Author Nation Live 25 EC-32Cutting through the Noise
"Cutting Through the Noise" is a mindset-focused session delivered by Drew Strickland, a crime and psychological thriller author who built a six-figure indie publishing career starting from zero industry background—his prior job was running a dry cleaning business. The session introduces the CREATE framework, a six-principle system for sustainable author success: Confidence in your voice, Research your landscape, Elevate your thinking, Adaptability in challenges, Tenacity in the process, and Evolve for longevity. Strickland distinguishes between "noise" (distractions, comparison, algorithm-chasing, and busy work) and "signal" (writing consistently, publishing strategically, and reaching readers directly). Drawing from personal setbacks including a Facebook ads hack and a devastating book club experience, he demonstrates how mindset shifts—not marketing hacks—enabled his progression from three books with no sales in 2019 to $360,000 in solo-authored income by 2024.
Key Concepts
- CREATE Framework: Six-principle mindset system—Confidence, Research, Elevate, Adaptability, Tenacity, Evolve.
- Signal vs. Noise: Core distinction between actions that create momentum (signal) versus distractions that simulate progress (noise).
- External Noise: Platforms, trends, algorithms, and guru advice that pull authors off track.
- Internal Noise: Self-doubt, perfectionism, and comparison that undermine creative confidence.
- Operational Noise: Busy work disguised as productivity; activity without meaningful progress.
- Confidence Follows Action: Principle that readiness comes from doing, not waiting.
- Discipline Compounds: Concept that daily effort accumulates like compound interest.
- Transcendental Meditation (TM): Mantra-based meditation practice Strickland uses twice daily for 20 minutes; attributed to Maharishi.
- Maharishi's Stone/Sand/Water/Air Metaphor: Progression of emotional resilience through meditation—from trauma etching stone to drawing lines through air.
- Milestones as Stepping Stones: Reframe of achievements as foundations rather than finish lines.
Specific Strategies
- 3 AM Writing Sessions: Pre-dawn writing routine Strickland used while working day job to accumulate words before 7 AM shift.
- Genre Pivot: Strickland's shift from post-apocalyptic (underperforming) to mystery/thriller/suspense (resonant with reading preferences).
- Audio Wide Distribution: Taking audiobooks out of exclusivity to distribute across multiple platforms via DreamScape Select.
- Attorney General Complaint: Unconventional tactic Strickland used (filing with Arizona and California AGs) during Facebook account recovery.
- Mastermind Groups: Peer networks for author accountability and knowledge sharing.
- Writing Sprints: Timed collaborative writing sessions with accountability partners.
- Hypothesis-Driven Ad Testing: Setting limits, tracking ROI, and pulling plug on underperforming investments (applied to failed marketing agency).
🔒 Unlock the Full Replay
The Complete CREATE Framework Deep-Dive In the full video, Drew Strickland walks through each of the six CREATE principles with personal implementation examples—including the exact morning routine he used to write books while working a physically exhausting day job, and the meditation protocol that transformed how he handles criticism.
Q: How do you maintain creative joy after turning writing into your full-time job?
A: Strickland acknowledges this is a genuine challenge and shares multiple strategies: meditation (transcendental meditation twice daily) helps separate monetary pressure from creative enjoyment; writing partners for accountability sprints keep the work social rather than isolating; and accepting transition periods is essential—he took four months off when his wife retired to simply enjoy being home together. He emphasizes that major life shifts require adjustment time, and fighting against that reality creates unnecessary friction.
Q: How do you stay motivated to write after quitting your day job removes the "escape" motivation?
A: When Strickland quit his dry cleaning job, his primary fuel—desperation to escape—disappeared. He found himself enjoying not working so much that productivity suffered. His solution was meditation, which provided clarity and calm, allowing him to shift motivation from "escaping something bad" to "building something bigger." The practice helped him think beyond survival mode and toward legacy and expansion, creating sustainable internal motivation independent of external pressure.
Q: Q: How long did it take to reach six-figure author income after starting indie publishing?
A: Approximately five years (late 2018 to 2023). Strickland began his indie career in November 2018, quit his day job in December 2021, and hit his first six figures in 2023—demonstrating that sustainable author income requires years of consistent output, not overnight success.