If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’ve at least considered the possibility of making a living as an indie writer. Maybe you have even tried your hand at writing a few short stories or novels and are looking for advice on how to make it all work financially.
But let me tell you: I’ve been there. I’ve written tens of thousands of words that were never published and spent years working on projects with no hope of ever earning back the money spent producing them.
And I’m still here doing what I love today because I learned some important lessons along the way. These lessons can help guide your decision-making so that you don’t waste time, energy, or money pursuing something that will never really work out for you professionally or personally:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace diverse income streams to sustain your writing career financially. |
| Build a strong online presence through social media and author websites to connect with readers. |
| Invest time in networking and collaborating with fellow indie authors to expand your reach. |
| Continuously improve your writing skills and produce high-quality content to attract and retain readers. |
| Consider offering additional services like coaching, workshops, or speaking engagements to supplement your income. |
| Prioritize consistent engagement with your audience through newsletters, blog posts, and reader interactions. |
| Research and implement effective book marketing strategies to increase your book’s visibility and sales. |
| Stay adaptable and open to trying new approaches to find what works best for your unique writing journey. |
| Cultivate a strong work ethic and discipline to maintain a consistent writing routine and meet your goals. |
| Seek inspiration from successful six-figure indie authors and learn from their habits and strategies. |
Write Something That Will Make People Sad
The truth is that the human brain is a lot like an iceberg: we only see the tip, but there’s much more under the water. As writers and storytellers, it’s our job to pull back that curtain and expose as much of ourselves as possible to give readers insight into what it means to be alive.
You may want them laughing or crying or thrilled with excitement or inspired by hope but you need them feeling something.
As long as you can make people feel something (even if they don’t know exactly what), then they’ll keep reading your stuff out of curiosity: “What’s going on here?”
This can be achieved through various methods: using emotion effectively, creating a connection between yourself and your readership through empathy or sympathy for characters’ struggles, etc., but at its core lies one thing: storytelling itself.
The most important thing about writing good fiction is understanding how stories work so well that when presented with any given situation no matter how mundane you know exactly how best convey its meaning through words alone (or sometimes combinations thereof).
Building a successful writing career requires not only talent but also the right tools. Discover the 11 most important software tools that can enhance your writing journey in our article on software tools for writing.
Write About The Apocalypse
You might think that writing about the end of the world is a bit presumptuous. After all, who are you to say that it’s going to happen? But if this isn’t a good time for your book to be written and published, then when is it?
Your story may not be completely accurate or even plausible and maybe it won’t be until after the fact.
But no matter what happens in the future, there will always be people who want to read a book about what they’ve experienced firsthand. If you’re writing fiction, though, you don’t have to limit yourself solely based on what’s happened before and what could happen tomorrow;
Instead of just thinking about how things change over time (or not), we highly recommend adding some creative license into your equation so that your work feels more alive than ever before!
Remember That It’s Not About You
While it’s important to have pride in your work and put a lot of yourself into each project, remember that you are only one part of the equation. Your writing is not going to be perfect every time you need to take criticism with an open mind and learn from it.
Your characters are not always going to behave like real people; sometimes they’ll do things that make no sense whatsoever, but this just means there’s room for improvement in your next book!
And while it’s nice when readers enjoy reading your books and leave positive reviews on Amazon or Goodreads (or wherever else), don’t get too attached if they say anything negative about them. As long as people keep buying them, everything will probably be fine!
Making the leap from a traditional job to a writing career is no small feat. Learn how one writer ditched their day job and embraced the path of writing in our post on transitioning to a writing career.
You Can’t Be Afraid To Fail
If you want to be successful, you cannot be afraid of failure. The best thing that could happen is for your book to fail. When it does, take a moment and ask yourself: What can I do differently next time? Then do something different!
As an indie writer, your job is to try new things until something works and then keep doing that thing forevermore until someone else comes along with a better idea and takes all of your readers away from you (which will happen eventually).
