Book Alchemy
The Secret Library Podcast
The Shadow Side of Writing and Publishing | Joanna Penn
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The Shadow Side of Writing and Publishing | Joanna Penn

This might be one of the most vulnerable episodes of the Secret Library I’ve shared so far. Joanna Penn joins and shares why she’s chosen to publish on Kickstarter rather than going the traditional route. We also do a bit of a live coaching session as we talk through the shadow over all, but also my shadow about publishing. Learn how to embrace it, and get the courage to put your work out there (all of it!). This episode is full of gems, enjoy!

Topics Discussed

  • Allowing your dark horse and white horse to run together to create a whole person, especially as a creative

  • How embracing your shadow can allow you to stand out in a busy market

  • What the shadow self actually is (not just murder or another dark topic) and why Joanna considers “lazy” a part of her shadow

  • The drawbacks the come with being overeducated as a writer and how this can lead to fear of judgment and perfectionism

  • Why Joanna has chosen the avenue of Kickstarter to publish her most recent novel rather than a traditional publishing route

  • The encouragement to put your work out there without the fear of judgement

Episode Resources

Connect with Joanna

Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carodonahue


Discussion about this podcast

Book Alchemy
The Secret Library Podcast
Most people believe that books are created in cabins all alone, where authors pound away on some manner of keyboard. Then they hand this masterpiece off to a publisher and it feels very much like it goes down a tube and comes out the other side as a book. By speaking to authors and other book lovers, I'm diving into the mystery that is the book world today.