An Indie Author’s journey mixing Blogging Tips, a Thriller Book, and launching a Gumroad eBook with creativity still intact
Some days, my desk looks less like a workspace and more like a battlefield. Half-finished blog drafts blink at me from one screen, a thriller chapter screams for attention from another, and somewhere in the mix sits my Gumroad eBook page quietly asking, “Hey, remember me?” Balancing blogging, writing, and publishing feels like juggling fire with one hand while brewing coffee with the other. Yet, strangely enough, it’s the chaos that keeps me moving.
When Blogging Became More Than Notes
I started blogging to warm up before writing fiction, almost like stretching before a run. I’d share thoughts on creativity, sometimes sneak in an opinion about storytelling, and other times write mini essays on random late-night ideas. Slowly, I noticed blogging wasn’t just practice. It was training my voice, sharpening my timing, and most importantly, building a reader base that cared about what I had to say.
One real example: when I wrote about the struggles of outlining a psychological thriller, a reader emailed me to say they faced the same problem with poetry. That conversation not only shaped a new blog post but gave me fresh perspective for a character struggling with structure in my novel. Blogging stopped being “extra work” and became an echo chamber for ideas I didn’t know I needed.
Writing Fiction While the Blog Calls
Thriller writing demands a darker mindset. My thriller book drafts often live in places where silence feels heavy and every detail matters. Jumping from that into a casual blog post feels like stepping from a storm into a sunny café. At first, I thought it would break my flow. But switching gears has its perks.
For example, after finishing a particularly tense scene about a hidden body, I’d blog about the strange comfort of late-night snacks. Both pieces of writing fed each other. The thriller kept me intense, the blog let me exhale. That rhythm prevented burnout and reminded me that creativity doesn’t belong in one box.
Gumroad as My Publishing Corner
Publishing through Gumroad felt both exciting and terrifying. There’s no safety net. No big publisher to hide behind. Your words meet readers as they are, and the results are immediate.
I remember refreshing the dashboard after uploading my eBook, heart racing as if I had just sent a secret into the world. The first sale came from someone I didn’t know, which made it even sweeter. Gumroad gave me not just a storefront but a sense of independence. I control the pricing, the design, the updates. For an Indie Author, that control is half the reward.
A Day in My Life Balancing It All
If you were to shadow me for a day, here’s what you’d see:
Morning: I wake up with thriller ideas already buzzing. Before emails or social media, I draft at least 1,000 words of fiction. These early hours are quiet, and my mind is sharp. Coffee helps, but honestly, the silence is the real caffeine.
Midday: Once I’ve shaken the thriller dust from my brain, I turn to blogging. My posts often flow from whatever fiction challenge I faced that morning. If I wrestled with dialogue, I’ll blog about natural speech in writing. If I was knee-deep in research on forensic details, I’ll spin that into a post on how research sneaks into fiction.
Afternoon: Editing, marketing, or checking Gumroad. This is the “business” part of the day. I might reformat a description, tweak a cover mockup, or check analytics to see if yesterday’s blog post drove clicks. It’s less glamorous but necessary.
Evening: I wind down by reading, often from authors who inspire me. Gillian Flynn for psychological intensity, Dennis Lehane for atmosphere, or sometimes even a random blog that makes me laugh. Reading at night resets me for the next day.
The schedule doesn’t always hold, but it gives me rails to run on.
Tools That Keep Me Sane
Balancing blogging, fiction, and publishing isn’t just about discipline. It’s also about having the right tools. Here are the ones I actually use:
- Scrivener: For fiction. My thriller drafts live here because it lets me shuffle scenes like puzzle pieces.
- Google Docs: For blogging. I can sneak in a paragraph on my phone, then polish later on my laptop.
- Notion: My planning brain. Every idea, deadline, and half-baked concept gets a home here before I forget it.
- Canva: For quick visuals. A blog post with a striking header image is like a thriller chapter with a killer hook—it just works better.
- Gumroad Dashboard: My publishing cockpit. Sales numbers, customer notes, and product updates all funnel through here.
