I always wanted to be a writer.
My first attempt at writing a novel (complete with illustrations) was The Dundirk and the Jabbersquirm, aged 8. I wrote it in my Mr Men notebook and got as far as Chapter 5.
I planned to write ‘proper’ novels when I grew up, but I studied Psychology and then did a masters in Public Administration instead. (I can’t remember what ‘public administration’ actually is, but I’m pretty sure you don’t need it to be a writer.)
I dreamt about being an author, of course, but I didn’t actually write anything. I was too full of self-doubt. I scribbled my ideas on bits of paper and shoved them in a box beneath my bed. And there my scribbles remained as I worked my way through a series of jobs – software trainer, copywriter, personal trainer, Christmas tree decorator…
Eventually it dawned on me that if I wanted to be a writer, I was going to have to, you know, write something. So I took a deep breath, moved to the coast, and got a job in a publishing company. The publisher commissioned me to write my first book Oh Sugar!
I then wrote a children’s novel, which was shortlisted for The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. This made me think – perhaps I wasn’t a deluded nutcase, after all? Maybe I could do this!
I started doodling little characters. I thought they would look good on products, so created an online shop. selling CRAZY IDEAS notebooks for writers and entrepreneurs (let’s face it, we all need somewhere special to store our most bonkers but brilliant ideas).
It was all going swimmingly, until…
After the euphoria of being shortlisted for a literary prize had worn off, I set about finishing my novel.
I tried. I really did. But after months of struggle, I was forced to admit something terrible: I had been working on my children’s novel, on and off, for ten years. I had spent hours hunched over my laptop, determined to achieve my dream of being a published author. Was I content, fulfilled, happy? Was this how I wanted to spend my days?
After some serious soul-searching (and a few meltdowns), I concluded: No, I was miserable. And, no, I did not.
It was hard to admit this. It was harder still to let go of my dream. But it was a turning point.
I stopped writing and waited…
After months of ‘nothingness’, when I was beginning to think I would never write again, I felt a tiny spark of something – the whiff of an idea for a non-fiction book.
I trusted the spark and scribbled some notes. The next day, I made scribbled some more. I kept going and soon I couldn’t stop.
Two years later, those notes have turned into a little self-help book for writers! I’m in the final stages of editing it and it should be available by the end of 2025. (For updates, please keep an eye on my Facebook page and Instagram page.)
If you’re a writer and my story rings any bells, believe me, I feel your pain. I hope my book will help. I have taken all of the hard-earned lessons I have learned and created the inspirational book I wish I could have read myself when I was struggling all those years…
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Academic:
Masters in Public Administration (Human Resources)
BSc (Hons) Experimental Psychology
Coaching:
Accountability Coach Training
Inside Out Transformation Coaching
Energy Healing:
Reiki First Degree (Usui Shiki Ryoho / Usui Reiki Ryoho)
Reiki Second Degree (Usui Shiki Ryoho / Usui Reiki Ryoho)
Quantum Touch Level 1 & 2
PureBioenergy® Level 1
Mind-Body:
Personal Training Diploma
NLP Practitioner
Cognitive Hypnotherapy Diploma
Trauma:
Certified TRE Provider
Certified Shaking Medicine Teacher
Specialist training:
Working with the Face masterclass (Richmond Heath)
Sound and Eye Movement masterclass (Richmond Heath)
Diaphragm workshop (Cheda Mikic)
Deepen Your Practice workshop (Deborah Brown)
Interventions workshop (Cheda Mikic)
Psoas and Pelvis workshop (Cheda Mikic)
TRE for Children (Dr Melanie Salmon)
The Resilience Toolkit (Lumos Transforms)
Neurogenic Freedom (Fernando Aguiar)
Katherine Bassford 