I have been writing poetry on and off for many years. Not for any real purpose, just as a leisure activity really.

Then for my AS English coursework I decided to write an adaption of Tennysons ‘The Lady Of Shalott’. I didn’t really know what to expect, and how people would react to my work. I had only ever really shown my writing to my Mum, and she had gotten rather used to it.
So when I showed it to my English teacher I was expecting the same sort of compliments and feedback as I was given by my Mum.
But instead I got a lot of compliments, and people saying that I should enter competitions or try writing more professionally.

In a way I rather wish that I hadn’t been told how high a standard my work was at before I had finished my work .. as it made it harder to finish to the same standard, or the risk that I might become complacent and stick to the same format ..etc…

But it has helped me realise that I would like to continue writing, maybe even as a career. I have always enjoyed writing and using interesting words (I keep a Dictionary and Thesaurus next to my bed xD).

I would really encourage anyone to give writing a go. You never know how much you might like it until you try for yourself =) 22 months ago