Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, Bsc

Alone, It Feels Impossible. Together, It Feels Inevitable.

The world of indie publishing can feel like standing on a crowded stage where no one is looking your way. You’re holding your book up high, hoping someone will care.
Hoping someone will notice. Hoping someone will say, “Hey, I’ve been there too.”

This is why community is not a luxury for indie authors — it’s a lifeline.

We’re All Wearing Too Many Hats

As indie authors, we’re not just storytellers.
We’re marketers. Designers. Formatters. Editors. Social media managers.
We’re Googling how to fix weird Kindle formatting errors at 2 a.m.
We’re teaching ourselves email marketing when we barely have the energy to write a caption, let alone a chapter.

It’s lonely. It’s exhausting. And most of the time, it feels like no one really gets it — unless they’re in it too.

That’s where each other comes in.

When you find another indie author, you find someone who speaks your language — someone who knows how hard it is to press “publish” and hear crickets.

The Industry Wasn’t Built for Us — But We’re Building Our Own

Traditional publishing has gatekeepers.
Self-publishing has… algorithms.

And in a world where visibility is often paid for, the indie author path can feel like shouting into the void unless you have a team. But here’s the truth: we can be that team for each other.

When one indie author shares another’s book, reviews it, mentions it in their newsletter, or gives a kind word in a Facebook group — that’s community-driven success.

This isn’t about competing. It’s about rising together.

Because no one understands the hustle like someone in the trenches beside you.

Cheering Each Other On Isn’t Optional — It’s Survival

When your book sells one copy in a week, a message from a fellow author saying, “I see you, keep going,” might be the reason you write the next chapter.

When you finally figure out how to format your book properly for print, and you share that knowledge in a Facebook thread — that ripple of help might save another author’s sanity.

Cheering each other on is not performative. It’s healing. It’s necessary. It’s the reason we don’t burn out completely and give up.

Because let’s be honest: we’ve all thought about it.

And the only thing more powerful than talent is encouragement.

It’s Not Just About Getting Help — It’s About Giving It Too

You don’t have to be a bestseller to lift someone up. You don’t have to be an expert to offer kindness, insight, or experience.

Your story — your process — can inspire someone else.

So when you share that you’re struggling with edits… someone else feels seen.
When you admit your launch was quieter than expected… someone else feels less alone.
When you celebrate your first five-star review like it’s the Pulitzer… someone else learns that little wins matter.

That’s what community does. It multiplies meaning.

The Indie Author Revolution is Built on Connection

We don’t need a massive PR budget. We need each other.
We need shared newsletters. Podcast interviews. Book swaps. Launch boosts. Writing sprints.
We need voices louder than algorithms.

And we need spaces where it’s safe to admit that we’re unsure, overwhelmed, and still doing it anyway.

That’s the revolution:
Indie authors who choose collaboration over comparison.
Who choose encouragement over ego.
Who choose realness over aesthetic.

Let’s Make This Easier on Each Other

Being an indie author is already hard enough.

Let’s be the reason someone doesn’t quit this week. Let’s be the friend who shares a post, reads a first chapter, or sends a “You’ve got this” when the stats say otherwise.

Because when indie authors support each other, magic happens — not just for us, but for readers who need the stories we’re brave enough to tell.

If you’re looking for that kind of support, come join my newsletter where I share real talk, free resources, and highlight indie authors like you. No gatekeeping. Just community.

And tell me in the comments — Have you ever received a little support that made a big difference? Let’s celebrate those moments and pay it forward.