We want to hear your news and views on the writing world, your advice for fellow writers – and don’t forget to tell us what you would like to see featured in a future issue… I have read

Write to: Letters to the editor, Writing Magazine, Warners Group Publications plc, 5th Floor, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JD; email: letters@writersnews.co.uk. (Include your name and address when emailing letters. Ensure all letters, a maximum of 250 words, are exclusive to Writing Magazine. Letters may be edited.)

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STAR LETTER

Writing – the cure for loneliness

I have read many times in letters and articles that writing can be a very lonely business where you are on your own a lot. I have found that to be true as for the most part writing is something you do without anyone else present.

However, recently I realised that although when I am writing I am alone, writing as a whole has led me to be in touch with more people than ever in my life. When I started writing five years ago I was completely on my own. Five years later I email editors regularly. I am in touch with many other writers and authors via email or Facebook. I am involved in many online discussions about writing and enjoy online courses hoping to better my writing.

I gain a lot of encouragement and confidence from my personal network of people. So although when I sit at my computer to write I am alone a small army of people are just at the end of an email or Facebook which helps keep me sane.

GERALDINE MILLER Liverpool

The star letter each month earns a copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2018, courtesy of Bloomsbury

www.writersandartists.co.uk

Poem, placed

I’ve never been that into poetry, apart from a brief sonnet phase I went through when I was at uni. I often see blogs or articles encouraging writers to go outside their comfort zone, try something different to boost creativity. I always think, ‘ I don’t have time for that. Where’s that four-year-old manuscript that refuses to die?’ So when I saw a call for poems on crime I thought nothing of it, until inspiration struck and suddenly the words were flowing. I sent it off and forgot all about it – I’m not even a poet, what are the chances it was really any good? Much to my surprise I quickly got a reply – my poem was selected for publication! I can’t express how proud and overwhelmed I am. My first publication, and it was a poem. Just goes to show all those articles were right – take a leap, it just might pay off.