What is dark tourism and why are many of us interested in places associated with death and tragedy? How can... more

How do you approach writing a second edition of a non-fiction book? How does self-publishing compare to working with a... more

What are some of the key elements in writing horror? How can you be successful writing and self-publishing in the... more

How do you successfully scale an author business? How do you delegate to your team as well as continue to... more

The Creative Penn Podcast just hit 10 million downloads as reported by my audio host, Blubrry! The podcast is also the... more

Can you be successful as an author across different genres and different pen names? How do traditional publishing and going... more

How can the ‘hungry author' mindset help you become more of a successful author? Why do you need to shift... more

How can you bring laughter into your books regardless of genre? What are the challenges of writing a novel after... more

How can you be successful at connecting with readers and selling books at live, in-person events? What are some practical... more

Success as an author comes with challenges around managing money, setting boundaries, and living sustainably without burning out. Sacha Black/Ruby... more

In this solo episode, I talk about my lessons learned from 13 years as a full-time author entrepreneur. You can... more

What needs to go into a training manual if you are teaching physical skills? How can you focus in on... more

How can you sell a fiction experience rather than just selling a story? How do our personal obsessions arise in... more

How can you move past your limiting beliefs to find success as an author? How can you successfully self-publish in... more

How can you balance creativity with business when it comes to writing — and filmmaking? How can you access that... more

How are publishers using AI and what are the potential use cases in the future? Why is this an exciting... more

How can you write freely and release any blocks that are holding you back? How can you focus on the... more

When is it time to leave an unsuccessful series behind and pivot into something new? What is the process of... more

Why is writing emotion so important in our books, whatever the genre? How can we create an emotional connection between... more

How can you lean into intuition and curiosity to embrace discovery writing? How might serial fiction fit into your business... more

How can you make sure your manuscript is ready for submission to an agent — or for publication if you... more

Can you have a business with a soul through writing? How does the business of fiction differ from non-fiction? What... more

How do we write authentic humanity into our books, whether that's our own experience or a fictional character's? How can... more

How can we use AI tools to enhance and improve our creative process? How can we double down on being... more

What are some of the common fears that writers face? How can we work through them in order to create... more

What are the pros and cons of selling direct and building an ecommerce business for your books? How can you... more

What are the tropes of action adventure thrillers? How can you please readers and sell more books? J.F. Penn shares... more

How can you adopt the seasons of nature in your writing? How can you allow periods of rest as well... more

How can you plan for success as an indie author even early in your writing career? How can you create... more

How can you outline a story based on a ‘thought dump' and interweave genre tropes you love to create a... more

How can you blend ‘work for hire', ghostwriting, and being an indie author into a successful hybrid career writing books... more

How can you use automation and tools to help you streamline your creative and business processes so you can get... more

How can you connect to readers in a way that is sustainable for you and effective at selling books? How... more

How can you build a creative, sustainable career as a ‘mid-list' indie author? How can you design a business that... more

What can authors learn from the adoption of AI into the music industry? What are some of the ways musicians... more

How can you overcome your fears and make a life change towards your dreams? Or tackle the fears that stop... more

There are many options for book marketing, so how do you choose the right ones for you? I give my... more

What mindset shift do you need if you want to sell direct? How can you use Meta and AI tools... more

How can you use insights from the Enneagram to help you with a sustainable author career? How can you get... more

There are more options for publishing and reaching readers than ever before, and the indie author business models are splintering... more

How can you create more beautiful print books — and make more money with your products by selling direct? Alex... more

How can you write a memoir that is emotionally honest and revealing enough for readers to care, and cope with... more

How can we focus on the joy of the writing process itself, rather than the outcome? How can we embrace... more

How can you pick yourself, rather than wait for someone else to pick you? How can you take control of... more

How do you find the story behind all your stories? Who are you at the heart of your books? Isabelle... more

What are the benefits — and the challenges — of crowdfunding on Kickstarter? How can you fund successfully, as well... more

I really enjoyed this laid-back discussion around AI tools as part of the creative book cover design process with James... more

What are the benefits and challenges of selling direct? How can you use limited edition merchandise to add more value... more

How can we move past our fears to write the books that mean the most to us? How can we... more

Wherever you are on the author journey, there are some important questions to consider along the way. Joe Solari outlines... more

Happy New Year 2024! I love January and the opportunity to start afresh. I know it’s arbitrary in some ways, but... more

Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you will take the... more

In this episode, I reflect on 15 years of TheCreative Penn, and outline how I will reposition myself for the... more

How will changes to the way people search impact book discoverability? What can authors and publishers do to ensure their... more

Do you want to publish an image-heavy book like a cookbook? How can you navigate the challenges of photography, book... more

How might subscriptions help expand your author business ecosystem? What are some tips on encouraging readers to buy direct? Why... more

How can you transition into being an author after a long-term career elsewhere? How can you adopt an attitude of... more

How can you shift your mindset from catalog sales to selling direct? How can you reframe the direct author business... more

How can using Pinterest more like a search engine help you sell more books? What are some of the ways... more

How can you reinvigorate your writing process, breathe life into your backlist, and prepare your author business for the rollercoaster... more

How do you keep up with everything you need to do as your author business grows? How do you decide... more

What is soul of place or genius loci and how can you write it in a more immersive way in... more

How can you let your creative dark horse run? What is the Shadow — and why explore your Shadow side? This... more

How can you establish a creative routine that enables you to write the books you want to write without burning... more

As much as we try to plan for things, sometimes life happens and we have to adapt to a new... more

How can you create a high-quality photo book and publish it on Kickstarter? How do you market a beautiful, high-value... more

In this solo episode, I talk about my lessons learned from 12 years as a full-time author entrepreneur. You can... more

What's the difference between an audio book and an audio drama? What are the steps to write a script and... more

How can you expand the possibilities of book cover images with AI? What are some of the controversies and how... more

How might thinking differently help you create clarity in our noisy world? How can you produce a high-quality print book... more

How can you stop self-censoring your writing and share the deepest aspects of yourself with your readers? How can you... more

How can you build an author business for the long term, and not just for the launch of one book?... more

How can you create a book series that children love — and that you can expand into multiple streams of... more

How can AI tools help authors who struggle with energy and time because of disability, chronic pain, health conditions, post-viral... more

How can you shift your mindset in order to reach more readers with your books? How can you leverage the... more

How can you write fast but also make your creative process sustainable for the long term? How can you collaborate... more

How can you use what you're scared of to write better stories that resonate with readers? How can you acknowledge... more

What are the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs self-publishing? How can you combine multiple options for a more... more

How can you exploit the unique in your stories, as well as amp up the conflict? John Gaspard gives writing... more

Four years ago, in July 2019, I put out a podcast episode that went through the 9 disruptions I saw... more

How can fiction authors use Sudowrite to assist with writing tasks they need help with? What functionality does Sudowrite have... more

How can you stand out in a crowded market of non-fiction books? How can you build a business around your... more

How can Bookfunnel help authors reach more readers, sell more books, and sell direct? Damon Courtney outlines features of Bookfunnel... more

What are some of the most effective ways to market your book? What strategies have remained the same despite the... more

Memoir can be one of the most challenging forms to write, but it can also be the most rewarding. Marion... more

What are the crucial linchpin moments in your novel and how can you keep a reader turning the pages? John... more

How can we write about places that inspire us in an authentic way even when they are not our own... more

What are some of the common mental health issues that writers face? How can we use writing to help us... more

AI tools can generate words, but the human intention behind it, as well as the skill of the author, drives... more

What are the implications of generative AI for the indie author community? How can we make choices for our own... more

What is the AI-Assisted Artisan Author? How can we use AI tools in our creative and business processes while still... more

How can we build a creative life based on following our curiosity? What are some important attitudes to hold that... more

How can publicity form part of your book marketing strategy? How can you research the best media and craft a... more

What are the most important aspects of becoming a successful publisher? Jon Barton talks about his lessons learned and how... more

You cannot see many of the problems with your own writing, as you are so close to the manuscript. ProWritingAid... more

How can we bring a place alive in our writing? How can we tackle the challenges of writing different types... more

As generative AI tools continue to expand the possibilities for creators, what does this mean for aspects of copyright? Intellectual... more

My Kickstarter campaign for my travel memoir, Pilgrimage, funded within minutes and raised over £26,000 (over US$31,000) for a niche... more

If you want a long-term successful career as an author, you need to learn the craft and the business of... more

We all use tools to help us improve our skills, and in this episode, Leanne Leeds explains how she uses... more

Writers and readers are a diverse bunch, and we all want to do our best to make sure our content... more

What are the core fundamentals of a successful independent author business? How can you focus on writing, as well as... more

Write and publish what you want, get paid every day for your books, and control your customer data and relationships.... more

