On Writing
If you are on this site, then writing is a core part of how you live and express yourself. It is an incredibly important part of your life. Writing a book can change your life, whatever genre it is or who it is written for.
Here are some key articles and resources on writing based on FAQ and my own experiences. Just click on the links under the headings below. You may also like the free First Time Author Workbook.
On writing your first novel
If you want to write a novel, click here for all my posts through 14 months of writing, editing, publishing and launching my first novel, Pentecost.
If you want some help in writing your novel, you might like to join Roz Morris and I for ‘How to write a novel’ webinar series. This will be 3 x 90 min sessions with teaching and Q&A sessions to get your novel from idea to finished, edited manuscript.
Where do I find the time to write my book?
Where do you find the time to write?
What will you give up to write your book?
On Efficiency, or how to get everything done as a multi-tasking writer
Writing and the mixed blessing of a day job
On changing your life, writing and marketing a book with Joanna Penn (audio)
On writing every day vs binge writing
Tips for writing a book
I have now written 3 non-fiction books and one fiction novel so these articles have tips for both fiction and non-fiction writers.
How to write your first book with Joanna Penn (audio and transcript)
How to be a wealthy author of non-fiction books with Debbie Jenkins (audio)
For Fiction Writers specifically: Check out this series of posts about my first novel writing experience – everything I learned along the way is there!
Tips for writing novels and NaNoWriMo with Mur Lafferty (audio with transcript)
How to be a NY Times bestselling author with Scott Sigler (audio with transcript)
Killing the sacred cows of publishing with Dean Wesley Smith (author of over 90 novels) – fantastic discussion on how authors make money
Why authors should write a series of books: Lessons learned from Patricia Cornwell
Why do we read fiction and why do we write fiction?
How to write the ending of your book
On editing and rewriting 
Why you need a professional editor for your book
Editing your novel: High level story read through
7 reasons you should read your book out loud before submitting it
How to improve your book: on getting feedback from an editor
Editing a novel, with Steve Parolini, the Novel Doctor
How to make sure your book is the best it can be
The psychology of writing
How it feels to finally have your book in the world
You have permission to write your book
People’s reactions when you say you are writing a book
What to do when you think your writing is terrible
Inspiration for authors on resilience, accepting criticism and being an introvert
What is stopping you from writing a book
Inspiration for authors on resilience, accepting criticism and being an introvert with Clare Edwards (audio with transcript)
The Law of Attraction for writers and authors
When should you use your personal pain in your writing?
Does alcohol hurt or help your writing?
Would you rather be a best-selling author or a best-writing author?
On finding your creativity and ideas
How to find your authentic writer’s voice with Julia McCutchen (audio)
Embracing the fool as a metaphor for the writing life
The Artist’s Date: Take time to refill your creative well
15 ways modern art galleries can inspire writers
Authenticity and creative expression with Robert Rabbin
On creativity: Review of Hugh McLeod’s Ignore Everybody
5 ways you can be your own alchemist
Book creativity: Let your mind lie fallow
On writing and creativity: Lessons learned by my 35th birthday
Spoken word poetry with Ami Mattison (audio)
some of my journals
Writing in different genres
Writing supernatural themes and fight scenes with Alan Baxter (audio)
Travel writing and achieving outrageous goals with Alastair Humphreys (audio)
Writing mystery with Elizabeth Spann Craig (audio and video)
Writing thrillers: Lessons learned from James Rollins
Writing thrillers and publishing success for 7th Son with JC Hutchins (audio)
Tips for sci-fi and fantasy authors from Philippa Ballantine, Chris Lester and Dan Sawyer (audio)
Writing memoir and using Scribd for promotion with Hyla Molander (audio)
Writing your life story with Jo Parfitt (audio)
If you want to read more, you might be interested in “From Idea to Book”, available in print and ebook formats for $4.99.
Image: Flickr CC Squonk11 and the rest are my personal images.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for the information , it was very helpful
Joanna,
I can see you’ve put such tremendous quality of work throughout your site! Thanks, Gary
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your excellent advice. I bought your ebook on Amazon uk “From idea to book” and I am really enjoying it. I had some major changes in my life and would really like to write the story. Your book is very encouraging. I have become a great fan of “The Secret” and Spiritual teachings and I just love how you start your book with positive affirmations. You come across as a very helpful and genuine person, thank you
Thanks so much Caroline and all the best with your writing. I am a very positive person in general – I know you can write your story!
