Why Building Community is So Important for Indie Authors

Once upon a time, we all wrote our first book. It was an amazing feeling, a monumental accomplishment. Who did you share that moment with? Writing can be an incredibly solitary endeavor. We live in our heads for so much of the process, and then we have to write our stories by ourselves. That's why it's so important to build a community that is there to cheer you on, lift you up, and celebrate every little success along the way!

Family and Friends

I remember the exact moment that I finished my first completed manuscript. I was visiting my best friend in London, and she was having a Korean lesson while I worked on my book. And then I typed those coveted words - The End. I remember sitting there staring at the blinking cursor for probably a solid five minutes, just taking it in. I had never finished a story before. Once I had wrapped my brain around that, I turned to my friend and told her I’d finished my book, and she and I celebrated with laughter and hugs and excitement.

I have always been very lucky to have an incredible support system. My family and friends are my biggest fans. My mom tells everyone that she meets that I’m an author, and she’s always looking for opportunities for me. I will never take for granted that I know there will be at least ten people who will buy and read anything that I write, which is absolutely incredible.

Authors, Writers, and Readers

As I have continued writing, and learning, and sharpening my skills, I have also been lucky enough to find an incredible community of other indie authors and writers across social media. And, let me tell you, that has been monumental in my growth and confidence as an author.

Not only have I found some of my new favorite authors through expanding my network of indie authors, but I have found such incredible, genuine support. In my experience, indie authors, self-published authors, up-and-coming writers, and traditionally published authors try to give as much support to each other as we can - we all want to see as many of us succeed as possible. The main theme that I hear whenever I see authors interacting with each other on social media is that there are plenty of readers to go around. There is room for every story, every book, every author, in this space, and I absolutely love that.

It’s also provided opportunities for me to Beta and ARC read for some incredible authors. And, as I move along in my career as an indie author, I know that I have resources and connections that I can reach out to if I need advice, ARC readers, or just general support. It’s truly an incredible feeling to know that I’m not alone in this journey.

Why Support is Important

As indie authors, we have to wear all the hats, and often it can feel overwhelming. So many times I’ve thought to myself, “Nobody is going to read this, so what’s the point in trying?” Whenever I start to feel that way, I search out my fellow authors. They inspire me. They’re working so hard to pursue their dream because they know that someone, somewhere, is going to love their story. They know that someone, somewhere, needs to read their story to feel less alone. They know that their story can make a difference in the world, because every time an artist shares their craft the world gets a bit brighter and more unique.

But it’s hard! It’s daunting. It’s A LOT to be an indie author. And that’s why having a community, having a support system, is so important. You and your story are important. And sometimes you need people in your corner to remind you of that.

Join My Community

Now’s the time for my shameless self-plug. If you are an indie author looking to build community, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on social media! I’m ridiculously supportive and will do everything in my power to support indie authors however I can. As I work to build my author community, my newsletter will feature advice, reviews, book recommendations, and just general ridiculousness that will hopefully remind you that you’re not alone.