEO.
Build like a CEO.
Because the future of creativity belongs to the ones who own it.
Sending you good writing vibes,
-Amy