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Become a Writer

  • 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 […]
  • I really enjoyed this laid-back discussion around AI tools as part of the creative book cover design process with James Helps from Go On Write. We discuss how generative AI tools can help make more unique and interesting cover designs, and how designers can have a more imaginative time making them. This episode is supported by my Patreon community, who fund my future-focused thinking time. If you join the community, you get an extra solo Q&A show monthly, as well as behind-the-scenes videos on planning for the year ahead, AI and creative business, plus discounts, early access, and more. Join […]
  • What are the benefits and challenges of selling direct? How can you use limited edition merchandise to add more value to retailers and make more money on a launch? Alex Kava talks about her author business. In the intro, award-winning Japanese writer, Rie Kudan, used ChatGPT to write parts of her prize-winning novel and judges lauded the work as ‘flawless.’ [The Telegraph]; Personal news about my pivot, the Blueprint rewrite, and cleaning up the backlist; plus, I'm on The Alignment Show. Today's show is sponsored by Draft2Digital, self-publishing with support, where you can get free formatting, free distribution to multiple stores, […]

Get Better

  • by Grammarly
    New generative AI tools can help people become more productive and creative. Need to write a speech, build a website, or create illustrations? There’s a generative AI tool for that. It’s important to know what generative AI tools are and how they work. Then you can find ways to apply […]
  • by Matt Ellis
    Enhancing email productivity is just one of the many things AI can do, whether you’re stuck on what to say or not sure what order to put the information in. But email writing technology can’t help you if you don’t know how to use it, so this guide explains the […]
  • by Madison Stein
    This year’s State of Business Communication report revealed a particularly astounding finding for HR teams: they are in a state of communication overload. Dive into the data to find out how this is impacting HR workers—and discover a solution to help. The post HR Teams Are in Communication Overload—Is AI […]
  • by Devon Delfino
    “Thank you”: It’s a phrase most people say every day, but that doesn’t mean it should be reflexive. Depending on the situation, putting a little thought into it can make a big difference. Here’s what you need to know about expressing gratitude in a professional email, including when and how […]
  • by Marika Wegerbauer
    Whether you’re writing a speech, a memo, a project proposal, or an executive summary, the purpose of workplace communication is to inform and prompt action. Writing with impact means understanding your audience’s needs and motivations and communicating in a way that resonates with them, aligns with shared goals, and proposes […]
  • by Madison Stein
    Dive into the latest findings about CX communication and explore how AI might just be the solution CX teams need to thrive. The post Frontline CX Communicators Need Generative AI to Thrive appeared first on Grammarly Blog.
  • by Grammarly
    When you spy a verb ending in the letter s—such as dances, fries, or feels—you are looking at that verb in a conjugated (also known as inflected) form. Regular English verbs form the third-person singular simple-present tense by adding –s or –es to their stem or root form. Here we’ll […]
  • by Grammarly
    Since our founding in 2009, Grammarly has helped students improve their communication skills and produce original, mistake-free content. That’s why Arizona State, the University of Pennsylvania, Clemson University, and more than 3,000 other academic institutions trust Grammarly to help students and faculty become more capable communicators.  In the last few […]
  • by Matt Ellis
    Whether you’re researching, searching for sources, or summing up your own writing, AI summarization can make the work go faster. Below we talk about how to summarize with AI: why it’s useful, when it comes in handy, and how to do it yourself. But first let’s talk about what AI […]
  • by Madison Stein
    Take a look at the latest findings from the 2024 State of Business Communication report. The post The 2024 State of Business Communication Report: What You Need to Know appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

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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