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i have six months to become a full time indie author

Author | Elizabeth C. Cabrera

34,146 views

I mentioned it last week, but I got laid off from my full time job. After talking things over with hubby, we decided to see if I can make my indie author stuff work. We set up a deadline of 6 months. In this video, I’m gonna tell you how I’m gonna try to make this a thing. This is gonna be the first video in a new series I’m starting centered around me trying to make this a full-time thing, so I hope you’ll stick around!

If you're an indie author, a creative thinking about going full-time, or just someone who's ever been laid off and wondered "now what?" — I hope this helps you feel less alone in it.

#authortube #indieauthor #laidoff

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📚 BOOKS

✧ The Pen Name Project: https://amzn.to/3L2eShY
✧ Twisting Fates: https://amzn.to/44An1Rl
✧ Books I’d Recommend: https://bookshop.org/shop/authorleigh...

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📸 SOCIALS

↝ Author Website: https://www.authorleighcreek.com
↝ Author Templates Etsy Shop: https://eccauthortemplates.etsy.com
↝ Buy Me a Coffee: Ko-fi.com/authorleighcreek
↝ Newsletter: https://substack.com/@authorleighcreek
↝ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Leigh-C...
↝ GoodReads: Goodreads: 55752344.Leigh_Creek
↝ TikTok: TikTok: authorleighcreek
↝ Instagram: Instagram: author_leigh_creek
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💌 THINGS I LOVE & USE
→ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/authoreli...
→ The Emotion Thesaurus - https://amzn.to/47Wgfrs
→ My Planner: https://amzn.to/4j8DuC7
→ Headphones - https://amzn.to/461CtWD
→ Fluffy Chair - https://amzn.to/3HVBNdh
→ Fifeline Microphone - https://amzn.to/4lZLS71
→ Mini Microphone - https://amzn.to/3UUWAAA
→ DJI Camera - https://amzn.to/4rZ9yfQ
→ Printful - https://www.printful.com/a/11642066:7...
→ Scrivener - https://www.literatureandlatte.com/sc...

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✉️ BUSINESS INQUIRIES

For business inquiries, you can contact me at: eccpublishing@gmail.com

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📹 Music & Sound Effects from: Epidemic Sounds

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**Disclaimer: Some links in this description may be affiliate links. I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. This video is not sponsored.**

20 Comments

@Author_Elizabeth_C_Cabrera Creator 1 month ago Pinned

So... this is officially the scariest thing I've ever posted on this channel lol. But if there's one thing I know, it's that this community has gotten me through every messy chapter so far — so I'm trusting you guys with this one too. 🤝 Tell me in the comments: if YOU had 6 months to bet on your dream, what's the first thing you'd tackle? And have you ever been through a layoff or a big scary pivot? I'll be replying to everyone this week — I genuinely want to hear your stories, and honestly, I could use the company lol.

@amy-suewisniewski6451 1 month ago

One thing all of us can do is watch with ads, hype and comment!

Also editing of this video was on point today

@rosalynransawbooks 1 month ago

i’m in a similar boat (laid off from my full time job last month) and your planning is inspiring me to get off the couch and start drafting my next book ✨ manifesting you not only reaching your goals but absolutely blowing past them! best of luck and excited to see your journey!

@Neshavfrazier 1 month ago

Not an author and not sure how I landed here, but ooooh girl I'm invested and rooting you on ❤

@Homegrown-Harmony 1 month ago

Girlll!!! I got laid off this year as well and I’m one month into trying to become a full time musician! This is a very scary time to be unemployed, so I can relate to that hardcore. The struggle is real, but don’t give up!! Best of luck, you got this!!

Also, this is the first video of yours I’ve seen and you’ve just earned a new subscriber! ❤️✨

@wysteriafox2977 1 month ago

Best advice is just keep pushing even when it feels like it's going nowhere. And then one day you wake up and realize you really have gotten somewhere. Good luck. I subbed to watch your journey.💜

@QuillandLantern 1 month ago (edited)

I had a stroke 2 years ago and had to retire early. I started writing immediately and still haven't finished a book. I am going to join you. I will give myself 6 months to become a full time writer and see what happens. thank you for the inspiration! You are going to do great. I can feel it!

@KristaConnects 1 month ago

I’m so glad your channel popped up in my feed. Sorry you’re dealing with a stressful situation, but this internet stranger has full confidence in you! I can feel your passion through the video. You got this!

