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Not Too Busy To Write

Books & Literature

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 Tender (Hodder, June 2020), a mother of two, a non-fiction writing coach and an Australian and long-term resident of London. She’s currently writing her second narrative non-fiction book, Home Matters (July 2024) and working on her first novel.

Location:

United States

Description:

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 Tender (Hodder, June 2020), a mother of two, a non-fiction writing coach and an Australian and long-term resident of London. She’s currently writing her second narrative non-fiction book, Home Matters (July 2024) and working on her first novel.

Language:

English


Episodes

Stacey Heale on writing about death and life

3/27/2024
Stacey Heale is a fashion academic and writer whose husband Greg was diagnosed with terminal cancer when their youngest daughter was just a baby. Greg died 5 years later. In her memoir Now Is Not The Time For Flowers, Stacey writes about the big conversations that arise from imminent death. In this epsiode Stacey and I talk about writing about the dead, abandoning the typical memoir structure and the very funny side of a very dark experience. Now Is Not The Time For Flowers is out March 28th Links Now Is Not The Time For Flowers - Stacey Heale Stacey Heale on Instagram @stacey_heale Not Too Busy To Write on Substack - pennywincer.substack.com

Duration:00:47:30

Jesse Sutanto on writing a best selling series

3/20/2024
Jesse Sutanto is the best selling author of Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wang's Unsolicited Advise for Murders and the winner of the Comic Writer in Print Award 2021. Jesse and I chat about her latest book in her very funny Aunties crime series The Good, The Bad and The Auntie, about her journey from Oxford MFA in Creative Writing, to leaning into her irreverent funny side and the success it led to. We also talk about writing drafts in 5 weeks (yes 5 weeks!!), the joy of sharing her Indo-Chinese culture with the rest fo the world and her favourite funny authors. Links The Good, The Bad and The Aunties - Jesse Sutanto Dial A For Aunties - Jesse Sutanto Vera Wang's Unsolicited Advice for Murders - Jesse Sutanto Jesse Sutanto on Instagram @jesseqsutanto Not Too Busy To Write on Substack pennywincer.substack.com Write Your Non-Fiction Book Proposal with Penny Wincer is at 7pm March 27th Book you place here - pennywincerwrites.com/workshops Podcast listeners can use the code TOOBUSY at checkout to receive £5 off

Duration:00:33:52

Charlotte Wood on writing craft and Australian fiction

3/13/2024
Charlotte Wood is an award winning Australian author of 10 books including the 2016 Stella Prize winner The Natural Way of Things and the 2020 international bestseller The Weekend. Her latest novel Stone Yard Devotional is about a woman who abandons her life, her marriage, her career and retreats to a religious community in a remote area of Australia, where she grew up. Charlotte and I talk about the themes that come up in her work, how her craft has changed over the course of her career, why it's so important to her to not over explain to the reader and of course, her favourite Australian fiction writers. Links Stone Yard Devotional - Charlotte Wood The Weekend - Charlotte Wood The Natural Way of Things - Charlotte Wood The Writers Room - Charlotte Wood The Slap - Christos Tsiolkas The Golden Age - Joan London The Good Parents - Joan London The Conversion - Amanda Lohrey Charlotte Wood's Substack - charlottewood.substack.com charlottewoodauthor.com.au Not Too Busy To Write on Substack - pennywincer.substack.com

Duration:00:42:27

Tamu Thomas on women who work too much

3/6/2024
Tamu Thomas is a transformational coach whose debut book Women Who Work Too Much helps over-achieving, over-functioning women set boundaries, find joy and flourish. In this conversation we talk about natural (rather than toxic) productivity, radical rest and why work (not over work) can be a positive thing. This is such an important conversation for those of us who are writers and have blurred boundaries between work, rest and play. Links Women Who Work Too Much - Tamu Thomas Tamu on Instagram @tamu.thomas Tamu on TikTok @tamu_thomas Book your place on the Non-fiction Book Proposal Workshop 27th March 2024 7pm Discount code for podcast listeners - TOOBUSY pennywincerwrites.com/workshops Not Too Busy to Write on Substack - pennywincer.substack.com

