The Creative Penn Podcast
Audios will be posted at least every two weeks and will cover Interviews, Inspiration and Information on Writing, Publishing Options and Book Marketing. You can subscribe directly through my podcast feed here. You can also subscribe on iTunes here.
“I highly recommend listening to the bi-weekly podcasts by Joanna Penn. Her joyful, lovable style and positive attitude is addicting, and her interviews dive right into the meat of the matter.” Mark S. R. Peterson
I love to hear your feedback so please email me with any comments or suggestions at: joanna@TheCreativePenn.com
You can also sponsor an episode of the podcast to advertise your book – details here.
Here is a list of the podcast episodes. Click to listen or download.
#155 – Writing travel memoir, tackling risk and adventuring with Alastair Humphreys
#153 – Microdomination: Branding, content marketing and social media with Trevor Young
#152 – Book design elements and interior formatting with Jane Dixon Smith
#150 – How to record, produce and distribute audiobooks with J. Daniel Sawyer
#149 – On Violence and Writing Fight Scenes with Jarrah Loh
#148 – Book Marketing: How to Write Press Releases with Steven Lewis
#147 – Writing, Illustrating and Marketing Children’s Books with Katie Davis
#146 – State of self-publishing and 5 things to get sorted for 2013
#145 – Productivity for Writers and Taking Writing Seriously. A discussion with Iain Broome.
#144 – Copywiting and making money as a writer with Mindy McHorse
#143 – Ebook publishing on Kobo with Mark Lefebvre, Kobo’s Director of Self-Publishing
#142 – Writing metaphor, memorable scenes and horror with Chuck Wendig
#141 – Publishing ebooks for Dummies with Ali Luke
#140 – Publishing choices, and using PR and traditional media with Polly Courtney
#139 – Writing, creativity and the empowerment of the author with Orna Ross
#138 – Writing thrillers and adventures in publishing with Boyd Morrison
#137 – Build a full-time writing career slowly with Lindsay Buroker
#136 – The Millionaire Author Mindset with Stephanie Hale
#135 – Wired for Story: Using Brain Science to Hook Readers with Lisa Cron
#133 – Writing about death and crime scenes with ex-homicide detective and coroner Garry Rodgers
#132 – Writing religion and spirituality with Jill Carroll
#130 – Becoming a creative genius with Phil South
#129 – Author websites, branding and copywriting with James Chartrand from Men With Pens
#128 – Marketing fiction vs non-fiction with Johnny B. Truant
#127 – Marketing your way to a #1 Amazon bestseller with Rachel Abbott
#126 – Secrets of Amazon metadata with #1 Amazon bestseller Mark Edwards
#125 – You are a writer. Act like one. With Jeff Goins.
#124 – Writing Mystery and the Entrepreneurial Indie Spirit with Adam Croft
#123 – Writing tips: Guns, Bullets and Shooting with J.Daniel Sawyer
#122 – Success in Writing, Publishing and Book Marketing Takes Time with Jane Friedman
#121 – From indie author to hybrid with Amazon’s Thomas Mercer Imprint with Scott Nicholson
#120 – Character development, setting and writing thrillers with Layton Green
#119 – Award winning literary fiction and Transmedia with Kate Pullinger
#118 – Make your own luck with social media with Alexis Grant
#117 – The empowerment of indie publishing with David Gaughran
#116 – Writing epic fantasy and becoming a pro author with Michael J Sullivan
#115 – Getting attention and no publisher needed with Jim Kukral
#114 – Lessons learned from publishing innovation The Domino Project with Ishita Gupta
#113 – Self-publishing and ebook predictions for 2012 + Kindle Select with Steven Lewis
#112 – The importance of indie books with Indie Reader Amy Edelman
#111 – The Joy of English with Jesse Karjalainen (grammar and English language usage)
#110 – Serial fiction with author entrepreneur Sean Platt
#109 – The Art & Craft of Story with Victoria Mixon
#108 – Six figure self-publishing with Robin Sullivan
