The "More" Trap: Finding Your Sweet Spot as an Indie Author

Picture this: It's 3 AM, you're on your fourth cup of coffee, juggling a manuscript edit while scheduling social media posts and researching audiobook narrators. Sound familiar? As indie authors, we've all been there – caught in the whirlwind of trying to do it all.

I recently hit a wall trying to be everywhere and do everything. That's when it hit me: the pressure to constantly do "more" wasn't making me a better author – it was draining the very creativity that made me want to write in the first place.

Let's get real about why pumping the brakes might be the best decision you'll make for your author career:

First, let's talk about your books – your actual babies. When was the last time you felt truly excited about a story you were writing? Not just meeting a deadline, but really feeling that magic? Quality isn't just about perfect grammar or plot structure – it's about pouring your heart into every page. One book that keeps readers up all night is worth more than ten that make them check their watch.

Here's the thing about burnout: it doesn't knock politely and wait for an invitation. It sneaks up while you're pushing through "just one more" marketing task or "one more" chapter. Before you know it, the words that used to flow freely feel like pulling teeth.

Want to know what successful indie authors often do differently? They don't try to be everywhere – they choose to be somewhere. Maybe they rock Instagram but skip Twitter entirely. Perhaps they focus on building an amazing newsletter instead of spreading themselves thin across five different platforms.

Think of your author career like tending a garden, not running a factory. Growth takes time, and forcing it usually backfires. The most beautiful gardens need periods of rest and regeneration – and so do you.

Remember why you started writing in the first place. Was it to check boxes off a never-ending to-do list, or was it to create stories that move people? To build worlds that readers can get lost in?

So here's my challenge to you: This week, try doing less – but better. Pick one thing that brings you joy in your author journey and give it your full attention. Maybe it's drafting that scene that's been playing in your mind, or engaging deeply with your reader community about a character they love.

Because at the end of the day, your best work comes not from doing everything, but from doing the right things – the things that light you up and keep your creative spirit alive.

What's one thing you could let go of this week to make space for what truly matters in your author journey?

Comments

The Absolute Madness of Naming Characters

Let’s talk about one of the most ridiculous struggles of writing a book. No, I’m not talking about the part where you stare at the blinking cursor like it personally insulted your ancestors. I’m talking about naming characters. It should be easy, right? Just slap a name on them and move on? Oh, my sweet summer child. If only. See, naming a character is like naming your kid—except worse, because nobody is going to complain if your kid and their cousin both end up being named Liam. But if your main villain is named Liam and you accidentally give the quirky coffee shop owner in book three the same name? Cue the existential crisis. Let’s walk through the madness. The Overthinking Spiral of Doom You start writing, and there’s that moment: your brand-new character walks onto the page, full of potential. All they need is a name. A simple name. Something strong, something fitting, something— Oh no. Nothing sounds right. This one is too complicated. That one is too simple. ...

Stories Are Everywhere: The Writer’s Endless Inspiration

As a writer, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How do you come up with your stories?” It’s a question that often makes me smile because the answer is as simple as it is profound: stories are everywhere. Inspiration doesn’t always strike in grand, dramatic moments. More often than not, it emerges quietly, weaving its way into the fabric of everyday life. Conversations with friends, the sights and sounds of a bustling city, or even the stillness of a room can spark the seed of an idea. Writers aren’t just storytellers; we’re observers, collecting fragments of life and spinning them into tales. Let me share a recent example of how a simple evening turned into the genesis of a new story idea. Over two perfectly crafted negronis, I was discussing the schedule for an upcoming event with a friend. Their house, a treasure trove of artwork, surrounded us. Every piece of art seemed to hum with a story of its own. Midway through the second drink, I remarked, “One day, someb...

The Battle-Scarred ThinkPad and the Mountain of Notebooks: A Love Story

Let’s talk about favorite writing tools. Now, I know some authors might name drop fancy apps, sleek white minimalist keyboards, or those delicate fountain pens with gold nibs that require ceremonial ink rituals … But me? My tools are a little less... romantic. A little more indestructible . And, dare I say, a little more clunky with character . Once upon a time—cue flashback shimmer—I wrote all my stories by hand . Not just a page or two, either. I mean boxes and boxes of handwritten notebooks , full of scribbles, side notes, doodles in the margins, entire character backstories I forgot existed until ten years later. My early stories were a workout for my wrist. I had pens running dry faster than a coffee pot in a newsroom. It was chaotic. It was glorious. Typing those books up? A mission. A translation project. A cryptic decoding effort worthy of Indiana Jones. There were arrows. Stars. Entire paragraphs stuffed sideways in the margins like they were trying to escape the story. So...

Thinkingdog Publishing

Search This Blog