1 Year as a Full-time Indie Author
Just over a year ago, my retail job “let me go.” While this was a little scary at the time, as my husband was still finishing his last semester, it was also a huge relief. I had been planning to quit in a month or so anyway, so I just took it as it was a sign to move on and throw myself into my author career.
In the past year I have edited and published two novels (Ice Heart and Blood Sails); written two sequel short stories for each that I posted on my Patreon; finished editing a collection of short stories (and wrote a whole new final story) titled The Curse of the Wanderer Inn, I published as an ebook to my Patreon; and finished writing the first draft of a whole new novel I refer to as Project Demon Host, though its working title is The Reincarnated Villain’s Host Rebels & Falls for the Hero, which is also my biggest first draft sitting at about 90,000 words.
Amidst all that has been promoting my books and attempting to grow on Instagram, time with loved ones, working on my habits and routine, and indulging in my hobbies. There have been so many wonderful moments on my author journey this year and I’ve finally started to build a little following, connecting with readers excited about my books. Blood Sails’s release was the first one that actually felt celebrated because it didn’t feel like I was celebrating alone.
With all of that, at the end of the year, I find myself a little burned out from it all. I have no solid plans for what book I am publishing next year (likely Project Demon Host) and low motivation to start a new project. So, while I am going to push myself to write every day, I’m also going to give myself some grace and some much needed rest. End-of-year has plenty of mini projects to take up my time until probably February, when spring starts to warm the earth again and new ideas are planted so they may bloom.
I am so grateful I get to do what I do and that I have so many people supporting me and my works. I can’t wait to see where I will be in five years but I am so happy where I am and to just get to do what I love. Younger me wouldn’t have imagined this.
Next year, I would love to get Sky Heart and Ice Heart made into audiobooks and open up an online shop on my website so I can sell signed copies, art prints, and stickers. I’ll probably appear more on my friend Phoenix’s hobbyist writer course, Blood/Ink/Bone. I want to put together my own writing challenge, especially now that I no longer support the one I usually participate in. This month, my partner and I want to rearrange our study in preparation for him working full-time and just long overdue. I have a few additions I want to make to my cozy desk space, where I spend most of my time, to make it even more functional and even more mine. That being said, I’ll probably try and take my writing out a little more next year, to either the coffee shop or the library.
For those who wish to follow my growth or check out my books, I’ll have all the links below. If you want to show your support, reviewing my books, adding them on GoodReads and StoryGraph, or just liking and sharing my Instagram posts are all a huge help. There is also my Patreon with Tiers starting at $5 a month. I post sneak peeks, original stories, and more. This coming year, there will be a whole exclusive novel with a new chapter posted every week (though the highest Tier will get it all as an Epub).
Thank you all and here’s to another year of making my imaginary friends pay bills!
Helpful Links:
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My Books catalog: https://www.sierrajwrites.com/books