Ps: Yes a ps at the top of a piece of content. Weird I know… especially from an unknown author, okay back to the PS: There is an announcement of sorts at the end of this post – don’t worry I am not selling you any weird old course or anything. If you are interested and don’t want to read my ramblings, then just scroll down. That said I would love for you to read my ramblings…it won’t take long…I promise.
I bet not many aspiring authors think about this.
We’ve been conditioned to see authorship only through the lens of success. From rapid releases to publishing deals, from bestseller lists to building a social media following. From buying courses on book advertising to spending hours upon hours on YouTube, hunting for the next big breakthrough.
But here’s the thing: we don’t often ask ourselves, “What if I don’t become a bestseller? What if no one really knows my name? Can I still find fulfillment in this journey?”
I apologize if my rambling seems disjointed at this point, but I promise, there’s a reason I’m saying all this.
The reality is, authorship—especially for indie writers—is tough. For every success story you see in groups like 20BooksTo50k (which I love, by the way, and you should definitely join if you haven’t), there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of “lurkers” quietly dreaming that maybe one day, they’ll get their turn.
The truth is, many won’t. That’s life. But instead of letting that crush your dreams, I’m here to tell you: there’s another way to look at this.
And no, my aim isn’t to crush your dreams. It’s to offer you an alternative: to embrace the idea of being an unknown author. To understand why it’s not just okay to be unknown—it can be a gift.
Still with me?
Great.
Why I am an Unknown Author
I won’t drag you through my entire journey, but I think some background might help give you perspective.
I started publishing on Kindle in 2011—part of the early wave of indie authors jumping into the gold rush.
I threw myself into it, learning everything I could, writing, publishing, repeating.
In 2013, Mark and I co-wrote a zombie apocalypse science fiction series called Kill Them Dead. It wasn’t a smash hit, but over the last 11 years, we’ve made about $5,000 from it.
We didn’t stop there. Between us, we published nearly 200 titles—mostly short fiction—under various pen names. We were having fun, even calling them “Author Brands” back in the day.
Since then, we’ve made just over $100k from all our books combined. A modest amount, and most of it—around 80%—came between 2013 and 2016.
In 2015, I lost my job. That’s when we decided to take the leap into full-time writing. But by late 2016, it all came crashing down. I had to find work again, and I was burnt out. Financially stressed. Mark went through a divorce. The joy of writing disappeared. Stories dried up.
In 2017, I re-entered the corporate world, and that’s where I still find myself today. It wasn’t what I had envisioned, but it was necessary.
Did we make mistakes? Of course.
Did we try everything? Maybe not.
But here’s the twist: stepping away from the dream of full-time authorship may have been the best move I ever made.
Because…
The Birth of the Unknown Author
When I lost my job in 2015, I swore to myself that I’d never work for someone else again. And yet, here I am—back in the corporate world, running the same hamster wheel I thought I’d left behind.
But something interesting happened during the years I wasn’t actively writing.
Even though I wasn’t publishing new work or maintaining an email list, sales still trickled in. Month after month. Year after year.
Nothing life-changing. Not enough to quit my day job or buy something extravagant. But still, those books we published a decade ago continued to sell, completely on their own.
And that’s when I realized the power of being an unknown author.
It wasn’t about the name on the cover. It was about the freedom that came with anonymity.
The Power of Anonymity
Here’s the beauty of being an unknown author: there are zero expectations.
No pressure from fans. No pressure from the industry. And most importantly, no pressure from myself.
If I decide not to write today? That’s okay.
If I feel like writing a short story under a new pen name just to experiment? That’s okay too.
There’s no rush. No need to rapidly release. No fear of AI taking over. No need for beta readers, reviews, social calendars, or email lists.
I don’t have to obsess over every piece of advice about how “KDP is dying” or whether my book funnel is optimized. I’m not forking out cash for advertising, fancy covers, or expensive editing packages.
I’m not writing to market. I’m writing for me.
And best of all, there’s no financial pressure. Writing is no longer my only source of income, so there’s no stress attached to it.
I’ve rediscovered the joy of writing, at my own pace, on my own terms.
Will I Stay Unknown Forever?
As I write this, I’m 47 years old.
If you’d told my 30-year-old self that I’d still be in a corporate job at this age, he’d be furious. Back then, I dreamed of being a famous author, and of never working for someone else again.
I get it. That was me.
And yes, I still dislike my day job—just like most people. But here’s the secret: by the end of 2016, I hated being a full-time author too. Perspective changes everything.
Dreams aren’t easy, and they’re worth chasing, but they also evolve.
I still write. I still publish. But now I do it stress-free.
Every month, when I see my royalty reports—even if they dip or rise ever so slightly—I still feel the excitement of being an author.
So, will I change my mind about being an unknown author one day? Maybe. Who knows?
For now, I’m enjoying the quiet, anonymous process.
It’s strange, isn’t it? In my corporate job, I’m always pushing, scaling, and hustling. But when it comes to my writing, I’ve chosen to keep it private, to not turn it into a “business.”
Could that change? Perhaps.
But that’s the best part of being an unknown author.
All the power is in your hands.
You decide how to approach it.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about crushing anyone’s dreams. If you want to be a full-time indie or traditionally published author, go for it! There are so many resources and success stories out there.
But for those of you who are still dreaming, still lurking in the background, remember: there’s immense freedom in being unknown.
Here’s to everyone who writes!
PS: Ok so the announcement is simply this. I will bring out more blog posts about being an unknown author and I am actively writing a book about the topic. If this resonates with you then click here to stay informed on my mailing list. You will also get a cool free book!
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