Writing. Talent. Success.

The first thing I remember writing is a story about aliens. I think I was about seven. It was in a blue exercise book. I think I wrote something along the lines of 'Danger, Keep Out' on the outside. I intended it to be a novel.

I don't think I got more than three pages in.

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The first time I sent a story off for publication, I think I was about 16 or 17. Half my life ago. I wrote a story - quite a feminist one for the time - and sent it off to a magazine. I think it was More! magazine, maybe? Maybe Just Seventeen? One of the mags for teenage girls at the time (and only the one) had one story at the end, just a five minute fiction kind of thing. Anyway, I sent it off, and a while later it came back. The fiction editor had scribbled an incredibly encouraging message on it - telling me that although it wasn't quite right for their mag (... I suspect now that as it had a 'don't wax your legs if you don't want to' message it was just not right for their advertisers) that it had made her laugh and she thought I should send it somewhere else. But where else was there for short stories for teenage girls at that time? I put it away (I'm sure I still have it somewhere; I wish I knew where) and gave up for the minute.

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2007. My dad started an Open University course. He really enjoyed it. He suggested I look at the short courses. 'Start Writing Fiction' jumped out at me. He offered to pay for a short course. I wondered if I really had what it takes. To be a writer.

I thought that 12 weeks wasn't too much of a commitment to start out with. To find out if I had it in me.

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When I was in Guides I did a badge. The Writer badge maybe? There were two of us doing it. I wrote a story heavily influenced by my love of the Famous Five, the Secret Seven, the Chalet School, and by a bonfire night party I had recently attended. I scribbled it into a reporter's notepad on both sides of the page. I didn't redraft. Its title was 'Stop! Danger!'

I was really embarrassed when I saw the story the other girl had come with. It was neatly typed. Mine looked scruffy and awful in comparison.

I was amazed when I got the story back from the woman they got in to mark it.

'You have considerable talent, and obviously as you grow older, your work will continue to improve, to mature, to increase in depth.'

Of course, she also told me to beware using big words just for the sake of it (still good advice), but that didn't stick in my memory quite so well.

I look at the story now (I just realised one page is missing; I can't believe it) and wonder what on earth she saw in it. I would think that she was just being encouraging, but she didn't rave about the other girl's story.

The other girl wasn't very impressed.

I wonder sometimes whether my dream of writing would have stuck if it wasn't for these words.

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A friend in work showed me her son's story that he had written for school a year or so back. It was full of all the mistakes you make when you're twelve or so, but it made me smile. It showed promise. I made a few notes about little things he could do to make it better and told my friend to tell him it was really good.

Now he wants to be a writer. Even though I've got her to warn him there's no money in it. Apparently he's OK with that.

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A little while ago I asked about two stories that I'd had 'out there' since July. And the response was that it was a promising sign.

Yesterday, I had a phone call from D. He'd called home at lunch and answered a phone call. Turned out to be a magazine wanting to get in touch with me. About something I'd sent them back in July.

I didn't want to get too excited. It might not be an actual sale. They might be asking for a rewrite or something. Or it might be a mistake.

They told him to tell me they were going to email me. I was in town with my trusty netbook, so I went into Starbucks and got onto the internet. Into my emails. And found an email asking me to get in touch so they could discuss payment.

I called, the minute I got home.

They are going to print my story.

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I have sent them the electronic version of my story.

I have sent them the invoice. My first invoice.

I am going to be paid, for a story that I have written.

After all these years.

I am a writer.