What Do Successful Indie Authors Have in Common?
And what does success actually mean?
In this article, I’ll dive into the concept of “success” for an indie author. We’ll discuss it from a monetary standpoint AND from a spiritual standpoint.
What makes an indie author successful, monetarily?
If we are strictly talking about money, Written Word Media identifies 3 core behaviors contributing to the making of a six-figure author:
Successful authors use professional editors.
They use professional cover designers.
They keep writing books. In a survey by Written Word Media, authors with a monthly income from books of $7,500-$10,000 have, on average, published 45 books.
According to Draft2Digital, "Books identified as being in a series (inclusive of fiction and non-fiction) account for 75% of all sales" distributed through Draft2Digital in 2022.
Source for above stats: ALLi ,The Big Indie Author Data Drop 2023
👉To sum it up: professional editing and cover design, many books and, if possible, a series!
Is it okay for Catholics to make money from their books?
YES! It costs a lot of money to self-publish. I personally spent several thousand dollars to get my first book published. Had I not charged for that book, I would not have been able to recoup those costs or publish a second, third, or fourth book. Sustainability and profitability are so important.
For anyone struggling with whether it is okay for Catholics to make money from their books, consider the following quote from an interview I conducted with Lisa Canning, a mom of 11 who helps Catholic moms discover their unique call in life and business:
"What could that extra money do? How could it bless someone else immensely? So that's just something to ponder. Truly this is why I think everyone should care about making money. Because when we build the Catholic economy, when we help Catholics to be celebrated and seen, as opposed to canceled, when we ensure that money is placed in the hands of people who are seeking truth, beauty, and goodness-- can you imagine the change we can see in the world?"
Can success be unrelated to money?
Absolutely! This is where prayer comes in! What is God calling you to do? Are you being called to tell your story even if it only makes it into a few hands? Maybe those few hands are enough. Is God using this book to lead you into other areas? Maybe you are meant to speak or lead workshops. Is this a story that your family needs to preserve for years to come? It’s legacy has no price.
As mentioned above, there is nothing wrong with your book making money. But it can also NOT be about money, and that’s okay too. What matters is doing God’s will. Easier said than done, I know. It’s why I suggest every author pray and discern constantly.
Don’t be afraid to dream
It's easy to say, "Oh this is just a fun hobby. Whatever happens, happens," when you are really feeling a strong nudge to get your book into the hands of hundreds of people and start speaking at churches. Don't be afraid to state it out loud! God's dreams for you are often even bigger than the ones you have. This concept is beautifully described in Dream Bigger: A 21-Day Journey to Unlock God’s Dream for Your Life by Dan DeMatte. (Great supplemental reading!)
Think about the following scenarios:
Is your book a part of a larger plan God has in store for you? For example, let's say you write a children's book about manners and morals. But, WHAT IF, this book led people to a podcast you start on raising holy kids. And what if that podcast attracted parents who paid you 1:1 for coaching? Do you see how the book might not be the end goal but rather just the beginning?
What if your book could be used by parishes across the country as part of book studies? What if you were invited to speak at parishes about your story?
Perhaps you are an artist with 15 art prints for sale. You turn these into a story. At the end of the book, you include links to your shop for anyone who wants to buy a high-quality print. Now your book also becomes a portfolio of your work.
Setting yourself up for “success”
I stress the importance of best practices in self-publishing because it’s important to give your book the best shot it has at “success,” no matter how you define it. If you want it to be read—whether by a few or by many— there are certain things you can do.
⭐Paid subscribers have access to my self-publishing checklist with the steps listed!
Pep Talk Time
The topic of “success” can be a difficult topic, bringing up many emotions. I’m including a deeper dive and conversation for my paid subscribers, which includes my thoughts on:
Defining success in God’s eyes. Aka, what if it’s not about sales?
Avoiding the Numbers Game. Aka, “I only have X followers on Instagram! Therefore no one must like my book.”
Avoiding the Comparison Game. Aka, “X just sold out of all her copies and I still have boxes in my basement. Clearly I’m a failure.”
Reflection questions for whether this work is sanctifying you.
For those struggling with the above, I encourage you to read through the below and comment in the chat for a supportive discussion.