Creative Confidence: Mastering the Page, the Stage, and the Spotlight
Hard-won writing wisdom you won’t want to miss.
In today’s creative world, storytelling goes far beyond the written word. Whether you’re crafting novels, producing visual media, or building your digital presence, the path to success involves more than talent—it requires strategy, resilience, and the right guidance.
During recent Story Summit events, New York Times bestselling author Sadeqa Johnson reflected on her writing journey and offered insight into her next chapter; music licensing pro Stacey Powells demystified the complex process of clearing songs for creative use; and digital strategist Mike Wood revealed the dos and don’ts of launching a credible Wikipedia page.
Her Spirit, Her Story: Sadeqa Johnson’s Journey and What’s Next
Sadeqa Johnson is the author of five novels—soon to be six! Her books have been recognized by the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey. She’s also had books nominated by the NAACP.
In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Sadeqa is a writing teacher and Story Summit faculty member, and she’ll be a part of the 2025 Her Spirit women’s writing retreat in Santa Cruz, California, August 24-28.
In this video clip, Sadeqa shares the important lesson she learned writing her latest book, which launches February 10, 2026.
Watch the entire video for additional tips, inspiration, and a special Story Summit exclusive announcement about her new book.
Learn more about the Story Summit Her Spirit writing retreat and how you can save $900 on your registration!
Mastering Music Rights: Important Details for DIY
Stacey Powells—author, music licensing expert, and seasoned industry insider—gave Summiteers an inside look at the art of securing music rights for film, television, books, and even Broadway productions.
Drawing from her own experience, Stacey walked attendees through the step-by-step process of clearing a commercial jingle for a TV series scene—offering practical advice for those handling licensing themselves, as well as guidance on what to do when the rights holder can’t be located.
Here are a few of Stacey’s music licensing tips.
1. Plan ahead—and have backup plans.
If you think you might need music rights for a future project, start the process early. “Whether you hire a music licensing professional or go it alone, it can take months—or even years—to secure permission to use a song.” Always have a Plan B and even a Plan C.
2. Start by Googling who owns the rights.
Begin your search by identifying the current rights holder. For instance, when Stacey wanted a Noxema jingle from a 1970s commercial, she discovered that Unilever is the parent company.
3. Reach out to the right contact.
Email the person or department responsible for music licensing—Google is your best friend here—or contact the company’s general inbox. Clearly explain what you're looking for, such as the rights to the music, lyrics, or specific commercial. Include links or references to help identify your request.
4. Do your due diligence.
When one lead dries up, dig deeper. The commercial in question featured Joe Namath and aired in 1972, leading Stacey to contact the NFL.
5. Keep a paper trail.
Document every contact, date, and detail of your communication. If questions arise later, you'll have a record proving you made a good-faith effort to identify and reach the rights holder. Should someone step forward claiming ownership, you’ll be able to demonstrate your willingness to make a deal—and maybe even negotiate a fair price.
Using Wikipedia to Build Your Author Brand
This month’s Ten Ways to Present Yourself to the World module explored Wikipedia—what it is, how it works, and why it matters as a tool for building your identity as a writer. Our guest instructor, Mike Wood, offered valuable insights into Wikipedia’s inner workings and the thoughtful diligence required to contribute to it effectively.
So, what is Wikipedia—and why should writers care?
Wikipedia is a free, collaborative online encyclopedia written and maintained by a global community of volunteer editors. While it’s generally discouraged for individuals to write their own Wikipedia pages, there are compelling reasons why an author might want one. A well-sourced Wikipedia article can enhance a writer’s credibility, establish legitimacy, and serve as a succinct summary of their work and impact.
That said, Mike emphasized a key principle:
“Wikipedia can be a little like the wild, wild west.”
In other words, navigating the platform requires caution, clarity, and a deep respect for its core values: neutrality, verifiability, and transparency. Articles about living people must be based on independent, reliable sources and must never read as promotional.
Mike shared three ways writers can begin exploring Wikipedia:
1. Start with The Wikipedia Adventure
This interactive tutorial teaches you how to edit and navigate Wikipedia safely and confidently.
“It lets you practice without the fear of making the wrong edits or hitting the wrong button,” Mike explained.
2. Use the Articles for Creation Tool
This tool allows you to create a draft article that goes through a review process before being published.
“If you publish a live page and it’s deleted for not being notable, reclaiming it can be extremely difficult. But if your draft is declined through Articles for Creation, there’s no penalty—you just revise and resubmit,” Mike said.
💡 Pro tip: Always make the suggested edits before resubmitting your draft.
3. Disclose Conflicts of Interest
Mike suggested, “If you choose to draft a page about yourself or someone you represent, always disclose any conflict of interest up front.”
This signals transparency and shows you're committed to Wikipedia’s neutrality standards.
What’s Next?
It’s not too late to join Ten Ways to Present Yourself to the World. Next month, we’ll shift our focus to understanding how literary agents view potential clients—and how to stand out in the query pile.
What’s Coming Up at Story Summit?
Here are a few of our upcoming classes and events. Check out the complete schedule at www.storysummit.us.
June 15: Book & Film Club with Jennifer Safrey, author of After Happily Ever (Free Event)
During this lively discussion, we will celebrate the success of fellow Summiteer Jennifer Safrey as she shares her motivations for writing After Happily Ever, as well as her path to publishing.
June 16, July 7, & Sept. 8: From Start to Finish, led by David Kirkpatrick
Move your writing forward with a small group format designed for big progress, including weekly feedback, accountability, and connection.
June 18: We See You, We Hear You, led by Deb Engle and Stacey Powells (Free Event)
This monthly session for women offers attendees the freedom to write and share within the comfort of community—through prompts, reading, and guided meditations.
June 22: Open Hearts (Free Event)
A safe, supportive space to ask questions and speak freely about your writing and your life as a writer. Explore solutions to personal challenges with encouragement and without judgment.
Story Summit was founded by David Kirkpatrick, the former president of Paramount Studios and former chief of production for Disney. From the beginning of Story Summit, his dream has been to help make writers’ dreams come true. It’s happening in big ways, so from time to time we’ll feature Summiteers whose work is being published or produced and let you know how they did it.
We hope that one of those writers will someday be you. Please reach out, leave a comment, and check out our links. And most of all, please join us! We’d love to welcome you to our Story Summit community.