Not Too Busy To Write
Penny Wincer
Penny Wincer is not too busy to write. Except of course, sometimes she is too busy to write as much as she would like. Join Penny as she has conversations with other writers about writing, publishing and creativity whilst juggling all the demands on them such as motherhood, caring and other paid work.
Penny Wincer is the author of two narrative non-fiction books, Tender and Home Matters and a non-fiction writing coach. She's an Australian and long-term resident of London, a mother of two teenagers, an unpaid carer and always attempting to get just a little more writing done.
Penny Wincer is the author of two narrative non-fiction books, Tender and Home Matters and a non-fiction writing coach. She's an Australian and long-term resident of London, a mother of two teenagers, an unpaid carer and always attempting to get just a little more writing done.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 10, 2021 • 54min
Episode 4 - Feeding our Creativity
Aside from sitting down to actually write, where else do we get our creative energy and ideas from?From solo afternoon trips to the cinema, visits to modern art installations and long drives alone, this episode is all about how we feed our creativity, spark new ideas and solve creative problems. Becoming aware of how we feed our creativity is one thing - but how do we then protect that creative time? Penny and Ali talk about how they prioritise those activities by treating it as part of the process and why they think we should all take it seriously.Links mentioned in the show5x15 spoken word eventsHay Festival PlayerArvon at HomeEdinburgh Book Festival Mr B's Emporium Book SubscriptionGalley Beggar's Press subscriptionGirl A - Abigail DeanPew - Catherine LaceyThe Silence - Don DelilloThe Divers' Game - Jesse Ball
Mar 3, 2021 • 1h
Episode 3 - Author Ilona Bannister - When I Ran Away
This week Ali and Penny are joined by debut author, Ilona Bannister, whose novel, When I Ran Away, is released in the UK on 4th March by Two Roads books and on 30th March in the US with Doubleday Books.When I Ran Away is a startling novel, funny and hard hitting, it tells the story of GiGi, an American mother of two living in London who just can't manage to do it all. In this fascinating and wide reaching episode, Ilona talks about how, after having children, she felt it was hugely important to write honestly about the effects of motherhood, trauma and grief, and in doing so breaking the narrative that we can have it all.Ilona tells Ali and Penny about her journey to publishing, how she set her own deadlines, treated the novel writing process like work before it was paid work, as well as what steps she took to maximise her changes of success. Books discussed When I Ran Away - Ilona BannisterWow, No Thank You - Samantha IrbyMrs Death Misses Death - Salena GoddenLuster - Raven LeilaniH(A)PPY - Nicola BarkerInsatiable - Daisy BuchannonYou can find Ilona Bannister on Instagram @ilona.bannisterYou can find Ali Millar of instagram @ali_millar_writesAnd Penny Wincer on instagram @pennywincer
Feb 24, 2021 • 48min
Episode 2 - How to Dismiss Ideal Conditions
The myth of ideal conditions can discourage us from getting on with a project, it's tempting instead to wait until things get easier or better. Just how do we let go of this idea and get down to work? Ali and Penny talk about how they've learnt to dismiss ideal conditions, instead accepting where they are, even if it's a bit shit. They examine the upsides of time constraints and how it can be important to dismiss what other (often male) writers say about routines, as well as why why neither of them believe in the muse. Links mentioned in the episode:Why I won't try to be super-mum - by Penny Wincer for The TelegraphMother for Dinner - Shalom Auslander Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 - Cho Nam-Joo
Feb 17, 2021 • 1h 7min
Episode 1 - Who are we and how on earth are we managing to write at the moment
In the first episode of Not Too Busy To Write, Ali and Penny introduce themselves and how they came to writing and ask the big question - how the hell are they managing to write at the moment? This episode was recorded in London in January 2021 during lockdown (not, as Penny accidentally says, January 2001!!!) and between them Ali and Penny have a whole lot of kids and complications.Books mentionedHamnet - Maggie O'FarrellThe Creative Habit - Twyla TharpThe Rules Do Not Apply - Ariel LevyOther linksMaggie O'Farrell interviewed by Stuart Kelly for EIBFAli can be found on Instagram @ali_millar_writes and via her website alimillar.comPenny can be found on Instagram @pennywincer and via her website pennywincerwrites.com
Jan 17, 2021 • 2min
Trailer
Ali Millar and Penny Wincer are Not Too Busy To Write. Except sometimes they are too busy to write as much as they would like. Join us as we discuss the highs and lows of sitting down to the work, feeding our creativity and navigating the world of publishing. We’ll be looking at giving ourselves permission to write before it’s paid work, finding our feet in new genres, dismissing ideal conditions, bringing skills from other careers into our writing life and the joys (and sometimes pain!) of book marketing.You can find Ali Millar at www.alimillar.com and on Instagram And Penny Wincer at www.pennywincerwrites.com and on instagramwww.nottoobusytowrite.com
