Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

And Why It Might Just Be the Secret Ingredient to Surviving the Indie Author Journey

I talk a lot on this blog about the practical side of publishing—tools, schedules, systems. But today I want to talk about something less measurable and far more powerful: gratitude.

Not the fluffy, forced kind you slap into a daily planner and promptly forget.

I’m talking about real, raw, grounded gratitude—the kind that keeps you writing when nobody’s buying, the kind that makes you pause after one kind message and think, Yes. This is why I do it.

As indie authors, we often operate in a strange vacuum of feedback. We pour our hearts onto the page, release our books into the world with trembling hope, and then… silence. Or worse, indifference.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of only chasing sales or reviews as markers of success. But when we stop and focus on what we have, rather than what we lack, everything shifts.

The Psychology of Gratitude

(Yes, It’s Science-Backed)

Studies in positive psychology have shown that regularly practicing gratitude can rewire your brain, reduce anxiety, and improve resilience. Gratitude activates parts of the brain associated with emotional regulation and reward. In other words: when you practice gratitude, you literally make it easier for your brain to keep going. And if there’s one thing every indie author needs, it’s stamina.

But here’s the trick: gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. So the real question is…

How Do You Express It?

Here are some of the ways I’ve found myself expressing gratitude as a writer. Maybe you do some of these too, without even noticing.

1. I Thank My Past Self

Every time I reread a chapter I thought was trash and find it… kind of brilliant. Or every time I see how far I’ve come. I take a second to silently (and sometimes out loud) thank the version of me who didn’t quit.

2. I Write Back

If you’ve ever received an email from a reader who said something kind about your book and you actually replied, that’s gratitude in action. Indie authors don’t have “teams.” We are the team. So showing up and saying “thank you” is the most intimate, personal brand of appreciation there is.

3. I Support Other Writers

One of the most healing ways to express gratitude is to give back. I shout out authors I love. I buy their books when I can. I leave reviews. I read their launch emails. Gratitude often looks like generosity.

4. I Journal the Good

Not every day. I’m not that consistent. But when something great happens—a milestone, a lovely comment, a breakthrough—I write it down. I have a jar next to me, and I put the paper in there. Because let’s face it, our brains are trained to replay the bad stuff. Writing down the good helps balance the score.

5. I Celebrate My Readers (Nomatter how many they are)

Even if I have five regular readers, those five are everything. I keep a screenshot folder of sweet messages or reviews. When imposter syndrome hits, I go back and read them like a secret stash of emotional chocolate.

---

But Gratitude Isn’t Toxic Positivity

Let’s be clear: expressing gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine when it’s not. You’re allowed to be frustrated. You’re allowed to feel invisible or burned out or angry when a project flops. Gratitude is what we add in, not what we use to shut down our real emotions.

Think of it like seasoning—it enhances the dish, it doesn’t erase the recipe.

---

Why It Matters (Especially for Indie Authors)

When you’re the writer, marketer, editor, designer, and cheerleader of your own career, it’s easy to burn out. But gratitude—real, expressed, lived—grounds you. It keeps you connected to why you write. It lifts you when the algorithm doesn’t. And sometimes, it brings readers closer just by its energy.

So how do you express your gratitude?

Do you write thank-you notes? Keep a review wall? Whisper your thanks into the steam of your morning coffee? However you do it, keep doing it. That’s the fuel no one else can give you—but that your readers, your books, and your own soul will feel every single time.

---

Let’s Keep This Going

Gratitude is a quiet revolution. And it’s even more powerful when shared.
Drop a comment and tell me how you express gratitude in your indie author life.