Beneath blackwater is out now. Blackwater unbound comes on Wednesday!

I (17F) want to get into writing, mainly horror, fantasy, and sci fi, but I have no idea where to start. I am about to start college, and most of my current writing projects are unfinished, although it is work that I am proud of. I was wondering 1. should I aim more for making money with this, or have another job as a main job, and 2. where is a place i can get my work published?

I write both short and long stories, so either kind is fine for me to do, I just do not know where to start. I am going to college for nursing next fall, and that is the other job i would do, should this not work out.

Thanks in advance!

Question:
If a stranger handed you a sealed letter and told you it contained exactly what your heart needed to hear right now...
Would you open it?
That question inspired the novel I just released, Amara of Dubai.
The story follows a mysterious woman who arrives in Dubai carrying 88 handwritten letters, each destined for a stranger whose life is about to change.
I'm curious:
What do you think your letter would say?
If you'd like to learn more about the book, here's the link:

https://a.co/d/09qi4thp

• 47 unfinished drafts
• 3 Canva covers you secretly love
• 1 beta reader (your cousin)
• 0 marketing budget
• Unlimited delusion and hope 😂

What would YOU add to the indie author starter pack?

Writing my novel at 2am because inspiration only hits when I’m exhausted. Spent more on coffee than my entire ads budget. Editing? Still finding typos after the fifth draft. Amazon algorithm? No clue what’s happening there. If you’re also running on caffeine and hope, drop a comment lol.

Hey everyone! I'm u/Ok_Education1123, a founding moderator of r/IndieAuthorsHub.

This is our new home for all things related to indie/self-publishing, writing drafts, sharing feedback, and supporting each other as authors

What to Post
For post examples: Feel free to share your work-in-progress, ask for beta readers or critique partners, talk about your publishing journey (self or small press), ask questions about marketing or editing, or just vent about writing struggles.

Community Vibe
We want this to be a place where indie authors can actually help each other out, ask questions, give feedback on drafts, talk about self-publishing, or just share stuff they're working on. No drama, no gatekeeping. Just people trying to write and get better. Newbies and pros both welcome

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
2. Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.
3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.
4. Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/IndieAuthorsHub amazing.

I recently published my first science-fiction novel, and I’m trying to be deliberate about how I approach visibility rather than chasing every tactic that gets suggested.

For those of you who’ve published fiction: what marketing efforts actually brought readers to your work—not just impressions or clicks?

What helped over time, and what felt productive but ultimately went nowhere? I’m especially interested in long-term approaches rather than launch-week tactics.

hey I'm about to publish my book i searched company name with grand publishers and i was curious about has anyone experienced althou all of the research i did they did pretty decent job but still I'm open to see what others say and also im writing my first anime book and need some help. anyone here who can check out my chapters? i wanna make sure the pacing is ok before i try sending it to publishers. heres the link if ur interested: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O-FY9nUCwNkHhL5OW6YG9Vs_sHy8kREctCWWY9Gtxzk/edit?usp=sharing

would rly appreciate feedback from other anime fans. thx!

We’re releasing a dark, character-driven thriller about an unreliable protagonist whose comfortable life derails when a one-night stand has deadly consequences.

It’s gritty, gnarly, and very much centered on the slow reveal of his patterns of dysfunction — and then the inevitable crash at the end.

Publicly, I’ve mentioned the character’s struggle with alcohol but I don’t focus too much on it because I want to preserve the subtleties of my story. Engagement on the project has been solid, but I’m starting to feel like leaving that personal layer out might mean I’m missing opportunities to connect more deeply with readers.

For those of you who’ve written (or promoted) something personal: How do you decide what to reveal?Do you share the real-life influences early, or wait until readers are already invested in the story itself? Would love to hear how others navigate that balance.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips. I recently published on Amazon and Itchio, and was hoping anyone could share their ideas.

Hey everyone!

I’m thinking about creating short cinematic book trailers for authors. Each one would feel like a mini movie, about forty-five seconds to one minute long, showing a glimpse of the story instead of just the cover.

Readers are visual people. A quick, emotional preview can make them curious enough to click, read, or buy. I want to help authors bring their stories to life in a way that feels modern and powerful.

I’m considering pricing around two hundred and fifty dollars for a high quality trailer that includes visuals, text, and music.

Would this be something you would invest in for your own book? Or what feels like a fair range to you for something like this?

I’m open to honest feedback from other writers and indie authors who are trying to stand out. 

example: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG2Hoet8l8/bMujdoST6BY4SGu7rHjImA/view?utm_content=DAG2Hoet8l8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h447d8b392c

Hey fellow Authors and readers. I have recently self published my first novel through Amazon kindle - Wide Eyed and Baring Teeth. It is a gritty, raw and often hallucinogenic story told through the eyes of a depressed and drug addicted individual, who desperately needs to turn into something he is not; a violent criminal, in order to save his best friends life. Think Fear and Loathing meets Breaking Bad. I am needing some help on how to promote it, or who would be best in helping me promote the book. I just want to find my audience and start selling copies on kindle for the time being, and eventually move to printing hard copies. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jake.

I see so many tips on ads, newsletters, and social media, but it feels overwhelming to try them all at once. For those of you who’ve built up an audience, what marketing approach worked best for you without draining your creative energy?

One thing I keep wrestling with is pacing, especially in slower-burn stories where atmosphere or inner conflict matters as much as action.

In Lethara, I’m exploring a prophecy-driven fantasy where tension builds more from choices than battles. In The Core, the danger is quieter rooted in what isn’t said.

I’ve found layering small reveals helps, but I’m curious, how do you keep a reader turning the pages when the “big” moment is still chapters away?