Staying Motivated as an Indie Author
Keeping the writing flame alive as an independent author can feel like trying to tend a campfire in a tornado. One day you're blazing through chapters, the next you're staring at a blank page wondering if you've lost your spark entirely or overanalyzing some dialogue. I wanted to share some tips that have helped me push through those inevitable motivation troughs.
Read Read Read
Great stories remind you why you fell in love with writing in the first place—they show you what's possible when words dance together perfectly on the page. Nothing will reignite your passion for your story quite like a phenomenal book.
When you read something that makes your heart race or brings tears to your eyes, you'll find yourself thinking, "I want to create characters that readers will actually give a damn about." You build that desire to craft a complex cast, intricate subplots, and emotional journeys that stick with people long after they close your book.
Beyond inspiration, reading exceptional work will genuinely improve your craft. You'll subconsciously absorb writing techniques, sentence rhythms, and storytelling approaches. The prose in my debut novel Local Gods was heavily influenced by Blood Meridian, but I’m not Cormac McCarthy so I kept the quotation marks.
Take breaks
This might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is to not write. Take that walk. Catch up on Severance. Scroll ‘til your battery dies. Text your friend back. Your subconscious mind is still working on your story even when you're not actively typing.
Breaks prevent burnout and often provide the mental space needed for breakthrough moments. Some of my best plot solutions have come to me while doing dishes or driving to the grocery store.
Fall in Love with Your Story (Again and Again)
One of the biggest motivation killers is working on an idea that feels too small. Your concept should grow every time you think about it, every time you discuss it with someone. If your story world isn't expanding—if you're not discovering new plot threads, backstories, or thematic depths—it might not be substantial enough to sustain a full novel.
Yes, this means you'll generate more ideas than you can possibly use in one book. That's not a problem—that's a treasure trove. When you hit a wall in your story, you can dig through all those extra plot lines and character arcs to find the perfect direction forward. Think of it like sculpting: you need more clay than you'll ultimately use to create something beautiful.
If you prefer structure (and most of us do, honestly), outlining is your friend. Just build in some flexibility. Leave room for those brilliant "what if" moments that pop up during the writing process. The goal isn't to lock yourself into a rigid path, but to create a roadmap with scenic detours allowed.
Adore your process
Here's the truth some indie authors need to hear: there's no "right" way to write a book. Some authors are meticulous planners who outline every scene. Others discover their story as they write. Some write every day at 5 AM, others in creative bursts on weekends.
What matters is finding what works for you and honoring that process, even when it doesn't look like what works for other writers. Your quirks aren't bugs—they're features of your creative system.
Remember: We're All Different (And That's the Point)
Writers are beautifully diverse, and that diversity is what makes literature so rich and varied. What energizes one author might drain another. What works for the plotter might frustrate the pantser. Take what resonates from any writing advice (including this post) and leave what doesn't serve you.
The tips I've shared here help me navigate creative low points, but your toolkit might look completely different—and that's perfectly okay.
Connect with Fellow Indie Authors
Writing can be solitary, but it doesn't have to be lonely. If you're looking for a supportive community of writers and readers, you can find me @ckadamsbooks on TikTok, where I’m most active.
I'm also exploring opening up the chat feature here on Substack so we can create an even tighter community of indie authors supporting each other's creative journeys. Because sometimes the best motivation comes from knowing you're not writing alone.
What keeps you motivated during the tough writing days? I'd love to hear your strategies in the comments.
Have you read Husk yet?
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has pre-order Finitude and Beyond and giving any positive feedback. Your support and excitement has been absolutely amazing. Husk is a story I’m rather fond of and is free to read on my Substack if you want to check it out early.
If you haven’t had a chance to snag a copy of Finitude and Beyond, it’s available for pre-order on Amazon now.
This was such a good combination of advices. I wonder why it hasn't received the attention that it's supposed to receive.
Thank you for sharing these tips!❤️