@12SailorLover21 1 month ago

Your video got pushed hard to me in the algo, I'm glad I clicked! Your video is honestly really high quality esp. compared to your subs. When I got laid off I started my own thing and now I'm doing my dream job, and I've always believed if you're working in the direction you want to go then that's the direction you'll head. Good luck with your writing, I'll be watching!!

@estelle_archer 1 month ago

Im so excited for you! Its scary to do something "new". You got this!

Also, another reason why we love hubby here. We stan a man that helps his wife put on her wings to fly. ❤

@jessicajordan680 1 month ago

YT showed me your video and I instantly sunscribed! I totally get the anxiety of selling but here's a reframe: we, as consumers of your content, want to support you because we find value in what you offer. I shamelessly buy books from authors in genres I dont necessarily read just so I can support them! Also, if people don't know what is for sale, we can't invest ❤

@PopBaltimore 1 month ago

I got laid off (for the first time) about 3 months after buying a house by myself... It be like that. You'll figure it out (truly).
I started my sticker shop about a year later along side becoming an EMT! Now Im working on my second shop.

Life just BE HAPPENING lol Love your channel and excited for you to thrive through this.

@stoppickingurnose7852 1 month ago

The fact that you are bouncing back instead of floundering is amazing, and you should be proud of yourself!
Also:
13:10 I love that your cat is in the corner there, staring into my soul lol

@AvrilMAalund 1 month ago

Getting laid off is scary for sure (speaking from experience, back during COVID when the chocolate store I was working at went out of business). As others have already said, it's commendable to see how well you're adapting to the situation and that you're making the most of it. It's also really lovely to hear that you've got some support in your corner, too.

I've only just found your channel but I'm excited to see what this new season of life has in store for you and your writing. 📖💕 Best wishes for this new chapter!!

@sue9550 1 month ago

You're starting a new chapter in life, which is always scary. But you're also very brave! Regarding the services idea, I think there are a lot of people who don't have the website design skills to do it themselves, or don't have a circle of critique partners etc and would welcome someone offering those services. I know I would 😊

@jenxo-k6o 1 month ago

You've got this, Elizabeth! Rooting for you

@catstickler 1 month ago (edited)

This is a terrifying situation, and you're handling it really well. I'm really excited for you taking the plunge! I'm a full-time spiiiiicy sapphic romance ghostwriter, and it's hard to keep up with publishing demands (in a bad month, I only write one novel; in a very good month (unicorns are more common than this lol), I write 3), but I get to make up and tell stories for a living, so it's really fun.

I love that you're going into this with a game plan. 6 months is a really decent runway if you stay on track. It REALLY helps that you already have publishing experience. That's going to save you months (if not years).

Instant subscribe to follow your journey!

PS I'm also a copy editor and audiobook narrator. (Editing is actually how I got started in the publishing world nearly 20 years ago.) If you partner with publishers, it can be extremely stable, especially if you connect with several. You can work with indie authors if you'd like (and it's still lucrative), but it's not as stable and requires a lot more marketing and will take time away from writing.

@TheProphetOfTheMostHigh 1 month ago

Take this as a blessing and run with it! Time is yours now, write into the wee hours, do things that bring you joy, do for others, have beautiful meals for your husband when he walks in the door. Im excited for you!

@torrancesene 1 month ago

I love that your release schedule is for TWO years and isn't dropping like a book/novella a month. It's realistic and doable, and I LOVE THAT. Subscribing cos I need the motivation to do the same "let's get to full-time" push. I'm single, but I left my job in April for my mental & physical health and I really wanna get the writing bringing in more $$ to help me out.

@Marissa89-l 1 month ago (edited)

I'm so sorry you got laid off. I was unemployed for almost the all of 2024 after my contact ended at the end of 2023 (I work in analytics). I knew I'd have a gap but expected it to be 3 months maybe 6 months. I applied for at least 100 jobs, had interviews (most jobs wanted to pay me what I made 6-8 years ago which wouldn't have paid the bills or they ghosted me). I finally did get a job in the fall when my current job found me.

I had 1 book out with the 2nd almost out (it came out end of March) at that time. I could NOT write for months bc I was so stressed & the pressure.

As someone now with 7 books out ... I still do not even make a full time income from my books (and I write contemporary sports romance) & market a lot. I hope it works for you.