End-of-Life University Ep. 490 How to Write Non-Fiction About Death, Dying and Grief with Joanna Penn
Learn why and how to share your end-of-life wisdom and stories by writing a non-fiction book.
My guest Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She is also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Her most recent publication is the 2nd edition of How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words. Today we discuss the challenges of writing non-fiction books about difficult and personal subjects like death and grief. Joanna offers her best tips and encouragement for anyone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know where to begin. Learn more about her work at her website:
This episode includes:
- Types of non-fiction books and how to choose the best format for your subject matter
- Why you don’t have to be an expert or “great” writer to write a book
- Why and how to identify the target market for your writing
- Choosing the best title for your book (and why it’s important)
- The balance between writing what you think people need vs. what people want to read
- The challenge of vulnerability in writing memoir
- Why you need an outside editor or proofreader for your book
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Joanna’s online bookstore: https://creativepennbooks.com/en-us
- My interview on The Creative Penn Podcast: Writing About Death, Dying and Grief
- My interview on Books and Travel Podcast: Memento Mori: How Travel Can Help Us Deal with Death and Grief
- NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving
- Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
- Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
- Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
- Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
- Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
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- Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here
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