"You Don’t Need Permission": How To Gain Confidence as an Indie Author

Photographed by Desiree Ortman Photography

You'll never grow confidence as quickly as you will as an independent artist--especially if one of your goals is to market and distribute your creation.

I experienced this firsthand as an indie author.

Here's how I gained confidence in the indie author space and how you can, too:

If you can't go a day without thinking about it, that's your sign--go for it.

1. Prepare to become a Marketer--No one knows your product like you do, so no one is going to be able to sell it like you can. Sure, there are experts and publishing houses with GLOBS of money. But your story came from YOUR mind and YOUR imagination. No one will ever know it quite like you.

   
   

   Long ago, when I was first embarking on my indie author journey, when people asked me, "What's your book about?" I'd freeze for a second. I didn't know what to say right away--partly because of nerves and partly because a self-Invented voice In my head that whispered, Oh you wrote a book? How cute.

   
   

   Then I realized, if I don't speak about my book with confidence and love, how can I expect anyone else to believe in it like I do?? Therein followed a mind shift. And that shift changed everything for me.

   
   

   Now, ask me what my book's about. I'll tell you with the biggest, proudest smile on my face!

   
   

2. Step out of your comfort zone. Often.--I'm talking networking, SOCIAL MEDIA, pretty much everything. I am generally an introvert, but I knew that in order to make some connections and content, I had to put myself out there.

   
   

   It felt SUPER awkward at first, and It still does sometimes tbh (I'm no guru). But hey, I'm not trying to impress anyone.

   
   

   I'm simply trying to connect to the community and share my work and all of my love for it. So at the end of the day, so what If I look a little silly? 🤷🏻‍♀️ That's okay with me. The important thing is that YOU can see how much I love what I've created. And hopefully, you'll want to Join the Adventure with me!

   
   

3. Taking the leap, even if it's scary--I wrote The Bel Air Kids and the Library Mystery in Summer 2023. And then it sat...for a year and a half.

   
   

   What finally led me to where I am now? I decided to stop waiting and to take real steps toward publishing--collaborating with authors and creators who really knew the indie publishing world. Learning the ropes equipped me with the knowledge to feel confident in my decision to self-publish, and I just know this story is going to find its readers.

   
   

The bottom line?

Trust in yourself. Trust In your work. Confidence comes when you stop asking for permission from others and start believing In yourself and what you can achieve when you take those first steps forward. You've gotta believe that you and your work deserve to be out in the world!

Yours is the only permission you need to introduce you and your art to the universe.

So if you have something, SHARE IT! As long as it adds a little light to the world, you can't go wrong. 🙃

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S/o to my Primary Indie Author Journey Guides:

J.S. Tazwell Lindsey Pope

Abbey Bryant

Jennifer Nestor