How to Stay Motivated as an Indie Author When the Journey Feels Endless

Let’s be honest: being an indie author can sometimes feel like pushing a boulder uphill in the dark.

You pour months—or years—into crafting a story you love, only to release it into a sea of millions of books. Sales trickle in slowly (if at all). Reviews are scarce. Algorithms shift. Ads eat your budget. And on the tough days, that little voice whispers, “Why bother?”

You’re not alone in feeling this. Every indie author I know has stared at a flat sales graph and wondered if it’s worth it. The isolation, the uncertainty, the endless to-do list—it’s real, and it’s heavy.

But here’s the beautiful truth: the very challenges that make indie authoring hard are the same ones that make the victories so sweet. And those victories do come. They come for the writers who find ways to keep going, to stay lit from within even when the outside world feels quiet.

The good news? Motivation isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build. Here are practical, battle-tested ways to keep your fire burning, drawn from my own experience and the stories of indies who’ve turned “impossible” into “I did it.”

Remember Why You Started

On the hardest days, go back to the beginning. Why did you write your first book? Was it because a story wouldn’t leave you alone? Because you wanted to make someone feel less alone? Because creating worlds felt like magic?

Write that reason down and keep it visible. One six-figure indie I know has a sticky note on her monitor: “Because these characters deserve to live.” Another keeps a folder of reader messages saying her books helped them through tough times. When doubt creeps in, they open it.

Your “why” is your anchor. It’s bigger than sales ranks.

Celebrate Every Win—No Matter How Small

Indie life is full of micro-victories that big publishers never see. Finished a chapter? Celebrate. Got your first 5-star review from a stranger? Celebrate. Hit 100 subscribers? Celebrate.

One author I admire throws herself a “chapter party”—favorite snack, favorite playlist—every time she finishes a chapter. Another buys a fancy coffee for every 10 newsletter sign-ups.

These small celebrations rewire your brain to associate writing with joy instead of struggle. Over time, they compound into real momentum.

Find Your People

Writing is solitary, but indie authoring doesn’t have to be lonely.

Join communities where people get it—Facebook groups, Discord servers, forums like 20BooksTo50K or r/selfpublish. Share wins, vent frustrations, ask for advice.

When Amanda Hocking was self-publishing her paranormal novels in 2010, she leaned on online writer friends for support. Those connections kept her going until she sold over a million copies and landed traditional deals.

Your tribe reminds you you’re not alone—and often gives the exact encouragement you need on a bad day.

Treat Writing Like a Muscle, Not a Mood

Motivation follows action, not the other way around.

Bestselling indies don’t wait to “feel like writing.” They show up on schedule, even when it’s hard. Elana Johnson (hundreds of books, seven-figure career) writes every weekday morning, no excuses. Hugh Howey wrote Wool during lunch breaks at his day job.

Start small: 15 minutes a day. 200 words. One scene. The habit builds the motivation.

Embrace the Long Game

Indie success rarely happens overnight. It’s a garden, not a vending machine.

Look at Becky Chambers—she self-published The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet after traditional rejections. It found readers slowly, through word-of-mouth. Now it’s a beloved series with traditional deals and awards.

Or Michael J. Sullivan, who self-published his Riyria books, built a fanbase over years, and eventually landed big traditional contracts while keeping indie rights.

Your first book might not explode. Your third or fifth might. But each one teaches you, grows your audience, and gets you closer.

Reframe Comparison

Seeing someone else’s launch numbers can crush you—or fuel you.

Choose fuel. When you see a big indie success, think: “Proof the market exists for stories like mine.” Their win doesn’t diminish yours; it expands the pie.

Keep a “success file” of authors who started where you are now and made it. Read it when comparison creeps in.

Give Yourself Grace

Some days, life wins. Kids are sick. Work is overwhelming. Words won’t come.

That’s okay. Rest isn’t failure—it’s maintenance.

One author I know blocks “recovery weeks” every quarter—no writing, just reading, walking, recharging. She comes back stronger.

You’re human, not a content machine.

Real Stories of Indies Who Kept Going (And Won)

Freida McFadden started self-publishing psychological thrillers while working full-time as a doctor. Early books sold modestly. She kept writing, learning marketing, building her list. Today she’s a USA Today and New York Times bestseller with millions of copies sold and film deals.

Lucinda Riley self-published her first books after health issues ended her ballet career. Slow starts, but persistence paid off—she became an international phenomenon with The Seven Sisters series.

Andy Weir wrote The Martian as a free serial online because publishers rejected it. Readers loved it, shared it, and it became a bestseller and Oscar-nominated film.

These authors didn’t have magic—they had stubborn hope and daily action.

You have that too.

The world needs your stories. The readers who’ll love them are waiting—they just haven’t found you yet.

Keep showing up. Keep believing.

One day you’ll look back and realize the hard days were the ones that made the sweet ones possible.

You’ve got this.