One encouraging thing I have read recently is that a number of writers were published after many years of doing many other things. Mary Wesley, for example (Jumping the Queue) became well known for her quirky, strong older female characters, when she herself was in her seventies. Laura Ingalls Wilder, she of Little House on the Prairie was also in her mid sixties when her writing became popular. I have a few years yet!

I have started an online writing course - mainly to motivate me to get on with the novel and to examine some stylistic aspects of my writing.Last night I was reading about over/under writing; too much detail of who looked at whom, who moved which arm and how many steps it took to get to the door can be incredibly boring after a page or two. Equally, not enough detail can leave the reader confused; who said what, when did they get from the car to the lounge to discover the dead body etc. How to strike the balance is what I am hoping to perfect.

Any pointers would be gratefully accepted.