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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.

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20 episodes
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S12 · E8
April 29 · 40 min
Ilona Bannister on the humanity and pleasure of thrillers
Ilona Bannister, long time friend of Not Too Busy To Write is on the podcast talking about her new novel and her move from literary fiction to thriller. FIVE is set on a train platform, 5 minutes before a train will arrive and one of the five characters will die. The reader is asked who they think deserves to die. Ilona talks with me about breaking the forth wall, unlikeabe characters and how readers are reacting to confronting their own prejudices, why law school is great training for a writer and the pleasures and humanity of the thriller genre. FIVE is out May 5th Links FIVE - Ilona Bannister Little Prisons - Ilona Bannister When I Ran Away - Ilona Bannister THE FOLD membership for writers - join the 21 Day Writing Challenge! Penny on Instagram @pennywincer
S12 · E7
April 22 · 45 min
Jane Harper on beginning at the end
Jane Harper is the Gold Dagger award winning, bestselling author who defined a new sub genre - Australian Noir - with her breakout debut The Dry in 2016. Today we're talking about her 6th novel Last One Out, a brilliantly dark and twisty novel about a missing son and a dying rural town. Jane talks with me about her extensive outlining process (which begins at the end), what motivated her through the writing of her first novel when she was a full time journalist and why isolated communities make such fantastic settings. Links Last One Out - Jane Harper Aaron Falk Series The Dry - Jane Harper Forces of Nature - Jane Harper Exiles - Jane Harper Jane Harper's Ted Talk Darling Girls - Sally Hepworth Mad Mabel - Sally Hepworth The Mother Fault - Kate Mildenhall THE FOLD membership for writers - 21 Day Writing Challenge begins May 1st!
S12 · E6
April 15 · 51 min
Catherine Newman on the tragicomedy of midlife
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Newman is back on the podcast talking about her hilarious new novel about midlife anxiety Wreck. Catherine talks with me about writing superstitions, hilariously terrible reviews, what success as a novelist has really meant to her and the joy she has found in owning her own publication on Substack after a lifetime writing for other people. Links Wreck by Catherine Newman Sandwich by Catherine Newman We All Want Impossibly Things by Catherine Newman Crone Sandwich - Catherine's Substack THE FOLD membership for writers
S12 · E5
April 1 · 1 hr 5 min
Helen Thorn on total honesty on the page
6 years ago comedian Helen Thorn's life was turned upside down when she discovered her then husband was having a years long affair. Within two years she had written a Sunday Times Best Seller about the experience and it's immediate aftermath - fags, dating and all - but especially about the women who hold us up when life gets us down. Now, she's written a new book reflecting on the strength gained from facing unexpected loss. Helen and I talk about just what there is to be gained from total honesty on the page, some of the women that inspired her to write this book and the calm that has descended after the chaos. Links How To Face Change and Come Back Stronger by Helen Thorn Get Divorced, Be Happy by Helen Thorn Helen Thorn on Instagram Scummy Mummies THE FOLD membership for writers
S12 · E4
March 25 · 48 min
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett on exploring how women are seen through fiction
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is an author and journalist, and today we talking about her new novel Female, Nude, a sexy sultry book about seeing and being seen, which weaves visual art into a story of womanhood, motherhood and disability. We also talk about The Republic of Parenthood, a book made up of the collected columns Rhiannon wrote for the Guardian, weaving in the personal, the political and cultural as she became a mother herself. Links Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett The Republic of Parenthood by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett Year of the Cat by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
S12 · E3
March 18 · 58 min
James Hunt on writing what can't be said out loud
James Hunt's debut memoir Love Needs No Words is the story of a unique fatherhood, caring for his two sons, both of whom are non-speaking and autistic. James talks with me about the decision to write the things he didn't feel he could say out loud to friends and family, and how those words began to reach families all over the world with a shared reality. He talks about needing that connection so much early in his journey, how he came to be able to speak about his own mental health so much more openly and how he hopes this book will reach the many Dads who struggle to be open about their experiences. Links Love Needs No Words by James Hunt SAA Clothing Stories about Autism on Instagram
S12 · E2
March 11 · 1 hr
Lauren Currie on the new rules of confidence
Lauren Currie OBE is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and founder of Upfront, an organisation on a mission to change the confidence of 1 million women. In her new book Be Upfront: 24 Rules of life changing confidence, Lauren picks apart the old rules of confidence that don't serve women and introduces the reader to new rules to live by. We talk about how Lauren's confidence as a writer has grown, why she thinks self doubt is no bad thing (and some men could use a little more of it) and her different experiences of self publishing and traditional publishing. We are giving away copies of Be Upfront on Instagram! To be grab one - follow @_laurencurrie_ and @pennywincer and comment on the competition post to enter. Links Be Upfront by Lauren Currie Taylor Meets The Trick by Lauren Currie Upfront Lauren Currie's newsletter
S12 · E1
March 4 · 1 hr 1 min
Jodi Wilson on breathing space for creativity
