LAST December my wife badgered me to submit my latest story, Icarus Fell, to The Northern Echo's New Novelist of the Year competition.

Begrudgingly, I did.

After that, work was rather busy and I didn't get back to the story for a while. When I re-read it I thought it was lacking in so many areas. I made a couple of half-hearted attempts to change a few things, but didn't like the results. After that, I decided to give up creative writing completely.

Making the final cut of the competition astonished me. I never expected to win and I wish good luck to winner Tony Glover (Echo, Feb 28). I have to say, though, the dream that there was still a slight chance that I could win was very pleasant indeed.

Thank you to everyone involved with the competition. Prior to hearing from you I'd given up on creative writing. Making it to the last 16 is a validation of sorts, so I've got "writing" back.

I intend to get back to Icarus Fell.

I might be able to make it worthy of publication or I might not, but at least I will get enjoyment from the act of writing again. Who knows where that will lead?

Mark Burrell, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear.