The end. I did it! A decade after enrolling in The Writers Bureau Creative Writing course I finally finished.

No, I am not that slow… honestly. After a productive first two years working through the non-fiction assignments, life bowled me one of those swerving balls.

Before I realised quite what I had done I was starting up a renewable energy business. Whoa, hang on a minute! What happened there?

To cut a long story short it, I stopped writing. I was busy selling biomass wood chips and logs, running the business, trying to keep family life in some sort of order. It was quite a difference from my last job, heading up sales and marketing for The AA.

Running my own company was hard work. Very hard work. The highlight of each week was writing blogposts. My mind returned to the huge blue folder on my desk at home.

Then, great news! I had a buyer for the company. I would have time to write again.

Last month I completed my course. It’s been a long journey, but I have learned so much. With the support of my fabulous tutor Esther Chilton I made it to the end. My certificate proudly on display.

The beginning? Well over the decade since enrolling I have drafted two novels. Edits have now begun. Armed with all I have learned I am at last fulfilling my dream. Writing for my living.Aiming for publication. It’s exciting, a little scary…