Writer and Tutor, Ann Burnett

I’ve always wanted to write. Even as a young child I wrote plays and poems and stories but it wasn’t until we came back from several years teaching abroad that I joined Dorothy Dunbar’s writing class in Prestwick.
Dorothy was one of the founder members of Ayr Writers’ Club and a feisty wee lady to boot so she was not at all pleased when I dropped out of her class after only a few weeks, claiming pregnancy as my excuse.
She kept in touch and when my first son was a year old, I presented myself at Ayr Writers’ Club, then held at the Wallace Tower. Someone must have seen my discomfiture as, when I blurted out that I used to be a teacher and was now a mum, I was kindly told to see Dorrith Sim as she ran the children’s section.
That was just at the time when Radio Scotland was starting up the daily children’s programme, Nickety Nackety. Dorrith had already a foot in that door and with her encouragement and help, I eventually sold them a story.
My first success! I received £12 for it and I was entranced and hooked.

Click here to read the rest of my article on the featured writer page of the Ayr Writers' Club website.

As part of the celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter to the town of Ayr, Rowena Love and I edited 800 Words, an anthology of the winning entries in the international poetry and short story competition which Ayr Writers' Club ran, along with winning entries in the club's annual competitions. It's available to buy on Amazon or by contacting ab@annburnett.co.uk. £5.99