That’s why it’s so important to ask people for help when needed. If a friend tells me about something cool they’re doing in their writing career whether it’s using some kind of software or using social media more effectively.
I’ll always listen because I have no clue how any of these tools work and could use some guidance from someone who knows what they’re doing.
Writing Great Sales Copies
Writing sales copy is a skill that’s different from writing fiction. It requires you to think about your audience, product, and goals, as well as the competition.
You must understand the psychology of the buyer. If you don’t know what they want or need, how can you sell them anything?
The first step is to look at their needs and then try to address those needs with your product or service. You also have to make sure that they are aware of its existence.
This can be done by creating relevant content which will help them discover what you have on offer through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques like keyword research and content strategy planning.
Just like landing your dream job as an archivist, making a decent living as an indie writer takes dedication and strategy. Explore our insights on earning a living as an indie writer for valuable tips on the journey ahead.
This Brings Us Back To Where We Started: Knowing What People Want!
If a person enjoys your writing, they will want to buy your next book.
The key to selling your book is to make sure that people want it. The best way to do that is by providing readers with a reason for them to buy it.
A mailing list is a perfect tool for this! If you have a mailing list, then when you release a new book, all of your followers will be notified and given an incentive (like an offer or discount) if they purchase from your site instead of Amazon or other retailers who have their fees.
Another thing that indie authors can do is write great descriptions on Amazon and Goodreads. A good description will tell people why they should buy the book in different ways depending on who the reader is:
If they’re into sci-fi or romance; if they like action movies or historical romances; if they want something lighthearted with humor but also some serious issues addressed at times; etcetera… It’s all about knowing your audience!
You shouldn’t just rely on word-of-mouth either a lot of people don’t know about indie authors yet! So make sure that not only are there clear links from each page directly back up through social media posts (Twitter handles are especially helpful!).
But also consider including links within those posts so readers can easily navigate around without having any trouble finding what else might interest them besides just one single product category such as “books” which only shows titles currently available vs whatever else might be available elsewhere too.”
Aim For A Topic That Has Some Timely Relevance
Your topic should be something that will capture the attention of your readers, and this is best accomplished by writing about something relevant to them. The best way to do this is by researching what’s currently popular in the world around you.
If you’re writing a book about weight loss, for example, it makes sense to talk about how you lost 50 pounds and kept it off for 20 years but only if there’s some new information or perspective that can be brought to bear on the subject. This might include:
- New research on why dieting doesn’t work long-term (and why diets themselves are harmful)
- Instructions on how people can change their relationship with food so they’re not so preoccupied with losing weight or being thin
- A discussion of how societal pressures make us all feel like we need to be thin
Cold emailing may not be the obvious choice, but sometimes it leads to unexpected opportunities. Discover how someone cold emailed a CEO and achieved remarkable success in our story about cold emailing success.
Write Out Of Passion, Not Greed
Don’t write for the money. Write because you love it, and let the money come later if it does at all.
Don’t write for fame. You can make a living writing, but being famous is something else entirely (and probably not sustainable).
Don’t write for attention or validation from others you don’t need them to tell you what you’re worth as an artist or writer!
Inject Drama Into Your Fiction
Drama is what will keep readers interested. People read fiction because they want compelling stories, and there’s no better way to make sure that your story stays compelling than by adding drama into the mix!
Drama is what keeps people reading. If you want someone to stick around for more than a few paragraphs or pages, then you need to keep their attention with something that’ll make them want to keep reading.
That’s where the drama comes in it lets them know that something interesting might happen soon, which encourages them to continue following along with your story until they get their answer.
Drama is what keeps people coming back for more…and then talking about it afterward! The best part about using dramatic techniques in your writing is: They’re part of what makes a good book great!
The More Books You Write And Publish, The More Money You May Make
As a writer, it’s important to understand the principle of “the more you write, the better you get.” The more you write and publish, the better equipped you will be to make a living as an indie author.
It can take time for this process to unfold but if you are committed to writing and publishing books or short stories regularly, then your book sales may grow over time.
