What does it really mean to treat your writing as a business?

In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author and entrepreneur Joanna Penn to explore how writers can build a sustainable writing business without losing their creative spark.

If you want to move from hobbyist to professional author, this conversation breaks down what a real author business looks like — from mindset shifts to practical systems.

We cover:

• What a writing business actually is (and why most authors get this wrong)
• How to balance writing as a business without burnout or overwhelm
• How to get inside your reader’s head and clearly define your target audience
• The essential steps to kickstart your author business today
• Direct book selling, special editions, and owning your customer relationship
• Book marketing methods that still work — email marketing, paid advertising, and author networking
• How to use AI in your writing business (marketing content, concept images, Amazon ads optimisation, book descriptions and more)
• How Joanna Penn uses AI herself to support her fiction and non-fiction author income
• Time management strategies for writers building a business while improving craft

If you’re serious about turning your writing into income, this episode will help you think strategically, act intentionally, and build long-term author resilience.

Because writing as a business isn’t about selling out — it’s about building freedom.

About Joanna Penn

Non-fiction for authors: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/books-for-authors/

Fiction (J.F. Penn): https://jfpennauthor.com/books/

The Creative Penn Podcast: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

Socials: Website: https://www.thecreativepenn.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jfpennauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCreativePenn X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecreativepenn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCreativePenn

✍️ Join Our Community and Access Writing Tools:

Join The Discord Community: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

Richie's Patreon for free stories: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RichieBilling

Website and writing classes: ⁠https://richiebilling.com/online-writing-classes

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fantasywriterstoolshed/

✍️ Access The Free Class Here: Email Marketing For Writers and Authors

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools available to writers and authors — and it’s about to change.

In this podcast episode, we break down how email marketing works for writers right now, and where it’s heading in 2026. Using real data, platform insights, and author-specific examples, we explore why email still outperforms social media, how writers use it to sell books and grow Patreon memberships, and what separates emails that get ignored from emails that drive real engagement.

We cover the fundamentals every writer needs to understand: choosing the right email platform, setting clear goals, building welcome sequences, improving open and click rates, and creating sustainable email routines. You’ll learn how subject lines, preview text, timing, frequency, and structure directly affect performance — and how to build genuine reader relationships rather than sending forgettable broadcasts.

Crucially, we also look ahead to email marketing trends in 2026, including:

• How inbox providers are prioritising engagement quality over volume
• Why generic drip sequences are losing effectiveness
• The rise of interactive emails, surveys, and community-driven content
• How AI is shaping email creation, analysis, and personalisation
• Why newsletters are becoming a primary publishing platform for writers

This episode isn’t about spam tactics or quick wins. It’s about future-proofing your email strategy, owning your audience, and using email as the central hub of your writing career — not just a promotional afterthought.

Ideal for:

• Writers and authors at any stage
• Indie authors selling ebooks, paperbacks, audiobooks, or subscriptions
• Creators who want clarity, consistency, and long-term audience control

✍️ Join Our Community and Access Writing Tools:

Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

Richie's Patreon for free stories: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RichieBilling

Website and writing classes: ⁠https://richiebilling.com/online-writing-classes

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fantasywriterstoolshed/

RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning fantasy author of the Wounded Kingdom and Tide Child trilogies, and certainly one of the best writers around right now.

In this in-depth interview, RJ shares his story of getting into writing, honing his craft, and the process of creating his brilliant stories.

We delve into creating characters and worldbuilding, psychological challenges and how to overcome them, and RJ shares his best pieces of advice for all writers out there looking to learn something new.

✍️ More from RJ Barker:

Website: ⁠https://www.rjbarker.com/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/rjbarker.bsky.social

Books: https://store.orbit-books.co.uk/collections/author-rj-barker

✍️ Join our community & writing tools:

Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

Website and writing classes: ⁠https://richiebilling.com/