Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be A Writer

I don’t know if many people’s dreams are born in a poorly-lit classroom in one of the more salubrious parts of south-east London, but mine was. I had enrolled on a creative writing course at my local adult education centre when my second child was eight months old. I felt that my brain was beginning to fester like something lurking at the back of the fridge and I needed to re-engage with people over the age of two. I can’t tell you how exciting those first few hours were back in the company of adults. The world seemed bright with possibility. My classmates were as diverse a group as you could ever hope to meet, each bringing a different spark of insight on the world. It was like returning to school but in a good way because we all wanted…