As an indie writer, creating a strategic cold email marketing campaign can help you connect with readers and build a dedicated audience. Learn from our guide on creating a successful cold email marketing campaign to make your writing journey more rewarding.
Be Careful With The Setting Of Your Story
The setting is the time and place of a story. It’s where the characters live and work, even when it isn’t obvious to them or their readers. The setting should be a character in your story because it tells us so much about who these people are and how they interact with each other.
The setting must also be consistent throughout your work, like all other elements of style.
If you write that it’s spring in chapter 1, then winter in chapter 2, readers will feel cheated by your lack of attention to detail, or worse yet, they’ll think you’re trying too hard to sound clever by throwing around random seasons as if they were interchangeable words like “yes” or “no.”
And this can happen easily if you don’t plan: suddenly realizing halfway through writing your novel that it takes place all at once instead of over multiple months will cause some frantic rewriting later on!
Lastly and perhaps most importantly setting must be appropriate for both genre (for example historical fiction versus science fiction) as well as tone (darker books tend toward urban decay while whimsical ones might take place on Mars).
Going against convention here could lead us into another realm entirely…
Don’t Listen Solely To Readers When It Comes To Making Edits To Your Story
Your readers are not the only people who should be able to influence your story. You’ll also want to take in the views of other writers, editors, and agents who know what they’re talking about.
You mustn’t just listen solely to readers when it comes to making edits to your story; you’ll need an outside perspective from someone more qualified for them to provide useful feedback that could help improve your writing.
As much as we’d love for our readers (or “fans”) to always be satisfied with every aspect of our writing, there might be times when their suggestions aren’t necessarily helpful or accurate and this is something we should consider carefully before implementing changes based on them alone.
After all: readers themselves likely do not know how best to write fiction; most will only have a general idea
of what makes good fiction and may be unable to articulate why any given piece works or doesn’t work due solely because they prefer one type over another without understanding why they feel that way!
Conclusion
You may think that you are doing everything right, but it is important to remember that you can’t please everyone.
Your goal should be to write something great and then let the readers decide whether they like it or not. If they do like your work, then that means you have accomplished what most people fail at – being original!
So go ahead and keep up with this indie writing lifestyle because we all know how much fun it can be when done right.
Further Reading
For more insights on building a successful career as an indie writer and making a decent living from your writing, you might find these resources helpful:
11 Habits of 6-Figure Indie Authors: Discover the habits that successful indie authors cultivate to achieve six-figure incomes.
Making a Living as an Indie Author: Explore strategies and advice from experienced indie authors on how to sustain yourself financially through your writing.
Earning a Living as an Indie Author: Doing it My Way: Gain insights into one indie author’s unique approach to making a living from their writing career.
FAQs
How can I become a successful indie author?
Achieving success as an indie author requires a combination of factors, including quality writing, effective marketing, and consistent engagement with your audience. Learning from experienced authors and staying committed to your craft can greatly contribute to your success.
Is it possible to make a decent living as an indie author?
Yes, many indie authors have proven that it’s possible to make a decent living from their writing. By honing your writing skills, connecting with readers, and exploring various revenue streams like book sales, speaking engagements, and merchandise, you can generate a sustainable income.
What are some key habits of successful six-figure indie authors?
Successful indie authors often have habits such as disciplined writing routines, consistent engagement with readers on social media, continuous learning about the publishing industry, and a willingness to adapt their strategies based on market trends.
How can I market my indie-published books effectively?
Effective book marketing involves a combination of strategies, including building a strong online presence through social media, engaging with readers through newsletters and blog posts, utilizing platforms like Amazon Advertising, and seeking opportunities for guest posts, interviews, and collaborations.
What are some alternative revenue sources for indie authors?
In addition to book sales, indie authors can explore revenue sources such as offering online courses, workshops, coaching services, crowdfunding campaigns, and selling merchandise related to their books. Diversifying income streams can contribute to financial stability.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.