Episodes
-
Book Research, Creative Longevity, And Loving Writing With Peter James
How can deep research and real relationships bring authenticity to your fiction? How do you keep a long-running series fresh for your readers, and for yourself, after 22 books? Peter James shares his lessons from decades as a successful author, and why he stills loves writing. In the intro, Saga…
more -
The Creator And The Critic: How To Fix Your Writing Process With T.D. Donnelly
How can you audit your writing process so you get more words on the page and finish your books? How can you network at author conferences, even if you’re an introvert? T.D. Donnelly shares tips from 30 years as a Hollywood screenwriter and his book, Superdraft. In the intro, memento mori, and...
-
Writing Endings, Using Literary Devices, And Tips From The Story Book With Amy Jones
How can you sharpen your craft when the self-critical voice gets louder the more you learn? What kinds of literary devices might enhance your prose? And how do you write an ending that pays off the promise you made to your reader? Amy Jones shares her writing tips after 15 years of teaching...
-
Write For Money And Power: Becoming A Creator CEO With Amy Suto
How can you move from the starving artist mindset to becoming a creator CEO with multiple streams of income? And how can you get traction on Substack if you’re starting from zero? Amy Suto shares her tips as a former Hollywood TV writer turned author, Substack creator, and ghostwriter. In the...
-
Bad Choices Make Good Stories: Character, Critique And Community With Erin Dionne
How can giving your characters two bad choices raise the stakes in your stories? And how do you ask for the feedback you need from a critique group, and disregard the rest? Erin Dionne shares her writing and publishing tips after more than 20 years as an author and professor. In the intro, The...
-
From Story Seeds To Stories, And Writing An Author’s Note, With Joanna Penn
How do you find and notice story ideas, and how do you turn those into short stories, novels, or as anecdotes for your non-fiction or memoir? Why is an author’s note so important in an age of AI, and what might it contain? Joanna Penn shares her thoughts, and her short story, The Black Church,...
-
Writing And Creativity In Midlife With Jordan Rosenfeld
How can you keep writing when midlife brings grief, exhaustion, rage, and a creativity that seems to have dried up? How can you accelerate if midlife brings you more energy? And how can you market your books authentically when your energy and your interests have changed? Jordan Rosenfeld shares...
-
Time Freedom: Rethink Your Work And Money With Brian Herriot
How can you design your year around seasons of work and rest instead of waiting for financial freedom? And how do you build the money confidence to take extended time off when you come from a scarcity mindset? Brian Herriot shares his ideas on time freedom after a career as a financial advisor…
more -
Reclaiming Your Mind: How To Teach Yourself Anything With J. Daniel Sawyer
How can you teach yourself anything, even when it challenges the way you see the world? And how can you organise what you learn so it turns into books your readers will find? J. Daniel Sawyer shares his self-education toolkit after decades as a largely self-taught author. In the intro, Spotify…
more -
What Machines Can’t Replace: Why AI Makes Us More Human With Anna McPhee
How can you use AI to research, edit and handle admin and marketing tasks while still writing every single word yourself? How can you double down on being human and reach readers on a personal level? Anna McPhee shares her perspective as a software engineer, author and creative technologist. In…
more -
How To Redesign Your Author Business For The Environment That Actually Exists, With Tracy Cooper-Posey
How can you redesign your author business for the publishing environment that actually exists, rather than the one you wish you had? And how do you decide which marketing efforts will still bring readers to your books in ten years' time? Tracy Cooper-Posey shares her solar sail theory after more...
-
From Page One To Done: Fast Drafting Your Novel With Jessica Brody
How can the Fast Drafting method help you finally finish your novel? And how do you make progress when you only have 30 minutes a day to write? Jessica Brody shares her tips for finishing first drafts after 20 years as an author. The post From Page One To Done: Fast Drafting Your Novel With…
more -
Book Marketing, AI Book Discoverability, And Resilience, With Ricardo Fayet
How can you get your books surfaced when readers ask an AI what to read next? What are the hallmarks of authors and businesses that last more than a decade in the indie author industry? Ricardo Fayet gives his marketing tips after more than a decade at Reedsy. The post Book Marketing, AI Book...
-
Going Indie, Publishing Innovation, And The Challenges Of Book Marketing With John Bond
How can you tell where the real innovation in publishing is happening right now, and why is it emerging from the indie side first? How do you market your own book when you've spent 35 years marketing everyone else's? John Bond talks about Going Indie and what he's learned about authors who last.…
more -
From Blog To Community To Book: A Non-Fiction Author’s Journey With Suzanne Smith
How can content marketing in a tight niche build the audience that launches your book? And how do you decide whether to hand your self-published bestseller to a traditional publisher. Suzanne Smith shares what she learned in four years of going from blog to book deal. The post From Blog To...
-
How To Prove The Demand For Your Stories And Get The Attention Of Hollywood With Brooks Elms
How can building an audience in advance help your stories reach the people who make movies? And how can you prove there's demand for your book or screenplay before you've written it? Brooks Elms shares his advice after more than 20 years as a WGA screenwriter. The post How To Prove The Demand For...
