OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
Back in 2007, I was very unhappy in my day job.
In fact, I've never been happy in my day job but it paid the bills, enabled me to travel and I met a lot of great people. It was a mixed blessing. I fell into it to repay my student loan and just never escaped. I worked for big companies on computer systems and the work killed any creativity I had in me.
In 2000, I resigned, left London for the Australian outback, and swore never to do it again. My adventures were fantastic but eventually, I ran out of money and went back. This cycle repeated itself a number of times… then in 2007, I was really, seriously over it. So I began investigating what else I could do with my life that would be helpful to other people and also enable me to escape the day job.
At the time, I read two books that made a huge impact on me. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. They talked about following your dreams and also using affirmations to set your intentions. The problem with changing your life is often knowing what you want instead of the status quo. When I looked at what I had always wanted, it was only ever to be a writer.
So I came up with my affirmation “I am creative. I am an author”.
At the time, I was not creative and I was not an author. Sure, I wrote diaries and letters but I couldn't ever associate the word creative with me. I couldn't even say this phrase out loud at first. I wrote it down and then started whispering it on the commute home (when no one was around!) I also moved to four days a week at the day job to give myself head-space to write my first book.
In April 2008, I self-published How To Enjoy Your Job…Or Find A New One. I was so happy and proud of myself. I thought I was going to change the world and free millions of IT consultants from their miserable lives. I spent money on printing physical books and did some old-style PR with press releases, radio and even national TV.
But I only sold a few books. Literally, a few. Even with national TV. I was devastated, but wasn't intending to give up (as the affirmations were really kicking in now!) I also discovered that the book you write will change your life. It really did change mine as I understood what writing a book was like and I had found my purpose.
But I realized that I didn't actually have a clue about marketing online. I had focused on traditional PR but what about the internet? So I started researching and buying online programs to learn about blogging and podcasting and other things.
After a couple of other attempts at blogging, I started this site in December 2008 in order to share what I had learned with the failure of my first book. For example, I had spent thousands of dollars on printing books and then discovered print on demand and selling on Amazon. I was determined that no one else would pay the price I did and I wanted to save people time, money and emotional energy on their own journey. I had also started feeling and becoming creative and the name ‘The Creative Penn' came to me on the commute one day. I claimed the word for myself and have grown into it over time!
Since then, this site has grown and I have personally grown as a writer. Many of you have been here to see the changes over time. Thank you for sharing the journey with me so far. I have also continued to invest in my education as an online marketer and I absolutely love our online author community. In February this year, I published Pentecost, my first novel, which has now sold over 11,000 copies and remains an Amazon bestseller. The sequel, Prophecy is on its way. [Update: Later re-edited and republished as Stone of Fire and Crypt of Bone.]
So in August 2011, I decided that my affirmation has been fulfilled. I am creative and I am an author. I wanted to share this with you as encouragement as I know the fears that come with writing and the doubts that plague us. I'm an introvert too and have been crushed and hurt along the way. But I am also truly excited about the years to come as we are part of an incredible change in the industry.
So, all this background is to prepare you for my big news.
I have resigned my day job as an IT consultant in order to focus on my fiction writing and also on The Creative Penn community of writers and authors.
This is not a decision taken lightly (and yes, I have been saving for a while so there is a cushion). This has been coming since that day in 2007 when I just couldn't take any more but it has taken this long to make a change that my risk-averse nature can bear. There have also been some inspirational people who have helped along the way, including Jonathan Fields with his new book, Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance which kicked me over the final line.
This is an uncertain time but I can see the way forward as an indie author and also as someone who can contribute to the creative community. I'm ready to make the leap!
What does this mean for you?
This blog makes me happy 🙂 I don't mean to sound cheesy but I love to be useful and sharing what works (and what doesn't), as well as lessons learned, is very satisfying. I love getting emails from you and I love the comments. I hope you continue to find the site useful.
So you will still be getting the same quality of free information in terms of articles, audios and videos – nothing changes with the baseline of what you already get on this site. I love sharing and interviewing people and this is a great community, so stick around.
