In this solo episode, I talk about my lessons learned from 13 years as a full-time author entrepreneur. You can read/listen to previous updates at TheCreativePenn.com/timeline.















Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller, dark fantasy, horror, crime, and memoir author as J.F. Penn. She’s also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker.







You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below.









* It takes time to pivot your author brand — and your mindset, but my dark horse is (finally) running!







* Let your dark horse run — an excerpt from Writing the Shadow by Joanna Penn







* It takes time to change your creative and business processes







* Having a (tiny) paywall makes all the difference to my happiness and mental health







* I love making beautiful books, and I love BookVault and Kickstarter for helping me make them and sell them direct







* My physical health is more important than ever, and I am now giving it more time









Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. 







Sign up for my free Author Blueprint at TheCreativePenn.com/blueprint 







Buy my books for authors at www.CreativePennBooks.com and my fiction and memoir at www.JFPennBooks.com.







Sign up for my new Kickstarter: www.JFPenn.com/bloodvintage 















Lessons learned from 13 years as a full-time author entrepreneur







Thirteen years ago, in Sept 2011, I left my day job to become a full-time author-entrepreneur. Every year since I have reflected on the journey and what I learn along the way.







My challenges change and grow along with the business and you will likely be at a different stage, but I hope you find my lessons learned useful along your own author path.







You can read all my lessons learned from previous years on my timeline so far – and remember, just like everyone else, I started out by writing my first book with no audience!







But with time and continued effort, everything is possible.







(1) It takes time to pivot your author brand — and your mindset, but my dark horse is (finally) running!







Back in December 2023, over 8 months ago now, I announced I would be making a slow pivot to focus more on my J.F. Penn books.