Ten years a columnist

I’ve just penned my 500th weekly column for The People’s Friend magazine.

You’ll have to wait a little while to read it, but I’ve worked out that’s about 300,000 words in the last decade.

Cripes!

I could have written a J R R Tolkien-like epic at that rate, if only I’d put 600-700 words down towards it every week for ten years.

Still, the gig at The People’s Friend – the world’s longest-running women’s weekly magazine – is a joy, especially as it came to me without any pitching on my part.

Back in 2006, I started studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities with The Open University, alongside working full time.

I took two creative writing modules as part of my studies and, in 2011 I was awarded a first class honours degree. It was a wonderful experience, and I’ll never forget the graduation ceremony, surrounded by family and friends and fellow graduates.

As part of the first creative writing module, I started a blog called The World From My Window in which I charted everyday life.

I was put on to blogging by my old flatmade, Gail, who runs the fashion and book blog for over-50s, Is This Mutton?

It was a good move – the blog got me and my writing out there and attracted the attention of The People’s Friend, whose editorial team just happened to be looking for a weekly columnist.

I am forever pinching myself for my good fortune. And the day I received my official contract through the post from D C Thomson (publishers of The Beano, no less) felt like winning the Lottery.

The moral of this story is that if you love doing something, just do it. Who knows where it might lead?