Caroline, I too am hoping to write my story. I would love to find others like you, who have never written a book, but feel there is an IMPORTANT story that needs to be told to help others deal with similar situations or bring awareness to the issues. If you know of a discussion group or would like to join me in starting one, please let me know. Good luck with your new book!
Joanna, Thank you for sharing all this wonderful information to get us started on my NEW adventure…..I’m a former financial reporting (sox) Compliance Officer/Sr Accountant/Govt Compliance Auditor.
Joanna ~ You are so helpful to share all you know. Thank you! Very kind! And thank you for allowing others to participate. We all have so much to learn from each other, I think it wonderful that we all share our knowledge and our journey. I received this site from an encouraging friend, and find your resources very helpful. Thank you for pushing us forward to do our best! All my best in return, and have a great day!
Thanks so much Ellise – I’m glad you find it helpful and I do find it so encouraging when we share our stories on the journey!
Just want to say what an inspiration your information and openness have been. It has empowered me to take bigger steps inside my much smaller room. For that, much love and thanks.
Thanks Mike. I really appreciate the comment and I do enjoy helping. I have found that in the 2.5 years I’ve been writing this, I have also taken bigger steps. I think we all just grow over time! All the best.
Wow what an unbelievable wealth of information. So glad I found your site!
Thanks Christina, I’m glad to be of help!
I am intrigued by the second image from the top on the right, Joanna. Is that a sketch plotting your next novel or is it a list of pointers/reminders? I’d love to hear about your approach as you embark on your third novel. Do you sketch out the bones and build? Or just start writing? Do tell.
Not quite sure which image as it depends which browser but the pics are from writing my first novel – all the details including my rewrites and edits here
I do have a rewrite spreadsheet though but nothing special 
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/firstnovel/
For Prophecy, I used Scrivener and I will never go back
Great creative writing tips keep up the good owrk.
I just want to thank you for all the hard work you’re doing to help indie authors. Your passion is nothing short of inspiring and I listen and wait for all your audios. I’m actually a little embarrassed to admit that I save some to my ipod and listen to them while I’m going on my walks. The podcasts and audios with Stephen Lewis I particularly enjoy. Even though religious fiction is not my cup of tea, I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing Pentecost. I aspire to write and I aspire to help.
Thanks Tiffany – I’m so glad you enjoy the podcasts – great for walking to
Nothing to be embarassed about, that’s what they’re for 
I hope you like Pentecost – and if you don’t, no worries – not everyone likes the same type of books and we need to write what we enjoy to read. I should say that Religious fiction is only a good category because I use religious ideas but the books are not Christian or about faith.
Hello,
I would like to write my own book someday!! I want to write and make a living writing books, Please pray for me the funds for my first publishing book!! Prayer Poems by: Nanette Tron
thank you ! I am an ordained minister so all gifts and contributions I believe are tax deductible.
Dear Creative Penn:
Greetings to you and all of your writers. Blessings to you!!
Hello Joanna,
I’m glade I found your website The Creative Penn, this may sound silly but a spark flared up in my mind a couple of weeks ago about writing a short story after I had a dream.
The more I thought about the dream the more I wanted to write it into a story, I already started with two pages finished. I know two pages don’t sound a lot, but I got this urge to finish it.
Different ideas keep jumping into my head about the characters their backgrounds and how the story will come together and the ending.
The notion of writing a short story never crossed my head before but now I have enough material to complete one story and two other ideas that are rough waiting to be fleshed out later in two different stories.
For the last three months I’ve been writing articles for my high blood pressure website, which I suffer from. The idea of writing this story couldn’t be shaken from my head so went in search on how to write and publish my first short story the right way.
I landed on your website and what a wealth of information you have, I book marked it so I can come back time and again to get my story writing juices flowing.
Thanks again,
Gerard.
Hi Gerard – Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoy the site
I believe writers are the future, treat them well and learn to let them grow. Give them all the beauty they possess and care about them for love is always best. !! Jesus saves and He did not make any mistakes! God made each and everyone of us and He loves us so write on!!!
Great advice and tips on writing here, Joanna, and I’m finding them very useful in my writing! Does it take a lot to write a blog on a novel because I’m thinking on putting up a website for my novel in the making? Thanks again for your help!
Hi Kathy, blogging well is an investment of energy and time and I really think you need to consider whether you want to make the investment. It takes a while to see any impact. I have a fiction blog for my readers here:
http://joannapenn.com/
and I only post sporadically.
There are lots of other things you can do in terms of marketing that are faster – so it depends on your goals for your book. You might like to check out 21 ways to sell more fiction online:
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/sellmorefiction/
Thanks.
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