Duration:00:50:49

Bijal Shah on the power of bibliotherapy

2/21/2024
Author Bijal Shah is a trained Bibliotherapist who brings the power of reading into the therapy room. It's a technique that dates back to Ancient Greece and Bijal shares some of the tools and techniques she uses in todays episode. Certain that reading is a big part of your mental wellbeing? You will love this episode which does a deep dive into why books matter and how we can get the most out of our reading experience. Links Bibliotherapy: The healing power of reading by Bijal Shah Bijal Shah's website Not Too Busy To Write on Substack pennywincer.substack.com

Duration:00:57:14

Amy Arthur on pacing yourself as a writer

2/8/2024
Amy Arthur is an award winning writer and science journalist whose new book Pace Yourself is a practical guide to pacing - a tool developed to the manage symptoms of chronic illnesses like ME/CFS which Amy was diagnosed with as a teenager. This is such an important (and practical) conversation, not just for those who are managing chronic illnesses but for any writer juggling writing alongside many other responsibilities, who constantly feel like they never have quite enough energy. Links Pace Yourself - Amy Arthur Amy Arthur on Instagram @a_e_arthur Not Too Busy To Write on Substack pennywincer.substack.com Penny on Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:00:50:59

Jessica Bull on blending fact and fiction

2/7/2024
Jessica Bull's debut novel Miss Austen Investigates sets Jane Austen up as an amateur sleuth, when a dead woman is discovered at a ball and her beloved brother is arrested and facing the noose. I had so much fun talking to Jessica about the challenges of blending fact and fiction, her passion of Jane Austen (and the books and films that have been inspired by her) and the pleasures of researching late Georgian England. Miss Austen Investigates is a delight and is out now Links Miss Austen Investigates - Jessica Bull Jessica Bull on Instagram @jessicabullnovelist Jessica Bull on Twitter @NovelistJessica Not Too Bust To Write on Substack - pennywincer.substack.com Book coaching with Penny Wincer - pennywincerwrites.com

Duration:00:47:53

Katherine May on writer boundaries

11/29/2023
Katherine May is the Sunday Times and New York Times best selling author of Enchantment. Today we talk about the challenges of writing a follow up to her phenomenal bestseller Wintering, the importance of writers being open about the constraints they face, especially successful authors and advocating for accessibility while promoting your work. We also do a deep dive into Substack and why Katherine loves it so much and the importance of writers getting paid for their work. links Enchantment - Katherine May Wintering - Katherine May The Electricity of Every Living Thing - Katherine May The Clearing - Katherine's Substack Katherine May's Accessibility and Language Guide Not Too Busy To Write on Substack Penny Wincer's book coaching - pennywincerwrites.com

Duration:00:53:52

Marisa Bate on writing the political and personal

11/22/2023
Marisa Bate is a freelance journalist, women's rights advocate and author of Wild Hope. Part memoir, part reportage and part social history, Wild Hope tells the story of expanding and contracting women's rights in America through two bus journey's across the mid west - one by Marisa's mother in the 70s and the other, by Marisa in 2021. In this episode Marisa talks about finding hope in dark times, keeping faith in action and writing your own story when it so intertwined with the stories of others. Links Wild Hope - Marisa Bate Writing About Women - Marisa Bate's substack Not Too Busy To Write on Substack Non-fiction writing coaching with Penny - pennywincerwrites.com Penny on instagram @pennywincer

Duration:01:06:56

Laura Bates on the power of storytelling in activism

11/15/2023
Laura Bates is a Sunday Times Bestselling author, an activist and speaker. Laura founded the Everyday Sexism Project in 2012 and has gone on to write multiple best selling non-fiction books about gender equality. She has spoken in the United Nations, the Houses of Parliament, is regularly called on to provide evidence for parliamentary reports and has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her work on gender equality. Laura also writes Young Adult fiction and today we are discussing her latest novel Sisters of Sword and Shadow and why she's so passionate about writing for young people, the incredible power of storytelling and why activism needs fiction as well as non-fiction. Links Sisters of Sword and Shadow - Laura Bates Fix the System, Not the Women - Laura Bates Men Who Hate Women - Laura Bates Everyday Sexism - Laura Bates The Burning - Laura Bates Glitch Charity - Promoting Online Safety for women and girls Not Too Busy To Write on Substack Penny on Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:00:41:04

