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Become a Writer

  • What mindset shift do you need if you want to sell direct? How can you use Meta and AI tools to amplify your marketing? Matt Holmes gives his tips as well as insights from running my ads for my store, JFPennBooks.com. In the intro, how to sell more books at live events [BookBub]; Future of publishing and LBF, includes video of our live panel [Orna Ross on SelfPublishingAdvice]; 5 Trends we learned at the Future of Publishing [Kickstart Your Book Sales]; Author business and Author Nation [Wish I'd Known Then]; Amazon de-lists my Companion workbooks, but you can buy the […]
  • How can you use insights from the Enneagram to help you with a sustainable author career? How can you get past your blocks and move towards success, whatever that means for you? Claire Taylor provides her insights. In the intro, will TikTok be banned in the USA, and how will this impact authors and publishing? [TechCrunch; Kathleen Schmidt]; Hugh Howey on the Tim Ferriss show; I, Cyborg: Using Co-Intelligence [Ethan Mollick]; Using AI in award-winning writing [Smithsonian Mag; Editor and Publisher]; Plus, I'm now an award-winning author for Pilgrimage! [Pics on Instagram, Buy the book from me, or on other […]
  • I'm thrilled to share that my travel memoir, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, won Best Non-Fiction/Memoir at the Selfie Awards at London Book Fair on 14 March 2024. I am now an award-winning author! The award was judged based on the story and the content of the book, the quality of production, and also for the marketing campaign and resulting book sales. I launched Pilgrimage on Kickstarter in February 2023 where it raised £25,771. I then went on to sell it direct from my store, JFPennBooks.com, and also on the main retailers in all formats. I narrated the audiobook edition. Most of […]
  • There are more options for publishing and reaching readers than ever before, and the indie author business models are splintering and diverging, so how do we know which path to follow? How do we deal with the changes due to generative AI, and how do we manage the grief and anxiety about these shifts? Becca Syme gives her perspective. In the intro, Kobo Plus launches in Ireland and South Africa [KWL]; Authors Equity [Publishing Perspectives]; Selling direct insights [Kindlepreneur]; Claude 3 [Anthropic]; Spear of Destiny. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in […]
  • How can you create more beautiful print books — and make more money with your products by selling direct? Alex Smith explains how BookVault can help with various options as well as helpful resources. In the intro, audiobooks and AI [Frankfurt Bookmesse]; Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn; Google's woke AI Gemini [The Verge]; AI solving humanity's hardest problems [NY Times]; Demis Hassabis on Hard Fork [NY Times]; Finding my voice in the AI wars [Talena Winters]. Plus, Author Blueprint (2024) is now in print (or get the ebook here); Spear of Destiny prelaunch page. Today's show […]
  • How can you write a memoir that is emotionally honest and revealing enough for readers to care, and cope with the inevitable fear of judgment that evokes? How can you write about real places and people in memoir? Why is editing a memoir so challenging and what should you keep in mind around publishing and marketing choices? J.F. Penn gives her tips after writing her midlife solo travel memoir, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. Thanks to everyone who backed my Kickstarter for Pilgrimage, and to my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn, who help fund the extra time it […]
  • How can we focus on the joy of the writing process itself, rather than the outcome? How can we embrace the positive side of being jealous of the success of other writers? How can we deepen our writing with metaphor and sense of place? Co-authors of writing book, Millions of Suns, Sharon and Christine share their tips. In the intro, Findaway Terms of Service; Why Kickstarter is the Most Creative Way to Launch Your Book [Self-Publishing Advice]; Sell direct resources; Why writing books is a career like no other [Roz Morris]; You are not what you used to be [Johnny […]
  • How can you pick yourself, rather than wait for someone else to pick you? How can you take control of your independent career and bring your creative vision to life? Jeffrey Crane Graham talks about his experience as an indie filmmaker, with lots of tips for indie authors. In the intro, 6 Types of Submission Comments BookBub Editors Love to See [BookBub]; Author platform is not a requirement to sell your novel or children’s book [Jane Friedman]; Your Author Business Plan and/or Business for Authors 50% off with discount coupon PLAN on CreativePennBooks.com; Spear of Destiny; Ruby Roe rainbow foil […]
  • How do you find the story behind all your stories? Who are you at the heart of your books? Isabelle Knight talks about the importance of author brand in an age of limitless content, and gives tips on how to discover yours. In the intro, 20 new miniature books added to Queen Mary’s Dollhouse [BBC]; Amazon announced Rufus, a new generative AI-powered conversational shopping experience; How generative AI will impact book discoverability; Amazon AI Ready Initiative free AI training; NY Times is hiring for their own AI initiatives [The Verge]; “There’s nothing wrong with the tech, but it has to […]
  • What are the benefits — and the challenges — of crowdfunding on Kickstarter? How can you fund successfully, as well as make a profit with your campaign? Paddy Finn gives his tips. In the intro, you can find more selling direct resources here; Streaming due for a streamlining [FT]; Authors Guild explores AI licensing deal [Hollywood Reporter]; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI on Bill Gates' podcast, Unconfuse Me; AI audio company ElevenLabs in funding deal [TechCrunch]. Plus, follow my book research trip for Spear of Destiny on Instagram @jfpennauthor or Facebook @jfpennauthor. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which […]

