Trust Your Creativity And Choose Yourself With Jen Louden

How can you continue to create when you're plagued with self-doubt? How can you let go of your fears and trust your creativity in order to move forward as a writer? In today's show, Jen Louden shares her lessons learned about writing and self-care.

In the intro, I talk about Publish Drive's new move into the subscription model. I talked to CEO Kinga Jentetics who said, “PublishDrive no longer considers itself an ebook distributor. It is now a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company with payment for services, not for royalties.” After a decade of indie authors using royalty split with established vendors, PD is shaking things up. With the new tools on offer, the model will be more profitable for those authors who go all in. Interesting times!

In other news, one author writes a viral article about how she failed to understand the economic model of publishing and ended up spiraling downward in terms of advances [Medium] and Dean Wesley Smith posts a response on the trad vs. indie financial models [The Math] and then again addressing specific concerns [Math Additions]. I began my own financial education in my late 20s and continue to read books and listen to podcasts on money, investments, business, and economics every week. It's important as no one else can learn this stuff for you. Creatives, empower yourself!

Plus, Descript has bought Lyrebird [Techcrunch] and since I have talked about both companies in my AI focus this year, I'm very excited! I use Descript for transcription and audio editing, and with Lyrebird, they are introducing Overdub, AI-generated voice editing, and also Voice Double in the future [Descript blog]. Could this be the AI-generated audiobook software of the future?

In my personal update, lessons learned from 8 years as an author entrepreneur, and notes from my book research trip to Lisbon.

Today's show is sponsored by Reedsy. Do you need a professional editor or book cover designer? Do you need help with marketing, publicity or advertising? Find a curated list of vetted professionals at the Reedsy marketplace, along with free training on writing, self-publishing and book marketing. Check it out at: www.TheCreativePenn.com/reedsy

Jen Louden is the international best-selling author of eight non-fiction books on well-being, whole living, and creativity as well as a coach, professional speaker, and retreat leader.

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