The Creative Penn

Book Research, Creative Longevity, And Loving Writing With Peter James

434 views · 1d ago · 59:52

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 still loves writing.

Topics: Lessons from Kevin J. Anderson's Saga of Seven Suns campaign · Vellum's automation update and the AI backlash · Two traditionally published books that explain their AI use · Saving on trademark renewals by doing it directly · Personal update, and How to Market a Book 4th edition · AI webinars in December

▶️ Mentioned videos: Vellum ( automation update

The Creator And The Critic: How To Fix Your Writing Process With T.D. Donnelly

938 views · 1w ago · 48:57

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.

Topics: Memento mori: measure your life by what you create · New webinar dates · Networking at author conferences, even as an introvert · How a Hollywood background helps you speak about craft · Craft versus process, and how to audit your writing process · The creator and the critic: discovery writers and plotters

Writing Endings, Using Literary Devices, And Tips From The Story Book With Amy Jones

1.2K views · 2w ago · 54:49

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 storytelling.

Topics: Kindle Unlimited rebrands as Kindle+ · How to Market a Book fourth edition update · Amy Jones: from teaching storytelling to The Story Book · The self-critical voice, and why writing is like being an athlete · Academic writing versus commercial writing · Research for a PhD versus a craft book

Write For Money And Power: Becoming A Creator CEO With Amy Suto

1.5K views · 3w ago · 1:04:02

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.

Topics: Novel November with ProWritingAid · Book marketing in a changing world on the ALLi podcast · Navigating tough times in indie publishing · Personal news: a Master's distinction · How to Market a Book fourth edition and November webinars · Amy Suto's journey from Hollywood TV writer to author

📖 Mentioned book: Book on Amazon

▶️ Mentioned videos: Video on youtube.com

Bad Choices Make Good Stories: Character, Critique And Community With Erin Dionne

1.3K views · 4w ago · 57:44

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.

Topics: Audible's Future of Listening survey · Audible's new immersive listening features · Writing StoryBundle and SPS Live USA · How to Market a Book fourth edition and November webinars · Erin Dionne's writing journey · Do you need an MFA to be a writer?

📖 Mentioned book: Book on Amazon

▶️ Mentioned videos: Watch next: How to Write a Novel, the full audiobook narrated by Joanna Penn

From Story Seeds To Stories, And Writing An Author’s Note, With Joanna Penn

1.2K views · 1mo ago · 1:18:59

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, along with its author's note.

Topics: Ebook preorders on Smashwords · Digital Publishing Awards at Frankfurt Book Fair · Personal news and How to Market a Book · AI webinars in November · Spooky season on the JFPenn YouTube channel · From story seeds to stories

📖 Mentioned book: Book on Amazon

▶️ Mentioned videos: Video on youtube.com

How to Write, Publish, and Market Short Stories | Full Audiobook | Narrated by Joanna Penn

1.2K views · 1mo ago · 2:50:15

Write more stories, strengthen your craft, and grow your author career. How to Write, Publish, and Market Short Stories. Full audiobook. Written and narrated by Joanna Penn. Short stories give you the freedom to experiment with new ideas, characters, and genres, without committing months or years to a novel. They can help you strengthen your craft, build your creative confidence, grow your audience, and create additional streams of income.

Topics: 1.1 Why readers love short stories · 1.2 Why writers love short stories · 1.3 What is a short story? · 1.4 From story seeds to stories · 1.5 Tips for writing a short story · 1.6 The author's note

▶️ Mentioned videos: Watch next: How to Write a Novel, full audiobook

Writing And Creativity In Midlife With Jordan Rosenfeld

1.5K views · 1mo ago · 1:02:25

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 what she learned from writing through her own pause.

Topics: Novel Marketing podcast and the Bestsellers Kickstarter · Hugh Howey on the AI bubble · Fear, money and financial bubbles · The Future Vision XPrize and a trip to LA · Jordan Rosenfeld's writing career · What is midlife?

📖 Mentioned book: Book on Amazon

▶️ Mentioned videos: How to Market a Book Fourth Edition survey ( · Watch next: The Successful Author Mindset, the full audiobook

Time Freedom: Rethink Your Work And Money With Brian Herriot

1.5K views · 1mo ago · 1:06:36

Guest: Time Freedom

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 and consultant.

Topics: Serving the smallest viable audience · Measuring what matters when AI can generate anything · Lessons from 15 years as an author entrepreneur · Licensing my voice on ElevenLabs · Personal news and rewriting How to Market a Book · Los Angeles and the Cathedral Zero trailer

📖 Mentioned book: He's also the host of The Time Freedom Podcast. (

▶️ Mentioned videos: Video on youtube.com · Watch next: The Relaxed Author, the full audiobook