This episode wasn’t about labels.

It was about direction.

Because most authors don’t struggle with writing.

They struggle with not knowing what they’re actually building.

What Was Discussed

I talked about something I don’t think we define early enough—what kind of author we’re trying to be.

Because “indie author” sounds like one path.

But it’s not.

We’ve got:

• People writing one book and feeling complete
• People building full catalogs
• People turning books into businesses
• People building platforms, communities, and ecosystems

And all of those are valid.

But they’re not the same.

The confusion happens when we treat them like they are.

That’s when authors start:

• Comparing themselves to the wrong people
• Following advice that doesn’t apply
• Feeling like they’re behind when they’re not

Your Perspective

I had to figure this out myself.

Because I kept trying to fit into labels that didn’t fully match what I was doing.

Author? Yes.
Publisher? Sort of.
But neither one really captured it.

What I realized is that my work is about building connections.

Between authors, readers, bookstores, podcasts, and book clubs.

That’s not just writing.

That’s something else.

And once I understood that, my decisions changed.

Not completely overnight—but enough to where I stopped trying to do everything.

Real Takeaways

• “Indie author” is not one path—it’s multiple
• Confusion comes from comparing across different goals
• Labels matter less than clarity
• You don’t need every strategy—you need the right one

What To Do Next (Light)

Take a step back and ask yourself one question:

What am I actually trying to build?

Not what sounds good.
Not what other authors are doing.

What you are building.

👉 Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/ZWJbJDGdgfU

The Author’s Mic™ Be a Guest

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TrustBridge™

TrustBridge™ connects indie authors with bookstores, book clubs, and podcasts through curated introductions and real relationship-building.

For authors — TrustBridge™ Author Services
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The Indie Author Toolkit

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https://brightheadedpublishing.com/products/digital-product-10197841

Books from Bright Headed Publishing

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