Don't be put off by age. People may sneer. People may joke. But the fact remains that old folk are just as good at writing humdingers as the young upstarts. Some would say better. Why? Because us wrinklies have more experience, more insight into life and more memories to draw from than the younger element. And not as much angst.

Also, older folk have more empathy with people going through both the highs and the lows of living in todays hectic world because, more likely than not, they've been there, done that and know precisely where to buy the T-shirt. They understand what makes things tick on a deeper level, and have probably arrived at a philosophical appraisal of where life is coming from and where it's going which can add depth and breadth to their writing.

I was heartened to read in May's issue of Writers' Forum about Mary Cavanagh who has published her first book at the age of 60! Brilliant! Go girl! You've got plenty of time for another 10 at least!

Mary took a writing course which she says made her much more thoughtful and focussed, and knuckled down to writing "The Crowded Bed" which was subsequently published by Transita. Yes, it can be done.

If you feel that you're knocking on a bit and are loosing hope for your writing career, think again. Snap out of it and get to work. Draw on that fighting-against-all-odds British spirit which we over-60s appear to be the sole custodians of these days.

Someone reading this is the next Ian Fleming, or even the next J K Rowling. Is it YOU?