Mistakes I Made as a New Indie Author

Becoming an indie author was my dream. I’ve always loved storytelling, and I wanted nothing more than to share my books with the world. I thought it would be simple - write the book, publish it, and the readers would come.

Yeah… that’s not how it works.

No one tells you just how much goes into self-publishing until you’re in the thick of it, staring at your book on Amazon and wondering why no one is buying it. I had no marketing plan, no clue how to navigate social media, and no idea how expensive this whole process would be. I’ve made mistakes - some small, some that left me completely overwhelmed and questioning everything.

But through all of it, I’ve learned. I’ve grown. And now, I want to share those lessons, not just for the sake of venting (though, trust me, I could), but so that maybe another new indie author won’t have to struggle the way I did.

If you’re just starting out, I hope this helps. If you’ve been here for a while, maybe you’ll relate. Either way, just know—you’re not alone in this.

Marketing: I Had No Clue What I Was Doing

When I finished writing my first book, I thought the hardest part was over. I had spent years working on this entire collection, and I thought it was perfect. Surely, now that the writing was done, all I had to do was put it up on KDP and readers would find it? Wrong.

I learned that I needed editors, formating, a professional cover, and then I had to market it. I had no idea how to market a book. I wasn’t on social media. I didn’t have a newsletter. I didn’t even know what Amazon A+ Content was, let alone how to set it up.

That realization that I was in over my head hit hard. I had spent all my energy writing a book but none on figuring out how to sell it. And in indie publishing, that’s a fatal mistake.

Marketing isn’t just some extra thing you do when you have time—it’s the thing that makes sure people actually read the book you poured your heart into. If you don’t put your book in front of readers, they won’t find it. That’s not me being dramatic; that’s just how it works.

Once I accepted that, I started learning everything I could about book marketing. I set up Instagram and TikTok, started researching Amazon keywords and looking at professionally written blurbs, and began figuring out ways to reach my ideal readers. It’s still an uphill battle (especially since I don’t show my face), but now I understand that marketing isn’t optional - it’s the bridge between me and the readers who would love my books.

So, if you’re a new indie author thinking, I’ll just write the book and let the readers come to me - don’t make the same mistake I did. Marketing isn’t something you can ignore and hope for the best. It’s something you have to learn, practice, and invest in. Because the reality is, even the best book in the world won’t sell if no one knows it exists.

The Costs of Self-Publishing Are No Joke

When I first decided to self-publish, I naively thought, How expensive could it really be? Spoiler: very.

The only free parts of this process are setting up social media accounts and uploading your book to KDP. That’s it. Everything else? Cha-ching. Editing alone can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on what level of editing you need. A professionally designed cover? That’s another couple hundred, unless you go with a pre-made stock-photo cover (and trust me, readers absolutely judge a book by its cover). Formatting, ISBNs, ads, ARCs, marketing, website hosting - it all adds up fast. There are ways to save, but for the most part, you can expect to either spend money on every part of the process, or you need to learn those skills and DIY your book launch,

At first, I thought I’d just hire freelancers for everything. A cover designer here, an editor there, maybe a different person for formatting. And that's not even including the marketing! But when I actually sat down and added up the costs, I realized how expensive that approach was. That’s when I found a book producer who handled everything - from editing to cover design to marketing - and when I ran the numbers, it was actually cheaper than hiring individual freelancers for each task. Plus, it saved me from having to coordinate a dozen different people, which was a huge relief. I still had to learn a lot of skills, and I still DIY plenty of the process, but having someone who is professional to hold my hand, guide me, and actually do some of the work for me is a life saver!

Now, I’m not saying you have to go that route, but if you’re self-publishing, you need to go in with a financial plan. Cutting corners - like skipping professional editing or using a cheap, generic cover - can seriously hurt your book’s chances of success. Readers can tell when a book is rushed or poorly designed, and in a market where thousands of books release every day, you don’t want to give them a reason to pass yours by.

