Helen Payton Author

I’m an author! I say that with pride; not arrogance but pride. It’s taken me a lifetime to be able to say it at last. I can’t even make the excuse that I was a late developer in writing because I’ve always written – articles, marketing materials, adverts, short stories etc. But I hadn’t written a novel. Now I have. So, now I’m entitled to use the word. Author. I savour that word; roll it round my mouth. Play with it.

If there’s a lesson to be learnt, then it’s that old chestnut about never giving up. And believe me I’ve given up scores of times, lacking the confidence to continue. I could give on-line master classes on how to give up at the first hurdle and every other hurdle after that. So, if you’re into serial surrendering, take heart; this blog is for you!

If I’m honest, I was frightened to start writing my book and I mean terrified, not just a bit scared. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to write it.  I did.  I wanted to write a novel more than anything.  It had always been number one on my bucket list. But starting to write a book was my equivalent of doing a bungee jump. One problem was I felt under pressure. Kind friends would try to boost my confidence by saying, “Have a go. It doesn’t matter if you can’t do it.” But the problem was that it did matter; partly because I was a teacher of English Literature and Language so I had a professional reputation at stake. You know what they say, ‘Those who can do; those who can’t teach’. And partly because I’ve always written as part of my career. My job literally depended on my writing skills. I taught people how to write formally and informally, ran creative writing classes, trained students how to style switch, produce newspaper articles, factual reports, critiques, reviews. If I failed, it would undermine my whole working life.

But now ‘Bread and Buttermilk’ is finished.  Published.  Out there with you.