Since last September, I have been working at Goldsmiths, University of London, as a Tutor in Writing. I perform this role as a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), one of 80 or so writers appointed to universities around the UK to help students to improve their essay-writing skills.

It has been a fascinating and rewarding experience. Goldsmiths is a vibrant campus, and the students that have come to my tutorials are universally bright, engaging, and committed. Writers involved in the RLF scheme all seem to appreciate the opportunity to get out from behind their keyboards and "give something back" by passing on the lessons of their own battles with the task of writing.

I am delighted to say that I'll be doing this job until the end of the next academic year (Summer of 2010); then, following the usual RLF practice, it will be time to step down and allow another writer this privilege.

www.rlf.org.uk