The Challenges of Being an Indie Author

When I was an author with a co-publisher or for a traditional publisher, I had help to market, interact with social media, get interviews, and find bloggers who’d post about my stories. The publishers also found and hired the editors and proofreaders. As an Indie Author, all of that, in addition to creating the work, falls on me, and me alone. Over the years, I’ve had to learn how to do a lot involved in publishing a piece of work.

Once I’ve finished the first draft and have fixed it up, I find a Beta Reader to help me determine whether the story has wow potential. Then, I work with a critique group to tighten and incorporate those items which enhance that desired wow potential. Depending on the work, I may also hire an editor to ensure that the plot and character development are solid. Then, I ask someone to proofread the manuscript to catch any lingering or reader-halting errors. I also proofread the manuscript aloud to see whether I catch anything that the others missed. Finding a trusted editor has taken a lot of trial and error. This person has to be able to find issues and relay them back to me in a manner I could understand. The editor also must interact with the characters in the story enough to know which suggestions would work best. I don’t expect perfection because everyone approaches stories differently, but the editor needs to maintain an open mind.

Next, I format the manuscript. Over the years, I’ve developed a look and order that I like. I create a print version (with page numbers, headers, and table of contents) and another for the digital platform (no page numbers). For the digital format, I’ve had to learn what’s required to upload a copy that the tool will accept and how to understand and apply any fixes for issues that pop up.

While I’m working on the formatting, a vetted cover designer works on the cover. This is another relationship that must be based on trust and understanding as we discuss adjustments to the initial sketches. If I’m purchasing a full cover (front and back), the cover designer will need to know how many pages long the manuscript is which is why I wait until I’m formatting the manuscript to work on the cover.

The last thing needed is what the cost of the new book will be. I pay attention to the market and the cost of other books in the same genre. I also take the size or length of the book into consideration.  I come up with a price for the paperback version and another for the digital one.

With the book uploaded, my attention now turns to heavily marketing the book. Now, this isn’t the first time the world would hear about this release. I tend to talk it up over the months I’d been bringing it closer to release. I prepare an advertisement to post the release date on social media. For fun, I’ll have a countdown via posts to attract future readers. Sometimes, I schedule an event for release day. For this, I prepare sections of the story I’ll read aloud.

However, my work doesn’t end with the release. While I’m focusing on the next manuscript, I must continue talking about the previous books. It’s a lot of effort, and when life gets in the way, the sales tend to fall.

Some authors hire a personal assistant, but with a small budget, this may not be possible.

At in-person events, I smile, speak, hand out bookmarks, and explain more details about the stories (without giving away the ending) for the readers who ask more questions.

Although challenging at times, I must admit that I enjoy the life of an Indie Author. The best part is when people tell me how much trouble they had putting down my books. Page-turners are always one of my goals with my main one being a story that can affect lives for the better.

Planning for Another Year

Now that 2026 is underway, my mind goes to the months ahead and all that’s possible. The past few years have been challenging, but with Nanowrimo 2025 behind me, I am ready to work on the newly created pieces and return to the yet unfinished anthologies and stories.

 

I would also like to pursue getting reviews for the many stories I’ve published. If you’ve read any of my books and have yet to leave a review for each one, please do so as soon as you finish this post. I would be very appreciative.

 

Over the holidays, I finished incorporating months of critiques that had lingered in file notes into a handful of manuscripts. I am grateful for those who took the time to relate how my stories could be improved, so I didn't want to forget about any of their input.

 

I'm praying for a productive 2026.

Additional Winners

Something mind-blowing happened. Billiard Buddies and Just Between Us are also 2025 International Impact Book Awards winners. Click on the pics to purchase copies.

Looking forward to a black tie award gala in July.

Winners

 I am thrilled to announce that Danny R.O.S.S. and A Beautiful Girl are 2025 International Impact Book Awards winners. Click on the pics to purchase copies.

     

That is all.

The Benefits of a Writers' Group

In a craft where spending a lot of time is the norm, writers need other writers for encouragement, help with honing the skills needed to produce solid plots or poems, and to share accomplishments. I am currently a part of three groups (Do What’s Write Writer's Group & Podcast, South Jersey Writers Group, The Village Authors), and each one offers something a little different that meets my needs for friendship, involvement, growth, and fun. I recommend joining at least one group if publishing is intended, but even if you’re just writing a memoir for the family, a writers’ group can be helpful with that endeavor as well.

Some activities include write-ins where a small number of writers get together to write whatever they like; retreats to get time focused on writing, attending classes, or meeting agents / publishers; participating in open mics to practice reading aloud to a group; and discussions regarding various topics, such as genres, POV, and show vs. tell.

Personally, I’ve benefited mostly from the critique group within the writers’ group where other writers / authors read my work and give me suggestions on how to make it better. Some of the suggestions fit what’s needed while others do not. There is no pressure to accept any of the suggestions, but it would be a shame to disregard all of them. My work has benefited and improved over time with my adapting and learning from other writers with different backgrounds and experiences.

Writers’ groups are also a great place to share those rejections. No writer likes to get a rejection letter from a publisher, but when a group of people cheer you on because you took the time to submit your creative work, the rejection letter spurs you on to try the next one and the next after that. Remember, some great authors in world history, even more recently, have received numerous rejections before landing that lucrative contract. Publishing one’s work, I believe, is all about the hope of affecting the lives of others in a positive way through the beauty of imagination.

Starting Again

I’ve been away for quite a while. I didn’t want to be, but grieving for more than a dozen people since the beginning of 2022 took its toll. And my sweet kitty cat died, too. I wasn’t inclined to write although that would have been the very thing to bring healing. I needed a break to allow myself some self-care. The losses continued into 2023, but after attending a grieving class (which I highly recommend), my disposition began to improve. Gradually, I eased back into the rhythm of planning a return to my writing projects. It’s interesting that even though I didn’t progress with the WIPs I had in 2021, I faithfully submitted work to a monthly critique group.

So, what happens now in 2025?

I am focusing on my poetry while I attempt to incorporate all the feedback I received from my critique partners. I am grateful for their patience as I take the time to recalibrate. I am encouraged that they enjoyed one of my short stories so much that they suggested I expand it into a novel or at least a novella. Time will tell, but I can already visualize a bit of what they said.

I am also waiting to hear about the results of my very first song submission to a publisher. How exciting! The process is a bit different than for a manuscript. A recording of the song is also required. It was so cool being present for the recording over two evenings. As usual, I had to wait a few weeks for news of whether the work will receive a contract. Since that didn’t pan out, the song was submitted to another publisher.

In November 2023 and 2024, I jumped back into writing during National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, where the goal is to write 50K words in thirty days. I’d been gentle with myself both times. If I only managed one word, I was happy with that. At least I started writing again, which is more important.

 I am definitely a different person on the other side of this experience. I look forward to seeing how my writing will change.

I Did It Again!

It's been a challenging thing, getting back into writing regularly after taking a break to grieve. However, I'm happy that I pushed through emotional pain to create a heartfelt story between a mother and daughter at a July 4th beach day for the Cat & Mouse Beach Holiday contest. I've been submitting short stories to this contest since 2018, but I haven't been successful since that first time at seeing my story among others in an award-winning anthology series. I've learned, though, that rejections aren't a bad thing for a writer. I use it to propel me to continue creating stories that I'd like to read. Besides, I already have a plan for any short story I write. One way or another, as I have breath, I will make them available for the world to enjoy.