#107 – Social media marketing enthusiasm with Dan Blank
#106 – Writing literary fiction with Roz Morris
#105 – Book Cover Design Tips with book cover designer Anthony Puttee
#104 – How to get book reviews with Dana Lynn Smith
#103 – How to write fight scenes with Alan Baxter
#102 – Publishing Guide to Twitter with Jon Reed from Publishing Talk
#101 – Writing thrillers and action-adventure with David Wood
#100 – What I have learned in the last 2 years – 100th podcast celebration – by Joanna Penn
#99: Writing Historical Romance and the Christian market with Jody Hedlund
#98: The Art and Science of Lightbulb Moments with Tom Evans, The Bookwright
#97: Book Marketing Q&A with Joanna Penn
#96: Getting a book deal from your online platform with Jim Hopkinson, Wired’s marketing guy
#95: Kindle sales and pricing with Stephen Windwalker
#94: Researching your novel and experiences in publishing with Warren Fahy, author of Fragment
#93: Book Marketing for Introverts with Ruth Ann Nordin
#92: Social media marketing strategy with Marian Schembari
#91: On leaving traditional publishing for ebook sales success with LJ Sellers
#90: Crime Fiction: The Truth about Police Investigation with Joe Giacalone
#89: Writing Chick Lit with Benison Anne O’Reilly
#88: Lessons for writers from the theatre with David Farmer
#87: Book Launches and Marketing for Pentecost and Save My Soul with Joanna Penn and Zoe Winters
#86: What writers get wrong about psychology with Carolyn Kaufman
#85: Copywriting and patience with traditional publishing with Iain Broome
#84: Nailing your novel with Roz Morris
#83: Branding yourself and productivity tips with Mars Dorian
#82: Creative Entrepreneurship and Content Marketing with Mark McGuinness
#81: Writing mysteries with Elizabeth Spann Craig/ Riley Adams
#80: On changing your life, writing and marketing a book with Joanna Penn
#79: How ‘Machine of Death’ became an Indie Amazon Bestseller with David Malki !
#78: How to improve your blog with Annabel Candy from Get In The Hot Spot
#77: Achieving goals with Ian Usher, who sold his life on eBay
#76: Kindle bestsellers, Blog Book Tours and and ebook success with Scott Nicholson
#75: Writing, Blogging and Authenticity with Justine Musk, TribalWriter.com
#74: Ebook design and Romance writing with Moriah Jovan
#73: Editing a novel with Steve Parolini, the Novel Doctor
#72: Writing Fantasy and Being a Pro-Novelist with Philippa Ballantine
#71: Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing with Dean Wesley Smith
#70: Multi-media publishing and book promotion with Greg McQueen from Big Bad Media
#69: Ebook publishing inspiration with Mark Coker from Smashwords
#68: Being an indie author and self-publishing with Zoe Winters
#67: Writing your life story with Jo Parfitt
#66: Writing and Neuroscience with Livia Blackburne
#65: Writing Memoir and Using Scribd for Book Promotion with Hyla Molander
#64: How to use Book Trailers Effectively with Darcy Pattison
#63: Copywriting that sells your books with Paul Lonergan
#62: Ebook publishing with Michelle Halket, ireadiwrite Publishing
#61: Spoken Word Poetry with Ami Mattison
#60: Authenticity, Creative Expression and Beating Fear of Judgement with Robert Rabbin
#59: How to Write a Book Proposal with Gary Smailes from BubbleCow
#57: Self-Publishing and Book Marketing Tips from Dan Poynter
#56: Writing Books for Children with Fiona Ingram
#55: How to build buzz for your book with Aggie Villanueva
#54: How to be a NY Times Bestselling Author with Scott Sigler(with transcript)
#53: On Frugal Book Promotion with Carolyn Howard-Johnson
#52: Using Writing Software To Organise Your Novel and Being an Author-Entrepreneur with Harriet Smart (Includes Transcript)
#51: First time novel publishing experience with Graham Storrs
#50: Advanced Blogging Tips for Authors with Blogging Teacher, Paul Cunningham (Includes Transcript)
