As an indie or self-published author, helping other indie authors is just par for the course!
Where would we all be without the help and support of other self-published authors? Helping indie authors is just paying it forward. Weirdly, we’re competitors, but at the same time, I feel we’re all part of this small community of people doing our best to make it in the self-publishing world.
Being an indie author often feels like living in a small town. You know many people in the community around you. You lend a hand when they need help and are always available for a chat. That’s what it means to be an indie author.
I like to think that we would have all figured it out eventually, but I know personally, I have received a lot of help along the way. It’s probably why I’m more than happy to pay it forward and help out other new indie authors.
For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
One of the first tips I learned as an indie author was the importance of using clean links when you’re sharing links to your book. You can read all about that in my article Why Stripping Your Amazon Book Link Makes Sense!
What It Means to Be an Indie Author
It’s hard to do anything without the right advice and help. Being an indie or self-published author is no different. Sure, you can search online, but ultimately, some of the best advice you’ll ever get is from other authors who have already been there and done that.
When I first started down the long path of being a self-published author, I didn’t know about groups like Goodreads, forums, or anything else. So, I did what I did, and then I looked online to try and see if I was doing something wrong or could be doing it better. It wasn’t until I started joining groups on Goodreads and speaking to other authors that I realized that there was an entirely different world out there.
An entire community of indie and self-published authors that, in most cases, are more than happy to help.
Sure, some advice I got along the way wasn’t great, but some have been absolute pearls of wisdom! Seriously, fantastic advice and help from other authors that you can’t find by searching blogs and articles online.
If I have one piece of advice for other indie authors just starting, it would be ‘don’t be afraid to ask someone.’ Join groups, join forums, check out what other authors are doing, and look at what’s working for someone else and what isn’t.
If you have been considering self-publishing your book on IngramSpark, check out the Complete Guide to IngramSpark Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover account setup, title uploading, royalties, pricing, and much more!
Just because a book is self-published, that doesn’t mean you can’t invest in it!
Another essential thing to remember is that being indie or self-published authors doesn’t mean we can’t invest in our books. There are some seriously great indie books out there that would be fantastic if the authors had just invested a small amount of money into them.
While it’s great to try and ‘go it alone’ and get everything done for free, sometimes a small investment in professional formatting, cover design, or editing could make or break your book. There’s no rule anywhere that says self-published authors can’t invest in their work.
Don’t rush. Save your money if you have to until you have the budget to put the best version of your book out there. Make your book unforgettable, not just okay.
- Pay a professional editor to edit your book if you need editing or proofreading.
- Consider hiring someone to design your cover if you’re struggling to make it look amazing.
- Pay someone to professionally format your book, making it easy to read and look fantastic.
You don’t have to spend a fortune, but if you spend just a little bit in areas you’re not strong in and market your book well, you should quickly get your investment back!
For authors considering using Apple Books to self-publish their ebooks, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing on Apple Books for Authors covers everything you’ll need to know about Apple Books, including account setup, royalties, distribution, uploading titles, and much more!
Helping Indie Authors Doesn’t Have to Cost Anything!
Sure, we love to buy other indie authors’ books, but often, helping indie authors doesn’t cost you a cent and doesn’t need to.
Some of the ways that you can help support a new indie author include:
- Offering guidance, support, and answering questions.
- Sharing, liking, and commenting on social media posts.
- Commenting, liking, and sharing blog posts.
- Offering to read and review a book.
Self-Published Authors Supporting Other Authors | Conclusion
Remember, your book is an investment. It’s like a building. Each part of your book, including cover design, editing, formatting, and marketing, is like a brick in the foundation. These elements are the foundation on which the success of your book is built.
Don’t be afraid to try to succeed. Seek opinions and advice. Good luck on your journey!
If you require any assistance with self-publishing, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly at Indie Publishing Group.
If you could give a new indie or self-published author one piece of advice, what would it be? Drop a comment below!
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams.