Jodi Wilson is a health journalist and author of A Brain That Breathes: Essential habits for an overwhelming world. Jodi talks with me today about how after her third book was published and she was feeling depleted, she became curious about what our brains need to be creative and productive. This book is the result. In the conversation we talk about the uncertainty, magic and hard work of writing books and how tiny pockets of breathing space can transform our creativity and lives. It's lovely to be back for series 12! Links A Brain That Breathes by Jodi Wilson Jodi Wilson on Substack - Practicing Simplicity Jodi Wilson on Instagram The Fold Membership for writers Penny Wincer on Instagram
S11 · E8
Dec 10, 2025 · 42 min
Francesca Segal on creating hope in fictional worlds
Francesca Segal is the author of Welcome to Glorious Tuga and Island Calling, the first two novels in a trilogy about the delightful fictional island of Tuga De Oro in the South Atlantic. Francesca talks with me about fictional world building, the deliberate choice to create a refuge and a community, not without challenges but incredibly hopeful as well as the influence of 19th century literature on the novels, and the joys and challenges of writing interconnected books. We also talk about Francesca's 2019 memoir Mothership, still one of the most incredible accounts of early motherhood I have ever read. links Welcome to Glorious Tuga - Francesca Segal Island Calling - Francesca Segal Mothership - Francesca Segal The Fold membership for writers This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E7
Dec 3, 2025 · 41 min
Literary agent Ciara Finan, Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin and Alice Trew on the Women's Prize Discoveries
Today I am in conversation with not one but three guests! We're talking about the incredible impact of the Women's Prize Discoveries from three perspectives - 2026 Judge and Curtis Brown literary agent Ciara Finan, 2022 shortlistee and author of the extraordinary debut novel Ordinary Saints, Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin and Alice Trew, 2024 shortlistee who has just secured a 2 book deal, the first of which The Hungry Dark, will be out in 2027. Ciara talks us through her work as a literary agent and what she'll be looking for amongst entries in the 2026 prize, and Niamh and Alice talk about their experiences as shortlistees and the incredible impact it has had on their careers and their community as writers. The Women's Prize Discoveries is open to all women aged over 18 who are unagented and unpublished, resident in the UK and Ireland, and writing in English, in any adult fiction genre. The deadline for the 2026 prize is January 12th. Submission is free and requires 10k words and a synopsis. See the link below for more details. Links Women's Prize Discoveries Ordinary Saints - Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin Curtis Brown Creative Ciara Finan at Curtis Brown Alice on Instagram Niamh on Instagram This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E6
Nov 26, 2025 · 41 min
Suzy Reading on the art of being selfish
Chartered psychologist, coach and author Suzy Reading believes women need to learn to be a bit selfish. After many books on the subject of self care and self nourishment, Suzy focuses her new book How To Be Selfish, instead, on the importance of receiving care. Suzy and I talk about why women struggle with self advocacy so much and why it's a vital skill to live a full life, especially one in which we contribute so much to our families and communities. We also talk about why writers specifically need to be a little bit selfish and why it's worth learning how to be. Links How To Be Selfish by Suzy Reading Suzy Reading on Instagram The Fold membership for writers Penny Wincer on Instagram This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E5
Nov 12, 2025 · 52 min
Lily Dunn on the transformative craft of memoir
Lily Dunn is the author of the acclaimed Sins of My Father and her latest book Into Being brings together her experience as a writer and teacher of literary memoir. It's an essential read for anyone embarking on personal narrative form. Lily talks with me about assumptions people get wrong about memoir, the unique relationship between memoirist and reader and the ethics and challenges of writing about other people. Links Into Being by Lily Dunn Sins of My Father by Lily Dunn London Lit Lab Memoir Bootcamp with Lily Dunn The Fold Writers Membership This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E4
Nov 5, 2025 · 45 min
Claire Lynch on hidden histories
Claire Lynch is on the podcast this week talking about her incredible debut novel A Family Matter, the story of a family torn apart and the decades of silence that follows. This is Claire's second time on the podcast - we spoke way back in 2021 about her memoir Small: On Motherhoods. Claire talks with me about when she first discovered how lesbian mothers had access to their children forcibly removed by court order well into the 1990s in the UK and her decision to explore this heartbreaking recent history in fiction. Claire talks about the varied reception the book has had across different regions facing differing political climates, as well as her recent decision to leave her job as a professor of literature and creative writing and write full time. Links A Family Matter by Claire Lynch Small: On Motherhoods by Claire Lynch The Fold Membership for Writers This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E3
Oct 29, 2025 · 40 min
Alice Slater on writing dark and immoral characters
Sunday Times best selling author Alice Slater is with me today talking about her second novel Let The Bad Times Roll, a dark and delicious follow up to her debut Death of a Bookseller. Alice talks with me about the pleasures of writing immoral characters, finding her way into her 'difficult' second novel, the challenges of shift work (and why bookselling is a bad profession to have alongside writing) and why she is no where near ready to give up the day job just yet. Links Let The Bad Times Roll by Alice Slater Death of A Bookseller by Alice Slater Alice Slater on Substack The Fold Membership for Writers This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E2
