10 Writing Tips Every Indie Author Should Know
In My House release date, Indie Author Spotlight, books for Kindergarteners, and more indie reads
Whether you’re starting your first manuscript or gearing up to publish your tenth, these ten writing tips will help sharpen your craft and sustain your momentum.
1. Write Like No One’s Watching — Edit Like Everyone Is
Let your first draft be messy, raw, and wildly imperfect. This is your sandbox. Get the story out without self-censorship. But when it’s time to revise? Bring your sharpest critical eye. Editing is where your book becomes a product. It’s the bridge between inspiration and a reader’s trust.
Tip: Separate drafting and editing days to avoid creative whiplash.
2. Create a Consistent Writing Routine
Writing when inspiration strikes isn’t sustainable. The indie life rewards consistency, not chaos. Find a rhythm — daily, weekly, or seasonally — that aligns with your lifestyle, then protect that writing time like it’s a business meeting.
Think of it this way: If you only write when you’re motivated, you’ll have a pile of ideas and very few finished books.
3. Start With a Roadmap — Even If It’s a Rough One
You don’t have to outline every scene, but having a basic structure can save you weeks of rewriting. Knowing your inciting incident, midpoint, climax, and ending gives your story a skeleton. Everything else can evolve around that.
Especially for series: Planning ahead prevents plot holes and continuity issues down the line.
4. Write the Blurb Before the Book
This may sound backward, but writing your book’s elevator pitch early clarifies your story’s promise, genre, and tone. It keeps your writing focused and ensures you’re writing a book readers will understand and want.
Bonus: You’ll thank yourself later when it’s time to market.
5. Invest in Professional Editing
No matter how strong your writing is, a second (or third) set of eyes is essential. Editors catch what you can’t — plot holes, character inconsistencies, pacing issues, and grammar slip-ups that spellcheck won’t save you from.
Tip: Budget for at least one round of developmental editing and one round of line or copy editing.
6. Write With Marketing in Mind — But Don’t Let It Stifle You
Know your genre. Understand reader expectations. Be aware of tropes — not to copy them blindly, but to subvert or satisfy them with intention. Writing to market doesn’t mean compromising your voice; it means creating awareness.
Ask yourself: Who is this for? Why will they care?
7. Use Beta Readers Wisely
Beta readers give you the reader’s perspective before the public does. They can highlight confusion, pacing issues, or emotional beats that didn’t land. Pick a mix of people — some familiar with your genre, some not — and give them clear questions to answer.
Beta readers are different than alpha readers. Alpha readers find grammatical mistakes whereas Beta readers receive the most polished version.
Pro tip: Don’t try to please everyone. Look for patterns in the feedback.
8. Treat Your Back Matter Like Gold
Your book’s final pages are prime real estate. Use them to guide the reader to your next book, your newsletter, or a free short story. This is where readers decide if you’re a one-time read or a new favorite author.
Include: A call to action, a teaser for your next project, or a link to sign up for your newsletter.
9. Keep Learning — From Authors Who Are Ahead of You
Study successful indie authors in your genre. Analyze their covers, blurbs, and release strategies. Follow their blogs, join their newsletters, and don’t be afraid to invest in courses, workshops, or conferences that help you grow your skills.
Important: Don’t compare — learn. Your voice is yours alone.
10. Don’t Wait for Permission
The beauty of indie publishing is that you get to do this. No gatekeepers. No querying. You can publish your work on your own timeline. But with that freedom comes responsibility. You have to show up. You have to be patient. And you have to believe in the long game.
Repeat after me: Done is better than perfect. Growth is better than instant success.
In My House
Coming in paperback form July 2nd!
Free Books for Kids
After collecting books for a year, I am happy to share that I worked with Clay Elementary School and was able to pass out free books to 59 kindergarteners.
Lots of kids lose access to books during the summertime as the only way they get books is through school or their school library.
Another great resource that has come into play over the past few years are Free Little Libraries with the philosophy of give a book, take a book.
Many of these offer children's books, so if you have books that could go to kiddos, these are a great place to put them.
Manheim Township Public Library
I donated two baskets to the library’s silent auction happening in June. One for young adult readers and one for early readers.
And the great news is, that by doing this, I not only supported the library, but I secured my spot as a vendor for the Manheim Township Public Library’s Summer Reading Program Fest on August 16th!
Author Spotlight
I connected with Jerzy Jones, a children’s book author, on X. He is a fellow Indie Author looking to find young readers The Corbus Book Series, his Snowman Book Series, and Mai and Her Helpful Teddy.
In addition to this, he has visited schools where he offers free teachable resources for schools and families based on his books.
On his website, he also offers a free eBook to young readers!
Indie Reads
A werewolf with secrets, a vampire with scars, and the stars that bind them
When Lex, a vampire known for his artistic abilities, gets his heart shattered, he decides all he needs is blood and family.
But after a drunken night out ends with him getting stuck with a deadly curse, his ex shows up vowing to save his life. Now, he must trust the man who broke him and keep his wounded heart in check.
Silas, king of the werewolves, never wanted to end things with Lex.
But when his dark past crawled out of the depths and threatened Lex’s safety, he pushed him away. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Now, he must race against the clock to save the vampire he loves before it’s too late.
A heartwarming cozy small-town romance with a touch of magic!
What happens when a high-powered attorney inherits a small-town bookshop that seems to have a mind of its own?
Charlie Whitmore has her life perfectly planned out. As a rising star at a prestigious Manhattan law firm, she's on the fast track to partnership, with spreadsheets for everything and a five-year plan that doesn't include any surprises.
Until her beloved Aunt Beth dies and leaves her a small-town bookshop in Vermont.
Oak & Ink Bookshop has stood in the heart of Leafwood Falls for nearly a century, beloved by locals for its uncanny ability to match readers with exactly the right book at exactly the right time. Charlie's plan is simple: assess the shop's value, list it for sale, and return to Manhattan before her corporate career derails.
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. They suck in the moment, but in the long run, you end up being chased by three masked men through a cemetery. Now that’s the curve ball you want.
My boyfriend was perfect, up until he wasn’t. When Mr. Vanilla found out about my deepest, darkest fantasies, he spread them all over campus and shamed me in the worst way possible. I dropped out of college and moved to a small town, where I had just inherited a house from my long-lost grandmother.
I’m determined to get my life back on track and leave my old life behind. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be chased by a masked man through a haunted house on my first night in town. Or that he would make good on his promise to bring a friend next time, and then two would turn into three.
I have everything I ever dreamed about with these three masked men. Somehow, they found me exactly when I needed them. Now nothing will get in their way because they want to keep me as theirs.