When Cherry and I retired, she encouraged me to write.

I had a blank screen and a blank expression on my face, but we had experienced so much in life and interacted with so many people in our lives, that an idea began to form.

I started to type as I was thinking. I had never written fiction before. As a compliance manger for several geotechnical engineering companies, I understood the importance of words and making sentences readable by a mix of people from academics to labourers. This was fact, not fiction and a completely different discipline. Nevertheless it taught me to use words.

I was aiming my first book at the labouring workforce on site. They would recognise the words and the processes. However, I quickly learned that a book is for everyone.

I couldn’t do this on my own. I needed help. So I wrote as I thought. The ideas spewed forth with a freedom I didn’t know I possessed. But….and its a big but. My punctuation and grammar was awful. Mainly because of the speed I was writing. I couldn’t stop once an idea had formed, I had to write it down.

If you believe that you have a book in you. Start writing. You will surprise yourself. don’t worry about the punctuation and grammar. Get a friend to check it. As a writer you will never pick up on every mistake.

My process is to write. Re write. Expand the plot. Re Write. Edit and check. Hand over to your friends, re write. Re edit. Check punctuation and grammar. Publish when you are happy.

I self publish through amazon because they supply all the tools to help you. They will take a big chunk out of the sales, however, a recognised publisher will ask for money up front and could involve you in two years of torment. Are you in this to make money or to enjoy the process of having a book published?

If you give it a try, good luck. I promise you, you will surprise yourself.