Contact Joanna Penn

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• Hi Joanna:
  Your website looks terrific. What an inspiration you are and don't you forget it.
  Looking forward to purchasing the author 2.0 in about a week.
  I really appreciate your support in creating bring my book to fruition.
  Namaste,

  Linda in Oregon

• I just finished a novel on twitter - written in the style of twitter. I was wondering if you had any advice about sharing our work with others doing similar types of things.

• Joanna:

  I've read about Author 2.0 and your blog; both are exciting and giving me a push! I have a manuscript that is complete, however, I would like to revise it. Can you advise the best resource to assist in this? Everyone seems to have a different opinion. I am anxious to complete the work and this time get it out there! My first attempt was the traditional publishing route which drove me insane and costs a fortune. With current technology and the ability to integrate marketing techniques I find Author2Zero fascinatining. I am anxious to get started! Thanks for your inspirartion.

  Thanks,
  Bev Walden

  • I have been having GREAT fun using lulu.com and createspace.com, which I prefer because of the shipping charges to Australia.

• Hi Bev,

  Thanks for your comment.
  so glad you are enjoying the Author 2.0 Blueprint - there is more on the actual course here
  http://author2zero.com/signup/

  In terms of your manuscript, I would recommend an editor - if you're in Australia, try this site
  http://www.awmonline.com.au/Home.aspx

  or elsewhere try this listing, http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2008/12/22/editors-best-resources/

  Then you should definitely look at Print-on-demand as your publishing option - details here
  http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2008/12/03/what-is-print-on-demand-and-why-should-i-do-it/
  http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/07/16/print-on-demand-will-save-you-money/
  http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/06/18/video-print-on-demand-changed-my-life/

  Please do let me know any further questions - Thanks, Joanna

• I love your writing and your blog really gives so much valuable information. You really do a great job! Keep up the great work and hope to connect! I'm following you now on twitter.
  Lu
  (writingsbylu on twitter / wordpress: is the website I gave you or you can google the diary of a sand writer) Hope we can chat soon!

• Hi Joanna,

  Just stumbled upon your site. Good work. It's an excellent resource for writers.

• Hi, I'd like to say that I really enjoy your podcasts and articles. I'm a fairly new subsrciber. The first episode that I heard was the one with Tony Eldridge. He was talking about his first novel 'The Samson Effect.' You both discussed your love for adventure fiction and the work of James Rollins. (bare with me I am getting to my point) I really enjoyed the interview mostly because it hit very close to home. I have been working on my own novel which will be an adventure in the vein of James Rollins, Clive Cussler, Indiana Jones, etc... My question is this: I have never traveled the world. I have never even left the continental U.S. other than on a fishing boat. How do authors write so vividly about places they have never been? I'm sure that Clive Cusslor, James Rollins and even Tony Eldridge have not traveled to all the locals they write about. I understand research is key but I can do all the research in the world and then write a very clinical description of a far off destination but a good writer can make you believe you are there on the street with the locals, smelling the fumes and hearing the chatter of every day life. Imagination is key too but there again I am always concerned about the freedom of creative license to expound upon the actual in order to tell my story. Sorry I know this is complicated question but I felt like it was one that may make for an interesting interview question or an article. Thanks for listening to my exasperated ramblings. Again, thanks for the podcasts, I have found them great to listen to as well as informative.

• Thanks Luanne and Richard.

  Josh - great question - I will deal with it in a blog post this month. I'll let you know when scheduled! Thanks for the idea!

• Hi Joanna, My name is tiffany i'm 17 years old and i'm a young offender in the NLYC . Ever since i was a little girl i've always wanted to be come a writer i never in my dreams thought I'd be locked up. I've been her for almost about a year and i started to take manners into my own hands i decide to follow my dreams. I was stuck on my book for a bout a few weeks and never knew what to write till i ask staff here to find something to help me and i came across your podcast and they have helped me so much .. and i would like to thank-you for that. - Tiffany

  • Hi Tiffany,

    Thanks so much for your comment, and I am so glad that the information is useful to you.
    I will continue to put out podcasts and blog posts so I hope they encourage you - and if you have questions, please do let me know.
    I want to send you positive thoughts as you are in a hard situation - I hope you can write about your experience and that it helps you through these times.
    You might find this useful
    http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/12/16/when-should-you-use-your-personal-pain-in-your-writing/
    People shared comments about hard times in their lives, so I hope that is also encouraging.

    Keep

  • I found writing a wonderful release from pain, after my sister committed suicide. It really was a way to focus on what's really important. I now write postcards to prissioners through the compassionate budhist program:
    http://www.LiberationPrisonProject.org
    which has helped many people not re-offend.

    • Hi Lesley,

      After my little brother committed suicide, I finally started finding release by making him the protagonist in about half my novels, short stories, etc. I like your way too.

      Michael

• I enjoyed your most enthusiastic talk to Gold Coast Writers last Saturday, and look forward to attending your workshop.
  Lucky for us that you are a professional writer - I, being an amateur, would have spelled "license" (your Home Page - Technorati) as in Share Alike 2.5 Australia "licence"
  For more examples of my non-professional editing, my book "Tales from Down Under - A Collection of Australasian Short Stories" is in the Gold Coast library.

  Cheers

  John Clark
  Maybe I have just established the first plank of my author's platform?

  • Hi John, I do use a mix of US and UK/AU spelling. It just depends on the day!