Oct 22, 2025 · 50 min
Caro Giles on radical memoir
Caro Giles is an award winning writer and author of two memoirs. Unschooled is about Caro's experience raising children who don't fit in to the school system. Forced to homeschool out of necessity rather than choice, Caro weaves in her own experiences as a teacher at both mainstream and specialist provisions to uncover what is an inadequate and chronically underfunded system that is failing so many children in this country. It's a truly beautiful book about making the most of a system virtually impossible to navigate if you don't fit into a neat little box. Caro talks about how the book has been received in mainstream media, using your voice to stand up for those whose lives are at the edges and just how on earth she managed to finish the book to such a tight deadline whilst caring and homeschooling full time. Links Unschooled by Caro Giles Twelve Moons by Caro Giles Caro on Substack and Instagram The Fold Membership for Writers This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
S11 · E1
Oct 15, 2025 · 53 min
Lily King on writing about love in challenging times
Lily King is an award winning and best selling author of 6 novels and a short story collection. Her latest novel Heart The Lover is an exquisite and profoundly hopeful book about first love and first heartbreak. Lily shares the most incredible wisdom from her 25 years as an author, from waitressing to pay the bills, to the holding on to herself as a writer during early motherhood, to writing about love and hope in a time of political upheval. Links Heart The Lover by Lily King Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King Writers and Lovers by Lily King Penny on Instagram The Fold Membership for Writers This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free! Huge thanks to xigxag for sponsoring the series
Oct 8, 2025 · 3 min
Series 11 Trailer
Not Too Busy To Write is back from series 11 from October 15th with some incredible authors. Here's a little preview of what's to come. Links pennywincerwrites.com The Fold Writer's membership This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code TOOBUSY to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free!
May 7, 2025 · 26 min
Bonus Episode - Finding Motivation
A bonus episode today! It's peak inside the writing coaching audio sessions of my new writers membership The Fold. This audio session is all about finding motivation when we are not excited to sit down and write. In it, I give a number of journaling prompts to get to the heart of your lack of motivation (which we all experience from time to time) and figure out what's causing it, in order to better address the problem. If you enjoy this writing coaching audio session you can join The Fold to receive these weekly, along with co-writing sessions and monthly workshops with guest experts, all designed to help you get your writing done. The Fold is suitable for writers of all kinds fiction/non-fiction/memoir/poetry/substack, for new writers and old hats - any writer working on projects that would love support and accountability to achieve their writing goals. Join by Friday 9th May and you can take part in the 21 day Writing Sprint which includes daily audio sessions, extra co-writing sessions and prizes for those who take part! Join The Fold to take pat in the sprint. Join The Fold here pennywincerwrites.com/the-fold More about Penny Wincer
S10 · E8
Apr 2, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Alice Kinsella on blending genre
Alice Kinsella is a poet based in the west of Ireland. She's the author of the poetry pamphlet Sexy Fruit, the prose poem memoir Milk: On motherhood and madness and the genre blending Wake of the Whale, co-authored with Daniel Wade, which was a Sunday Independent Book of the Year in 2024. This conversation covers so much - from unpaid work in publishing, to blending genres, to the creative energy and frustrations of early motherhood. We also talk about why Alice and Daniel chose their local independent publisher Mayo Books Press to publish their latest book. You can order Wake of the Whale directly from Mayo Books and use the code Whale25 to get free shipping. * Join The Fold writers membership * This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code NTBTW to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free! * Links Wake of the Whale by Alice Kinsella and Daniel Wade Milk by Alice Kinsella Sexy Fruit by Alice Kinsella Alice Kinsella on Substack Poet Mark Grist Not Too Busy To Write on Substack
S10 · E7
Mar 26, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Sarra Manning on writing romantic fiction
Sarra Manning is the author of 8 adult novels, over 15 YA novels. She began her career on teen magazines and has been writing about love and sex ever since. Sarra talks about being a 'word count slut', writing books fast, how what she learned on magazines helps her pitch novels and the secret to writing about sex successfully. Sarra is also the literary editor of Red magazine and is my go to person for book reccos - this episode is chock full of amazing books!! The Last Days of Summer is out March 27th This series of the podcast is sponsored by award winning audio book app xigxag Listeners of Not Too Busy To Write can receive their second book FREE To redeem, download the xigxag app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to My xigxag/Settings, then click on Account. Under Vouchers, click on the ‘Enter code’ button and add your voucher code NTBTW to your account. After your first purchase, your second title will be free! You can listen to The Last Days of Summer on xigxag :) Links The Last Days of Summer - Sarra Manning London, With Love - Sarra Manning Rachel's Holiday - Marian Keyes A Sky Painted Gold - Laura Wood Romantic Comedy - Curtis Sittenfeld The Wedding People - Alison Espach Maeve Kerrigan Series - Jane Casey Deep Cuts - Holly Brickley The Eights - Joanna Miller

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