The Creative Penn Blog: Helping you write, publish and market your book

Writing In The Dark. Horror Writing Tips With Tim Waggoner

October 26, 2020 by Joanna Penn Leave a Comment

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:57 — 55.2MB)

How do you write your darkness without drowning in it? How do you write an original horror story while still respecting the tropes of the genre? Why are horror writers the nicest people around?!

Tim Waggoner gives some craft tips for writing horror, as well as thoughts on the current publishing and TV/film environment.

In the intro, Bookwire's report on audience behavior in the age of ebooks, audiobooks, and podcasts [Publishing Perspectives]; positive report on the ebook market during COVID19 [Written Word Media]; and library digital subscription and borrowing is up [The Guardian]; Google Play introduces promo codes; Reflections on the end of the general trade concept from Mike Shatzkin and what a possible big publishing merger might bring; The end of the summer blockbuster and a changing model for the film industry, which is reflected in the indie author business model [Kristine Kathryn Rusch].

Plus, my solo episode on Walk Your Own Race: Lessons Learned from Walking a 50km Ultra-Marathon, and photos from my 6-day pilgrimage at Instagram @jfpennauthor.

Do you need help finding an editor, book cover designer, or someone to do your book marketing? Find a curated list of vetted professionals at the Reedsy marketplace, along with free training on writing, self-publishing, and book marketing. Check it out at www.TheCreativePenn.com/reedsy

Tim Waggoner is the best selling and Bram Stoker award-winning author of over 50 novels and 7 short story collections across dark fantasy and horror, as well as writing tie-ins. He's also a professor of creative writing at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. His latest book for authors is Writing in the Dark, on the craft of writing horror fiction.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript below.

Show Notes

How exploring our darkness means we don’t have to be afraid of it
Why it’s important not to re-traumatize yourself when writing
The variety that exists within the horror genre
Ideas for elevating horror writing
Finding empathy for your villains
How to be original while using horror tropes
The future of horror in the publishing marketplace
Writing movie and television tie-in books

You can find Tim Waggoner at TimWaggoner.com and on Twitter @timwaggoner

Building A Creative Business Brand With Pamela Wilson

October 19, 2020 by Joanna Penn Leave a Comment

Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:42 — 43.0MB)

How do you build a creative business that you love — and makes you money? Pamela Wilson talks about her non-fiction business model, how to choose a niche, plus how to pivot your brand over time.

In the intro, I talk about my pilgrimage walk and how we all need to weigh up risks and reward, especially when the need to fill the creative well becomes overwhelming! You can find the pictures on Instagram @jfpennauthor. I also mention my Courses for Authors, and my latest episode on Books and Travel where I talk about fear and assessing risk, which is something we all have to do.

Pamela Wilson is the author of Master Content Marketing and Master Content Strategy and is an online educator and keynote speaker. Her company, Big Brand System, teaches people how to build online businesses they love, which is particularly important as many people are pivoting after the pandemic.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript below.

Show Notes

How images and words form the two halves of content marketing
How books lead potential clients into other premium offerings like coaching and courses
Tips on choosing a niche to work with and serve — that you enjoy and will also make you money
Should you build a personal brand or a business brand?
What happens when you want to change the audience you focus on?
Tips on rebranding
Listening to your gut when it comes to building a creative business

You can find Pamela Wilson at BigBrandSystem.com/goodies and on Twitter @pamelaiwilson. You can also find her courses at The Content Lab and the Image Lab (affiliate links).

Mental Models For Writers And The Empowered Indie Author With Michael LaRonn

October 12, 2020 by Joanna Penn 3 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:31 — 46.1MB)

Writing is absolutely about the practical step of getting words on the page — but your mindset can make the difference between success and failure, as well as how much you enjoy the author journey.

In this interview, Michael La Ronn outlines mental models for writers, facing our fears to break through to creative success, as well as practical tips about writing on mobile and self-publishing effectively.

In the intro, insights into subscription models [ALLi blog]; how my process for Tree of Life differed from my other novels, and JD Barker's episode on How to Develop Bestselling Story Ideas; Self-Publishing Online Conference on Tools and Tech for Indie Authors; and my interview about the state of the self-publishing industry on the Story Studio Podcast.

Today's show is sponsored by Draft2Digital, where you can get free ebook formatting, free distribution to multiple stores, and a host of other benefits. Get your free Author Marketing Guide at www.draft2digital.com/penn

Michael La Ronn is the author of 45 books, spanning science fiction, fantasy, poetry, and nonfiction. He's a YouTuber, podcaster, and professional speaker, and is also the U.S. ambassador and outreach manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors where he co-hosts a show with Orna Ross on self-publishing advice. His books for authors include Be a Writing Machine, Mental Models for Writers, and 150 Self-Publishing Questions Answered.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript below.

