We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Ellsworth recently and have shared our conversation below.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, for starters, you can call me Steph. I developed my love for writing during my primary school years. The freedom of expression without judgment or criticism became my safe haven. My voyage to becoming an acknowledged & respected writer is an atypical one. I was once considered an independent blogger hobbyist. Without any initial formal education or training, I became a self-educated writer that depended on my creativity, a love for writing, & free crash courses in journalism etiquette to create my own success.

My initial blogs (2016) landed in the niche of thoughts about relationships, poetry related to love, & my opinion about love, lust, & lies. My focus then shifted after I became an independent/self-published author, & I began blogging about other authors, book reviews, & became a self-acclaimed grammar police. By the release of my 3rd book, I felt “blogged out,” & eventually the blogging faded altogether. In 2018, I launched Stephy Says as a multifaceted lifestyle blogger. I covered several categories like food & drinks, beauty & fashion, travel, entertainment, & love & relationships. Not long after the launch, I was offered the job of a public relations/publicist opportunity by artist L. Terrel & his wife, Rae Majette (Owners of Nagid House Entertainment). I accepted the position, & from that moment Stephy Says shifted to a blog that highlighted independent music artists & small businesses. I was afforded the opportunity to introduce music & small businesses to the world through my blog posts. The Majettes really created the foundation for Stephy Says. The existence of my brand ran rampant on social media, & before I knew it I had close to 50,000 followers on my social media platforms combined. In 2022, I decided that I would “buckle down” & become more serious about my gift of writing. I became a Community Voice Pro Contributor in the NewsBreak company. I joined Medium & Vocal to build platforms outside of traditional blogging. In 2023, I published my newest urban romance, thriller novel, “What’s Done in the Dark,” after it had been a work in progress for 7 years. My creative work is in the form of words: writing, blogging, reading, & speaking. I introduce crafts, businesses, & achievements. I am the self-declared voice of the people.

As a writer & content creator, I continued to grow. I had pitched several ideas to mainstream magazines & newspaper publications, but I was repeatedly passed over & my articles were declined. The problem I see most in my area of creativity is that another writer has to determine how “good of a writer” you are. The differences in preference for styles of writing create a barrier. If my style of writing isn’t the preference of the person determining eligibility to publish, I’m automatically dismissed. However, my resilience & endurance and my refusal to quit are what I am the proudest of.

If you don’t remember anything else from this question, just remember this simple vision, Stephy Says is here to engage empower, & impact.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think non-creatives will struggle to understand my seemingly unhealthy attachment or “addiction” to my computer & cell phone. Words, storylines, quotes, storylines, & potential articles sporadically emerge from my creative mind to the forefront of my mind at any point of the day. Being attached to my phone or binging on social media is where my stories develop or where I may be sparked with some inspiration to write. Recent news, timelines, newsfeeds, or statuses are similar to “research” & keep me informed of the interests of my target audience.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my social media presence with authenticity. Being myself on & offline started gaining followers. The organic growth was built on my opinions (both popular & unpopular), my genuine support for others, & my engagement & interactions with others. I dance like no one is watching on TikTok, love people on Facebook, & participate in conversations on Twitter. Consistency & creativity fuel the social media train.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/stephysays
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ijs_stephysays/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ijsstephysays
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephysays/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1STEPahed
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephysaystv
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephy-Ellsworth/author/B0BTC9MDZL?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true