#49: Using video for book promotion with Gideon Shalwick, internet video expert (Includes Transcript)
#48: Crime writer Seth Harwood on new publishing paradigms and author marketing
#47: How to find your authentic writer’s voice with Julia McCutchen
#46: Writing romance and first time novel experiences with Dean Mayes
#45: Crime writing and tips on getting an agent with Sam Blake
#44: Book Design with Joel Friedlander, The Book Designer (with transcript)
#43: Creating iPhone apps for your books with Tom Evans, The Bookwright
#42: Writing Supernatural Themes and Fight Scenes with Dark Fantasy Author Alan Baxter
#41: EBook Q&A with Joshua Tallent from EBookArchitects.com (Includes Transcript)
#40: Beat Procrastination with Peak Performance Coach, Rajeev Dewan
#39: Book Marketing: Your Questions Answered by Joanna Penn (with transcript)
#38: Self-Publishing, your questions answered in interview with April Hamilton, Indie Author (Includes Transcript)
#37: How to Write Your First Book with Joanna Penn (interviewed by Lenore Miller)
#36: Writing Family Humour and Fulfilling Your Dreams with Jane Grieve
#35: How to become a Wealthy Author of Non Fiction Books by Debbie Jenkins
#34: Blogging Basics for Writers with Joel Williams, The Blog Tech Guy
#33: Tips for sci-fi/ fantasy authors with Philippa Ballantine, J. Daniel Sawyer & Chris Lester
#32: J.C. Hutchins on Writing Thriller Novels and Publishing Success for 7th Son
#31: Mur Lafferty on Writing Novels and Top Tips for NaNoWriMo
#30: Alexis Grant on Writer’s Retreats and Travel Writing
#29: Matthew Cavnar from Vook.com on How the Vook is Changing Publishing
#28: SelfPublishingReview.com Henry Baum on the Opportunities in Self Publishing
#27: Neal Hoskins on Publishing Books as iPhone apps
#26: Dana Lynn Smith on Book Marketing Plans
#25: Julia McCutchen on Brilliant Book Proposals and the Traditional Publishing Process
#24: Tony Eldridge on Adventure Novels and Book Marketing
#23: Medialoper Kirk Biglione on Ebooks and Digital Media
#22: Alastair Humphreys on Travel Writing and Achieving Outrageous Goals
#21 Lauren Roche on Writing as Therapy and her Inspirational Memoir
Guest podcast: Me interviewed on Booksquare University about Using Web 2.0 tools for authors
#20: Grant McDuling on The Business of Selling Words (and make a 6 figure income)
#19: Jeffrey Kafer on being an Audiobook Voice Talent and tips for authors DIY
#18: Trevor Young, PR Warrior on marketing and promotion ideas for authors
#17: Joanna Penn on Writing and Publishing interviewed by Frankie Mueller
#16 Tom Evans, the Bookwright, on overcoming writer’s block
#15 Pip Ballantine on her 12 year overnight success podcasting to traditional publishing deal
#14 Tee Morris on performance, podcasting and social media for authors
#13 Joanna Penn (yes, me!) on How Publishing Has Changed and Why Authors Must Too
#12 Iggy Pintado on the power of connection for authors
#11: Heather Wallace on Print-on-Demand – what is it and how can you use it
#9 – Podcast: Joan Kremer on Writing and Authors in Second Life
#8 – Podcast: Steve Tiano on Book Design and Layout including tips for self-publishers
#6: Podcast: Dale Beaumont on being an Author Entrepreneur
#5: Podcast: Karen Schmidt on being a professional speaker and author
#4: Podcast: J.C Hutchins explains the cross-media phenomenon “Personal Effects: Dark Art”
#3: Podcast: Roger C. Parker: Tips for a successful author platform
#2: Podcast: Ron Nash on writing, publishing and web 2.0 book promotion
#1: Podcast: Rachael Bermingham explains her tips on promotion after selling over 1 million books
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Hi Joanna,
I think I have found a gold mine! I just came across all these podcasts. What a wealth of great info for writers. I’m looking forward to listening to them. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you’ve found me! I love to interview people so this podcast will keep on going!
