Although I may have been shown something, and was able to do it that moment, I have always found that I need to keep practising in order to feel totally happy about carrying it out alone. This may take months of self-doubt about my ability, or even years.

I started a new job nearly four years ago that involved using a system that I had never used before. I was delighted, especially as I was sixty, but for a long time, there was always this underlying fear that I was doing it wrong, and there would be consequences. Only now, after many months of practice and support from my colleagues do I feel really happy about doing these tasks, and I do still have to ask if I come across anything new, but my confidence is enhanced because of the support I receive.

Writing is often seen as a lonely job. I have written all my life, but now, as I attempt to have work published, I feel the need to ask someone else to read it through and comment especially with fiction. I come from a family of non-writers, so who I ask?

Fortunately, there is plenty of help out there, and I often find I have a lot more work to do on my piece of writing be it a novel or short stories, but at least it’s been looked at by fresh eyes.

Taking that first step is like putting your foot out of the front door in the rain. You feel reluctant, but you need to go out, so you do, then find you were glad you did so. Sending a piece of work for someone else to read is like that, but most of the time, you’ll not regret it.

It’s easy for me to say, I know. I’ve dithered many times, and it’s not until I believe I can go no further with work that I’ll send it. Your confidence may not be boosted immediately, but suggestions of improvement towards a polished piece of work might, and being accepted for publication certainly will.

All the best…