Pip Lincolne

Interview by Madeleine Dore

Pip Lincolne: writer, crafter and blogger

Shownotes

01:43

Rejection isn’t personal – It’s easy to define ourselves by rejection and to focus on our flaws because of it, but instead it’s important to remember that, whether it’s in love or in a career, rejection isn’t about you. It’s about the other person and what’s right for them.

03:12

This weeks’ guest – Pip Lincolne is a writer, crafter, and blogger. She has written and published six books, with the most recent focusing on loss and heartbreak. Pip believes that the more she puts herself out there and the more books that she writes, the more ideas and opportunities that she gets. 

05:24

Pip’s past – Pip speaks about her life and her experiences that have led her to where she is today. She speaks about constantly moving around Australia, not graduating from high school, and not fitting in, falling in love, and becoming a mother, all while trying to break into the creative industry.

08:59

Combining passions – Finding a balance between motherhood and a creative career can be difficult and a lot to manage, so Pip combined the two. She started to make her children’s clothes and learned to cook delicious meals, meaning that she was able to feel like a good mother and be creative at the same time. 

11:24

Being an optimist – Being optimistic will drive you forwards and present you with new opportunities, but it’s important to try to not be too optimistic. Pip shares a story from her catering days where she now admits that she would have even been annoyed with herself! 

13:47

Book writing process – Don’t overthink and don’t over plan. Just dive in and start writing. Have a topic, write down ten main points about that topic, and write a chapter for each. If your book gets rejected, don’t take it personally. Your first book doesn’t need to be the book, so use it as a stepping stone if it doesn’t work out.

19:26

Resilience – If you receive negative feedback, remember that it’s not a life or death situation. Don’t waste your time trying to get everybody to like what you’re doing, because it’s impossible. Be proud of who you are and what you’re accomplishing, and it’s okay if others don’t have the same view.

24:20

Dealing with heartbreak – After years and years of being with somebody and creating a life around you as a couple, it’s difficult when it’s all pulled out from under you. Take some time to focus on you as an individual, what you want, what you enjoy, and what you need. Enjoy the freedom of being able to do anything you want, and fall back into being the person that you were before the relationship.

28:24

Personal quests – Creating a personal quest can help you get through loss or change. Think of something suitable for you, whether it’s starting a garden, doing a hike, or just getting out of bed in the morning. Set a concrete goal where you can see progression, and adapt it if necessary.

32:23

Daily routine – Instead of having a set routine, listen to your mind and your body when you first wake up in the morning. How do you feel? What are you in the mood for? Move forwards with your day with these things in mind. 

36:31

Wasted time – Scrolling endlessly on social media platforms is something that everybody is guilty of. Try to make a conscious effort to not do this and, instead, put your phone down and focus that time and energy on something that makes you happy, inspired, and refuelled. 

38:38

Juggling responsibilities – If you have a day job on top of your creative work, it can be hard to balance the two. Do your work within your set hours, and then leave it there. The rest of your time can be used for your creative pursuits and, if you love what you do, you will find a way to commit the time that you need to. 

45:27

Success and ambition – Everybody strives for success in their field, but success looks different for everybody. Figure out what it looks like to you and how you want to get there, and don’t do things that you’re not happy with. People have higher expectations and bigger demands with social media these days, but only do what you’re comfortable with and don’t feel the pressure to share more or do more than you want to.

49:54

Creativity in the kitchen – Most people dream of making delicious homemade food, but often push it to the side because it’s time-consuming and difficult. Pip shares some planning tips to help fit this in around a busy schedule, and offers some suggestions of delicious, eye-catching, yet very easy foods to start with.

52:13

Evening routine – When you’re trying to heal from loss/heartbreak, spending time alone is beneficial. Give yourself space and time to think about who you are and what you want before you step back out into the world. Make sure you get enough sleep for both your physical and your mental health, even if it means taking an afternoon nap.

55:16

Creative advice – It’s never too late to get started, and it’s not about rushing through as fast as you can. It’s about starting and taking your time to get where you want to be. It’s not about being the best, but about having a creative outlet that’s important and meaningful to you.

57:03

Filtering ideas – As a creative, it’s easy to be overloaded with ideas that constantly pop into your head, and it can be difficult to sort through them and pick which ones to act on. Try to focus on how they make you feel and how often these ideas pop into your head. Focus on the ones that give you the best feeling and that keep coming back. 

Findings 

Facebook and Instagram -Pip Lincolne

meetmeatmikes.com -Pip Lincolne

When Life Is Not Peachy by Pip Lincolne

'Something good for the weekend' - Sign up to Pip's newsletter