Joanne, for folk like myself who live in countries remote from the USA and all your writers conferences, this site is an amazing resource. Thank you for all you put into it.
Shirl (S.Africa)
I’m so glad to be useful Shirley. I really enjoying sharing the journey and blogging & podcasting are pretty addictive once you start as it’s so rewarding to be part of a community.
Did you know I am also in Australia and soon to move back to England so it’s not as if I’m in the US either!
Thanks, Joanna
I’ve been listening and listening and listening. Taking many many many notes. Now, I’ve downloaded about 20 or 30 or so of these great Podcast Interviews to put on my mp3 player. I’m still craving this information. Like, iWrite (the first commenter here), I feel like I stumbled into a gold mind of information.
I have just printed your ebook Author2Blueprint (“,) Thanks a lot for sharing!
Joanna, this website is SUCH a godsend. I’m in love with writing and publishing as an industry, and your blog is such a lovely and amazing resource. I’ve just started a female-identified press to increase the presence of women in science fiction and fantasy, and as SOON as I get my press website up and running, I will definitely publicize thecreativepenn.com until the cows come home. Lol, I’m already blowing up my Facebook page with your fantastic audios and blog posts. You’re absolutely amazing, and thank you for all the inspiration!
Thanks so much Vanisha – I’m glad you’re enjoying the podcasts and I appreciate any spreading the word. There’s so much we can all share from each other!
Hi Joanna,learned a few good lessons from your interview with Mark Coker on Youtube,love the fact that you engage every medium to pass on ideas that work,I’m a newbie, I’ll feed from these podcasts.
I’m glad you’re enjoying them Tony – there’s lots for you to catch up on and more coming! There’s so much to learn about this new world
I know you mentioned it in one of your audios, but I can’t for the life of me remember which one. Have you a list or a site that gives out reviews?
I did have another site for reviews but I have stopped doing that because of time pressures. I suggest you try to use your own audience for reviews and then look at book bloggers. Thanks,
A fan of your audio interviews, I ran across your podcast with Larry Brooks on his website http://www.storyfix.com. I don’t see it listed in the podcasts, unless it’s elsewhere on your website. Tremendous job, Joanna. You’re not just a novelist surviving and thriving in this historic era of the Ebook publishing revolution, you’re going after valuable movers and shakers as a reporter, uncovering extremely helpful info for the rest of us trying to make sense of it all. When I see your name out there in cyberspace, I know the interview will be worth listening to while I multitask at the keyboard. Thanks for your entrepreneurial spirit as a publisher and novelist! Your international perspective makes it even more valuable for writers worldwide.
Thanks so much for your kind words Rob – the interview with Larry was a video only post on my site
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2011/03/27/story-engineering-larry-brooks/ so it’s not listed here. I need to make a complete list of interviews I guess
I really appreciate you understanding what I am about as well. It means a lot.
Loved your latest podcast! Very informative. Now that I’ve gone through your entire archive of podcasts, I have the new experience of having to *wait* for a new one! And I don’t like it! Lol
I know these are time consuming things to produce, so I’m glad you still do them. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks so much Monica – I’m amazed you’ve been through the backlist and I’m so glad it has been useful for you. The next episode is coming soon
Hi Joanna,
I love your podcast and am hoping to explore the the possibilities too
wish me luck. Lol 
Thanks
Hey Joanna,
Paul Coleman sent me over here and I’ve got to say…
Wow!
