13 Comments
User's avatar
Madicken Malm's avatar

My friend was delighted when he suddenly had a day a week when he could write, then realised he preferred the idea of writing to actually writing.

“How do you get it done?” He asked me. My answer, “Because I love it. Because I need to. It doesn’t matter if I can only do a little bit every day.” (Although I would love to do more.)

Expand full comment
Penny Wincer's avatar

Yes! I think many people are swept away with the idea of writing but the actual craft/practise of it is not particularly their thing.

Expand full comment
Emily Conway's avatar

Thanks for this, Penny. I love writing, and it's challenging. Yesterday, I got really discouraged because nothing I was working on seemed to be going anywhere. Everything was stuck. Your piece reminds me of why I do what I do:).

Expand full comment
Penny Wincer's avatar

Argh it’s so hard when we get stuck - has happened to me a lot the past year!!!

Expand full comment
Emily Conway's avatar

It is. Sorry about your stuckness!

Expand full comment
Tessa Stuart's avatar

This is so helpful, Penny, as is your suggestion that we just write, and don’t wait for a perfect time.

Expand full comment
Zoë Gibson Quirk's avatar

Here’s to doing things we like, and remembering that overcoming failures and challenges is incredibly rewarding. Thank you Penny, loved reading this sitting on my sunny doorstep.

Expand full comment
Penny Wincer's avatar

The sun this week has been a balm!

Expand full comment
Nicola Billington's avatar

Yes, this!

Expand full comment
Sally AB Zigmond's avatar

I'm a grandmother. When my children wore nappies, only Terry Towelling nappies with a liner so poo could go straight doen the pan. When a nappy needs changing, I popped it in the lidded bucket with a solution of sterilising fluid. Once a day, I washed the nappies in the machine and hung them on the line outside. Hey presto clean, dry, white soft nappies to use again.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Radcliffe's avatar

I feel this so much! I’ve had a very demanding work life recently and a few people have said not to bother still writing, that I can save it for when it quietens down. There’s certainly a self kindness in not cracking the whip when I’m exhausted but I just want to be like, but I love it! I want to write! Otherwise I just don’t feel right!

Expand full comment
Part 2 Of Your (Love?) Life's avatar

Yes! 'Tools and tricks to get me through' is how I approach of the necessities of day-to-day living, not just getting myself to write.

Expand full comment
Erin Taylor's avatar

This is brilliant Penny, such a generous piece. Thank you x

Expand full comment