By Craig Hart

If there’s one thing indie writers have in common, it’s passion. Although we live in a time when making a living as a writer is more possible than ever, it still isn’t an undertaking for the faint of heart. Dedication is needed, work ethic is needed – passion is needed. And yet despite being what we need most to succeed, passion brings with it dangers of its own. Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Too Good to Be True…

Have you ever wondered how people get sucked into ridiculous scams that promise to fulfill their every dream? It’s because they wanted what was promised so badly that they were willing to overlook all of the obvious red flags. This happens to writers every day. They shell out hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of dollars to unknown sources that promise them untold sales. All too often the unscrupulous vendor has no intention of following through on their promises. Even if they do, it is frequently accomplished through shady practices that then put the author’s publishing account (and with that their livelihood) in jeopardy. The author might have no idea that the methods are against anyone’s terms of service, and yet they’re the ones who end up paying the price for not doing their homework.

2. Burnout

One thing writers – especially indie writers – are absolutely horrible at doing is practicing self-care. We are driven by our desire to see our words in print. We fret about lost time, about how many words we’ve left unwritten. Yet when working for oneself, it is vitally important to know when to tap the brakes just a bit. Taking an afternoon off or treating your significant other to a date night will not destroy your productivity. In fact, it may increase what you are able to accomplish when you next approach your writing space.

3. Isolation

Our drive to create often pushes us into self-imposed exile. Writing is, generally, a solitary endeavor, and this by definition excludes those closest to us. Yet at the same time, we need the support of those same individuals as we climb the mountain of indie success. While our passion continually dogs our steps, it’s important to take time to recognize the contributions of those who show patience with us and support their resident writer in good times and bad. By shutting them out we risk dampening this enthusiasm; not because they’ll no longer love us, but because they might begin to feel insignificant or taken for granted.

Conclusion

Passion is a required ingredient for success in the indie arena, but it brings with it genuine pitfalls. Learn to harness that natural passion… and know when to rein it in.

Craig Hart

Craig A. Hart is a writer, publisher, and stay-at-home dad to twin boys. He is the author of the Shelby Alexander Thriller Series, the SpyCo Thriller Series, and the Simon Wolfe Mystery Series. When not publishing his own work or helping others publish theirs, Craig enjoys interacting with readers and building relationships with other writers.