Success in publishing can become a creative trap. Publishers often reject new projects from their bestselling authors if they deviate from an established genre. This risk-averse behavior pigeonholes proven talent and stifles their creative evolution, forcing them to stick to what's safe.

The publishing industry's restrictive and often unsupportive model generates 'cynicism at scale.' This pushes talented writers, who feel stifled or abandoned, toward platforms like Substack where they can maintain creative control and build a sustainable career on their own terms.

Creativity is a struggle between time and resources. A publisher's explicit goal should be making authors millionaires, not for luxury, but for sustainability. Financial independence allows talented writers to dedicate their time to their craft, creating a virtuous cycle for both author and publisher.

Industries fixated on prestige—awards, parties, and reputation—create cultures that resist common-sense business improvements. This focus makes it difficult for insiders, especially those lower on the totem pole like authors, to challenge the status quo and say "the emperor has no clothes."

The label "problem author" was once negative, but now it's a strategic necessity. With authors often commanding larger audiences than their publishers, they must leverage this power to challenge outdated, opaque processes and force necessary industry-wide improvements for their book's success.

Author Shannon Hale argues the worst writing advice is "only write what you know." She believes this is flawed because it prevents the author from discovering new ideas during the creative process. Writing should be an act of exploration, not a pedantic exercise of sharing pre-existing knowledge.

Morgan Housel's massively successful book, *The Psychology of Money*, was rejected by all US publishers because its unconventional format—19 disconnected essays—was the opposite of what they wanted. This shows that to achieve an outlier result, you often need an oddball idea that breaks established rules.

The power of industry gatekeepers lies in saying 'no,' which makes them feel important but stifles creativity. This risk aversion leads to a homogenous media landscape filled with copies and sequels, while truly innovative, independent projects are denied a platform.

Businesses prioritize maximum output, speed, and low risk, which stifles creativity. True creativity requires time, safety for risk-taking, and tolerance for failure—conditions that are antithetical to typical business operations.