I don’t know about you, but I’m not massively keen on the unknown. Every time I stare at a blank page (or a blank future), I feel anxious. My brain feels a compulsion to know things for certain. Not knowing = uncertainty = danger. But here’s the annoying thing: uncertainty is the gateway to possibility.… Continue reading A magical way to step into the creative unknown
I have been conducting a little experiment. For the past few months, I have been doing a quick doodle every day. Nothing major. I simply pick up my pen and draw whatever wants to come out. Sometimes what comes out is great. Other times, not so much. It doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. The… Continue reading The joy of making stuff up
I had an interesting conversation with my friend J at the weekend. It went like this: ME: Do you ever narrate things in your head? J: What do you mean? ME: Well, I was watching the pigeons on the roof this morning and then a voice in my head started narrating the scene. J: Sure,… Continue reading A question only a writer would ask
Something unexpected has just happened. Since 2012 I have written and submitted 5 picture books to a few carefully selected literary agents. All my submissions have been rejected, though one was a “near miss” according to the agent who represents Julia Donaldson (guess how much I treasured those two words!). Rejections don't faze me; they’re… Continue reading Writing a picture book in 3 days
Last year, my friend Julia Barnickle invited me to be part of an online community project in which she asked various writer friends to share their thoughts on the topic of, What if life were meant to be easy? My initial response was an old habitual one; to turn the invitation down (i.e. hide).… Continue reading What if life were meant to be easy?
Hello everyone. It’s been a while. I just checked my blog and discovered that my last post was back in January 2019! Wow. A lot has happened in the past year. There were epiphanies and transformations and deep, deep exhaustion (these things are not unrelated!). I will explain everything soon, but before I do, I… Continue reading The voice in my head
I'm going to start the New Year off with some exciting news about my greetings cards. As usual, there's a story behind this which involves my gut instinct taking me to unexpected places... Last year I was thinking about spending a small fortune on a 3-month online course which would 'help my career'. But then… Continue reading The adventure that led to selling greetings cards
In my last post I said I would share some of the things that have helped me start writing again after a 12-month break, but first I really need to tell you about something that happened on my birthday. Do you remember my blog post from 2016; 'A famous novel that almost didn't get written'?… Continue reading A sign that I should keep writing?
I was listening to one of Michael Neill's podcasts a few weeks ago - The Hercule Poriot Guide To Transformative Coaching - and he said something which I've been pondering ever since. He said that one day he was watching a colleague, George Pransky, coach a man who had writer's block. The writer said, "I just… Continue reading Why I stopped writing for 12 months
I collect quotes. For me, they are a source of magic, power and inspiration. I firmly believe that the right quote, at the right time, can change the course of your life. (Or, at the very least, help you stay the course with extra focus, determination and fire in your belly.) Here are some of my all-time… Continue reading My favourite quotes on writing and life
Katherine Bassford 