Huma Qureshi on fiction and borrowing from life

11/8/2023
Award winning writer Huma Qureshi returns to the podcast to discuss her debut novel Playing Games, a story about two sisters, their very different ways of processing grief and the question over whether it's ok for a writer to take from real life. We talk about the challenges of moving from short to long form fiction, the pluses (and minuses) of having a two book deal and the pleasures of writing about a writer. Huma is also a brilliant creative writing teacher and we discuss her style as a teacher and some of her favourite book recommendations for writers. Playing Games is out Nov 9th Links Playing Games - Huma Qureshi Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love - Huma Qureshi How We Met - Huma Qureshi Huma's creative writing classes Sign Up to Dear Huma newsletter Huma Qureshi on Not Too Busy To Write in 2021 Recommended Books American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld Help Yourself - Curtis Sittenfeld Writers and Lovers - Lily King Dear Life - Alice Monroe Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri

Duration:01:12:17

Karen Haller on publishing non-fiction as an expert

11/1/2023
What's it like to publish a book as an expert in your field? Karen Haller is a behavioural colour and design psychology expert and is the author of The Little Book of Colour. Karen and I talk about some of the highs and lows of traditional publishing, some of the particular challenges she faced, as well as the many opportunities it opened up for her when her book became a huge success and was published in 14 languages. We also dive into what colour psychology is and how the book fits into Karen's aim to help people be less afraid of using colour. Links The Little Book of Colour - Karen Haller Karen Haller's website and newsletter Download a free ebook on Colour Myths Karen Haller on Instagram @karen_haller_colour Penny's Cornish Writing Retreat Feb 2024 - pennywincerwrites.com/retreat You can sign up to Penny's Substack Not Too Busy To Write

Duration:00:49:59

Kate Sawyer on second novels and career changes

10/25/2023
Kate Sawyer is novelist and podcaster with a background in theatre producing and acting. Her first novel The Stranding was shortlisted for the Costa first novel award in 2021 and today we are talking about her second novel This Family. We talk about how her career in theatre has fed into her work as a novelist, genre expectations and how being a solo mother by choice made her rethink how she was going to earn a living and flex her creative muscles. Kate is the host of the wonderful podcast Novel Experience - if you are a fan of Not Too Busy To Write, then this is right up your street. Available on all your favourite podcast feeds. links This Family - Kate Sawyer The Stranding - Kate Sawyer Novel Experience podcast with Kate Sawyer Follow Kate on Instagram - @mskatesawyer Follow Penny on Instagram - @pennywincer Sign up to Not Too Busy To Write on Substack

Duration:00:43:42

Marchelle Farrell on memoir and belonging

10/18/2023
Marchelle Farrell's debut memoir Uprooting is about a year of tremendous upheaval and Marchelle's attempt to find home in a garden. In this conversation, we talk about vulnerability in the garden and on the page, identity in medicine and as a writer and how Marchelle's garden gave her a new perspective on colonialism. Uprooting is out now. Links Uprooting - Marchelle Farrell Marchelle on Instagram @afroliage Marchelle on Substack - Afroliage Penny on Instagram @pennywincer Penny's Newsletter

Duration:00:48:12

REPLAY: Beth Kempton on being a fearless writer

8/16/2023
Summer REPLAY series Beth Kempton is a Japanologist, a best selling author and a writing mentor whose books have been translated into 24 languages. Her Latest book The Way of the Fearless Writer challenges the assumption that writing must be a struggle and filled with suffering. We talk about why it's important to know why we write, learning to let go in our writing, when to share our work (and when not to) and learning to trust in writing as a practice. Links The Way of the Fearless Writer - Beth Kempton Freedom Seeker - Beth Kempton Wabi Sabi - Beth Kempton Do What You Love For Life - Writing classes with Beth Kempton The Fearless Writer Podcast Instagram @bethkempton You can sign up to Penny's weekly newsletter about all things writing and finding time to write here Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:01:04:14

REPLAY: Evie Wyld on writing about male violence

8/9/2023
You can sign up to the waitlist for Penny's next Non-Fiction Book Proposal Group at pennywincerwrites.com Summer REPLAY series Evie Wyld is an award winning author of three novels, the latest of which, The Bass Rock, won the Stella Prize 2021. We discuss writing a novel about male violence against a backdrop of #MeToo, and speaking about the subjects in the book in a year of highly publicised violence against women. We also talk about how motherhood, and the nature of writing with young children, led to some of the structural elements of The Bass Rock and how an award like the Stella Prize can create change in a writing career. Links The Bass Rock - Evie Wyld Review Book Shop Peckham Devotion - Hannah Kent The Interestings - Meg Wolitzer You can sign up to Penny's weekly newsletter at pennywincerwrites.com Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:00:38:07

