Indie author burnout is real. But it’s not the end of the world.

Friends,

Indie author burnout is real. Social media burnout is real. Promotional burnout is real.

Writer’s block is real.

Let me set the stage on why I am even touching on this subject.

I want you to imagine your favorite TV show back in the day. Star Wars to Friends– 22 – 42 episodes a year. Today, an hour-long episode is only 44 minutes and 16 minutes of commercials.

Now, I want you to imagine the behind-the-scenes crews that built those 44 minutes of suspense: set designers, customer designers, writers, producers, production designers, gaffers, editors, lighting specialists, editors, directors, contract specialists, promotional specialists, the cast, just to name a few.

Usually, no less than 80 people.

If the show was a success, there were t-shirts, posters, toys, and in some cases even a cult was formed around the fictional characters.

All ran by people who were NOT the actors.

Traditional Published Authors

Now, I want you to think about your favorite authors that you have found. I’m talking about the ones that are big-name writers that are employed by one of the big 5 publishing companies.

Behind one person and their art are editors, publishers, marketing managers, contract teams, cover designers, project editors, copyeditors, typesetters, designers, production controllers, demand planners, eBook creators, foreign language editors, voice actors (if there is an audiobook), etc…

The list of team members is impressive. All those backstage managers are for one person.

Indie Authors

Now, I want to highlight indie authors. Artists who do it alone.

There is one person.

Tada.

The author is the single point of failure or success. They search for, hire, pay for, and contract for all the people mentioned above. Or they do it themselves and hope for the best.

They manage their own social media, follow trends, and figure out what the hottest ‘new sound’ is and what the newest video layout is getting the most views. They also keep an eye on SEO trends and rework promotional ads on Facebook, Amazon, and Google.

100% of the cost comes out of their own pockets.

On top of writing. And working.

Is one better than the other?

This is not to say that Indie Authors have it harder than traditional authors. They’re just two different beasts. Traditional authors who ‘make it’ have other obligations that Indie Authors strive for- book signings, book conventions, travel, special editions, and signing thousands of pre-orders to be sent out.

It sounds like heaven to me. But it also sounds like potential burnout if the author is still writing.

Indie authors have eliminated the middleman and decided to navigate the murky waters themselves. They produce something that is, in their mind, pure and untainted by others, and they hold total control.

This means that if they fail, they own the failure. If they succeed, it is solely dependent on their hard work.

I already know this… why are you telling me again?

Because we haven’t talked about burnout in a while. It’s a real thing. A moment in your writing career where you wonder if it is worth it. Was that goal or dream achievable? What are you sacrificing to watch trends, write, edit, and create your masterpiece if no one wants to talk about it?

I have to admit I am experiencing burnout. I let a moment of success define my expectations, and that was a wrong move.

For 2.3 seconds, my books flew off the shelves on the TikTok app. The problem was that they weren’t ready to fly. I still had work to do on them, and I wasn’t financially equipped to keep my shelves stocked. Which meant I had to cut back on sales for a month.

I spent four weeks prepping and restocking bits by bits, sacrificing spending money in the hopes of making money.

When I was ready, I reopened my shop only to find out that four weeks of stress had put me at the bottom of the barrel. My shelves were stocked, and special editions were prepped, but now I had lost all traction.

No sales came in. Heartbreak, let me tell you.

Now what?

As with all small businesses, I had to pause and consider where I wanted to be and how to get there. This meant I needed to do hours and hours of research on subjects I still have no idea how to explain.

SEO? What the hell are they? I don’t know. But they are very critical in the world of search engine rankings. Hiring a company to do it for you is upwards of $2,000.00 a month. I found an online software program, but it’s $30.00 a month, and I have to do all the work and research.

The problem with success is that when we get to the top of the mountain, we don’t want to share how it happened.

I’m not complaining. It’s an excellent business practice. If big businesses shared all their secrets, they wouldn’t be big businesses.

But that doesn’t help with Indie author burnout.

Now that I have burst your bubble- what’s the answer?

Find your own voice. Here’s the deal with this one: It’s difficult because you want to promote yourself to the masses, depending on the genre you write in. But just like writers, everyone has different layers.

I love my tattoos, my dark personality, and my obsession with myths and death. I also love riding Harleys, discussing history, going to tea with my mother, reading romance and sci-fi, playing video games, and watching movies about warfare and gangs. I love debating religion and politics with friends, visiting breweries, and staying at home.

See how none of those things ‘match up.’ I have 17 different people living in one body.

This means that if logic doesn’t fail me, readers are the same way. The type of person you are targeting doesn’t exist… you shouldn’t brand yourself for just one type.

BE YOU.

Show the real you. You might write horror or romance, but you spend your evenings playing pickleball. Who knows? The moral of the story is to keep your voice. If you try to win the rat race by trying to be a traditional author with 80 backstage managers, you will lose your joy of creating.

Traditional authors have someone who creates their ‘online’ personality. They are bound to a left and right limit. This means, from my research, they can’t step into other areas.

Don’t do that. That’s just my opinion. Because I recently decided to stay true to myself and dig myself out of my self-imposed burnout, I have found new books, talented creators, and new genres that I would have never dug into.

In turn, they are taking a chance on my books because they are getting to know the person behind the cover.

In all my horrendous glory.

Conclusion

Acknowledge when you are burned out. Take a breather. Refocus your attention to things you can control. Reengage your support channel, whether it is on social media or with your friends and family. Eat a pint of ice cream while drinking your morning coffee.

This applies to all aspects of our lives. Not just writing and promotions.

Remember who you were the day you decided to pick up the pen or open your computer to write your story—THAT PERSON. Who were they? Why did they start writing? Why did they NEED to tell their story?

Now that you have reminded yourself….. take that same energy and tell the world. That is what will sell your books. And if your books are properly edited. I learned my lesson on that one, hehe.

Anyway, this is just my two cents from an unknown Indie Author who is trying to make it big. Take it with a grain of salt. It may or may not work for you, but this is my journey and they way I am combating Indie author burnout.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback)

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