I’ve seen an increasing number of posts on social media where independent authors complain that their books are not selling. They are frustrated after many years of hard work and want to give up writing. I empathize with these writers, but we need to understand that the publishing industry is extremely competitive. There are thousands of new books published every year, and only a handful of them do well. But that doesn’t mean the rest of us give up. If we remember that every author’s journey is different and keep going, we will become successful as authors one day. Let’s look at some ways to stay motivated.

1.       Reflect honestly if your book is good enough

Why should a reader pick your book over any other author’s? Why have you written your book? Will the topic continue to remain relevant for many years? Is your book the best it can be with an eye-catching cover and layout? Is it professionally edited? Are the title, the subtitle, and the summary catchy? If you don’t like the answers to any of these questions, revise your book, improve its quality, and relaunch it. Many writers do that, and most are successful the second time they launch a book.

2.       If a formula doesn’t work the first time, change it.

There is a ton of information on the internet on how to self-publish your book. Obviously, all of it will not apply to everyone. Hence, it’s important to re-evaluate what could have been done better and change it the next time. For example, I read online how helpful preorders are and that an author should set them up many months before a book launch. However, that has not worked for me with Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story. Readers are keen to read my book, but they don’t want to wait until October. For my next book, I do not plan to have a long preorder time, maybe a maximum of two weeks.

3.       Internalize feedback

This is the most important thing for any writer. If someone has taken the time to read your book and provide helpful feedback, incorporate it. That’s the only way we can learn. Not all comments and reviews will be positive or even objective. Some will be extremely harsh. For instance, I like one of my one-star reviews because the reader has pointed out some plot points that didn’t make sense to them. I did not change anything in my current novel but have ensured such details are clear in my upcoming book.

4.       Develop a thick skin against trolls

It’s highly likely that your book and writing will be trolled. It’s disheartening, but there will be people who will not read your book but will still bash it publicly. As mentioned in my article about dealing with a negative review, the best way to deal with this is to ignore it. If the reviews are not helpful, pretend they do not exist. Do not get demoralized by them. It’s easier said than done, but we authors have to develop a thick skin against trolls.

5.       Set an author goal and stick to it

What is your goal as an author? To sell more books and make a ton of money? Or to write unique books and find a loyal group of readers? Do you want to write a ton of books or just a few? Do you follow trends set by other famous writers, or do you want to be a trendsetter? Answer these questions and follow whatever works for your goal.

It took me seven years to write Unclutter. Many authors have published dozens of books during this time. I’m happy for them, but my book needed multiple revisions to evolve. And subsequent books in the series will also take time (hopefully not another seven years!)

Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite authors, said, “If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” And that’s my goal as a writer. It’s okay if my ideas take time to develop, and it’s alright if it takes a while for me to find more than a handful of readers. Because my aim is to make these readers love my novels and come back for more. And I know they will invite their loved ones to read my work.

 What do you do to stay motivated as an indie author? Let me know in the comments.