I am now just over the half way point in my 'year of change'. I also turned 44 last Sunday. This has put me in a reflective mood (i.e. ‘oh god, where has my life gone?!’) and I have been mulling over what I have achieved so far this year. For those of you who… Continue reading 7 months into my year of change…
Category: Writing
How to be a children’s author
Reading a book is easy. Writing one is slightly harder. (Guess which I excel at?!) So when I met Christine Hurst on the 30 Day Challenge earlier this year and discovered that she was a children’s author, she was instantly catapulted to god-like status in my eyes. Thankfully, her journey to being published has been… Continue reading How to be a children’s author
Aha! Is this the missing ingredient in my writing?
So…I haven’t been writing much recently. My children’s books are a major pain in the proverbials. I know I want to write them but I have a real problem with getting my bum on the seat. (It sounds like a good idea. I get a bit excited. And then my feet won’t actually walk me… Continue reading Aha! Is this the missing ingredient in my writing?
Dealing with rejection (the 33 per cent rule)
You know the sort of person who sings karaoke in pubs? The sort of person who stands up on stage and sings (or screeches) to their heart’s content…and seems to be having a whale of a time doing it? I sometimes wonder how the hell they manage to do this without drowning in a tidal… Continue reading Dealing with rejection (the 33 per cent rule)
Ambition in writers
In 2006 I read an article about ambition in writers written by Michael Allen. I knew it was a good article. (I printed a copy and reread it every year or so.) But ironically, I was so deeply mired in my own ambitions, I didn’t realise quite how good it was until now. Michael is… Continue reading Ambition in writers
The top 20 bestselling fiction authors of all time
You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned my children’s books much recently. This is a cunning ploy to distract you from the fact that I am not writing them at the moment. I seem to have fallen into a mysterious trap; ‘Thou shalt not write any more picture books until you have heard back… Continue reading The top 20 bestselling fiction authors of all time
The pain of being a writer
As a writer, no one understands my pain…my frustration...my anguish…my torment…except Snoopy, who is a dude of the highest proportions:
My third picture book (third time lucky?)
After my first two picture books were rejected I changed tack and started writing another ‘fluffier’ story. But that came to a grinding halt after a few days as I wasn’t feeling the love. (I’ll leave it simmering for a while and see if it wants me to come back to it later.) I’ve now… Continue reading My third picture book (third time lucky?)
If you want to write a picture book, read this
I’ve just finished reading ‘How to Write a Children’s Picture Book and Get It Published’ by Andrea Shavick. When I first leafed through it I was a bit disappointed as it seemed so basic and simple. (Idiot!) This is exactly why it’s so flipping good! By the time I got to the end I was… Continue reading If you want to write a picture book, read this
Writing makes you sit on a hill
I came across this line recently but for the life of me can’t remember where I saw it. “Writing makes you sit on a hill.” In other words, write, put your stuff out there and people will see you. There is nowhere to hide.That’s scary shit. Especially when they see you and then reject you.… Continue reading Writing makes you sit on a hill
Katherine Bassford 