Guest Composer: Betty Wyatt

No writer writes alone.

Each of us is the product of the people around us. Even the proverbial hermit writer has to deal with editors, publishers, agents, and the milk man.

Writers are readers. What we read shapes how we write. Thus, we must strive to read large quantities of quality literature.

From time to time I will feature a guest writer, either someone with a book to release or someone who has something to teach us all.

The first writer I'm going to promote is Betty Wyatt. She is the picture of determination, writing most of her newly self-published novel before 6 a.m. She dreamed of a finished book and now she has accomplished that dream. She followed that first rule of writing-- BICFOK. She also followed many other rules we will discuss later, including "write, rewrite, revise, then rewrite again until you have something worthwhile" and "ask for advice from as many as you can, then make your decision and stick with it."

I must admit that Betty Wyatt is not a random choice for first featured author. She happens to be my mother and I have watched her story unfold over the last several years.

Betty's new book, JESSIE: the story of a genteel lady in frontier Alaska, is available from lulu. Once there, do a search for "Betty Wyatt" and find her story.

Before the Prelude

The first requirement for creating anything of beauty or utility is presence. Without a carpenter, there is no house; without a chef, no gourmet meal; without musicians, no symphony.

And without a writer, no book.

So, the first rule for writers is none too delicate.

BICFOK

Butt (or Bottom, if you prefer) In Chair, Fingers on Keyboard.

Ready?

Begin.

Prelude

The conductor raises his bamboo wand. Violinists poise their bows above a forest of A-strings. Oboeists and flautists draw a breath and wait.

With the flick of a wrist, the maestro gives an upbeat.

And the concerto begins.