-
Organic Writing And The Power Of The Pivot In Fiction With Steven James
How can organic writing and leaning into the pivot help your stories stand out? And how can you pitch a story as a discovery writer if you genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen next. Steven James gives his writing tips after more than 20 years as an author. In the intro, Better Than Free…
more -
Why The Podcast Is Moving To Wednesdays, And 7 Tips for Sustainable Creativity
After more than a decade of releasing this show on Mondays, I’m moving it to Wednesdays, and this is the first episode of the new time slot. On the one hand, this might sound like nothing at all, but it’s also a big deal, for you and for me, and in this episode, I explain why I'm making the…
more -
Bundles, Box Sets and Anthologies With Jamie Ferguson
What's the difference between a bundle, a box set, an anthology, and a collection? How can being part of an anthology be creatively interesting and useful for marketing? With Jamie Ferguson The post Bundles, Box Sets and Anthologies With Jamie Ferguson first appeared on The Creative Penn.
-
Author Voice Mastery, And Rebooting an Author Business With J. Daniel Sawyer
What happens to your creativity when you’re in pain or sick, and can you ever get it back? How can you find and sharpen your author voice? J. Daniel Sawyer talks about voice mastery, writing with chronic pain, and building an eclectic author business. In the intro, leaning into your Strengths and...
-
Writing The Hard Stuff: Turning Difficult Subjects Into Meaningful Prose With Nicole Walker
How do you write about the most painful experiences of your life without being overwhelmed by them? How can timed writing and a braided story help you untangle your hardest stories? With Nicole Walker. The post Writing The Hard Stuff: Turning Difficult Subjects Into Meaningful Prose With Nicole...
-
Creative Satisfaction, In Person Print Book Sales, And Author Mindset With Mark Leslie Lefebvre
What if the real secret to a lasting writing career isn't talent or luck, but learning to thrive in the mess? Why are in-person events worthwhile even if the maths doesn't add up? How do you protect your creativity when the machines never sleep and the community is at one another's throats? With...
-
Writing Cross-Genre, Selling Direct, And Serialising On SubStack With P.D. Alleva
How can horror writing help readers — and writers — work through psychological trauma? Why does cross-genre fiction take longer to find an audience, but pay off in the long run? Is running a direct sales store actually worth the inventory, postage, and learning curve? And how can SubStack work…
more -
Don’t Call It Art: Rediscovering Creative Joy With Austin Kleon
Have you ever lost the joy in your creative work — that sense of fun you had when you were starting out, before the admin and the algorithms drained it away? How do mid-career creatives get it back, and what can a four-year-old teach us about play? Austin Kleon talks about productive...
-
Writing Through Grief And Rebooting an Indie Author Business With Jami Albright
How do you write when your heart is broken? How do you go back into the publishing business after years away, knowing it's a very different industry to the one you left? With Jami Albright. The post Writing Through Grief And Rebooting an Indie Author Business With Jami Albright first appeared on...
-
Accessibility And AI: How New Tools Are Opening Doors For Indie Authors With Jeff Adams
How is AI transforming accessibility for indie authors — and why should you care even if you consider yourself able-bodied? What happens when the tools designed to help people with disabilities end up making everyone's creative business better? Jeff Adams, accessibility expert and romance author,...
-
SuperCreativity And KeyNote Speaking With A Non-Fiction Book With James Taylor
How can you supercharge your creativity in an age when AI is reshaping everything — including how we write, edit, and market our books? What does it look like to use AI as a genuine creative partner rather than a shortcut? And could professional speaking become an income stream that complements...
-
Verb Your Enthusiasm: Transform Your Writing With Stronger Verbs With Sarah Kaufman
How can upgrading your verbs transform flat writing into vivid, page-turning prose? Why do so many writing problems turn out to be verb problems — and how can you fix yours? Sarah Kaufman explores the art of the verb and shares practical tips for making your writing stronger, clearer, and more...
-
AI, Creativity, And The Future of Publishing with Nadim Sadek
Is AI really the end of creativity, or the biggest emancipation of creative energy we've ever seen? How can authors thrive in a time of super abundance, when anyone can make anything? What happens when publishers become technology providers, and agents start shopping for books on our behalf? With...
-
Self-Publishing in German: How to Translate, Distribute, and Market Your Books with Skye MacKinnon
How is the German market different to English speaking markets, and why might it be worth looking into translation? What are the best ways to translate, self-publish and market your books in German? With Skye MacKinnon. The post Self-Publishing in German: How to Translate, Distribute, and Market...
-
Navigating Uncertainty And Fearless Persistence In A Long Term Creative Career With Adam Leipzig
How can you navigate uncertainty in a constantly changing market? Why is persistence the key to a sustainable creative career? Plus why distribution is so important, and the four ways to monetise your creative work. All this and more with Adam Leipzig. The post Navigating Uncertainty And Fearless...
