Review of Productivity for Authors by Joanna Penn

I found Productivity for Authors to very practical and readable. Joanna Penn, well known for her sound advice for authors, does a wonderful job of addressing most of the issues facing authors which may be hampering their ability to write productively. At the end of each chapter she includes a list of questions to help authors examine their own practices and start using her suggestions to improve their results. This is not a formulaic recipe for productivity. She is quite blunt in putting the onus right where it should be – on the shoulders of each individual. Basically, she says up front that being a writer is hard work and it is up to writers to quit making excuses and getting in their own way. Achieving the dream of full-time authorship does not equal an easy life, but it can be a very rewarding one. I was impressed with the realistic treatment of the topic in general. It was refreshing in that it didn’t promise ‘success’, offer a magic formula, or list a bunch of ‘hacks’. Instead, she offers very practical advice, based on her own considerable experience and expertise which includes actionable items throughout each chapter. I highly recommend this book for writers both new and seasoned. Joanna Penn’s voice in the current marketplace is sensible, realistic, and one that can be trusted.

Review by Tracy Krauss