Show Notes

Reclaiming writing time by writing on a phone
The different mental models that serve writers
How to take steps to self-publishing that are empowering
How YouTube can work for introverted authors. Check out Michael's channel, Author Level Up. You can also listen to the original interview we did on video marketing for authors here.
What the indie author community can do to support authors of color. Watch Michael's powerful video, Some Thoughts on the Color of my Skin
What might the future of publishing look like? Michael's 6-year-old daughter uses voice search like a pro.

You can find Michael La Ronn at AuthorLevelUp.com and on Twitter @MichaelLaRonn. He's also on YouTube at Author Level Up.

Outlining Your Novel And Filling The Creative Well With K.M. Weiland

October 5, 2020 by Joanna Penn 10 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:08:20 — 55.5MB)

How can you use an outline to improve your book before you start the first draft? How can you use it to play with your creative ideas without feeling hemmed in by the process?

In this interview, KM Weiland talks about how to outline your novel as well as thoughts on writer's block, filling the creative well, and longevity as a writer and blogger.

In the intro, 6 Figure Authors on productivity, I'm in editing mode for Tree of Life, and I talk about some lessons learned about writing from my 50K ultramarathon last weekend [pics on Instagram @jfpennauthor].

Plus, get your NaNoWriMo Storybundle, packed full of books on writing craft, marketing, business, and mindset — for a limited time: www.StoryBundle.com/nano

Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with Scrivener, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 25% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna

K.M. Weiland is the award-winning author of fantasy, medieval epic, historical, and Western adventures. She also writes non-fiction for authors and helps writers become authors on her fantastic vlog. Her books include Creating Character Arcs, Conquering Writer's Block, and Outlining Your Novel.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript below.

Show Notes

The importance of refilling the creative well — especially if you are experiencing writer's block
Outlining as brainstorming and discovery
Tips for how to outline
Why you don’t have to choose whether to be a plotter or pantser/ discovery writer
Benefits of outlining for discovery writers
How outlining can give a writer a simpler, more macro view of a story — and help you write your sales description/back blurb
How a clear premise can help you write a book’s description
Marketing across diverse genres
How blogging and non-fiction writing underpin Katie's business and fuel her fiction career

You can find K.M. Weiland at HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com and on Twitter @KMWeiland

Header photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Starting From Zero And Success With BookBub Ads With David Gaughran

September 28, 2020 by Joanna Penn 11 Comments

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:23 — 54.7MB)

When you've been self-publishing over a decade, it's easy to see how things have changed for indie authors and where the opportunities lie for publishing and marketing our books. In this wide-ranging interview, David Gaughran discusses the shifts in the industry, starting from zero, book marketing tips, and more.

In the intro, Audible launches an unlimited audio service [The New Publishing Standard]; why this might impact author income [ALLi]; Spotify's impact on music and artists [Freakonomics]; and my thoughts on what you can do to mitigate any revenue drop from subscription services and make the most of the opportunities they bring. Plus, The importance of 1000 True Fans [ALLi Podcast]; Frankenstein in Bath [Books and Travel]

Useful stuff: If you're new to self-publishing, you can also check out Mark's 101 Course with everything you need to know about self-publishing. [Ad] If you want to learn more about podcasting, join me at the Virtual Podcast Movement conference. [Ad]

Today's show is sponsored by IngramSpark, who I use to print and distribute my print-on-demand books to 39,000 retailers including independent bookstores, schools and universities, libraries, and more.

It's your content – do more with it through IngramSpark.com.

David Gaughran is the author of non-fiction books for authors and also writes historical adventures as David M Gaughran. He's also an award-winning blogger and campaigner for indie authors against scammers and bad practices in the publishing industry.

You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript below.

Show Notes

How self-publishing has changed in the last decade
The importance of knowing what genre you’re writing in
How we all start from zero and sometimes do that a number of times, especially when launching a new pen-name (as both David and I have done!)
The value of being able to pivot as a self-publisher
The importance of feeding Amazon clean data
Why BookBub ads work for those who publish wide
Why testing ads matters

You can find David Gaughran at DavidGaughran.com and on Twitter @DavidGaughran

Writing In The Dark. Horror Writing Tips With Tim Waggoner

Building A Creative Business Brand With Pamela Wilson

Mental Models For Writers And The Empowered Indie Author With Michael LaRonn

Outlining Your Novel And Filling The Creative Well With K.M. Weiland

Starting From Zero And Success With BookBub Ads With David Gaughran

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