But this change gives me 40-50 extra hours per week (wow!) and so the following will also become available:
- More fiction. If you enjoyed Pentecost, you will love Prophecy and now I will have more time to write! I'm going to be spending every morning writing fiction and every afternoon on this business, so expect the fiction back-list to be growing. Yes, I still want to be a Kindle millionaire 🙂 Also, I will be starting a new blog for my fiction readers who are a different audience to this one. [Update: I do have some articles and videos at www.JFPenn.com and also a podcast at Books and Travel.]
- Webinars and Multi-media courses. [Update: You can find all my courses for authors here.]
- Services. Every day I am asked to recommend people for ebook formatting, cover design, editing, blog building or marketing. In order to expand The Creative Penn, I will be partnering with special people to offer packages that give you value with people I can personally vouch for. [Update: You can find my resource lists here.]
- 1:1 Consulting. I am really looking forward to helping more people with their journey and I will be offering a restricted number of targeted consulting sessions on reviewing and improving author platforms. [Update: While I did do consulting for a few years, I no longer do 1:1 work. You can join my Patreon for access to Q&A.]
I hope you can see The Creative Penn becoming a resource hub for writers and authors, a community where we can help each other and learn together.
I'm looking forward to the next step (which is just slightly outside my comfort zone!).
Mary Kathryn Johnson says
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Scary, and exciting, isn’t it?!
I love the “Creative” and “Author” affirmations you used, and this post just proves that they really work! What we think is How we act!
Brilliant, Joanna, and I look forward to sharing your continuing adventure. Imagine if more people believed in themselves where our world would be…
http://www.marykathrynjohnson.com/1/post/2011/09/do-you-have-a-voice.html
Hiroko says
It’s so nice to hear that you can finally pursue writing full-on! 😀 Congratulations. This blog has been a great resource for me, and knowing that there will be more opportunities to keep reading and learning from this website is exciting.
Leanne says
Congratulations and all the best as you continue to step. : )
Julie Nilson says
Congratulations on your big decision! I’m thrilled for you that your fiction writing is going so well. (As I was reading your post, I was afraid that the big news was going to be that you were going to stop with The Creative Penn, so I’m also thrilled that I was wrong about that!)
Joanna Penn says
I could never give up this site Julie – I have spent SO many hours building it into what it is now, and revamp on the way!
Ollin Morales says
Congratulations! I invite you to write up a guest post for the C2C in the future detailing this big move. I think it’s the kind of thing my readership would love to hear and would be inspired by.
It fits underneath my blog’s overall thing: the courage to be a creative person, etc. Looking forward to your continued success! 🙂
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Ollin – it’s a jump I have considered for years but only now have the courage 🙂
Jim Crigler says
Personal post? I don’t think so. Joanna, you’re telling us we will be able to get a greater volume of high-quality information. That affects us all tremendously. Thanks, and best wishes to you.
Joanna Penn says
Thanks for the perspective Jim! There will definitely be more interesting things to share coming your way!
Chris Bardell says
Brilliant news, Joanna! So pleased that you’re able to cast of the shackles of Big Bad IT and pursue your dreams. I’m in the same business – for now – and it totally crushes my spirit, energy, and creativity.
Looking forward to all your future plans – all the very best. I’ve been following your podcast & blog for nearly 2 years now, and it’s a constant source of inspiration, information, and kick-up-the-ass. I enjoyed Pentecost a hell of a lot, and I’m first in the queue for Prophecy. Really pleased for you, mate 🙂
Joanna Penn says
Thanks so much Chris – I really appreciate the support I get from many of the tribe here. I like to kick myself up the ass too 🙂
Prophecy will now have a fighting chance of being finished by Xmas – woohoo!
Paris Franz says
Congratulations! Leaving the day job is a scary and exhilarating thing.
I discovered your blog a couple of months ago, and have been eagerly scouring it ever since. Your posts have inspired me to get my own writing act in gear. Best wishes for your life as a full-time writer!
