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Katherine Kowalski

@saltwaterscribe.bsky.social
172 followers 305 following 66 posts

Strategic communications consultant for sustainability, social change and small businesses | Writer (creative non-fiction, flash fiction, novel-in-prog) | Neurodivergent | Working parent carer / SEND system survivor | Based in Cornwall, UK.

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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
🚀 Traditional marketing can feel all wrong for neurodivergent business owners. Your brand should feel like you, not a performance. This mini-guide dives into Values Modes, Enneagram & MBTI to help you build a brand that fits who you are. No burnout, no cringe. open.substack.com/pub/voiceand...
Text over a photo of a notebook and coffee cup on a desk. Text reads 'How to build a brand that feels true to who you are: an intro for neurodivergent, thoughtful and introverted business owners.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
When we think of Stoicism, it's Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius... But women lived by Stoic principles too, even if their voices were excluded from the written record. I’m exploring these forgotten voices and will share on theintrepidpeace.substack.com soon – and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
theintrepidpeace.substack.com
The Intrepid Peace | Katherine Kowalski | Substack
The Intrepid Peace explores nature, myth, and ancient wisdom to inspire belonging, hope, and inclusivity, offering soulful reflections and vibrant stories for neurodivergent women and kin. Click to re...
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
For the parent carers out there… I wrote this piece about finding our way. A meditation on hope, acceptance, and the profound beauty that exists in different ways of moving through the world. #SEND open.substack.com/pub/passthes...
open.substack.com
Learning to see the stars
Life lessons in a special school corridor
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
For fellow rewilders, this starter pack is fantastic.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
'Do what you can, with what you have, where you are'. Unexpected wisdom for autistic burnout recovery. New piece on The Intrepid Peace about finding our own rhythm, working with our brain's patterns, and refusing to diminish our dreams. open.substack.com/pub/theintre...
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
It’s a doom-laden #BlueMonday so I wanted to share this mildly hopeful sunrise from my back door in Cornwall. Yes it is drizzly and chilly. And yet the birds are singing, the cats are out scampering and there is sunlight out there beneath the clouds. ☀️
Sunrise underneath heavy cloud over the sea, with garden and palm tree in the foreground.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Maybe this betrays me as not very sympathetic but as someone who experienced burnout in 2017 before it was cool, I am incensed by what a throwaway self-diagnosis it’s become. No, if you ‘hit burnout in November and are now ready and rested to hit 2025’ then it wasn't burnout. You were tired.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
As a working parent carer and home educator I get about 0.1hrs a week to myself. Nervously awaiting child no1 as she does something independent and social, trying to channel that energy into my writer’s notebook, and some reading…
Cafe table surb writer’s notebook, a copy of Orbital, the booker prize winning novel and a copy of The Art of Creative Non Fiction.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
So many wonderful literary gifts in this post, and… some lovely, nurturing ideas for how to support our fellow humans in LA through their loss and shock right now. open.substack.com/pub/janeratc...
open.substack.com
The Best Books You've Never Read
Why do some books become huge? And others fade away?
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
It happened AGAIN this week. A professional who should know better called me "Mum" in a meeting. Not Katherine. Just "Mum." I wrote about why this seemingly "harmless" habit is actually a power play that needs to stop. SEND parents - tell me I'm not alone? open.substack.com/pub/passthes...
open.substack.com
Don't Call Me Mum
The Hidden Power Play in Professional Settings
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
New piece up on my Substack, 'The Intrepid Peace', exploring how seeing the world as interconnected - rather than something "other" to save - might shift our approach to climate action. Thoughts through a neurodivergent lens. 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/theintre...
open.substack.com
The nature of interconnection
Neurodiversity and the call to rethink environmentalism
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Today the whole village has been tucked in under a beautiful blanket of sea fog and I don't think there can be a better kind of weather for Boxing Day.
Cornish stone cottage with white render surrounded by fog at last light with a few warm white Christmas lights in the foreground
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Bob does Boxing Day 💤
Tabby cat curled up sleeping in a yellow fleece blanket
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
My Christmas present to myself this year. Worth it alone for for the brilliant essay in this issue on the uncanny similarities between the fall of Constantinople and the ‘Liz Truss Economic Event’ Just brilliant!@thelondonmagazine.bsky.social
Front cover of The London Magazine
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
The solstice reminds us that even the darkest night tilts toward light. 🌙 This year, I’m reflecting on the comfort of nature’s rhythms and the quiet resonance of this season as a late-diagnosed autistic woman. open.substack.com/pub/theintre...
open.substack.com
The faintest promise of light
Embracing the winter solstice: reflections from a late-diagnosed autistic woman
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
ND folks and #SENDfamily... there's some absolutely FANTASTIC stuff on this Substack newsletter from Jade Farrington. Definitely one to watch in the ND/mental health space. Neurodiversity Newsletter December Edition open.substack.com/pub/jadefarr...
open.substack.com
Neurodiversity Newsletter December Edition
Counselling - Neurodiversity - Information - Signposting
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Spot the extra special gift under the Christmas tree 🎄🐾
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Love this essay too. As a comms consultant, not least because of this: 'Often the actual impact of what we do is elusive and hard to measure. The economist Joseph Stiglitz once said, “what we measure is what we do” and so we chase easy-to-gather metrics more than we chase the more elusive stuff.'
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Last night I fell into a rabbit hole. Exploring the Navajo understanding of identity which is totally fascinating. It inspired some writing, about how labels impact us as late-diagosed autistic women. Empowering? Or limiting? I'm still not sure I know... open.substack.com/pub/theintre...
open.substack.com
The Paradox of Labels
Identity, Understanding and the Limits of Naming
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
#SENDfamily
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
I’ve just published a new piece on Pass The Salt Water, my long-time blog and now Substack exploring the parent carer experience. It’s a soft re-entry, exploring the reasons for my silence and the personal reflections that encouraged me to reconnect. passthesaltwater.substack.com/p/returning-...
