Last week I realised something - my blog is ten years old! I started it back in October 2011 with this post: What the heck am I doing here?At the time I was training to be a hypnotherapist, but deep down I wanted to be a writer. The problem was, I had serious self-esteem and… Continue reading My blog is 10 years old! Now what?
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
I have some unbelievable news: my novel has been longlisted for the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition!! (Can you believe it?! Nope, me neither.) Here's what happened... I was at home last Tuesday, when the phone rang. 'Another blooming sales call,' I thought to myself. I sniffed dismissively and ignored the message the caller left,… Continue reading My novel has been longlisted!
Five weeks ago, I wrote a post entitled How to kickstart your creativity without having a meltdown. This turned out to be one of my most popular posts, so I thought I’d give you a quick update on how things are going. If you recall, I was taking ridiculously small steps towards writing and illustrating.… Continue reading An update on taking ridiculously small creative steps
A few days ago, I shared how I go 'weird' if I’m not being creative. I drew a sad monster at the top of the post. Today sad monster is looking much happier as I've discovered an unbelievably easy way to overcome my resistance! How I discovered the technique If you’ve read Oh Sugar! you’ll know I’m not a fan of strict diets. Quite… Continue reading How to kickstart your creativity without having a meltdown
“Have you done any writing or drawing lately?” J asked. “Not really," I said, "why?” “Because you get really crotchety if you don’t create something.” "Huh?!" Strange as it sounds, this was news to me. Everyone has their up and down days but I hadn’t appreciated that not being creative meant I was waaaay more likely to… Continue reading Do you go ‘weird’ if you’re not being creative?
If you're struggling right now. If you're wondering what the point is. If you've got so far with your novel or painting but you've stopped because you're plagued with self-doubt. And you don't have the energy to write another word or paint another stroke. Watch this.
When I was a kid, I collected rocks. (I really did - unusual ones, fossilised ones and ones with sparkly bits in them.) Nowadays, I collect quotes. When the chips are down, people can’t always be relied on to say the right things. A quote will hit the spot every time. But you need to… Continue reading My favourite inspirational quotes
You know how, when you love the taste of a food, you gobble it up and somehow forget to fully enjoy it? Have you ever had that experience with a book? Right now I am forcing myself to slow down and savour reading The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell. Snow. Russia. Wolves. Adventure. A girl called… Continue reading Gobbling up books
I had planned to write a post about my next venture. That’s still the plan but I'm taking a quick detour to share something important. I’m reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. (I wasn’t sure about the book at first but it's just got better and better and now I am ever… Continue reading Stop whining and get back to work
Katherine Bassford 