Everyone is in a rush to publish, to launch, to ship – to get something, anything, out into the world as fast as possible. But what if slowing down isn’t a liability? What if it’s actually your superpower?

In this solo episode, Tonya reflects on her conversation with book coach and ghostwriter Candice L. Davis to explore why craft matters now more than ever. In a world where AI churns out endless content and “quantity over quality” has become the norm, choosing depth is its own quiet act of rebellion.

This one’s for the writers, creators, builders, and beginners. Anyone trying to make meaningful work in a frantic world.

Tonya breaks down how thoughtful craft becomes an expression of care, why community accelerates mastery, and how taking the long road can help your people feel seen, valued, and held.

You’ll hear how:

• Craft is care, it’s how you show your people they matter
• Slowing down honors the work and the audience you’re making it for
• Depth beats velocity (and why rushing just adds to the noise)
• Community is the secret ingredient to better books, better ideas, and better outcomes
• “Pre-published” is still a real identity, you don’t have to wait to belong
• AI can speed things up, but it can’t give you context, nuance, or discernment
• Creating in public helps you refine the work while finding your perfect people
• Your pace and process might be your greatest rebellion in a culture obsessed with speed

• 2:38 – 5:22 The myth of the “Stephen King cabin fantasy”
• 11:56 – 15:02 Deadlines, urgency, and the fear of “running out of time”
• 18:21 – 21:12 A-plus vs. C-minus work: knowing what deserves your depth
• 24:41 – 28:30 Craft as hospitality (Mary’s studio) vs. craft as language (Candice’s work)
• 28:31 – 32:05 Owning your identity before you feel “ready”
• 32:06 – 35:30 Why beginners need community more than information
• 38:51 – 42:33 Creating in public without rushing the process

• Episode 12: Writing for Belonging, Not Algorithms with Candice L. Davis
• Nothing But the Words — Candice’s podcast
• CandiceLDavis.com
• Episode 10: Visibility Isn't Vanity with Mary Williams

Tonya Kubo is a community strategist, marketing consultant, and rebel with a cause: helping people find the place where they truly belong. For nearly two decades, she’s built online spaces that feel less like comment sections and more like chosen family. She’s the fixer you call when your Facebook group has gone straight-up Lord of the Flies and the bouncer at the door of internet nonsense. As the host of Find Your Freaks, Tonya brings together unconventional thinkers and bridge-builders who know “normal” was never the point. Her favorite spaces? The ones where the freak flags fly high.

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