Inspiration and information about writing craft and author business. For independent creatives.
Anne Lamott on Good Writing; Tips for writing characters; Writing from the source; and Editing a Novel
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Hello Creatives, Spring flowers are blooming here in Bath and I am looking forward to a lot more time outside in the coming months! I hope you are enjoying the seasons wherever you are in the world. In the meantime, I am almost ready to launch my next Kickstarter for Bones of the Deep, and I'm working hard on finishing my Masters course. We also had a book research trip to Paris which will eventually turn into my next ARKANE thriller, Crown of Thorns. More photos on Facebook/ Instagram @jfpennauthor. Anne Lamott and Neal Allen on Good WritingIf you're a fan of Anne's Bird by Bird (a must read for every writer), then you will enjoy this episode! 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, Hachette cancels allegedly AI-written book, and Publishing industry insights from Macmillan's CEO. Click here to listen or read the transcript 15 Tips for Writing CharacterWhat 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. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair, and Insights from a 7-figure author business. Click here to listen or read the transcript Writing from the Wellspring: Tapping the Source of Your Inner GeniusWhat if the source of your best writing isn't something you control — but something you learn to collaborate with? How can ancient ideas about the muse, the daimon, and creative genius transform the way you approach your work? And what might happen if you stopped fighting the silence and let it become your greatest creative ally? With Matt Cardin, author of Writing at the Wellspring. In the intro, thoughts on bookstores; 20 ways authors can signal humanity and build reader trust. Click here to listen or read the transcript Editing a Novel: Self-editing, Finding and Working with an Editor, and more editing tipsHow 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? A solo episode with me! In the intro, Poetry craft and business; How to get your book featured in local media without a publicist; and thoughts on faith and code. Click here to listen or read the transcript
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Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn
Inspiration and information about writing craft and author business. For independent creatives.
Hello Creatives, I was in Oxford last weekend for a university reunion. It was both strange and wonderful to sit across from people I last knew in my twenties and hear what their lives have become. Some have taken paths you might have predicted. Others have gone places no one would have guessed. A creative life rarely runs in a straight line, and I find I’m most drawn to the unexpected stories, the people who started over, who found their work later, who are still figuring it out. Decades in,...
Hello Creatives, One of the most common questions that authors are asked is: "Where do you get your ideas?" Well, for me, it's often about where I travel and what I find there. In 1999, I sailed on a tall ship from Fiji to Vanuatu in the south pacific, and something about that crossing never let me go. I just couldn’t find the right story for it ... until now. Bones of the Deep has finally arrived, with a setting that takes you out on the open ocean, the stolen bones of a merfolk culture, and...
Hello Creatives, Last week was a busy time at London Book Fair, always a sign that it's spring here in the UK! I talked about my experience in the intro to this week's podcast episode, which is also on writing characters, so have a listen if you're interested in the Book Fair craziness, and you can see pics here on Instagram. I'm in the last stages of the prep for the Bones of the Deep Kickstarter, launching in April, and also starting research for my next ARKANE thriller, Crown of Thorns,...