

106: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur - Interview with Joanna Penn
Hey there Word Nerds!
Today's episode is especially dear to my heart because I'm interviewing Joanna Penn, author and creative entrepreneur. She is the mastermind behind The Creative Penn, one of the top 10 sites for writers and has penned several nonfiction books helping writers build their platforms. She also writes thrillers under the pen name J.F. Penn. She is a self-publishing superstar and I am so thrilled to have her on the show
To hear me and Joanna geek out over writing, marketing and all things bookish, listen in here:
In this episode Joanna and I discuss:- Deciding to self-publish and how to learn the ropes
- Defining what you consider success in your craft
- The business side of writing
- How marketing can be creative and collaborative
- Figuring out the target audience for your book
Joanna's books on marketing are among my go-to resources. My favorite thus far is Business for Authors: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur, which breaks down the business aspects of writing into small, manageable chunks. While I recognize that not all authors want to be entrepreneurs per se, we all need to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and treat our writing both as an art and as a business. Joanna's books can show you how to do just that.
Her latest book, The Successful Author Mindset, digs deep and unpacks all those hurdles that writers face, to help you break through those barriers. A writer after my own heart, Joanna is not one to waste time (or words) on fluff. Every book I've read by her is to the point and jam-packed with actionable advice.
As with most of the to books we recommend at DIY MFA, the above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one or more of Joanna's books via those links (which you totally should, by the way) then DIY MFA will get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting DIY MFA and our featured authors!
For more info and show notes: DIYMFA/com/106