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Become a Writer

  • What mindset shift do you need if you want to sell direct? How can you use Meta and AI tools to amplify your marketing? Matt Holmes gives his tips as well as insights from running my ads for my store, JFPennBooks.com. In the intro, how to sell more books at live events [BookBub]; Future of publishing and LBF, includes video of our live panel [Orna Ross on SelfPublishingAdvice]; 5 Trends we learned at the Future of Publishing [Kickstart Your Book Sales]; Author business and Author Nation [Wish I'd Known Then]; Amazon de-lists my Companion workbooks, but you can buy the […]
  • How can you use insights from the Enneagram to help you with a sustainable author career? How can you get past your blocks and move towards success, whatever that means for you? Claire Taylor provides her insights. In the intro, will TikTok be banned in the USA, and how will this impact authors and publishing? [TechCrunch; Kathleen Schmidt]; Hugh Howey on the Tim Ferriss show; I, Cyborg: Using Co-Intelligence [Ethan Mollick]; Using AI in award-winning writing [Smithsonian Mag; Editor and Publisher]; Plus, I'm now an award-winning author for Pilgrimage! [Pics on Instagram, Buy the book from me, or on other […]
  • I'm thrilled to share that my travel memoir, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways, won Best Non-Fiction/Memoir at the Selfie Awards at London Book Fair on 14 March 2024. I am now an award-winning author! The award was judged based on the story and the content of the book, the quality of production, and also for the marketing campaign and resulting book sales. I launched Pilgrimage on Kickstarter in February 2023 where it raised £25,771. I then went on to sell it direct from my store, JFPennBooks.com, and also on the main retailers in all formats. I narrated the audiobook edition. Most of […]
  • There are more options for publishing and reaching readers than ever before, and the indie author business models are splintering and diverging, so how do we know which path to follow? How do we deal with the changes due to generative AI, and how do we manage the grief and anxiety about these shifts? Becca Syme gives her perspective. In the intro, Kobo Plus launches in Ireland and South Africa [KWL]; Authors Equity [Publishing Perspectives]; Selling direct insights [Kindlepreneur]; Claude 3 [Anthropic]; Spear of Destiny. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in […]
  • How can you create more beautiful print books — and make more money with your products by selling direct? Alex Smith explains how BookVault can help with various options as well as helpful resources. In the intro, audiobooks and AI [Frankfurt Bookmesse]; Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn; Google's woke AI Gemini [The Verge]; AI solving humanity's hardest problems [NY Times]; Demis Hassabis on Hard Fork [NY Times]; Finding my voice in the AI wars [Talena Winters]. Plus, Author Blueprint (2024) is now in print (or get the ebook here); Spear of Destiny prelaunch page. Today's show […]
  • How can you write a memoir that is emotionally honest and revealing enough for readers to care, and cope with the inevitable fear of judgment that evokes? How can you write about real places and people in memoir? Why is editing a memoir so challenging and what should you keep in mind around publishing and marketing choices? J.F. Penn gives her tips after writing her midlife solo travel memoir, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. Thanks to everyone who backed my Kickstarter for Pilgrimage, and to my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn, who help fund the extra time it […]
  • How can we focus on the joy of the writing process itself, rather than the outcome? How can we embrace the positive side of being jealous of the success of other writers? How can we deepen our writing with metaphor and sense of place? Co-authors of writing book, Millions of Suns, Sharon and Christine share their tips. In the intro, Findaway Terms of Service; Why Kickstarter is the Most Creative Way to Launch Your Book [Self-Publishing Advice]; Sell direct resources; Why writing books is a career like no other [Roz Morris]; You are not what you used to be [Johnny […]
  • How can you pick yourself, rather than wait for someone else to pick you? How can you take control of your independent career and bring your creative vision to life? Jeffrey Crane Graham talks about his experience as an indie filmmaker, with lots of tips for indie authors. In the intro, 6 Types of Submission Comments BookBub Editors Love to See [BookBub]; Author platform is not a requirement to sell your novel or children’s book [Jane Friedman]; Your Author Business Plan and/or Business for Authors 50% off with discount coupon PLAN on CreativePennBooks.com; Spear of Destiny; Ruby Roe rainbow foil […]
  • How do you find the story behind all your stories? Who are you at the heart of your books? Isabelle Knight talks about the importance of author brand in an age of limitless content, and gives tips on how to discover yours. In the intro, 20 new miniature books added to Queen Mary’s Dollhouse [BBC]; Amazon announced Rufus, a new generative AI-powered conversational shopping experience; How generative AI will impact book discoverability; Amazon AI Ready Initiative free AI training; NY Times is hiring for their own AI initiatives [The Verge]; “There’s nothing wrong with the tech, but it has to […]
  • What are the benefits — and the challenges — of crowdfunding on Kickstarter? How can you fund successfully, as well as make a profit with your campaign? Paddy Finn gives his tips. In the intro, you can find more selling direct resources here; Streaming due for a streamlining [FT]; Authors Guild explores AI licensing deal [Hollywood Reporter]; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI on Bill Gates' podcast, Unconfuse Me; AI audio company ElevenLabs in funding deal [TechCrunch]. Plus, follow my book research trip for Spear of Destiny on Instagram @jfpennauthor or Facebook @jfpennauthor. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which […]

