What does it take to write thirty-plus books, host a weekly show with millions of downloads and still find time to experiment with the latest tech? Best-selling thriller author and creative entrepreneur Joanna Penn believes it all comes down to smart routines and an unquenchable curiosity.

In this episode we dig into two of Joanna’s freshest obsessions – razor-sharp productivity and the fast-moving world of audio – and discover why both matter more than ever in an era of lockdowns, online everything and voice-first gadgets.

‘If you can change a writing habit you’ve had for years, what else might be possible?’ – tune in to hear Joanna’s toolkit for reinvention.

Episode summary

Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling thriller writer (as J.F. Penn) and the host of The Creative Penn podcast, a fixture of the indie-publishing world since 2009. She has turned her fascination with the business – and neuroscience – of creativity into a series of practical handbooks that help writers thrive in the 21st century.

Her latest titles, Productivity for Authors and Audio for Authors, arrived just as the pandemic pushed millions of creatives to master new routines and new media. In this conversation Joanna shares field-tested tactics for getting work done at home, plus a tour of the audio landscape from podcasts and smart speakers to AI-generated voices.

Big ideas in this conversation

• Redefine ‘busy’ – separate meaningful creative work from background noise, then guard it with clear boundaries.


• Build an audio ecosystem – podcasts, audiobooks and voice assistants let you reach listeners far beyond the page or studio.


• Experiment with AI narration – synthetic voices will slash production costs and open fresh formats for storytellers.


• Use crisis as catalyst – forced change can reveal new habits, skills and business models you might never have tried.

Advice worth hearing in full

• Start with your body – ergonomic tweaks and movement breaks are the hidden engine of long-term productivity.


• Think ‘one creative groove’ ahead – if a ritual stops working, change the soundtrack, the venue or the method and keep writing.


• Record your voice today – the quickest way to overcome mic fear is to hit ‘record’, answer one question and listen back.

Where next?

Dive deeper at The Creative Penn where you’ll find Joanna’s podcasts, courses and a library of free resources for writers. Fiction fans can explore her thrillers at jfpenn.com, and anyone curious about voice tech can test a sample of Joanna’s AI-generated voice on her site.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Joanna Penn on Productivity and Audio for Creatives appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.