-
Kickstarter Tips for Authors: Rewards, Shipping, Marketing, and Lessons Learned
Kickstarter has become a key part of the author business for those who want to make more money per book, connect directly with readers, and produce beautiful editions they’re proud of. In this episode, I share excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter…
more -
Special Editions, Seasonal Podcasts, and the Art of Low-Key Book Marketing with Sara Rosett
Are you tired of the hustle-harder approach to book marketing? What if a quieter, more creative strategy could work just as well — and feel a whole lot better? How can special editions, physical letters, and library outreach bring readers to your books without the daily grind of ads and social...
-
Editing a Novel: Self-Editing, And How To Work With A Professional Editor With Joanna Penn
How can you improve your self-editing process? How can you find and work with professional editors and beta readers? How do you know when editing is done and the book is finished? With Joanna Penn In the intro, Poetry craft and business [The Indy Author Podcast]; A Mouthful of Air; How to get…
more -
Writing At The Wellspring: Tapping The Source Of Your Inner Genius With Matt Cardin
What if the source of your best writing isn’t something you control — but something you learn to collaborate with? How can ancient ideas about the muse, the daimon, and creative genius transform the way you approach your work? And what might happen if you stopped fighting the silence and let it...
-
Strong Verbs And Hard Truths. Good Writing With Anne Lamott and Neal Allen
What does it take to write strong sentences? How do you keep writing when the world feels dark? How do you push past self-doubt, build a sustainable writing practice, and trust that your voice is enough? Anne Lamott and Neal Allen share decades of hard-won wisdom from their new book, Good…
more -
Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character
What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from…
more -
Writing Emotion, Discovery Writing, And Slow Sustainable Book Marketing With Roz Morris
How do you capture something as enormous and personal as the feeling of "home" in a book? How can you navigate the chaotic discovery period in writing something new? With Roz Morris. The post Writing Emotion, Discovery Writing, And Slow Sustainable Book Marketing With Roz Morris first appeared on...
-
Creative Confidence, Portfolio Careers, And Making Without Permission with Alicia Jo Rabins
How do you build a creative life that spans music, writing, film, and spiritual practice? Alicia Jo Rabins talks about weaving multiple creative strands into a sustainable career and why the best advice for any creator might simply be: just make the thing. The post Creative Confidence, Portfolio...
-
Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson
How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson. The post Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson...
-
Audacious Artistry: Reclaiming Your Creative Identity And Thriving In A Saturated World With Lara Bianca Pilcher
How do you stay audacious in a world that's noisier and more saturated than ever? How might the idea of creative rhythm change the way you write? Lara Bianca Pilcher gives her tips from a multi-passionate creative career. The post Audacious Artistry: Reclaiming Your Creative Identity And Thriving...
-
Managing Multiple Projects And The Art of the Long-Term Author Career with Kevin J. Anderson
How do you juggle multiple book projects, a university teaching role, Kickstarter campaigns, and rock albums—all without burning out? What does it take to build a writing career that spans decades, through industry upheavals and personal setbacks? Kevin J. Anderson shares hard-won lessons from…
more -
Research Like An Academic, Write Like an Indie With Melissa Addey
How can indie authors raise their game through academic-style rigour? How might AI tools fit into a thoughtful research process without replacing the joy of discovery? Melissa Addey explores the intersection of scholarly discipline, creative writing, and the practical realities of building an...
-
Selling Books Live On Social Media With Adam Beswick
Could live selling be the next big opportunity for indie authors? Adam Beswick shares how organic marketing, live streaming, and direct sales are transforming his author career—and how other writers can do the same. The post Selling Books Live On Social Media With Adam Beswick first appeared on…
more -
Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn
What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated…
more -
Leaving Social Media, Writing Iconic Characters, and Building Trust With Claire Taylor
How can you build iconic characters that your readers want to keep coming back to? How can you be the kind of creator that readers trust, even without social media? With Claire Taylor In the intro, Dan Brown talks writing and publishing [Tetragrammaton]; Design Rules That Make or Break a Book...
-
2026 Trends And Predictions For Indie Authors And The Book Publishing Industry with Joanna Penn
What does 2026 hold for indie authors and the publishing industry? I give my thoughts on trends and predictions for the year ahead. In the intro, Quitting the right stuff; how to edit your author business in 2026; Is SubStack Good for Indie Authors?; Business for Authors webinars. If you'd like…
more -
My 2026 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn
I go through my creative and author business goals for 2026, from leaning into the transformation economy, to what books I intend to write, the podcast, Patreon, and more. The post My 2026 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.
-
Review Of My 2025 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn
I reflect on my 2025 goals, what I achieved, what I didn't, and what surprises came along, as well as a round-up of some of the biggest impactful news items for indie authors in 2025. The post Review Of My 2025 Creative And Business Goals With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.
-
The Relaxed Author Writing Tips With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
How can you be more relaxed about your writing process? What are some specific ways to take the pressure off your art and help you enjoy the creative journey? With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre. The post The Relaxed Author Writing Tips With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre first…
more
About this show
Writing Craft and Creative Business
Hosted by
Joanna Penn
Categories