James Carson's story about Where The Boys Are

A story featuring the multifaceted lives of gay men wasn’t the kind of book I expected to find in my local public library. But, to its credit, Glasgow has been making special efforts to reflect the diversity of library users in its collections.

'Where The Boys Are' is no mere pleasure-fest of boozing and cruising. The story addresses serious themes: loss, reconciliation, mental illness. For me, the book’s appeal owed as much to its setting as to its story. Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod was a refreshing change from the well-trodden urban locations of many gay-themed novels.

Having read and enjoyed the book, I sent a message of appreciation to the author, Bill Mann, who responded with his own word of thanks. And that, it seemed, was that.

Then, within a few months, I was invited to one of Bill's regular writing workshops in Provincetown. At first, I dismissed the idea. A long period of writer’s block had re-enforced the belief that my writing journey was at a dead end. But the thought that a weekend in Cape Cod might prove me wrong persisted.

Which is why, one chilly March morning, I found myself on a flight to Boston. At Logan Airport, I met up with the other workshop participants. During the drive to the Cape, I learned, with some apprehension, that my fellow passengers’ writing experience was far greater than mine. But my reservations about making the journey evaporated when we reached our destination. Provincetown was every bit as enchanting as its description in the book.

The weekend-long workshop was a wonderful occasion, offering both inspiration and affirmation. The learning curve was steep, but each of us received practical guidance on improving our writing skills. Bill Mann was a supportive and candid tutor. After reading an extract from my writing, he made some corrections, then added: "You are definitely a writer!" I returned home with renewed confidence, newly forged friendships and an armoury of tools to rebuild my writing life.

Of course it wasn’t all plain sailing. To some, words flow from their minds like an alpine stream. For me, it’s more like a blocked drainpipe. But by practising the techniques I’d learned in the workshop, I gained greater confidence about submitting my work.

Within a few months, a story I’d composed was accepted for publication in a book of new Scottish writing. Seeing that volume in the very library where my journey into the unknown had begun was a moment to cherish.

In many ways, the book that changed my life was a tale of the unexpected. It carried me across an ocean, widened my circle of friends and re-ignited the writer within. In truth, it created a little magic.

But then, making magic is what life-changing books do best.