RP Fields says
Congratulations on taking this major step. I look forward to reading about what happens next.
K.M. Weiland says
Congrats, Joanna! Sounds like a really exciting time in your life. I’ll be looking forward to following along here on Creative Penn and watching where your new and wonderful creative endeavors take you!
Marcia Richards says
Oh, Joanna, I’m ecstatic for you! I know how much you’ve been looking forward to this day! I had no idea it would come so soon for you. You must be jumping up and down with joy! All of your new projects sound excellent. I’m looking forward to Prophecy, of course, but also to your webinars. I am inviting you to post on my blog to promote all of this further now or to promote your new fiction site. You are creative, you are an author, and you are a person everyone has come to love, respect and look to for in-depth and helpful information. Congratulations!
Joanna Penn says
I didn’t expect it so soon either Marcia – I’m just coming up to 4 years with this same company and couldn’t hack it anymore! I want to write and create 🙂 Thanks for the invite – once I get myself together, I will be doing guest posting etc so no doubt I will take you up on this at some point. Thanks.
Livia Blackburne says
AAAAAHHHHH! Congratulations!! Really, amazing how far you’ve come in 3 years. Best wishes going forward. I continue to be amazed at your entrepenuerial instincts. (And also, I was worried that your big announcement was going o be that you were stopping the blog, and I’m very relieved that it wasn’t.)
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Livia! I obviously worded it badly as that was the opinion of others too! No, I would never give it up – I can’t see a point where I would run out of things to share 🙂 You know how important blogging is to us. I am lucky that the entrepreneurial streak runs hard in my family so I think some of that is coming out now. I will make a business as well as writing fiction 🙂
Cathy Keaton says
Big move! Congratz on getting out of the rat race, once and for all! I hope you find happiness and success by doing only what you love to do from now on.
Pamela Thomson Torres says
Wow! I just discovered you. Aaammaaazzzing! I look forward to watching and learning. I just began my serious pursuit of the writing life one year ago. I now have a book and am trying to figure out what to do next as I begin my second. It’s so confusing. So much conflicting information. I’m so glad to have found a beacon in the huge gray ocean of publication.
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Pamela – I like being a beacon – a smiley one 🙂 Information is definitely conflicting but one thing is for certain – you need a platform whether you are published or self-publishing. We all need our tribe!
Jeff Bennington says
Joanna, If you had only known the influence you were going to have on writers such as myself back when you first started all of this I don’t think you would’ve believed it.
The power of your work here at The Creative Penn runs deeper than you will ever know. You have had a profound effect on my work and personal life thanks to the connection with your mum.
Keep doing what your doing. Looking forward to the Pentecost sequel!
Jeff
Joanna Penn says
You’re very sweet Jeff. It’s funny because I always wanted to be a self-help author, to change people’s lives. I just didn’t know what my message was, and now perhaps, this is the message. Create – and publish! Thanks for your support.
Jackie says
Congratulations – exciting news, for you and for us!
Prime says
Congrats Joanna and thank you for taking that leap of faith while mitigating your risk by saving money – it’s an inspiration for someone like me who’s also moving into doing my own thing soon!
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Prime – I’m glad you spotted that. I don’t want people to think I am just rushing out there without a safety net as I can’t pay the bills on what I make right now as a creative – but I think I will within the next 6 months. All the best for your life move as well.
Iain Broome says
Toot toot! Awesome news. Massive congratulations.
Be ace to have you on the WfYL podcast to talk about it too if you’re up for it? I shall email.
Joanna Penn says
I’d love to Iain – just send me an email direct. Thanks 🙂
Austin Briggs says
Hi Joanna, what wonderful news. Very happy for you, and wish you Kindle millionaire-dom as fast as it can come!
Although I don’t post much, I am an old customer of yours (was among the first to buy your multi-media course). Wish you all the success in the world.
Bravo 🙂
(posted from a boring corporate office).
J.P. Hansen says
Congratulations! I wish you well. I just wish I had a day job to quit.