Get Better

  • by Grammarly
    What can you use generative AI for? You’re likely reading this because you’ve heard the buzz and are curious about how you can use AI in your life. We hope the following use cases and applications spark ideas about how generative AI capabilities can enhance your personal life and work. […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    Resigning from a job can be exciting. You might be moving on to a better opportunity, pursuing further education, or undertaking a lifelong dream of starting your own company. While your energy may be focused on the future, it’s important to manage your exit from your current company gracefully. You […]
  • by Hailey Spinks
    Whether you’re applying to graduate schools, trying to get your foot in the door at your dream job, or moving forward with a new business project, drafting a letter of intent is an important first step in getting where you want to be. In this guide, we’ll discuss the circumstances […]
  • by Hailey Spinks
    It’s common courtesy to give your employer at least two weeks’ notice of your resignation, but sometimes that’s not an option. There are many circumstances that may warrant an immediate resignation. Perhaps you’re dealing with a hostile or unsafe work environment that’s jeopardizing your mental or physical health. Maybe you’ve […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    Sometimes, an unexpected emergency will arise in your personal life. Maybe you or a family member is confronting a sudden medical or health issue; maybe military or legal reasons require that you immediately uproot your life. In the face of such an emergency, resigning from your job might be the […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    Having a child has a way of shifting one’s priorities and career goals. One such shift that commonly happens for new parents is the decision to leave their job to focus on taking care of their child or to take another job with more flexibility or better pay. If you […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    Writing a resignation letter due to illness can be a deeply personal and challenging task. It marks a crucial moment when your health must take center stage over your job, a decision that is not made lightly. Whether you’re dealing with a temporary sickness or facing ongoing health issues, keep […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    Embarking on a new adventure through relocation requires not just excitement and planning, but also the important step of crafting a resignation letter. This essential document is your opportunity to professionally communicate your departure due to relocation while expressing gratitude to your current employer. In this post, we’ll distill the […]
  • by Hailey Spinks
    Whether you’re aiming to impress a potential employer, articulate a request, or lodge a formal complaint, knowing how to write an effective formal letter is key to ensuring your message is received with the attention it deserves. From the perfect opening to a polished conclusion, we’ll guide you through the […]
  • by Anjie Zheng
    If you’ve reached the point in your career when you’re considering retirement—congratulations! It’s likely that you’ve worked hard for many years, and you’ve earned it. But before you take off to go paragliding in New Zealand or hiking across Europe, you’ll need to wrap things up at your place of […]

Strategise

  • by Luke Sholl
    When entering international markets, a translation strategy is fundamental to making the most of your business venture. To find out how you can formulate your own successful strategy, and the benefits of doing so, keep reading. The post Why you need a translation strategy appeared first on Yuqo.
  • by Hello Yuqo
    The holiday season is just around the corner. While consumers are busy preparing their shopping list, it's a perfect opportunity to improve your website and make some changes that can help to boost sales. The post 8 SEO tips to prep your site for the holiday season appeared first on […]
  • by Luke Sumpter
    To call the internet saturated would be an understatement. There are well over a billion sites vying for attention, all claiming to offer the solutions readers are looking for. But people want something they can quickly scroll through to find the answers—list posts fit the bill perfectly! Discover 8 key […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    Is wabi-sabi a useful label to put on an old table, or an age-old ideal through which we can find beauty in impermanence, decay, and death? Here we trace the term from its Buddhist origins through to its more modern, and far more positive, iteration. The post The Japanese art […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    If you've decided the life of an online content producer is for you, then welcome aboard! Making content is one thing; making it pay is quite another. Below, we list our 8 top tips for turning content into profit. The post 8 ways to monetize your content appeared first on […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    The 21st century has seen many huge changes to societies around the world. There are thousands of words that could have made this list, and what we cover is only a tiny portion of our time. Nevertheless, these nine words tell us so much about the age in which we […]
  • by Hello Yuqo
    Cramming too many tasks into a workday has a counterproductive effect, as it negatively influences focus. Multitasking is totally overrated—it's actually the ability to focus on one thing at a time that will help you improve focus and productivity. It comes down to taking care of your body and mind, […]
  • by Luke Sumpter
    Proper brand communication can take a regular business and propel it into a living success story. It involves more than just a pretty logo and a flashy website (although these are important!). You need to develop a consistent and appropriate voice, post at the right time, engage with the correct […]
  • by Luke Sholl
    A hugely important day in French culture, Bastille Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille. To find out the history of Bastille Day, its cultural significance, and how to build an effective marketing strategy around the event, keep reading. The post How to market Bastille Day appeared first on Yuqo.
  • by Ryan
    As you start to get a better understanding of the English language, you should try using idioms in regular discussion. Some are confusing at first, but you'll get used to them quickly, and native speakers you meet along the way will be impressed with your proficiency. To get you started, […]

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