The Truth About Being an Indie Author

Being an indie author is hard.

Everyone thinks the toughest part is writing the book, but it’s not. Writing is the easy part. That’s where your imagination takes over and the story flows. The hard part comes after the words are written.

No one tells you that finishing your book is only the beginning. Suddenly you have to find a cover artist who captures the heart of your story, an editor who understands your voice, and somehow you have to learn how to market it.

The woes of marketing.

How do you market a book when no one knows who you are yet? When you have no followers, no platform, and no idea where to start? So you build your brand from scratch, trying to show people who you are, what your book means, and why it matters.

Then comes the question. Where do I even sell this book?

We all dream of being global, of seeing our book in hands across the world. So we put ourselves out there. We share our hearts on social media, hoping the right people find us. And for the most part, the indie author community is amazing, supportive, creative, and encouraging.

But there are also the bad actors. The scammers who slide into your messages pretending to be fellow authors or marketing experts. They promise connection or opportunity but are really there to take advantage of your dream. It’s disheartening.

This author journey isn’t for the faint of heart. It tests your patience, your confidence, and your faith in yourself. But even with the challenges, I’m here for it. Because at the end of the day, I believe in my stories, my characters, and the message behind my work.

Being an indie author might be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s also one of the most rewarding.