January 11, 2015 · 10:00 am

Sunday Scribblings: Life Can Be Tough

Base image © Sembazuru (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sembazuru/6974372/). Edited by Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk).

Life isn’t easy.

As much as we like to pretend that there’s some simple solution to everything, there really isn’t.

Unpleasant things happen to us, or we make bad decisions, or things just get too complicated for us to cope with.

Sometimes, life can be tough.

Image © OpenIcons (http://pixabay.com/en/sad-unhappy-sorry-cheerless-smiley-98457/).

And you might think that’s not true for a writer. After all, we have it easy, don’t we?

Don’t we spend all day sitting around, making up fantasies in our heads? Aren’t we lucky to do what we love for a living? Shouldn’t we be grateful for what we have?

Yes and no.

Most writers don’t spend all their time writing. I know I don’t.

Painted by Leonid Pasternak; uploaded by Crisco 1492 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonid_Pasternak_001.jpg).

I’m a student in my final year of a degree. I work one day a week in an HR office. I run a wrestling blog. And I write for this blog.

I wear a lot of hats and juggle a lot of responsibilities. And it’s not easy to cope with them all.

Mind you, I am grateful for the good things I have.

Image © OpenIcons (http://pixabay.com/en/smile-smiley-happy-yellow-face-98458/).

I’m healthy. I have a loving family. I’m doing a degree that I care about. I have wonderful friends. I have so many good things.

But that doesn’t mean that things don’t get difficult sometimes. And right now, I am struggling with life.

Am I giving up? No. Of course not. Things won’t always be hard. They will get better in time.

But at the moment, things aren’t easy. And I can only do my best.

~ Penny

Related Post: Word Count Wednesday: 19th November 2014

Want to get in touch? E-mail me (pennygotch@gmail.com), message me on Facebook, send me a tweet (@pennygotch) or leave a comment!

Available Books

Under the Tree / Personal is Political

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January 1, 2015 · 6:00 am

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2014 was as good as it could have been for you. And if it was hard, remember that things can only get better.

Here’s to more blog posts, more stories, and more joy in 2015!

Image © steinchen (http://pixabay.com/en/fireworks-golden-shower-of-sparks-243641/).

~ Penny

Want to get in touch? E-mail me (pennygotch@gmail.com), message me on Facebook, send me a tweet (@pennygotch) or leave a comment!

Available Books

Under the Tree / Personal is Political

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December 25, 2014 · 6:00 am

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas to all my lovely readers! Whether you’re with friends, family or just the company of your own beautiful self, I hope you have an amazing day!

Image © ChristmasStockImages.com (http://christmasstockimages.com/free/christmas-trees/slides/christmas_tree_light.htm).

~ Penny

Want to get in touch? E-mail me (pennygotch@gmail.com), message me on Facebook, send me a tweet (@pennygotch) or leave a comment!

Available Books

Under the Tree / Personal is Political

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December 5, 2014 · 2:27 pm

“Personal Is Political” Available Now!

The anthology I wrote with Liam Whear and Susan Wright is available for purchase right now!

Image © Molly Penford (http://madasei.tumblr.com) and Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk).

Our pieces cover topics from feminism to environmentalism to body image and more.

Fancy the paperback? It’s just £2.99 with free delivery on orders worth £10 or more.

Want the eBook? It’s just 79p!

Over a dozen people have already bought “Personal is Political”! Why not join them today?

~ Penny

Related Post: “Personal is Political”: Out Now

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December 1, 2014 · 11:53 pm

“Personal is Political”: Out Now

“One of the first things we discover in these groups is that personal problems are political problems. There are no personal solutions at this time. There is only collective action for a collective solution.” ~ Carol Hanisch, 169

Here we have a collection of prose and poetry that aims to help you frame your personal ideals and problems into a global, politicised context.

Here we have three young writers who want to be taken seriously.

Here we want to start something.

Personal Is Political is an anthology collecting pieces by Liam Whear, Penny Gotch and Susan Wright, from Canterbury Christ Church University, on environmentalism, feminism, mental health, body image, identity, and more.

Artwork from Molly Penford.

Stay safe, and stay aware.

BUY IT NOW IN PAPERBACK OR ON KINDLE.

~ Penny

Related Post: “Personal is Political” Trailer

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November 26, 2014 · 5:23 pm

“Personal is Political” Trailer

You might have noticed that there was neither a Sunday Scribbling nor a Monday Musing post this week.

And I’m afraid there won’t be a Word Count Wednesday either.

I’m snowed under with university work and unfortunately, I just don’t have the time to write anything.

But I don’t want to leave you with nothing, so I’m going to share with you the trailer for my upcoming collaborative anthology, “Personal is Political”.

Stay safe, and stay aware.

~ Penny

Related Post: Monday Musing: Press Release – “Personal Is Political”

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November 19, 2014 · 5:58 pm

Word Count Wednesday: 19th November 2014

Word Count Wednesday! And how much did I write?

Base image © Docbaba (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Word_Count_h_500.svg). Edited by Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

4,680 words, or about 669 words per day!

Which is a little more than last week! Go me!

But that’s not what I want to talk to you about today. No, I’m being a little bit sneaky.

If you read my last Monday Musing, you’ll have seen that I’m publishing a new book.

I’m collaborating with Liam Whear and Susan Wright to bring you “Personal is Political”.

And you’ve probably noticed that I’ve had my poetry book “Under the Tree” on sale for a while.

Image © FlashBuddy (http://pixabay.com/en/hang-tags-for-sale-tag-sign-tags-234566/).

Well, there are new developments with “Under the Tree”!

I am publishing it on Amazon!

You can get it in paperback now and on Kindle from 24th November (although you can pre-order right now if you like).

So what does that mean for that version down there?

