Quarterly Review for Indie Fiction Authors ~
5 Critical Areas to Consider
At the end of every quarter, I always set aside a little time to pause, reflect, and reassess how your writing career is progressing.
Whether you’re working on growing your readership, launching your next book, or building your author platform, a quarterly review can be a powerful tool to ensure you’re on track with your goals.
So, make a note on your calendar to take a step back during the first week of April, July, October, and January to review how the previous three months have gone.
In your review, pinpoint what’s working, what’s not, and where to make improvements. This simple review process will help you fine-tune your approach and make the next quarter even more productive for your writing career.
Here are 5 key areas to consider in your indie author quarterly review:
1. What Worked?
First up, celebrate your wins! Did you finish that draft you’ve been working on? Maybe you ran a promotion that brought in new readers, or grew your email list with a great reader magnet. Did your social media posts or newsletter engagement go up? Reflect on anything that moved you forward, no matter how small. Recognizing these wins keeps you motivated and shows you the strategies that are helping you grow your indie author career.
2. What Didn’t Work?
This is where we get honest. Not everything is going to be a home run, and that’s okay. Did you struggle to meet deadlines? Maybe your latest book release didn’t get the traction you hoped for, or a marketing effort fell flat. Don’t beat yourself up—use this as a learning opportunity. Take a moment to figure out why something didn’t work and think about what you can change next time to improve. It’s all part of the process.
3. What to Amp Up
Once you’ve identified what worked, ask yourself: How can I amplify it? Maybe you saw a lot of engagement with a particular type of content, or one book in your series is gaining traction—how can you build on that? If your reader magnet brought in a lot of sign-ups, consider expanding on that or running more promotions around it. Amping up what’s already working is one of the best ways to boost your author brand without reinventing the wheel.
4. What to Let Go Of
As creatives, we sometimes hold onto projects or strategies that aren’t serving us anymore. Whether it’s a marketing tactic that’s draining your energy, or a book idea that’s just not coming together, it’s okay to let go. Freeing up mental space by releasing what’s not working allows you to focus on new ideas and fresh opportunities. It might be time to retire that old Facebook ad campaign or pause a project that’s become more stressful than exciting. Trust me—it feels good to let go!
5. What’s New to Consider?
Looking ahead to the next quarter, what’s new on the horizon? Are there new writing trends, platforms, or opportunities emerging that you can explore? Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast, launching a Patreon, or experimenting with TikTok to reach new readers. Pick one new thing to focus on and try it out—just remember to balance it with continuing what’s already working.
By taking time to review these five areas each quarter, you can keep your indie author business not only on track but thriving. Writing can feel overwhelming when you’re juggling multiple projects and goals, but a quarterly check-in helps you stay focused and make adjustments as needed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When you’re ready, here’s how else I can help:
1. Join the Indie Fiction Authors Circle for just $25/year for ongoing support here
2. Take the Online Marketing Map for Indie Fiction Authors course here