February 17, 2025

Ep. 490 How to Write Non-Fiction About Death, Dying and Grief with Joanna Penn

1 hour 6 minutes

Learn why and how to share your end-of-life wisdom and stories by writing a non-fiction book.

My guest Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She is also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Her most recent publication is the 2nd edition of How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words. Today we discuss the challenges of writing non-fiction books about difficult and personal subjects like death and grief. Joanna offers her best tips and encouragement for anyone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know where to begin. Learn more about her work at her website:

thecreativepenn.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

Types of non-fiction books and how to choose the best format for your subject matter

Why you don’t have to be an expert or “great” writer to write a book

Why and how to identify the target market for your writing

Choosing the best title for your book (and why it’s important)

The balance between writing what you think people need vs. what people want to read

The challenge of vulnerability in writing memoir

Why you need an outside editor or proofreader for your book

Links mentioned in this episode:

Joanna’s online bookstore: https://creativepennbooks.com/en-us

My interview on The Creative Penn Podcast: Writing About Death, Dying and Grief

My interview on Books and Travel Podcast: Memento Mori: How Travel Can Help Us Deal with Death and Grief

NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving

Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death

Get EOLU Podcast Merch here

Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here

Leave me a message by email: [email protected], Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul

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Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here

Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!

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If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest supporters Morgan Everitt and Minda Sanchez. Also thank you to everyone who has bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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By Karen Wyatt MD

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