Without these, I’d be drowning in sticky notes and forgotten drafts.
Lessons from Balancing Acts Gone Wrong
Of course, balance doesn’t always happen. There was one week where I blogged every single day, proud of my streak, only to realize I hadn’t touched my thriller draft in ten days. The guilt was real. Another time, I obsessed over tweaking my Gumroad eBook description and forgot to hit “publish” on a blog post sitting ready in my drafts.
Those missteps taught me something important: balance isn’t about splitting time evenly. It’s about knowing which project needs your energy today. Sometimes the thriller demands attention. Sometimes the blog calls louder. And sometimes the Gumroad page needs its polish.
The Human Side of It
People often imagine writers as solitary creatures, but blogging reminded me that connection is as vital as creativity. When I wrote a blog post about struggling with imposter syndrome, I received comments from readers who felt the same. That community energy carried me back into my thriller draft with new confidence.
Publishing the Gumroad eBook brought another layer of human connection. A reader once messaged me saying they bought it because they’d followed my blog for months. That moment felt bigger than any sales number. It meant my words, across formats, had built trust.
How Blogging Shapes My Fiction
Blogging forces me to keep sentences lean. Nobody wants to slog through a 50-word marathon sentence on a blog. That discipline translates beautifully into fiction. When I reread my early drafts, I see the difference. My dialogue is snappier, my descriptions tighter.
One example: I once blogged about how people actually talk over each other in conversations. Later, I rewrote a scene in my thriller where two characters argued, overlapping and interrupting. Readers in my critique group noticed immediately—they said it felt real. That came straight from blogging.
The Balancing Tricks That Actually Work
Here’s what I’ve learned works best for me:
- Batch Writing: On Sundays, I outline three blog posts in one sitting. That way, weekday me doesn’t panic staring at a blank page.
- Creative Switches: When thriller writing gets too dark, I jump into a lighthearted blog draft. It’s like cleansing the creative palate.
- Analytics Check-In: I only check Gumroad once a day. Any more and it feels like standing on a scale every hour.
- Micro Goals: Instead of “finish chapter today,” I set “write 500 words.” Small wins build momentum without crushing pressure.
Why I Keep Going
Balancing blogging, writing, and publishing isn’t smooth. Some days I feel like I’m doing three jobs at once. But each part strengthens the others. Blogging sharpens my storytelling muscles. Fiction feeds the blog with raw material. Publishing ties everything together in a tangible way.
When readers discover my Gumroad eBook after reading my blog, or when a thriller scene sparks from a blog comment, I see the ecosystem working. It’s messy, but it’s mine. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade the chaos for calm.
Closing Reflection
At the end of the day, balance isn’t about keeping the scales even. It’s about letting each part of my creative life breathe without suffocating the others. Blogging gives me connection, fiction gives me depth, and publishing gives me reach. Together, they form a cycle that keeps me writing, even on days when the coffee runs out too soon and the words feel stubborn.
And maybe that’s the real secret: balance is less about perfection and more about motion. Keep the words moving, and somehow, the balance takes care of itself.
If you made it this far, congratulations, you’ve survived the juggling act of my writing life without dropping a single word. Want to stay in the loop as I keep balancing blogs, thrillers, and eBooks like a slightly caffeinated circus act? Then make sure to subscribe to my latest posts on PassiveWriting and have my newest articles land directly in your inbox. Think of it as skipping the hassle of checking in and letting the words come to you instead.
If you’re curious about the person behind the late-night drafts and coffee stains, you can explore my story and creative journey here. Spoiler alert: it involves more plot twists than I originally signed up for.
Your support keeps the words flowing, and it honestly means the world. If you’d like to show a little kindness, you can support my writing on Ko-fi. Even the smallest contribution is like handing me an extra hour of writing time.
And if dark psychological thrillers are your thing, then it’s time to step deeper into my storytelling world. You can discover my eBook Blood Whispers: Silence Never Forgets, a gripping read built to keep you awake long into the night. Just don’t blame me if you leave the lights on after finishing it.
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