Find time to write and decide what really matters.
Stop doing busy work, set boundaries, and organise your author life around what matters. Written and narrated by Joanna Penn.
Do you want to write more but feel frustrated at your lack of time?
Are you doing busy work instead of moving towards your creative goals? Is your to-do list overwhelming?
It’s time to stop, reassess and take control. This book will help you discover the path to becoming a productive writer, from working out what is really stopping you, to finding more time, making the most of it, and looking after yourself along the way.
I’ve been writing and publishing for well over a decade, and in this book I share my lessons learned so you can become more productive and, hopefully, save yourself time, money and heartache along the way.
Who this book is for
This book is for writers with a day job, a family or both, who need to find and protect writing time. It’s for authors who are busy all day but never seem to get to the book, and for those who have the time but struggle to use it well.
It’s also for authors who want to produce more books without burning out, through dictation, co-writing, outsourcing and better tools, and who want to build healthy, sustainable habits for the long term.
What you’ll learn
The book moves from mindset and goals through finding time, to the tools and people that multiply your output. Here are the questions it answers.
- What is really stopping me from reaching my goals?
- How do I set goals and deadlines that actually work?
- What is the difference between busy work and important work?
- How do I say no and set boundaries for others, and for myself?
- How do I find the time to write, and make the most of the time I have?
- How can dictation give me a more efficient and healthier writing life?
- How do co-writing and collaboration help me produce more books?
- When should I outsource, and what should I hand over?
- Which productivity tools are worth using?
- What does a productive writer mindset look like?
- How do I stay healthy while being productive?
Listen to a sample of the audiobook
Listen to a sample of the audiobook, narrated by me.
Listen to the full audiobook on YouTube
The whole audiobook is on my YouTube channel, with chapter markers, so you can try it before you buy. If it helps, you can support my work by buying a copy in whichever format suits you.
Where to buy
Available in ebook, paperback, large print, hardback, audiobook (narrated by me), and a companion workbook with the full text plus questions and space to write your answers. Buying direct from my store gives you the best price on bundles and supports me directly. Thank you.
What readers say
★★★★★
I've been writing for 10 years and have a few fiction and nonfiction titles published, but even for me, the advice in this book was eye-opening. Joanna's enthusiasm flies off the pages and makes you want to go and implement her recommendations immediately.
Helena Halme
★★★★★
Productivity for Authors is her tenth book for writers, carrying on her long-time tradition of offering straightforward advice in a short-ish, easy-to-digest format.
Jillianne Hamilton
★★★★★
The day I took to read and meditate on the author's words have been more productive than a day of unimpeded work on my book. A must read for all modern day aspiring authors.
Rodney Thomas
About Joanna Penn
I’m an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. I write non-fiction for authors as Joanna Penn, and thrillers, dark fantasy, horror and travel memoir as J.F. Penn.
I’ve hosted The Creative Penn Podcast since 2009, with interviews on writing, publishing, book marketing and making a living with your writing.
I have a Master’s degree in Death, Religion and Culture from the University of Winchester (2026) and a Master’s in Theology from the University of Oxford. I live in Bath, England.
Articles on productivity for writers
These articles and tutorials go deeper into topics from the book.
- How do you find the time to write?
- How to dictate your book: tips from professional dictators
- How to dictate your book
- Productivity tips: outsourcing, automation and virtual assistants for authors
- What to do when writing feels like hard work
- How to write the first draft of your novel
- How to write the first draft of your non-fiction book
- How I use Scrivener for fiction and non-fiction
- What is your definition of success?
- The confident author
Podcast episodes about productivity
I talk about finding time to write, dictation and healthy productivity on The Creative Penn Podcast. These episodes are a good place to start.
- How to find the time to write and make the most of your writing time (Joanna Penn)
- Creative clarity: focus, self-care, and a little bit of tough love (Joanna Penn)
- Lessons learned from 15 years as a full-time author entrepreneur (Joanna Penn)
- Overcoming procrastination with Colleen M. Story
- Managing multiple projects and the art of the long-term author career with Kevin J. Anderson
- Building a long-term author business, dictation, Kickstarter, and short story collections with Kevin J. Anderson
- From page one to done: fast drafting your novel with Jessica Brody
- Multi-six-figure book sales and the power of daily habits with Marc Reklau
- Writing faster without burning out with L.A. Witt
- Improve your sleep and creativity with Dr Anne D. Bartolucci
Questions about productivity for authors
How do I find time to write with a day job?
Track where your time goes for a week, then protect small, regular slots: early mornings, lunch breaks, a commute with dictation. Thirty minutes a day adds up to a book a year. The book walks through finding time and then making the most of it once you sit down.
What is the difference between busy work and important work?
Busy work feels productive, like tweaking your website or checking sales dashboards, but it doesn't move the book forward. Important work is the writing, and the few marketing tasks that actually sell books. Decide what really matters, then schedule that first.
How do I say no without feeling guilty?
Remember that every yes to someone else is a no to your writing. Set boundaries for others and for yourself, give a clear answer without a long explanation, and protect your writing time as you would a meeting with your boss. It gets easier with practice.
Does dictation really make you faster?
It can, once you get past the awkward early weeks. I dictate some of my first drafts and find it faster and kinder to my body than typing all day. The book covers how to start, the tools, and how to edit dictated text. There is a whole chapter on it.
What should I outsource first?
Whatever you do badly, hate, or that someone else can do cheaply and well: editing, cover design, formatting, admin. Keep the writing and the decisions. Outsourcing buys back creative time, and the book explains how to find and brief freelancers without losing control.
Is there a workbook?
Yes. The companion workbook contains the full text of the book plus questions and space to write your answers, so you can work through your own goals, boundaries and schedule on the page. It is available in print from my store and other retailers.
Next steps
Get the free Author Blueprint
Join my email list and I will send you my Author Blueprint, with the steps on the author journey from idea to published book and beyond, plus my newsletter with tips on writing, publishing and marketing.
Listen to The Creative Penn Podcast
New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts: interviews and solo shows on writing, publishing, book marketing and making a living with your writing. Browse the podcast.
Watch on YouTube
Tutorials, interviews and full audiobooks of my non-fiction on The Creative Penn channel.
