I was going to do this before I turned on Radio Five Live on the way back from playing tennis yesterday. I caught an interview between Adrian Chiles and author Anthony Horowitz who has finished the third in a trilogy of James Bond novels.
Apparently these are written with the full co-operation of the family of Ian Fleming. Why we need more Bond novels I'm not sure.
Chiles asked a really stupid question that was more of a statement and went something along the lines of "writers always seem to shy away from writing. They find it too stressful and would rather do anything else than getting down to writing."
That to me is absolute nonsense. Those of us obsessed with writing would sit down all day to put our thoughts onto paper or computer. It's the thing we want to do most. Bugger watching television, I much prefer to write.
So what is it about writing that gives me so much of a buzz? Well firstly I guess it's seeing my creation in print whether that be in newspapers or magazines or on the internet and secondly (and almost as important) is the response this generates.
Take yesterday's blog about smoking. It prompted numerous replies and it certainly struck a chord with many of my readers. And that's another thing. I feel very humble that I have readers who every day open up my blog, read it and then are moved to respond. I love reading the replies and there's nothing better than reading them as they come in.
Yesterday was a huge example of what I enjoy about writing. I was up early, sorted out the blog, did some design work on my next Hethersett Herald (which is already over 100 pages and still growing with almost two weeks to go before it's published) and then saw that two items I sent to the local press this week have both made it. The first was a piece on the spat between the local parish and district council because the latter has mowed a meadow meant for wildflowering. This is online and in the written press. The second was my feature on the Queen's Head Public House which is now online and which will probably be in the EDP in the next couple of days.
So as I set off to play tennis I was in a very sunny mood and that's all thanks to the written word.
So later I travelled back 60 plus years to have a word with my 10 year old self.
Me: What do you love doing and what do you want to be when you leave school.
My 10-year-old self: I would like to be a footballer.
Me: No that's not going to happen but you will be a writer.
My 10-year-old self: But I want to be a footballer.
Me: Well you could write about football
My 10-year-old self: But I want to play football, writing is silly and pointless.
Me: A bit like playing football. You are better at writing than playing football.
My 10-year-old self: But I can never earn money by writing.
Me: I think you should just wait and see.
And so what did I do? Well for many years I ended up as a sports editor, writing about football!