I always make time for my Mslexia issue.

You’ve heard it all before; being a writer is a solitary pastime filled with huge tsunamic waves of self-doubt and a stack of odds so large they block out the light from time to time. That’s why, six years ago, when I discovered Mslexia magazine it was a bit of a eureka moment. Suddenly I’d found a whole community of writing women who where trying to do the same thing as me! If you don’t know it – get it. This quarterly magazine is packed with all the latest from the world of writing, and crucially, written by women for women! I never fail to learn from it, in fact it led me to find my agent. In the current issue there are articles by two of my favourite writers, Sue Gee and Louisa Young, and the brilliant winning entries from the short story competition. I always read it with a pen in my hand so that I can highlight notes of importance – it’s a bit like having a helpful big sister to guide you through the pitfalls of puberty.

When I’m shut in the spare room, sitting at my corner desk, late at night, or during a few precious hours when both children are at school, all too often I ask, “What the hell am I doing?” And when Mslexia falls onto my doormat it never fails to answer,”This is what you’re doing – just like all the others – this is what you’re trying to do.” and it girds me to keep on going. It connects me to something and encourages me to do things like… start a blog!