Get Better

  • by Grammarly
    For more than 15 years, professionals have used Grammarly to help improve their writing and get work done faster. More recently, rapid developments in AI writing technology are increasing the number of AI-powered writing tools on the market. And that’s great for innovation. These tools are helping revolutionize communication at […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    Learning how to summarize an essay is an important skill to develop during your academic career. As a student, you will likely be assigned many essays to read, and as part of these assignments, you’ll likely have to write responses to them and/or discuss them with your classmates. In order […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    Being able to summarize reports is a valuable skill, whether you’re at work or school. Reports are filled with essential details that can help us make better decisions or understand complex topics. But let’s be honest—they can also be pretty dense and hard to get through. That’s why learning to […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    If you’ve ever written (or read!) a research paper, you know they are long. And you also know it’s not always realistic to read every research paper that pertains to your work or field of study. This is why many people turn to research paper summaries. As a student, you […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    Whether you’re a student tackling reading assignments or a book lover wanting to share your latest read with friends, mastering the art of story summarization is a critical skill. This guide will equip you with practical strategies for breaking down narratives, identifying key elements, and weaving them into a coherent […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    Book summaries play a crucial role in guiding our reading choices. The saying goes that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the reality is that the brief paragraphs found on a book’s back cover often influence our decisions as we browse library shelves. These summaries help us […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    Knowing how to summarize a paragraph is an important skill to develop as a student and professional. Although it might seem redundant to summarize a paragraph—after all, a summary is usually a paragraph itself, and sometimes longer—you may find yourself summarizing paragraphs as a stand-alone assignment for school, as part […]
  • by Lindsay Kramer
    When you don’t have time to read a full article, an article summary can give you the information you’re looking for. You’ve probably read lots of article summaries, but have you ever tried your hand at writing one? If not, don’t fret. Read on to learn how to summarize an […]
  • by Grammarly
    Much of our work today involves writing—whether it’s creating a strategy document, sending a project-update email, or making progress through myriad daily chat threads. But for all of this writing to be truly effective, it needs to be more than polished and mistake-free. Our writing needs to establish a clear […]
  • by Grammarly
    Your team is moving fast and hustling to meet customer needs and hit company goals. With this fast pace, it’s easy to overlook that much of the work taking place along the way is done through our daily communication (we spend 88% of the workweek communicating, in fact). Between progress-update […]

Strategise

  • by Luke Sholl
    When entering international markets, a translation strategy is fundamental to making the most of your business venture. To find out how you can formulate your own successful strategy, and the benefits of doing so, keep reading. The post Why you need a translation strategy appeared first on Yuqo.
  • by Hello Yuqo
    The holiday season is just around the corner. While consumers are busy preparing their shopping list, it's a perfect opportunity to improve your website and make some changes that can help to boost sales. The post 8 SEO tips to prep your site for the holiday season appeared first on […]
  • by Luke Sumpter
    To call the internet saturated would be an understatement. There are well over a billion sites vying for attention, all claiming to offer the solutions readers are looking for. But people want something they can quickly scroll through to find the answers—list posts fit the bill perfectly! Discover 8 key […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    Is wabi-sabi a useful label to put on an old table, or an age-old ideal through which we can find beauty in impermanence, decay, and death? Here we trace the term from its Buddhist origins through to its more modern, and far more positive, iteration. The post The Japanese art […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    If you've decided the life of an online content producer is for you, then welcome aboard! Making content is one thing; making it pay is quite another. Below, we list our 8 top tips for turning content into profit. The post 8 ways to monetize your content appeared first on […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    The 21st century has seen many huge changes to societies around the world. There are thousands of words that could have made this list, and what we cover is only a tiny portion of our time. Nevertheless, these nine words tell us so much about the age in which we […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    Cramming too many tasks into a workday has a counterproductive effect, as it negatively influences focus. Multitasking is totally overrated—it's actually the ability to focus on one thing at a time that will help you improve focus and productivity. It comes down to taking care of your body and mind, […]
  • by Luke Sumpter
    Proper brand communication can take a regular business and propel it into a living success story. It involves more than just a pretty logo and a flashy website (although these are important!). You need to develop a consistent and appropriate voice, post at the right time, engage with the correct […]
  • by Luke Sholl
    A hugely important day in French culture, Bastille Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille. To find out the history of Bastille Day, its cultural significance, and how to build an effective marketing strategy around the event, keep reading. The post How to market Bastille Day appeared first on Yuqo.
  • by Ryan
    As you start to get a better understanding of the English language, you should try using idioms in regular discussion. Some are confusing at first, but you'll get used to them quickly, and native speakers you meet along the way will be impressed with your proficiency. To get you started, […]

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