After many years of people saying, “AI can never be creative, AI could never write fiction (i.e. make things up),... more

How can you create a universe big enough for multiple series? How can you co-write successfully? How can you pivot... more

How can you embrace book marketing as a creative part of your author business? How can you effectively market your... more

Who are the Choctaw people and how can authors write authentic Native Americans in their books? How can we research... more

What are the benefits of selling direct? Why might using your face to advertise your books be a good idea?... more

What do you need to consider when writing travel memoir? How fear of judgment and fear of failure are real... more

How can you use AI tools to ethically and responsibly create in whatever sphere you love? What are some of... more

How can small, daily habits make you more successful as an author? How can you use the 80/20 rule in... more

Do you sometimes just ‘know' when a story is right? Does something ‘click' during the writing process and suddenly things... more

What are the most common reasons why writers don't finish their books —and how can you overcome them in order... more

How can you use paid advertising as part of your book marketing strategy? How can you reach more readers and... more

Happy New Year 2023! I am more excited than ever this year about the books I want to write and publish.... more

Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you will take the... more

“If you just keep writing/querying/marketing/etc you will eventually be successful. Just don't give up.” We've all heard a variation of... more

What has changed in the publishing industry over the last few years? What can authors learn from the DOJ vs... more

Why might a first-time author choose to independently publish? Barnaby Jameson talks about his experience with his first historical novel,... more

How can authors use generative AI as a co-writing tool? How can creatives approach AI possibilities with curiosity rather than... more

If you're not making the money you expected from your books, how can you pivot genres in order to write... more

What is genre, and how can transcending it improve your fiction? How can you effectively write cross genre? John Truby... more

How can we shift our mindset to thinking about a long-term creative career? What can we do now that will... more

How can generative AI tools augment and amplify your creativity? How can digital originals/collectibles (NFTs) add value to authors and... more

How can you find the intersection between what the market wants and what you love to read? How can you... more

What are some of the fundamentals behind self-publishing success? James Blatch shares tips and insights. James Blatch is a historical military thriller... more

How can you create an ecosystem of children's books around a central idea? How can you market books for children?... more

What are tropes and how can you use them to strengthen your fiction? What are some examples of horror tropes,... more

What do you need in the beginning of your novel so your reader buys your book? Shane Millar shares tips... more

How does curiosity fuel creativity? How can we balance consumption and creation in an ever-busier digital life? How can you... more

Generative art tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion are taking AI art into the mainstream. What are the opportunities... more

How can we accept imperfection as writers while still striving for excellence? How can we make space for going deeper... more

Traditional publishing is not a monolithic thing. There are different kinds of publishers, and authors want different things out of... more

Every fiction author will (eventually) find their own method for writing but all fall somewhere on the spectrum between outlining/plotting... more

How can you adapt your novel into a comic or graphic form? What are the different types? How does a... more

In this solo episode, I talk about my lessons learned from 11 years as a full-time author entrepreneur, and why... more

How can you make sure your heirs and successors are able to manage your books and copyright licensing after your... more

What is auto-narration of audiobooks and how can it benefit authors and rights-holders as well as listeners? What are some... more

How can you intensify the conflict in your books to hook readers? How can you introduce different types and layers... more

In July 2022, I launched my online shop at www.CreativePennBooks.com. It’s built on Shopify’s eCommerce platform, and in this solo... more

Selling your books direct to readers and listeners can bring you more money, faster, and allow you to control your... more

What do you need to consider if you want to go full time as an author entrepreneur? What challenges might... more

How will blockchain technology change the way creatives register copyright, as well as monetize their work? Roanie Levy explains how... more

How can you lean into your strengths as a writer to find the genre — and the business model —... more

Tools and tactics may change, but the principles of book marketing remain the same whatever the situation. Becky Robinson gives... more

How To Write a Novel: From Idea to Book is out now if you buy direct from my store, www.CreativePennBooks.com... more

How can you write a series which keeps your readers engaged, while still keeping your creative spark alive? How can... more

Print on demand makes it easy to sell print books without the hassle of storage and shipping — but it's... more

What are the different types of editing? How can you find and work effectively with the best editor for your... more

How can you write twists that surprise a reader? How can you market your books effectively as a traditionally published... more

What is GPT-3 and how can writers use it responsibly as part of their creative process? How can we approach... more

How can you sell books direct to your readers for all formats without dealing with the pain of shipping print... more

