(You can listen to this piece via my voice note above)
Hello,
I wanted to do a proper introduction and I am hoping you might say hi too, in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
It’s taken me a while to write this - which is odd - but I think these things are tricky to write, in the same way that a CV is, or a cover letter - those pieces of writing in which you need to be a bit ‘all about me’.
I say it’s odd, because, as I’ve just been discussing (via voice note of course) with a friend, writing on Substack is quite exposing. There’s a very personal angle to most of what we put out here - yet I’ve found writing an ‘into post’ the hardest of the lot.
I think that’s because we don’t get to know people via a list of things they tell us about themselves, but through the other stuff they say and do - or don’t say and do. We get to know people through the way they make us feel, the energy they give out and by listening. Really listening.
I hope that you’ll get to know me properly through the rest of my posts - my takes on life - and my fiction.
In the meantime, I’m Penny. I’m a mum of two who lives in Nottinghamshire after spending 18 years in London, working as a journalist. I had a great career, writing news and lifestyle features for local and national press, before burning out and becoming frustrated by what journalism has become.
I hope that Writing Life, Writing Fiction does what it says on the tin, but I guess the ‘writing life’ element comes from a version of my own inner Carrie Bradshaw, wanting to give my take on anything and everything that works its way into my heart and mind - I hope that lots of it will be the stuff the community here, ponders too.
If you’ve not found my fiction yet and have time to grab a cuppa and have a read, then:
The shortest one, as an intro, is here: Hope, wrapped in chocolate, wrapped in foil (substack.com)
A longer one, is here: The Bones of Him - by Penny Harrison (substack.com)
Before you go, do say hi in the comments and tell me a bit about how and why you’re here? And link to your own Substack too, of course.
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Hi Penny,
Gina here, I'm new to substack and also had a heck of a time writing my intro. I'm looking forward to digging in deeper and starting to share some of my writings soon. I'm 42 , empty nester, librarian & pet entertainer. I've kept all my journals, poetry, lyrics, book ideas, and school papers through the years. I can't wait to put them out there and see how I can improve, and share these thoughts with the world.
Hey, hey, hey! 🤩 I’m here because back in the days (when I started my Substack journey, five months ago, maybe?) Substack’s clever engine recommended your posts above all others. Can’t wait what you have in store for us! 💛
In other news, I’m a mom and dog mom, we live in Finland and I’ve been full-time working creative, an entrepreneur, photographer and writer (communication specialist and podcast host mainly) for the past 12 yrs.
Substack is my passion project, sort of. My main goal is to one day earn a living doing this in this (newsletter) form or another. Taking small steps! But each time I push send I can feel the motion forward 🥹