Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

When “Writer” Doesn’t Cover It Anymore

When people hear “author,” they imagine someone curled up in a cozy nook, typing away with a mug of tea and a spark of inspiration.
They don’t picture you fiddling with Amazon keywords at midnight, tweaking your website layout, managing your social media, updating your newsletter welcome sequence, and figuring out why your email open rates suddenly plummeted.

Welcome to the invisible workload of being an indie author.

It’s not just about writing anymore. It’s about being an entire publishing house in one body — unpaid, under-slept, and somehow still expected to smile through it all.

The Myth of the Indie Author Superhero

There’s this romanticized idea that indie authors are hustling geniuses — writing full-time, growing audiences overnight, and selling thousands of copies monthly from the comfort of their pajamas.

But the truth?
Most of us are doing this between jobs, during lunch breaks, after putting kids to bed, and before the next wave of burnout hits.

We’re editing our books, uploading to multiple platforms, watching YouTube tutorials on formatting, scheduling posts, making Canva graphics, replying to readers, studying algorithms — all for the chance to maybe… maybe… sell a book or two this week.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not sustainable without boundaries. And it’s not often talked about.

The Mental Load is Real

The exhaustion isn’t just physical. It’s mental. Emotional. Creative.

You’re constantly thinking about what’s next:
Do I need a new lead magnet?
Should I run another promo?
What if I priced the book wrong?
Is this even good enough?

That kind of constant decision-making — paired with the pressure of being your own team — is draining. It makes writing feel like a chore instead of a passion.

Worse, it makes you feel like you’re failing if you’re not constantly producing, posting, promoting.

It’s Okay to Say: This Is Too Much

You are not weak for being tired.
You are not ungrateful for wanting rest.
You are not less of a writer for needing help.

The invisible workload is real. Just because we chose this path doesn’t mean it’s not hard. It doesn’t mean we have to pretend we’re loving every minute.

You are allowed to say, “I’m overwhelmed.”
You are allowed to ask, “Is there a better way?”

What You Actually Signed Up For

You didn’t start writing to become a marketing expert. Or a full-time tech support agent for your own book files.
You signed up because something inside you had to write.

And maybe now that purpose feels buried under a mountain of admin tasks. That spark is dimmed by spreadsheets and hashtags.

But here’s the thing:
That original purpose is still there.
You just have to give it space again.

Sometimes that means stepping back.
Sometimes it means outsourcing one task, saying no to another, or changing how you measure success.

Reframing What Success Looks Like

Not everyone wants to be a six-figure author. Not everyone needs to “go viral” to be happy.
Maybe success for you looks like writing what you love without losing your sanity.
Maybe it’s building a tiny, loyal readership who truly cares.
Maybe it’s just finishing that next book — even if nobody else knows.

You get to define what success looks like on your terms. You don’t owe anyone hustle.

You’re Allowed to Do Less

Do you need a perfect Instagram grid?
No.
Do you need to be on every platform, every day?
Absolutely not.
Do you need to market like a Fortune 500 company to earn respect?
Please — no.

Sometimes the most radical thing you can do as an indie author is to rest.

Pick one or two things that move the needle and let the rest wait.
Write first. Breathe second. Promote third — and only if you have energy left.

You’re Still a Writer

Even if your Amazon sales graph is flat.
Even if your email list is tiny.
Even if you haven’t posted in weeks.

You’re still a writer.

And maybe that’s what this article is really here to say:
Behind all the noise, behind all the hustle, behind all the “you shoulds” — you are enough, exactly as you are.

Your words matter.
Your voice matters.
Even if no one sees the effort behind the curtain — especially because no one sees it.

Let’s Build Something Kinder

The indie author world doesn’t need more pressure. It needs more softness. More honesty.
It needs writers who say, “Hey, I’m tired too,” and “Hey, you’re doing great, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”

Let’s build that world together.

If this article helped you exhale, come join my newsletter. It’s a space for real talk, writing support, and gentle encouragement for authors trying to do it all. You don’t have to do it alone.

And hey — drop a comment: What’s the invisible task that wears you down the most as an indie author? I’d love to hear from you.