How can you manage a successful Kickstarter campaign without burning out? How can you expand into multiple streams of income?... more

How can you make your self-published books available to libraries in every format? How can you pitch librarians so they... more

Why do you need an email list when you can just reach readers with social media? How can you use... more

How do we decide on the hero for our story? How can we write distinctive — but still believable —... more

I've been talking about AI narration for several years now, but it's just starting to go mainstream and I've been... more

Why is writing so important? How can we pursue true independence as authors? How can we stay open to technological... more

If you want to create, sell, buy, or trade NFTs, you need to understand the financial and tax implications. In... more

In this inspirational interview, crime writer Angela Marsons talks about how she overcame years of rejection and broke out of... more

How can you make more money without growing the size of your business? What systems and mindset do you need... more

How can you hook readers into your story by using universal human desires and motivations? How can you write what... more

Why are digital scarcity and ownership so important to the business model of creators in web 3? How can an... more

How can you turn one idea into a short story or expand it into a novel? How can you find... more

How can you write a book that children will love? How can you reach schools and libraries with your books?... more

How can you create distance from your manuscript in order to see it as a reader does and edit effectively?... more

Would you like to successfully crowdfund your book on Kickstarter? Monica Leonelle shares practical and mindset tips for creating the... more

How can you future-proof your author career by being careful with the publishing clauses you sign? Why are NFTs so... more

How do we tell the deeper story that matters in a way that engages readers? How can we tackle the... more

What if the traditional publishing model is not the best way to publish a book in a digital age? What... more

I've spent the last 15 years building an author business on Web 2 — digital publishing, blogging and podcasting, social... more

How can we improve our creativity and release our self-censorship to write more freely? Dan Holloway talks about aspects of... more

How can we overcome self-doubt to write the books we really want to? How can we move past writer's block?... more

The creative journey is often a winding path to success, but our experiences along the way can enrich our writing... more

In January 2022, I re-edited my first novel, Stone of Fire, which I started during NaNoWriMo in 2009 and published... more

It's never too late to start writing and there are many pro writers ahead of you on the path lead... more

Smashwords was the original distribution service for indie authors and Mark Coker has been an advocate for wide publishing for... more

The self-publishing movement is just getting started in Jamaica and the Caribbean islands, and authors are discovering they can tell... more

John Kremer's 1001 Ways to Market Your Book was the first book I ever bought on marketing way back when... more

J. Thorn and I are both authors and passionate about helping writers find new ways to create, collaborate, reach fans,... more

Welcome to episode 600! I’m doing a solo show today, answering some questions from my recent podcast survey that cover... more

How can you take back your rights when publishing conditions change? How can you make sure you sign contracts that... more

How do you turn an idea into a poem? What are the publishing options for poets, and how does marketing... more

How can we recognize self-doubt and create alongside it as part of the author journey? How can we write with... more

If the pandemic has affected your sleep, you are not alone! If you want to sort out your sleep issues... more

“We make plans, God laughs.” The old Yiddish proverb will no doubt stand true for another year, but I just... more

As we all look back at the past year, it feels like it’s flown by — but also that time... more

Our publishing, marketing and author business tasks are important — but at the end of the day, it all comes... more

Why is story so important — no matter what genre we write? How can we use emotion to hook readers... more

Readers buy or borrow your book based on your cover and book description, so how can we make sure the... more

How can you cultivate patience for your long-term author career? How can you figure out your personal, creative and financial... more

Is digital narration with AI voices good enough for non-fiction or fiction audiobooks? Can human narrators benefit through voice licensing?... more

How do you know when an idea is a short story, a novella, or a full-length novel? How can you... more

The relentless news about climate change can leave us despondent — but what if we can use fiction to help... more

With so many technological advances in recent years, can publishing keep up? Michael Bhaskar and I discuss AI tools for... more

Dave Chesson provides many useful tools and information for authors at Kindlepreneur and he has recently launched Atticus, writing and... more

What projects are worth pitching for film and TV? What do you need to include in your pitch? Why are... more

Creatokia is one of the first book-specific NFT platforms and in this interview, co-founders Jens Klingelhöfer and John Ruhrmann explain what... more

How can we balance creative passion projects with work that brings in an income? What are the different types of... more

What are the different ways that authors can use NFTs to reach readers and earn money with blockchain technology? How... more

On July 4, 2020, Kory Shrum received two phone calls. One from her uncle, saying her mother was found dead... more

