Why this all began

Words are exciting and powerful. They can start wars. Stop wars. Help us fall in or out of love. They heal and they hurt in equal measure. I love language and love to use it to illuminate the world around me.

I have always written, from early stories about running away, earnest teenage poetry about the state of the world, to scrappy musings about everything that puzzled or beguiled. I never took my work seriously, and was too afraid to show anyone; I focused on my career and more user friendly pastimes like gardening and my love of live music.

What changed?

Put simply, I contracted M.E. as the result of viral Tonsillitis. I lost my career of twenty years, lost the ability to do all the things I love – from growing vegetables and baking to walking, carousing, gigging and general raucous fun. Constant pain, constant fatigue,and my particular favourite “brain fog” stole my life.

Why did I go back to writing?

I started to keep a journal, mainly to vent the frustration and grief I felt for for my old life.This worked reasonably well. Most importantly I remembered how much I loved to write. It was amazing to write creatively again, and not just for sales or training materials.

A couple of years into my illness, I took the plunge and began studying Creative Writing with Open College of the Arts . They are flexible (good for health) and cheap (good for wealth), they’re also pretty good at what they do, giving me enough support to grow, but enough space to breathe.

I completed the first course in just over twelve months and began the next module, The Art of Poetry. This was a major leap for me. Reading and writing poetry is something I love, but it  challenges me emotionally, and I found it hard to allow someone else to read what I had written. The feedback on my work was positive, and I found a fizz of excitement that had been missing for some time.

Publication

Thanks to Nine Arches Press Dynamo mentoring scheme, and Gerry Ryan, my first OCA tutor, I learnt about avenues for publication.  In 2018 I began submitting to poetry magazines and journals. My first poem was published in Mslexia magazine in Autumn 2018 and you’ll find other examples of my poetry in print journals like Popshot Quarterly and online at places like Words for the Wild , Salt Water Zine,   Nine Muses Poetry .

Other success followed, including longlisting in Paper Swans Press single poetry competition 2020 with my poem My death will grieve foxes (on being a hare in England). I have placed in various competitons since these early successes, including the Ironbridge Poetry Competition and Spelt Magazine poetry competition in 2023 and had work published in many journals and anthologies.

As well as poetry I also enjoy to write creative non-ficiton and this was crytallised in my selection as a columnist for Spelt Magazine – This magazine is a fantastic new venture that celebrates the rural existence. It’s growing issue by issue and I can’t quite believe I’m part of it.

I am gradually building my presence in the poetry world. As well as work in good quality poetry journals, online platforms and anthologies I have produced two pamphlets. The first, Yes to Tigers was published as part of my role as poet in residence for Secret Severn Arts group.

My biggest achievement so far is the creation, crowdfunding and managing of my charity project Dust. This book is built from notes and poems written in the years following my brother’s death. The book was conceived to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities and I’m proud that it has raised over £700 to date.

How can I support your work?

There are lots of ways to support my work. You can share my blog posts of social media updates, buy either (or both) of my pamphlets, or simply buy me some time to write.

Can you write me a poem?

I certainly can. I welcome commissions for bespoke poetry. Just follow the link to find out more or email kathryn@kathrynannawritesbespoke.co.uk

Do you do any other sort of writing?

I work as a copywriter, producing engaging  copy for a variety of clients on a range of subjects. If you’d like to find out more about my copywriting services, visit The Word Emporium or email thewordemporium1@gmail.com I’ll be happy to discuss rates, remits and show samples of my work.

Thank you so much for reading. If you’ve enjoyed my work please subscribe by pressing one of the buttons at the bottom of this post. You can read regular updates about my writing and about living with M.E. on my blog