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joanna penn

SPF-103: How to be a Healthy Writer – with Joanna Penn

26 January 2018
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast


Indie author community superstar Joanna Penn talks to James about putting a focus on improving her health and creating a sustainable long-term career as a writer.

This week’s highlights include:

  • Joanna’s collaborations and full production schedule in 2017
  • Making changes to prevent author-entrepreneur burnout
  • Joanna’s break-up letter to sugar
  • Being truthful and vulnerable about health and habits in order to help others
  • On making new healthier habits stick

Resources mentioned in this episode:

PATREON: Self Publishing Formula Podcast’s Patreon page

JUST GIVING: The fundraising page for author Tommy Donbavand

Joanna’s Book: HOW TO BE A HEALTHY WRITER

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SPF-008: Live from the London Book Fair 2016, Part 2 – With Mark Dawson and James Blatch

22 April 2016
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast

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In the second part of our London Book Fair special, Mark and James get to talk to key providers in the digital publishing space such as Draft2Digital, Reedsy and Byte the Book as well as indie publishing guru and author Joanna Penn. And in additional interviews you can hear how four young authors are progressing their dream of becoming full-time self published writers. It’s another podcast packed with ideas, tips and inspiration for authors everywhere!

Show Notes

  • What an aggregator is and how they work to get books into stores authors might otherwise not be able to reach.
  • The growth of Draft 2 Digital and the advantages of using them to distribute books.
  • Tips from Dan at Draft 2 Digital for selling more books.
  • What Reedsy does for authors and how it is different from marketplaces like Fiverr and People Per Hour.
  • On networking and why it matters.
  • How Byte the Book connects authors with agents and publishers, educates both authors and publishers about technology, and connects authors with those in other industries who might use their content.
  • Joanna Penn on the global reach for books, the state of the indie nation and predictions for the future when the outsiders become the mainstream.
  • Why an author’s personal definition of success is so important.
  • Guest spots from a couple of independent authors, including an ex-CID Detective.

You can win a scholarship to Mark Dawson’s acclaimed premium course “Facebook Ads for Authors” by spreading the word about this podcast.

Visit selfpublishingformula.com/contest to enter.

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SPF-001: Best selling Indie Author Interview – With Joanna Penn

26 February 2016
Mark Dawson
Categories: Podcast

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It’s the first full edition of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast! In this episode, bestselling indie author Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn fame talks mistakes, mishaps and triumphs in Self Publishing. She also reflects on the immense changes that have taken place in the industry since her first book was published and provides tips and advice for those starting out on their indie author journey.

Show Notes

  • Mark’s new system of tracking his writing progress and a new sound tool he’s using that has increased his word count.
  • A quick reflection on the state of the indie author nation and the latest Author Earnings Report.
  • On the changes in the publishing industry that Joanna has witnessed since 2008 when she published her first book.
  • The importance of authors ‘getting their names into people’s heads’.
  • The questions authors should ask themselves in order to choose the publishing path that suits them best.
  • Joanna’s predictions about the future of indie publishing and her thoughts on hot trends in indie publishing.
  • What has changed for Joanna since she started writing and publishing, and the advice she would give herself when she was just starting out.
  • The business of non-fiction books vs. fiction.

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