Much as I enjoy creative writing, I have never believed that there was a novel inside my head. I am full of admiration for my two friends who became published authors long after we first met. Check out Jaqueline James (The Barwell Trilogy and The Hidden Series) and Vanessa Woolley (Secrets at Sunset). Similarly for my friend Alex who has completed her first draft and is starting the editing process.
It takes discipline, perseverance and many hours of research to write a novel, talent alone is not sufficient.
A friend sent me a very funny video recently of Jake Lambert talking about designing hotel rooms. Like all good comedy there is a lot of truth in the story he tells! It reminded her of a post I had written ages ago, which prompted me to revisit “Mood Lighting and other hotel crimes”. Looking back, I think my writing style has developed and improved – though others may disagree.. A bit sharper, slightly wittier, more concise and definitely better grammar and spelling. The progression is definitely down to putting more effort into editing before hitting publish. Nevertheless, some observations I wrote remain relevant and some long forgotten bizarre experiences are still funny so I may republish some of the “oldies but goodies”.
Never one for regrets, but absolutely a believer in hindsight being a marvellous thing, if I had figured out what my passions in life were going to be when I was younger I would have chosen a different path. I would have gone to university, studied politics, economics and history and pursued a career in journalism. I will conveniently gloss over the fact that my prowess with mathematics would have guaranteed failure at economics. I would have been a print journalist; I don’t think I would have made it into TV. Not pretty enough to be a presenter, a regional accent may be acceptable now, but it certainly was not a couple of decades ago. Not brave enough to be a correspondent in faraway places ravaged by war, famine and natural disaster.
I would do well to remember that it is never too late, one of my ex-corporate buddies, after a very successful career in financial services, has followed his passion and become a travel journalist. He is regularly published by impressive travel magazines and winning journalism awards.
I have the time; I just need the discipline. A recent dinner party conversation about women’s fiction sparked a thought process. Maybe there is a book inside my head after all. Whether it ever makes it onto the page remains to be seen.
Links:
Phil Thomas, Travel Writer
https://www.someoneelsescountry.com
Jake Lambert Comedy
Mood Lighting anf Other Hotel Crimes Blog
Not Quite Settled 
Please share your thoughts and experiences.