Out on the Road

Not long after celebrating my twenty-eighth birthday, I decided that I ought to finally learn to drive. I signed up for lessons at a driving school not far from my job. I finished work each day at 6pm, and arranged to have classes several evenings per week. I knew I would be tired at that time of day, but the prospect of a shiny license emblazoned with my name was enough to lift my spirits. Still, I was nervous when I showed up for my first lesson. Who wouldn't be?

For years, I had put learning to drive on the back burner. In school, I told myself that other things, such as my studies, or social life, were more important. In my twenties, I struggled to find time amidst work, family, and other commitments. My job didn't require a license, and when I wanted to get out and about I could rely on public transport. What changed my mindset was a conversation I had with my uncle. "You won't ever be fully independent unless you can drive a car," he'd said. That remark gave me pause. Perhaps I should reconsider my stance, and enrol in classes after all.

On the evening of my first lesson, the staff at the school did their best to set me at ease. I was introduced to my instructor, a chatty, middle-aged man named Danny. I liked him immediately. He wasted no time tossing me the keys to our white Honda Civic, and waited patiently as I fumbled to unlock the vehicle. Inside the car he advised me to adjust my seat, familiarise myself with the dashboard and check the mirrors. Even though I was a novice, he encouraged me to do things for myself.

The feeling of pulling out onto the road that first night is one I will never forget. The sun had just set over the horizon, and the first stars were beginning to appear in the night sky. The lights of cars in the distance made a dazzling pattern as they glimmered across the landscape. All this, and we were only moving at a snail's pace. I wondered how I would feel when the car sped up to 60 or 70 miles per hour.

Meeting Danny a few times per week, I progressed more quickly than I had expected. Before long I was able to steer the car more or less by myself, although Danny occasionally reached over to make an adjustment. One memorable evening, the engine stalled in the middle of a roundabout. I panicked, and then saw that the driver in the next lane was laughing. Danny restarted the ignition, and reassured me. "She oughtn't to make fun," he declared. "No one is born knowing how to do this." To recover from my embarrassment, I concentrated on the road.

A few months later, I felt ready to sit my exam. In the build-up to the test, my friends encouraged me by discussing trips we could take once I got my license. My family was similarly supportive. Nonetheless, my heart was palpitating when I arrived at the test site. Danny tried to calm my nerves, but to no avail. I wasn't used to driving in broad daylight, as my lessons had all been at night.

Needless to say, I didn't pass that first time. A careless mistake dashed my confidence, and led the evaluator to conclude I wasn't ready. When I presented the test for a second time, I continued to doubt my abilities. However, this time I managed to pass. I was at a loss for words when the decision was announced. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, and then called my uncle to tell him the news.

Writers Talk About Writing

A. Betty Hamley
It wasn't my plan to become a writer, much less a writer of children's stories. I fell into the profession entirely by accident! A few years ago, I got into the habit of telling stories to my kids before bed. My youngest, Hannah, was having trouble falling asleep. I found that I enjoyed storytelling and had a lot of creativity. One day, to help Hannah with a school project, I jotted down her favourite tales and bound them together in a notebook. When she brought the collection to school, a fellow parent, who works as an editor, happened to see them. I couldn't have been more surprised when I got a call inviting me to a meeting at a major publishing house. Working as an author is a dream come true. So far, I've put out two collections of adventure tales. My next project is a book of fantasy stories, and will be released soon.

B. Theodora Johnson
I've always had a passion for crime novels, because I love stories with mystery and suspense. As a child, I was fond of a series about a detective who was able to solve tough puzzles. I was terribly upset when I finished the collection, because I couldn't find any other books that I enjoyed quite so much. Years later, this experience motivated me to write my own novels. I created a character called Detective Douglas, and based him on the protagonist of the books I used to read. Detective Douglas is clever, just like the character who inspired him. However, he is prone to making the odd mistake. I think this trait is one of the reasons he's popular with readers. People can relate to him because he isn't perfect. I haven't yet decided on the topic for my next book. It may feature Detective Douglas, or it might showcase a new character instead.

C. Amy Shaw
When I was in graduate school, I wrote my thesis about the great jazz musician Henry Fontaine. Normally there isn't much commercial interest in academic texts, so I was surprised when my advisor suggested that I try to get it published. Amazingly, my proposal was accepted by an important editor. It was harder than I thought to repackage my work for general readers, but in the end the title sold well. Since then, I've gone on to write two other biographies of jazz musicians, and next year am going to research a book about folk artists. I enjoy working as a writer and I'll probably stay in the profession, although I miss certain aspects of university life. The main downside to writing is the fact that it doesn't bring great financial rewards. It can be hard to predict when your next project will come up, so long-term planning is difficult. Still, I can't really complain, as I work from home most days and have a lot of free time.

D. Isabel Lee
I studied creative writing at university, and published my first novel not long after I graduated. The book focused on the lives of two sisters living in Yorkshire, and described the way that their relationship changed over time. I think the book succeeded because that kind of topic is one that everyone can understand. Later on in my career, I wrote other types of texts. I published a series of romance novels, for example, as well as some historical fiction. I can't say it was easy for me to make a living as an author. However, I do think it's harder for writers these days. People don't read as much as they used to, which means that publishers have to make tough decisions about which writers they'll take on. The phenomenon of e-books is also transforming the industry. I'm retired now, and when I look back on my career I realize that I was lucky. Besides being able to do something I loved, I was also able to travel all over the world via book tours and speaking events.