On holiday in Italy, sharing a table with strangers, the conversation inevitably turned to what we all do for a living. Two of my dinner companions were retired but keen to discuss their previous occupations while I listened, part intrigued and part anxious about what I would say when it was my turn. Finally I confessed, ‘I’m a writer but I also do a bit of teaching because the writing doesn’t pay the bills...yet.’ It was the first time that I’d put writer before teacher wh