So, if you’re just starting out, do your research, set a budget, and be realistic about what it takes to publish a high-quality book. Self-publishing is an investment, but if you do it right, it’s one that can pay off in the long run.

ARC and Street Teams: Not What I Expected

When I first heard about ARC and street teams, I thought, This is going to be amazing! A tight-knit group of readers who love my books and want to help promote them? Sign me up! Other authors talked about how their teams felt like a family, how they had loyal fans supporting every release, and how much fun it was to connect with them. I was all in.

But I had no idea what I was doing.

I set up a group chat, gathered excited readers, and at first, it seemed great. But then…the drama started. And let me tell you, nothing could have prepared me for how stressful that would be. Navigating conflicts and making sure people were actually reading and reviewing the book—it was a lot. I found myself constantly anxious, dreading notifications, and questioning if this was even worth it. It got to the point where I had to make a really tough call for my own mental health: I stepped back and let my PA handle it all instead.

That decision wasn’t easy. I love connecting with readers, and I hated the thought of losing that personal touch. But the truth is, not every author thrives in a group chat setting. And that’s okay. I realized that I don’t have to be involved in every aspect of my book’s marketing. Sometimes, the best thing I can do for myself—and for my books—is to delegate and focus on what I do best: writing.

So, if you’re thinking about starting an ARC or street team, just know that it’s not as simple as “build it and they will come.” It takes effort, organization, and emotional energy. And if managing a team doesn’t bring you joy? That’s completely valid. Protect your peace, set boundaries, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Almost Falling for Scams

When you’re new to the indie author world, you assume that everyone offering services is legit. You see an artist with a gorgeous portfolio, a reviewer with a massive following, a marketer promising big results, and you think, Wow, this could really help my book!

But not everyone is who they seem.

I was so close to handing over money to an artist who, as it turned out, wasn’t actually creating original work. He was taking other people’s artwork, running it through AI for slight modifications, and then charging ridiculous prices. If I hadn’t done a little digging (and gotten a second opinion from other authors), I would’ve paid a premium for stolen, AI-altered art.

Then there were the “reviewers” on Instagram. They slid into my DMs with offers to leave five-star reviews for a fee. At first, I thought, Okay, maybe this is just how book promotion works? But my PA informed me that that is NOT how that works, it's unethical to pay for 5 star reviews, and then she urged me to check their engagement. Sure enough, these accounts had huge followings - but almost no actual interaction. Their posts had barely any likes, no real comments, and the more I looked, the more I realized their followers were probably fake. I nearly lost money on bot accounts that wouldn’t have helped my book at all.

That’s when I learned: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Now, I’m way more cautious before I hire anyone. I research. I ask other authors for recommendations. I check engagement, portfolios, reviews - everything. Because in self-publishing, every dollar counts, and I’d much rather invest in real services that actually help my books than throw money at a scam.

So, if you’re an indie author just starting out, be careful. Vet everyone before you pay them. Ask questions. Look at their past work. And if something feels even a little off? Trust your gut.

*A side note about my PA *

I could go on and on about the many reasons why I wanted her to help me publish, but I'll keep it short.
For one, she's a real person. I did my due diligence and saw many reels and videos of her on social media, and saw other authors post about her great work in making reels, graphics, and creating ARC teams.
Secondly, I got to talk TO HER. Face to face! When I spoke to other authors who had agents, publishers, done vanity presses, and hired PAs, most of them had never even seen the face of who they were working with, let alone have a whole Zoom call. That personal connection made a whole world of difference for me. She came ready with skills, recommendations, great reviews, and she was always open and honest and ready to hold my hand throughout my publishing.

To Tia at Order of the Bookish, who I know will read this because you have some scary magical ability to always see when I post something new, thank you!

DNFs & Getting Ghosted by ARC Readers

Before publishing, I had no idea what a DNF was. I mean, I’d put books down before if they didn’t click with me, but I never realized there was an actual term for it - Did Not Finish. And I definitely didn’t know it was something readers openly discussed and tracked.

