· Writing hints sometimes become reading hints, to really improve your writing you need to read, read, read.

· Keep all your writing in an exercise book or any writing book - not on loose pieces of paper and put the date against each entry. (That's if you write in longhand like I do first before I commit it to the computer.)

· I know that everyone says to write each day and I agree, I've always snatched at writing time, any few minutes is better than none - even a writing exercise is great, but stretches of an hour at a time are better - give yourself a target of a certain amount of words each day, or each week.

· Send your work out - especially poetry. There are many small literary presses.

· Rejection slips are part of the apprenticeship, part of the continual journey.

· Keep a working folder of competitions, or deadlines or writers guidelines, and refer to them for inspiration and discipline.

· Join a local writers group or subscribe to a writing magazine or small press literary magazine. They all need your support and it's vital to network.