How do you research a book in the most appropriate way? How can you keep track of your sources and... more

How can anthropology — the study of human cultures — teach us to build richer and more convincing worlds for... more

How can you use elements of mystery to hook your readers, regardless of the genre you write? How can you... more

How can you expand your creative and financial opportunities with audiobooks and podcasting? Will Dages from Findaway Voices talks about... more

How can you be a more relaxed author when there is always so much more to do? How can you... more

The opportunities for creation and marketing in audio format continue to expand and the lines are blurring between audiobooks, podcasts... more

What are the different types of travel books and how can you blend them within the genre? How can we... more

We all have different strengths as writers, but sometimes we don't know what they are. Or we get frustrated because... more

How can you design a story that branches into multiple directions? How does writing for games help with writing a... more

Writing can help us process trauma — whatever that means for you — as well as help others through our... more

If you write fiction in any genre, you need to build your world. Whether it's the cozy coffee shop in... more

Web 2.0 enabled the digital revolution that transformed the possibilities for authors and creators, so how will Web 3.0 transform... more

Taking the long-term view plus taking advantage of new marketing tactics can help you sell more books, as Karen Inglis... more

What has changed in publishing over the last decade? How can a reputable author services company help you achieve your... more

How can you rediscover your creative free spirit if you're feeling burned out? How can you combine creativity, spirituality and... more

How do you know when the seed of an idea is enough for a novel? What makes literary fiction different... more

Can book marketing really be gentle, sustainable — and even enjoyable? Sarah Santacroce talks about how to reframe marketing and... more

How can co-creating with AI tools enhance your writing process — and make it more fun? Shane Neeley talks about... more

What are the key elements of a good crime novel? How can you reboot your author career through publishing and... more

Your personal story can change other people's lives, but only if you get your words into the world. In this... more

How can you write funny characters and make readers laugh with your writing? Plus the importance of long-term thinking and... more

What if you could use an AI writing tool to help you come up with ideas for sensory detail, character... more

How can you write a useful self-help book with actionable tips, but also bring it to life with personal stories?... more

Some say you can only be successful if you focus on one thing, but what if you are a multi-passionate... more

Why are NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) so exciting for authors and the publishing industry? How will they generate more streams of... more

The pandemic has favoured digital business models, but how can you transition to online sales when you run an in-person... more

How you can prepare your book before sending it to an editor? What are the different types of edits and... more

What is discovery writing (sometimes known as pantsing)? How can you write a novel with structure if you don't plot... more

What are the challenges of writing a first novel — even when you think you know what you're doing? How... more

What is the heroine's journey and how can it help you write a story that readers will love? Gail Carriger... more

Artificial Intelligence is already part of our lives in the tools and services we use every day. As AI development... more

The book market is saturated for certain genres in digitally mature markets like the US and UK, but readers in... more

How do we make time for original insights that set our creative work apart? How do we reframe productivity so... more

If you want to make a living with your writing, you will need the right mindset, as well as the... more

How can you reach every reader on every platform in a global, distributed reading environment? How can you take a... more

How can you write a children's story with a message without being preachy? How can you find and work effectively... more

How can you sell more ebooks and audiobooks on Google Play Books to the global market? How can you optimize... more

How can we write authentic and engaging character dialogue? How can we incorporate sub-text that deepens our writing? Jeff Elkins,... more

What is your writer's tic and how can you fix it with Pro Writing Aid? Why are commas such an... more

What can authors learn from the digital changes in the music industry? In this interview, Tristra Newyear Yeager talks about... more

Why is cozy mystery such a popular genre? What are the important tropes? What are the best ways to market... more

How can you reach more readers worldwide and sell more books on Kobo? What are the advantages to publishing direct... more

Blockchain technology offers exciting opportunities for authors and the publishing industry. In this interview, Simon-Pierre Marion and I discuss copyright protection,... more

How can you write through self-doubt? How can you break through Resistance to write and market your work? How do... more

How can you write nuanced police characters in your crime novels? What are some under-used crimes that might make interesting... more

How can authors use AI writing tools like GPT-3? What's the best way to prompt the models to output usable... more

Why is a series the not-so-secret weapon for making a decent living with your writing? What's the difference between episodic... more

What makes a non-fiction book stand out from the crowd? What are the essential elements of a non-fiction book proposal... more

Can artificial intelligence augment our human creativity? Will AI ever be able to create art on its own and would... more