Where have you *been* all my (writing) life?
Eddie
Hi Eddie, I’ve been here a while – glad you made it
Enjoy.
You’re doing a great job, Joanna. Many aspiring and established authors don’t have the time or the inclination to listen to 65 hours of audio advice about writing. You might want to present a short version of the interviews and make it into 3 volumes of print books, with about 22 interviews in each book. It will be under your name as the author/editor and you can approach the people that their interview is in the printed book to share th cost of publishing .. if you can’t find a traditional book publishers. Best wishes from Canada and I enjoyed reading your tweets.
Hi Giora,
I’ve been podcasting for over 3 years now – so the shows go way back. I haven’t put it all out in one go!
Most people start listening when they arrive and subscribe to the feed. It’s certainly not expected to listen to the entire backlist, although I hear from many people who do end up listening to them all!
Sorry, but I won’t be publishing any of the interviews since this is a free podcast. I shall concentrate on writing my fiction for now. I mainly podcast for the fun of it, and to help the listeners. There’s over 600 articles on this site so plenty to read if people want to consume that way
Thanks.
Another good one Joanne! I ma checking her out. Dying to write full time and stop being poor!
I’d love to learn from one of these marketers how to effectively consolidate social media so we aren’t trading valuable writing time for that. Two hours can go by on those and I only get three hours to write each day. Like most people, I have the same folks largely on twitter and FB and linked in Goodreads but even at that, unless I have managed to get a blog post written – which also competes with writing time for the several novels in my pipeline – I feel stressed out and overwhelmed. I guess I’m a slow writer.
Sorry you won’t be podcasting any more. But as you can see, I sympathize. There is a wealth of good info here as it is. Thank you for that.
Cheers!
Alyne
Hi Alyne, where did you get the impression I won’t be podcasting anymore? I absolutely am and continue to do interviews every 2 weeks. There has been a problem with the iTunes feed but that has been fixed now – it just takes a few weeks to reappear in the iTunes store. I love podcasting & wouldn’t give it up!
but we all have to juggle this ourselves.
On overwhelm, you just have to make choices. Writing should come first in the writing phase of a project and then switch to marketing when the book is out – so 80% writing during first draft, 20% marketing & then switch to 80% marketing in the launch period. We all have cycles
Thanks, Joanna
Hi Joanna! Any chance the podcast will ever be available on the US iTunes store? I discovered you from the guys at the Self Publishing Podcast and love the information you share and can’t wait to dive into all your podcasts! Thanks!
Hi Jennifer – it has been available for years but recently there’s been a problem with the feed. I have resubmitted it but waiting for Apple to get their act together – you can add manually into iTunes with the Advanced menu -> Subscribe to podcast with this feed http://www.thecreativepenn.com/feed/podcast/
Thanks, Joanna
Greetings, Joanna! Thank you for clearing up the business with iTunes. When I discovered through your newsletter that you have a podcast, I clicked on the link right away, but received the dreaded “item is not available in the US store” message. It was only when I clicked through to this page that I found the solution. This really is a treasure trove. I’ll be back!
Hi Joanna,
I just watched the interview you did with Chuck Wendig on YOU TUBE, it was quite amazing.
Thanks for the email – 7 reasons you should be using online video for promtion.
Have a great day.
Been listening for a week, great stuff!
Hi Joanna. I just finished listening to your podcast with Alan Baxter and I sorta wondered why you should run away from a guy with a gun. He would just shoot your back. I did some research and I came up with something way better (and cooler) then running away. You probably already know this stuff, but just in case you don’t here is a link. http://www.fsunews.com/VideoNetwork/1739719532001/Commando-Krav-Maga-gun-disarm-techniques
I love your podcasts. I listen to them as I drive. They are truly informative and enjoyable. They are…brilliant!
Please keep it up!
Roy
Thanks so much Roy!
{ 60 trackbacks }