One of the most curious things about my anxiety disorder is the way it alters when things are really bad. My limited science brain thinks it must be adrenaline taking over – perhaps protecting me from really feeling the intensity of panic. That’s not to say I’m not afraid. I am, like we all are. I’m afraid for elderly parents, I’m afraid for ill friends. I’m afraid of how much this is going to change our lives and the things I love. Unlike average anxiety though, I don’t feel crippled, inert, unable to breathe. I feel the exact opposite, and remarked to a kind friend yesterday that I felt better than I had in ages. There will be a crash – but at least self isolation means I don’t have to force myself to go out.
I feel lucky to be in a safe space, with a kind husband and kind neighbours. Facing this in any sort of abusive relationship or in place where your home isn’t a safe space must be beyond terrifying, and checking on people is more important than ever, whether it’s by putting notes through doors, or making social media groups, keeping people involved, making them know they’re missed is invaluable. I’ve no big plans for this period (apparently Shakespeare wrote King Lear during a quarantine period) but I’ll keep writing this blog, as well as writing creatively, maybe sharing more too. I suspect there’ll be a heap of isolation tales…
Kathryn is a writer based in Shropshire. She writes short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. She has no formal education in creative writing but she reads every poetry book she can get her hands on, and enjoys various online writing groups and courses.
Kathryn has M.E., which brings its own challenges to her working practice, and means she has to monitor her activity with great care. Despite the frustration of these limitations she has reached her goal of having work published, thanks to support from Nine Arches Press Dynamo mentoring scheme.
Kathryn has work published or forthcoming in print magazines like Mslexia, Popshot Quarterly and The Dawntreader and online in places like Words for the Wild, Nine Muses Poetry, Sledgehammer and Riggwelter Press. She was longlisted for the 2019 Fish prize for short fiction, and Paper Swans Press single poem prize in 2020.
Kathryn is a columnist for Spelt Magazine, and has recently been awarded a micro bursary from Raven Studios in Shrewsbury to work on a new pamphlet. She also accepts private commissions under the moniker Poems from the Hare.
When her health allows, Kathryn works as a freelance copywriter and can write confidently across a range of subjects, including travel, food, literature, hospitality and customer service. In addition to these core topics, excellent research skills means she can tackle subjects as diverse as muscle cars and dog training. She takes on proofreading and editing work as requested. You can find out more at her business site
https://thewordemporium.wordpress.com/
Kathryn loves language and its persuasive power. Most of all she loves to write.
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Kathryn Anna Marshall 