REPLAY: Abigail Bergstrom - literary agent and novelist

8/2/2023
To sign up to the waitlist for Penny's next Non-Fiction Book Proposal Group Program visit pennywincerwrites.com Summer REPLAY series Abigail Bergstrom is a literary agent and consultant, former editor, and now debut novelist. What A Shame is a darkly funny novel about grief, friendship and dabbling in the occult. Abigail talks about the challenges of having a lot of knowledge of the industry whilst writing and having to take her agent hat off in order to write, removing the constraints that made writing feel like 'work' and being conscious of the exchange that happens when we give up other things in order to write on the side of a demanding full time job. Bergstrom Studio is a 360 degree literary consultancy, offering editorial consultancy and representation. As an agent Abigail represents multiple best selling authors and has some excellent advice for those who are going out on submission. Links Bergstrom Studio What A Shame - Abigail Bergstrom Wet Paint - Chloe Ashby Beautiful Country - Xian Julie Wang You can find Abigail on Instagram @abigailbergstrom and @bergstrom.studio You can sign up to Penny's newsletter at pennywincerwrites.com instagram @pennywincer

Duration:00:43:11

REPLAY: Chloe Ashby on writing art in fiction

7/26/2023
Summer Replay Series Chloe Ashby is an arts journalist and author based in London. Her debut novel Wet Paint is about a young woman struggling to move forward after the traumatic death of her best friend, who finds solace in a painting and a life of routine, until a sudden change of circumstances has her undressing for strangers as a life model. We talk about ways of finding your way in to a story as a writer, writing about visual art and exploring ideas of control in characters. We also talk about having an 'affair' with novel writing on the side of other paid writing work and Chloe's life as a freelance arts writer working on non-fiction art books and reviewing exhibitions. links Second Self - Chloe Ashby Wet Paint - Chloe Ashby Look at this if you love great art - Chloe Ashby Colours of Art: The story of art in 80 palletes - Chloe Ashby You can find Chloe Ashby at chloeashby.com Instagram - @chloeashby Twitter - @chloeashby You can find sign up to Penny's Newsletter at pennywincerwrites.com Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:00:41:34

Marina Benjamin and Caro Giles on writing and caring

6/9/2023
It's Carers Week in the UK so I have recorded a bonus episode of teh podcast with two fellow writer carers. Marina Benjamin is the author of many books, the latest of which is A little Give: the unsung, unseen, undone work of women. She also cares for her elderly mother. Caro Giles is the author of Twelve Moons; A year under a share sky and is a single parent to four daughters, two of whom have complex needs. This is a slightly different format to usual, with the three of us discussing our caring roles, the challenges of writing about the topic and the time we 'steal' away from our caring responsibilities to write. This was such a wonderful and honest conversation and I'm so grateful for Marina and Caro for taking the time and being so open about the challenges. Links A Little Give - Marina Benjamin Twelve Moons - Caro Giles Tender - Penny Wincer

Duration:00:43:50

Daisy Buchanan: from journalist to novelist

3/15/2023
Daisy Buchanan is an award winning journalist, author and broadcaster who has had a varied writing career beginning in teen magazines, and now as a novelist. She's also the host of the chart topping podcast You're Booked - one of my favourite podcasts of all time. We talk about Daisy's move from journalist and non-fiction author to fiction, and how terrifying that was, the joys and challenges of writing about sex and the importance of reading for pleasure when you're a writer. Daisy is also very open about the highs and lows of her publishing career and how not everything has been smooth sailing. Links Careering - Daisy Buchanan Insatiable - Daisy Buchanan Limelight - Daisy Buchanan (pre-order) You're Booked Podcast Peter Hujar's Day - Linda Rosenkrantz Kick The Latch - Kathryn Scanlan Daisy Buchanan on Instagram @thedaisybee Penny Wincer on Instagram @pennywincer

Duration:01:13:49