When Beast of a Broken Court went out to ARC readers, I was so excited. I knew the book was different. I knew it played with time and trauma in a way that wouldn’t be for everyone. And I was okay with that! Some readers DNFed it because of the heavy themes, the pacing, or just personal preference - and honestly, I respected that. My book isn’t for every reader, and that’s fine.

What wasn’t fine? The ghosting.

I sent out 50 ARCs. Less than half of those readers actually left reviews. A few reached out to say they DNFed, which I appreciated. But most? They just vanished. No replies to messages, no reviews, nothing. And that part stung. Hard.

I get it - life happens. People get busy. Sometimes a book doesn’t hold your attention, and you move on. But as an indie author, reviews matter. They help with visibility, credibility, and future book sales. So when people take a free book and then disappear? It’s... discouraging.

At first, I took it really personally. I spent way too much time overanalyzing it, wondering if they hated the book, if I did something wrong, if they regretted signing up. But after talking to other authors, I realized: this happens to everyone. DNFs are a normal part of publishing. Ghosting is frustrating, but it’s also common (even though most authors don't talk about it publicly).

Now? I protect my peace. My PA handles ARC teams, and I don’t track who follows through and who doesn’t. I don't even know how many ARCs were sent out for Cursed by the Crimson Moon. Now, I focus on the readers who do engage, who do review, and who genuinely connect with my work.

Because at the end of the day, those are the readers who matter most.

Social Media Is a Beast

I knew social media was important for book marketing, but I seriously underestimated just how much effort it takes.

Everyone says, “Just post on TikTok! Just talk about your book!” But when you’re anonymous and don’t show your face, that’s way easier said than done. I can’t just whip out my phone, record a quick video, and call it a day. Every single post has to be planned. Graphics, reels, captions, trending sounds, engagement - it’s a whole process.

Instagram is especially exhausting. It’s not just about posting; it’s about playing the algorithm game. If you’re not in engagement groups, doing follow trains, commenting on other posts, and constantly interacting, your content barely gets seen. And even when you do put in the work, it can still feel like you’re shouting into the void. Some posts on my feed only have 1 like - me. I liked my own post. Is that pathetic? Maybe. I recently started deleting the ones with super low engagement and reposting them with engagement groups tagged just so that they get seen.

If I didn’t have my PA helping with content creation and scheduling, I honestly don’t know if I’d post at all. Social media takes time - time that I’d much rather spend writing.

So, what’s the takeaway? Social media is powerful and can help sell books, but it’s also a beast that demands constant attention. If it’s draining you, don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy, set boundaries, or get help. At the end of the day, your energy is better spent creating the stories that readers will love.

Final Thoughts

I could list so many more mistakes - trust me, the learning curve in self-publishing is steep. But I’ll stop here for now.

The truth is, self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. It’s not just about writing a book—it’s about marketing, budgeting, problem-solving, and pushing forward even when things don’t go as planned. It takes passion, patience, resilience, and more business skills than I ever expected.

As I get ready to release Cursed by the Crimson Moon, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still have doubts. Will readers connect with it? Will my marketing efforts pay off? Will this book do better than my first? The uncertainty never really goes away. But despite all of that, I know one thing for sure: I will keep going. I will become a full-time author.

One day, I’ll look back at all these struggles and laugh - because every misstep, every lesson, every frustrating moment is part of the journey. Until then, I’ll keep doing what I love most - writing the beautiful, heartbreaking (and spicy) stories that live in my head, hoping they find the readers who need them most.

CHECK OUT THE PINTEREST PHOTOS THAT HELPED INSPIRE THE TWISTED CURSES COLLECTION

*These photos belong to their respective artists. I did not create any of these images, these are simply images that I found on Pinterest that reflect my vision of Beast of a Broken Court.

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