Let's be real for a second. If you've been scrolling through social media lately, you've probably noticed something. Everyone looks like they have it all figured out. Perfectly curated feeds. Flawless book launches. Authors hitting bestseller lists left and right. And there you are, stuck somewhere between "I started this thing" and "I have no idea if this is working."

Welcome to the messy middle, friend. And honestly? It might be the most powerful place you can be right now.

On this week's episode of The Author's Mic™, we dove deep into why the messy middle isn't something to hide, it's something to embrace. Because here's the truth: people are exhausted by perfection. They're craving something real. And that's exactly what you have to offer.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/bvsBX8DrNRs

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What Even Is the "Messy Middle"?

The messy middle is that space between where you started and where you want to be. It's the part of your journey where things feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and honestly? A little chaotic.

For authors, this might look like:

• Writing your first draft and wondering if any of it makes sense
• Learning self-publishing while feeling completely overwhelmed by the options
• Marketing your book with no idea if anyone is actually paying attention
• Building an audience from scratch when you have more crickets than comments
• Balancing your creative work with a full-time job, family, and life

Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so.

The messy middle is where most of us live most of the time. But here's the thing, we've been conditioned to hide it. To only show up when we have something polished to present. To wait until we've "made it" before we share our story.

And that's exactly backward.

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Why We're All Exhausted by Perfectly Curated Content

Let's talk about what's happening in the online space right now. There's a massive shift happening, and if you're paying attention, you've felt it.

People are tired.

They're tired of:

• Highlight reels that make everyone else's life look effortless
• Success stories that skip over all the struggle
• Polished presentations that feel more like performances than conversations
• The pressure to have everything figured out before you show up

The perfectly curated era is fading. And in its place? A hunger for authenticity. For realness. For people who are willing to say, "Hey, I'm still figuring this out: and here's what I'm learning along the way."

This is huge for authors and creatives. Because it means you don't have to wait until you've sold a million books to share your voice. You don't have to pretend you have all the answers. You can show up exactly where you are: and that's actually what people want to see.

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Building Trust Through Vulnerability

Here's something I need you to understand: vulnerability builds trust faster than perfection ever could.

When you share your messy middle, you're doing something powerful. You're saying to your audience, "I'm human. I struggle. I don't have it all figured out." And when people see that? They lean in. They connect. They think, "Finally, someone who gets it."

This isn't about trauma dumping or oversharing every hard moment of your life. It's about honest storytelling. It's about being real about your process. It's about letting people in on the journey: not just the destination.

Think about the authors and creators you feel most connected to. Chances are, it's not the ones who only show you their wins. It's the ones who've let you see behind the curtain. The ones who've shared their doubts, their setbacks, their "I almost quit" moments.

That's the power of the messy middle.

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Connection Over Performance

We need to have a conversation about the difference between connection and performance.

Performance is showing up with a script. It's putting on a mask. It's crafting an image that looks good but doesn't feel real. And listen: there's a time and place for polished content. But if that's ALL you're putting out there? You're missing something crucial.

Connection happens when you show up as yourself. When you talk about what you're actually going through. When you let your personality: quirks and all: shine through. When you admit you don't have all the answers but you're committed to figuring it out.

Your readers and followers can tell the difference. They can feel when something is authentic versus when it's manufactured. And in a world drowning in content, authenticity is what makes people stop scrolling and actually pay attention.

So ask yourself: Are you performing for your audience, or are you connecting with them?

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Honesty in the Learning Process

One of the most valuable things you can do as an author is document your learning process in real time.

You don't have to be an expert to teach. You just have to be one step ahead of someone else. And when you share what you're learning as you're learning it: mistakes, breakthroughs, and all: you create content that resonates on a deep level.

Here's what this might look like:

• Share what you're reading and how it's influencing your writing
• Talk about a marketing strategy you tried that flopped (and what you learned from it)
• Document your publishing journey with honest updates about what's working and what's not
• Ask your audience questions instead of always having the answers
• Celebrate small wins alongside the big ones

This kind of content does two things. First, it helps the people who are a few steps behind you. They see your process and think, "If they can figure this out, maybe I can too." Second, it humanizes you. It reminds people that behind the book, behind the brand, there's a real person doing their best.

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How to Embrace Your Messy Middle Starting Today

Ready to actually put this into practice? Here's how to start showing up in your messy middle:

1. Stop waiting for permission. You don't need to hit a certain milestone to share your story. Start now.
2. Share your process, not just your results. Let people see the work in progress.
3. Be honest about what you don't know. It's okay to say, "I'm still learning this."
4. Invite your audience into the journey. Ask for their input. Share your challenges. Make them feel like part of your story.
5. Remember: done is better than perfect. That post doesn't have to be flawless. That video doesn't have to be professionally edited. Just show up.

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The Bottom Line

Your messy middle isn't a weakness. It's not something to hide until you've "arrived." It's actually your greatest asset for building genuine connection with your readers and community.

People are craving realness. They want to follow creators and authors who feel human. Who struggle. Who keep going anyway. That's you.

So stop waiting for everything to be perfect. Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel. And start showing up: messy, imperfect, and absolutely enough.

Your people are waiting.

Want more real talk for indie authors? Head over to The Author's Corner for more resources, or check out our podcast page for all episodes of The Author's Mic™.

Thinking about being a guest on the show? Apply here( we'd love to hear your story.)