It means that it’s limited edition.

Yes: there will never be another print run of “Under the Tree” with this cover. Consider it Edition 0.

I have only five copies left. After that? You will never be able to buy this version of the book ever again.

It’s your last chance to pick up the original version of “Under the Tree” for just £4 with free P&P anywhere in the UK.

Image © Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

After that? It’s gone!

So if you’d like one of the original copies of “Under the Tree” in its original cover, send me an e-mail at pennygotch@gmail.com and I’ll get one sent to you.

Hurry while they last!

~ Penny

Related Post: Wednesday Word Count: 12th November 2014

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November 17, 2014 · 9:05 pm

Monday Musing: Press Release – “Personal is Political”

I’ve chosen to do Monday Musing on purpose this week.

Base image © Nemo (http://pixabay.com/en/thinking-bubble-message-idea-blank-25906/). Edited by Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

Yep: I’m deliberately doing a Monday Musing this week instead of a Sunday Scribbling.

And why’s that?

Because it’s exactly two weeks from a new book release!

Yes, on top of the continuing sale on “Under the Tree”, I’m teaming up with two other writers for a new book!

Music reviewer Liam Whear, new talent Susan Wright and I are bringing you “Personal is Political”.

Inspired by a famous 1969 essay by Carol Hanisch, the anthology is a mixture of prose and poetry by the three of us.

Its purpose? Framing personal issues in a global, politicised context.

Image © Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

“Personal is Political” covers a wide variety of topics. From environmentalism to feminism, mental health to body image, there’s something for everyone.

And through them, it shows just what the title says: how even your identity can be a political thing.

Plus it has gorgeous cover art by the talented Molly Penford.

This anthology is more than just words: it’s a work of art in itself.

The Kindle edition is due out on 1st December 2014, two weeks from today.

We haven’t settled on a price yet, but it shouldn’t be much.

And physical copies should be available shortly after, also for a low price.

Image © Icely88 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Book_lover.jpg).

Please consider supporting a promising trio of twenty-something writers and pick up a copy when it comes out.

Stay safe, stay aware, and keep an eye out for more information from us in the weeks to come!

~ Penny

P.S. “Under the Tree” is still on sale! Read the review or e-mail me for more information at pennygotch@gmail.com.

Related Post: Monday Musing: Downtime Is Good Time

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November 12, 2014 · 4:47 pm

Word Count Wednesday: 12th November 2014

It’s Word Count Wednesday again! And how much did I write this week?

Base image © Docbaba (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Word_Count_h_500.svg). Edited by Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

4,268 words, or about 610 words per day!

More than last week! Yay!

Now let’s set aside that pesky issue of NaNoWriMo because I still haven’t written a word.

No, there was one other thing that prevented me from writing as much as I wanted to this week.

And that was altruism.

Those of you who follow my Instagram (@pennygotch) may have seen a picture I posted on Sunday of my writing pad.

And at that point, I was getting going with some writing. I thought I was going to write loads on my commute.

But that didn’t happen so much.

You see, I sat down at a table when a chair opened up so I could write. But then I noticed that the guy opposite me was struggling with a birthday present.

Image © OpenClips (http://pixabay.com/en/present-box-dole-favor-gift-150291/).

Well. I couldn’t let him struggle alone when I had a spare pair of hands, could I?

And that’s how I helped a man with a fabulous moustache wrap up a sewing machine. While on the high speed train between Canterbury and Stratford. Using sparkly purple paper.

And yes, we did both end up covered in glitter.

But you know what? I don’t mind.

I would rather do something nice for somebody in the real world and miss out a little in my writing.

Does that make me a bleeding heart softie? Maybe.

Image © Polimerek (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teddy_Bear_front_flash.jpg).

But I wouldn’t change that for anything. I love being me.

~ Penny

P.S. “Under The Tree” is still on sale! Read Melissa Holden’s review here, or e-mail me for more details at pennygotch@gmail.com!

Related Post: Wednesday Word Count: 5th November 2014

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November 10, 2014 · 3:00 pm

Monday Musing: Downtime Is Good Time

It’s back to the Monday Musing this week!

Base image © Nemo (http://pixabay.com/en/thinking-bubble-message-idea-blank-25906/). Edited by Penny Gotch (http://www.pennygotch.co.uk | https://pennygotch.wordpress.com).

And today, I want to talk about downtime.

It doesn’t matter where you look. It could be your university course. It could be advice from a famous author. It could be an inspirational photo on Pinterest.

If you’re a writer, there is pressure to be constantly writing.

Write every day. Write 750 words. Keep writing. You need to keep writing or you won’t succeed.

Is it important to write regularly? Yes, of course it is.

Writing is a skill and you need to keep yourself in shape for it just like you would any other skill.

But there’s a difference between that and driving yourself into the ground.

Image © Anthonares (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patterned_ground_devon_island.jpg).

Not everyone can write something every single day. And it’s unfair to expect them to.

After all, writers are people, as obvious as that sounds.

People have jobs. University courses. Homework. Social lives.

And sometimes, those things can leave us so exhausted that we don’t have the energy to write.

And then what? We feel guilty for it. We feel like we aren’t real writers because we’re not doing enough.

And it’s nonsense.

If you write, you’re a writer. End of story.

You don’t have to write a certain amount to join the official writer club. It doesn’t work like that.

Only you know what your limits are. Only you know how much you can do before you burn out.

Image © Jens Buurgaard Nielsen (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Embers_01.JPG).

And if other people can’t respect the limits you have, they don’t deserve you.

~ Penny

P.S. “Under the Tree” is still on sale, and now it has a review by the lovely Melissa Holden! Check it out here if you haven’t already!

Related Post: Sunday Scribblings: Fanfiction Is Fabulous

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