The Creative Penn

1:03:07

Verb Your Enthusiasm: Transform Your Writing With...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/05/11

How can upgrading your verbs transform flat writing into vivid, page-turning prose? Why do so many writing problems turn out to be verb problems — and how can you fix yours? Sarah Kaufman explores the art of the verb and shares practical tips for making your writing stronger, clearer, and more alive.The post Verb Your Enthusiasm: Transform Your Writing With Stronger Verbs With Sarah Kaufman first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:17:00

Editing a Novel: Self-Editing, And How To Work With A...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/04/06

How can you improve your self-editing process? How can you find and work with professional editors and beta readers? How do you know when editing is done and the book is finished? With Joanna Penn In the intro, Poetry craft and business [The Indy Author Podcast]; A Mouthful of Air; How to get your book […]The post Editing a Novel: Self-Editing, And How To Work With A Professional Editor With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:05:05

Strong Verbs And Hard Truths. Good Writing With Anne...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/03/23

What does it take to write strong sentences? How do you keep writing when the world feels dark? How do you push past self-doubt, build a sustainable writing practice, and trust that your voice is enough? Anne Lamott and Neal Allen share decades of hard-won wisdom from their new book, Good Writing. In the intro, […]The post Strong Verbs And Hard Truths. Good Writing With Anne Lamott and Neal Allen first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:19:02

Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/03/16

What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast.The post Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

55:35

Creative Confidence, Portfolio Careers, And Making...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/03/02

How do you build a creative life that spans music, writing, film, and spiritual practice? Alicia Jo Rabins talks about weaving multiple creative strands into a sustainable career and why the best advice for any creator might simply be: just make the thing.The post Creative Confidence, Portfolio Careers, And Making Without Permission with Alicia Jo Rabins first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:08:43

Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/02/23

How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson.The post Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:01:55

Research Like An Academic, Write Like an Indie With...

The Creative Penn ·

2026/02/02

How can indie authors raise their game through academic-style rigour? How might AI tools fit into a thoughtful research process without replacing the joy of discovery? Melissa Addey explores the intersection of scholarly discipline, creative writing, and the practical realities of building an author career. In the intro, mystery and thriller tropes [Wish I'd Known […]The post Research Like An Academic, Write Like an Indie With Melissa Addey first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:19:18

Two Different Approaches To Selling Books Direct With...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/12/08

What does it really take to build a multi-six-figure author business with no advertising? Is running your own warehouse really necessary for direct sales success — or is there a simpler path using print-on-demand that works just as well?In this conversation, Sacha Black and I compare our very different approaches to selling direct, from print on demand to pallets of books, and explore why the right model depends entirely on who you are and what your goals are for your author business. The post Two

en-US

1:03:14

Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/12/01

Why do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you’re proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer ProbstThe post Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A Long-Term Author Career first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

54:10

Why Structure Matters More Than You Think. Writing...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/11/10

Why do so many memoir manuscripts fail to engage readers, even when the writer has lived through extraordinary experiences? What's the hidden code that separates a chronological account of events from a compelling memoir that readers can't put down? How do you know when you're ready to write about trauma, and where's the ethical line between truth and storytelling? With Wendy DaleThe post Why Structure Matters More Than You Think. Writing Memoir With Wendy Dale first appeared on The Creative

en-US

1:02:18

Creating While Caring With Donn King

The Creative Penn ·

2025/11/03

What happens when your creative dreams collide with the demands of caregiving? How do you keep writing when you're caring for someone full-time? Can you still be a creative person when traditional productivity advice simply doesn't work? With Donn King.The post Creating While Caring With Donn King first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:19:12

How to Pivot Careers, Co-Write Books, And Stay...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/10/06

How do you know when it's time to wrap up one phase of your life and move on to the next? What's the secret to staying connected as a writer when you're working alone? And if you have multiple passions and endless ideas, how do you actually finish things instead of constantly starting new projects? […]The post How to Pivot Careers, Co-Write Books, And Stay Connected As A Remote Creative With Pilar Orti first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

Lessons Learned from 14 Years as a Full-Time Author...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/09/18

Fourteen years ago, in September 2011, I left my day job to become a full-time author-entrepreneur. Every year since, I’ve reflected on the journey and what I learn along the way. My challenges continue to evolve with the business, and you'll likely be at a different stage, but I hope you find my lessons learned […]The post Lessons Learned from 14 Years as a Full-Time Author Entrepreneur first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:08:47

Writing Fan Fiction, And Multi-Passionate Creativity...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/09/08

What if the key to finding your authentic voice as a writer lies in exploring someone else's fictional world first? How can multi-passionate creators manage multiple brands without losing their sanity? KimBoo York reveals how fanfiction can be a powerful training ground for original fiction, and why being your “weird self” is more valuable than […]The post Writing Fan Fiction, And Multi-Passionate Creativity With KimBoo York first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

The Buried And The Drowned. A Short Story Collection...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/09/02

Hello everyone. I'm Jo Frances (J.F.) Penn, award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, and this is my new short story collection, The Buried and the Drowned. Watch the video below or here on YouTube. . I’ve been writing short stories for more than a decade and this is the first time many […] The post The Buried And The Drowned. A Short Story Collection By J.F. Penn. first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:19:44

Writing And Publishing Short Stories And Poetry With...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/09/01

How do you know when an idea should become a poem or a short story instead of a longer work? How can indie authors publish and market poetry and short fiction in today's market? Joanna Penn and Orna Ross explore the creative processes, and the business behind writing short-form work, and discuss why being authentically […]The post Writing And Publishing Short Stories And Poetry With J.F. Penn And Orna Ross first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:08:41

Book Marketing Tips For Fiction And Non-Fiction...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/08/11

What marketing principles remain true regardless of the tools you use? What are the different ways you can market your book, whatever your genre? In this episode, I share two chapters from my audiobook, Successful Self-Publishing, Fourth Edition. In the intro, Pricing strategies on The Biz Book Broadcast; What to do Three Years Before your […]The post Book Marketing Tips For Fiction And Non-Fiction Authors With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

57:37

Researching And Writing Family History Or Genealogy...

The Creative Penn ·

2025/08/04

Are you curious about the lives of your ancestors? What secrets might be hiding in your family tree, and where would you even begin to look for them? How do you turn dusty records and vague family stories into a compelling book for others to read? T.L. Whalan shares how she researched and wrote a […] The post Researching And Writing Family History Or Genealogy With TL Whalan first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:01:36

The Artisan Author With Johnny B Truant

The Creative Penn ·

2025/07/21

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly release new books and battle algorithms? Do you wonder if there's a more sustainable, low-stress path to a successful author career? Is it possible to focus on art, build a loyal fanbase, and escape the publishing rat race? In this episode, Johnny B. Truant discusses the […]The post The Artisan Author With Johnny B Truant first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

1:05:10

How To Get More Book Reviews With Joe Walters

The Creative Penn ·

2025/07/14

Are you struggling to get reviews for your book? Wondering how to navigate the different types of reviews, from customer feedback to professional blurbs? Joe Walters from IndependentBookReview.com gives his tips. In the intro, how important is ‘truth' in memoir? The Observer on Raynor Winn's The Salt Path; Raynor's statement; Memoir controversies [The Guardian]; Tips […]The post How To Get More Book Reviews With Joe Walters first appeared on The Creative Penn.

en-US

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

American Public Media

Soundcheck

WNYC Studios

Abstract Essay

Daniel Lucas

Considering Art Podcast

Bob Chaundy

Hung up

Matt Sitas and Aiden Loughlin