Ceylan Gunduz (Editor-in-Chief at One Brilliant Arc) sits down with (Creative on Purpose) to reframe marketing for writers and difference-makers—without the slime, performance, or algorithm chasing. This is a first-principles conversation about storytelling, professionalism, and how to connect your work with the people it’s actually for.
In this episode, we cover:
Why marketing feels “icky” for creatives—and why it doesn’t have to
A clean definition of marketing: telling true stories to the right people
What marketing is not (ads, hacks, funnels, countdown timers, “be everywhere” pressure)
The “authenticity” trap (and why “be professional” can become a trap too)
A better foundation: know yourself (values, principles, non-negotiables) to find the right audience
Formula vs vibes: why you need both instincts and a reliable system
A simple creator system: work + audience + a way to reach them + feedback to iterate
The biggest pitfall: chasing algorithms/virality instead of craft and conversations
Seth Godin’s “Marketing Trifecta”:
What change are you trying to make?
Who are you trying to change?
What promise are you making?
Why “avatars” and “niching” can be traps—and why worldview/positioning matters more
How making and keeping small promises replaces hard selling
Closing advice for creators: trust yourself, trust the process, and show up with what you have
Subscribe to the Creative on Purpose Substack for more principle-based frameworks, tools, and conversations for purpose-driven creators.
Thank you Kato McNickle, Claire Machado, Kyra Faison-Gardner, Judith Röhrle, and many others for tuning into my live video with One Brilliant Arc (OBA)! Join me for my next live video in the app.
