Don't go on hiatus if you're an indie writer

If your'e an indie author like me, you probably have a whole slew of hats that you wear in your self-employed business. Marketing, is one of them. Even those with Personal Assistants can have issues with this, so listen up. DO NOT TAKE A HIATUS! Take a break in writing, sure. Take a break from social media, ok. I understand that. But DO NOT DROP OFF INTO THE UNKNOWN. I did. My husband had asked that I take a step back from writing so he could persue his own business operation. Unfortuantely, I went into a bit of a depression at the same time, survival mode, if you will. This meant, no social media for the most part, including advertising my work. I went from a $3k royalties check from Amazon to barely $20 a month in just under a year. I never spent too much money on advertising to begin with. Most of my "marketing" was word of mouth, reviews, interaction, regular posts on Facebook and Instagram. TikTok wasn't a thing back then. But when I stopped taking the time to do that, to do other parenting responsibilities that my husband had been taking on while I worked and he did not, it all fell apart.

In the fast-paced world of writing and publishing, taking a break might seem like a tempting option, especially when writer's block strikes or personal commitments arise. However, for writers—especially indie authors—going on hiatus can be detrimental to maintaining momentum, audience engagement, and book sales. Here are a few things you can do as a writer, or any small business, really, if you do need to take a break; be it summer break and you have to keep the kids entertained, an illness, burnout, life throwing you for a loop, I hope this helps you to keep that forward motion.

Batch Writing
Batch writing involves setting aside dedicated time to produce multiple pieces of content in one sitting. This method not only enhances productivity but also ensures that you have a stockpile of material ready for publication. By batching your work, you can focus on writing without the distraction of daily deadlines, allowing for deeper immersion in your creative process.
Practical Implementation Tips
Schedule Dedicated Writing Days: Set specific days in your calendar solely for writing. Use these days to focus on creating new content, whether it’s blog posts, short stories, or chapters for your next book.

Batch Post Making: Same goes here as above. When you do have time to make videos, or photos, take multiples. Even if there are no words. Anyone who is on Booktok knows that you don't have to do anything in the video sometimes in order to use it at a later date. You can always go into your photo/video library and pull it up for something new whenever a new trend pops up.

Create a Comfortable Environment: Ensure your writing space is free from distractions and equipped with everything you need to be productive, such as a comfortable chair, good lighting, and your favorite writing tools.
Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to accomplish during your batch writing sessions. Having clear objectives, such as a word count goal or the number of pieces to complete, can help keep you on track.

Automate Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for writers to connect with readers and promote their work. However, it can also be time-consuming. Automating social media posts ensures that your online presence remains active without requiring daily attention. Facebook and Instagram both have SCHEDULEing capabilities for posts, even months in advance. With TikTok, you can schedule video posts, multiple times a day, for at least 30 days in advance, sometimes farther. By scheduling posts in advance, you can maintain engagement with your audience, even when you’re not available.

Use Social Media Management Tools: There are also some other Platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Later allow you to schedule posts in advance across multiple social media channels if you're more savvy than myself. 

Silent but Present: Join a TikTok live, even if you don't have the energy to join in the conversation. I know it sounds weird, but even if you join and mute, you will be putting yourself into the algorithm. 

Create a Content Calendar: Plan your social media content in advance by creating a monthly calendar. Include a mix of promotional posts, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive questions to engage your audience. It sounds weird, but it could help. Especially if you keep the calendar as a part of your every day one. 

Recyle and Reuse: That's right! Recycling your posts/videos. Change the music, if you feel, change the times around so different audiences see it. An author friend of mine, Lacy Chantell advised me to use the same videos in a few weeks rotation. If you scroll through my posts on my profile, you'll see the same 10-15 videos used throughout a month. When I have time, I make new videos. Or, I use the same text but change the backgrounds. 

Keep Friends In The Loop: As friends, we don't want to see you fail. Need a break? Tell your village and ask them to post on your account for you. Even if it's self-promotion, if still keeps you in the algorithm and might even get you new followers.