THE WRITERS BUREAU
STUDENT STORIES

“A characteristically imaginative Piscean, my ambition was always to be a writer. As a young man I broached many fields; crime fiction, humour, scriptwriting and, being a steam fanatic, even a fantasy technical work about steam locomotives, complete with my own designs. Can you imagine how I felt receiving rejection upon rejection? Not a glimmer of interest. Angry and dejected, I gave up.

“Years later, in 2007, I stumbled across The Writers Bureau page in a magazine, and with Piscean impulsiveness, enrolled immediately. I worked my way through the assignments, submitting my efforts to my tutor. His appraisals were very encouraging; emphasising my strengths while tactfully identifying my weaknesses, and it wasn't long before I realised my previous failings had been largely due to presentation. My writing had been mere words with no style; no natural 'flow'. Finally wise to this, I could do something about it.

“I progressed with the course following my tutor’s recommendations. Before long he suggested I submit the best of my course work to the magazines I had written them for. I sent the work and waited; desperate for yet, with my previous track-record, dreading their responses.

“Then, in the space of one week, I received not one but two acceptance letters! One from Paranormal magazine, wanting to use my article on a scientific theory about hauntings and another from The Lady, accepting a chronicle-style article. I received a subscription to Paranormal and £80.00 from The Lady. But, more importantly, I was now a published writer – twice over. After my previous woes, the feeling was indescribable.

“Fired with enthusiasm, I submitted articles, letters, photos, advice items; everything I could produce, to selected magazines, including my wife's weeklies. Before long, payments had rendered the WB money-back guarantee obsolete.

“Early in 2008 I realised July 3rd would be the 70th anniversary of the steam locomotive named Mallard setting the 126 mph world speed record. Following the wisdom in “write about what you know” I set to work on "A Legend Called Mallard" aimed at the monthly publication Best of British. Not only was this accepted, with the locomotive adorning the front cover, it appeared in the July issue as their tribute to this historic achievement. So proud, I viewed the payment as merely an added bonus. The magazine continues to publish my work.

“My most consistent success, however, has been with the weekly publication That's Life! This has several sections offering cash payments, including "Rude Jokes of the Week" and "Aren't Men Daft"(AMD); paying £15 and £25 per item respectively. To date, they've used 30 jokes I've submitted and three AMDs which my wife e-mailed, seeing as this feature is intended for women to have a chuckle at their menfolk. Profitable? Please do the sums. I'm not so daft after all!

“I now write nearly every day and am further looking into publishing a book of my risqué jokes. My ultimate goal is to research and write a book on the Dark Age warrior behind the legend of King Arthur. Ambitious? Maybe; but far less so than my current achievements could ever have seemed three years ago.”

Dave Cullen, Leeds