passthesaltwater.substack.com
Returning: A Journey Through Silence and Back
Hello everyone,Thanks for reading Pass The Salt Water!
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Kathryn Stinton @kathrynstinton.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
The charity IPSEA have a free webinar on Thursday 5th December, 12.30 - 1.30 for parents/carers "A guide to Education, Health and Care Plans" Register via the link below or request a recording if you're unable to attend the live session. www.ipsea.org.uk/webinar-a-gu... #send #sendfamily
ipsea.org.uk
Webinar: A guide to EHC plans
Join members of our legal team for a FREE webinar - 'A guide to EHC plans'
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
“Make your mess your message” I heard this somewhere once and it just popped back in to my head today. Serendipitous perhaps… I’m finding it helpful anyway. Parent carers & #SENDfamily maybe it will resonate ❤️
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Like others in strategic comms I’ve been advising clients for a while now to evolve their social media strategies away from X. Good to see our industry body making the switch: newsroom.cipr.co.uk/cipr-to-ceas...
newsroom.cipr.co.uk
CIPR to cease engagement on X
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has today announced it will cease active posting on X (formerly Twitter), citing growing concerns over declining engagement, platform governance, and...
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Came across this while doing a bit of online Christmas shopping. Spot the problem…
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Can anyone recommend some recent examples of experimental techniques in fiction? Any length/format. I’ve just finished Fever Dream and looking for more examples to inspire and develop my own writing.
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Ian Birrell @ianbirrell.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
There are about 15 British citizens with learning disabilities for every UK farmer. And about 7 British citizens with autism for every UK farmer. Just imagine how their landscape for living might improve with similar political support and media interest
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
A huge issue. Thanks @wmadass.bsky.social for this work highlighting parent carer blame. Professionals, I urge you to learn as much about this as you can. For me, raising one physically and learning disabled child, and one autistic child, the difference in professionals' attitudes has been marked.
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
For the evening crowd, I’m excited to show you the cover for my new book, Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life. Stay tuned tomorrow for the pre-order details every author must shamelessly plug.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
If you are a fan of memoir then you will love the latest interview on Katherine May’s podcast with Sarah Moss. “Books make bodies and bodies make books” (TW for EDs)
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Georgina Durrant @georginadurrant.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
It’s BACK! And on BlueSky! Friday’s #SENDSky (pls RT) For everyone who parents/supports/teaches children with Special Educational Needs & disabilities (SEND) How to join 👍 Like & RT this post ✍️ Reply with your bio & ‘#SENDSKY’ 😃 Follow all the lovely people 👥 Tag friends Grow your network
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Book recommendation for a Sunday… I shared this on Insta a few weeks ago so sorry to those I’m connected with there… but this one is too good not to share twice. Zone One by Colson Whitehead. Literary fiction does zombie apocalypse. An unbelievable piece of writing. #bookrecommendation
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Damian Barr @damianbarr.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
A message for anybody else trying to write today…
A sign which says ‘being a writer cool because it's like having always having homework and then you die.'
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Dr Moira Nicolson @moiranics.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
In my view this is what’s missing from the discussion about Public Engagement in #climatechange. We can design the best research methods science can offer, but if underrepresented voices don’t have a seat at decision making tables, will they ever trust the outcome? And will the outcome be as good?
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Lovely starter pack for flash and short fiction writers
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Reposted by Katherine Kowalski
Ramandeep Kaur @mumof3amigos.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
If you’re a parent of a disabled child who relies on the LA to provide transport to school, please consider taking part in this survey. Contact A Family are campaigning for better transport to school, esp for those who are not of statutory school age. #SEND www.surveymonkey.com/r/TransportM...
surveymonkey.com
Transport Matters Survey
Take this survey and help Contact campaign for better transport for disabled children and young people
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
This is an excellent resource I’ve referred to many times as a parent carer when I’ve needed to quote best practice while in such joys as CETRs, CPA meetings and S117 planning / reviews. #autism #mentalhealth
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Describe yourself using 5 things that are probably in your purse/backpack at any given moment: 1. Writer’s notebook 2. Pens in at least 5 different colours 3. Essential oil pulse point roller, ‘inner calm’ blend (fake it til you make it 😥) 4. Airpods (dead) 5. A scratched pair of glasses (no case)
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
That moment when you realise a writing project, once merely a germ of an idea, then just scene sketching, character play, fun… has become bigger than you. And now it simply must be fully written. Oh shit… #writingfiction
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
I haven’t shared a picture of my cats yet. It feels like the only proper way to break in a new social media platform… so here’s one of my boys, who gave us a huge health scare this week. Bob. A total legend. #cats
Tabby cat curled up sleeping on a yellow fleece blanket.
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
The timing of this platform booming couldn't be better really. I'm not ashamed to say the #SEND system totally broke me and I felt silenced and broken for a few years. Now, well... resurgam. Here's an old post that went mad in the old place, for posterity: passthesaltwater.com/2021/03/24/a...
passthesaltwater.com
- Pass The Saltwater
Lately I've been on a quest to better understand the sources of stress for families who have one or more disabled child, and to find out (and try out) the most effective ways of managing it. So it see...
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
I miss the #SEND #parentcarer community from twitter of old... if you're here, come and say hello!
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Katherine Kowalski @saltwaterscribe.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Hello BlueSky! I'm Katherine Kowalski, co-founder of ethical strategic comms agency Analogy, substack author, novelist-in-progress and tired but determined neurodivergent parent carer / SEND survivor. After months watching BlueSky evolve from a professional perspective, I've made the leap. Hi!
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