SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT
http://www.writers-online.co.uk NOVEMBER 2019^47Writing makes Betts better
‘Since I was small, I have always been fascinated with words,’ writes
subscriber Virginia Betts.
‘I used to write letters before I really knew what they were, and,
pre-school, I announced myself, arms outstretched, as “coming from
the Evening Star!” I had no clue that this was the name of our local
newspaper; no idea why it caused such mirth from the adults. It was
apt enough, though, for someone who continually wrote stories. I
could read way before I went to school and my vocabulary was far
beyond my years. My first “book” (aged 6) was about a fairground
horse who jumped onto the sand and galloped off to have adventures.
All of this sometimes made school a bit tricky to negotiate, as I must
have sounded a bit pretentious.
‘Fast forward to adulthood. I kept writing on and off, but I
was busy as a teacher and mother. However, five years ago, I put
my brain to a new venture and started my own tuition company.
This soared to success and although always busy, it meant that
I had some free days. My husband bought me a subscription
to Writing Magazine and before long, I took the plunge and
submitted some work to competitions and magazines. This paid
off, as the first short story I submitted was accepted. It is about
to be published in a magazine called The weird and the whatnot,which I saw in Writing Magazine. This
magazine seemed to fit my occasionally
dark imagination, and that’s why I
sent it a ghost story! Christmas 2018
was a watershed moment all round,
as I was also diagnosed with Irlens’
syndrome (which means I have to
wear blue glasses to read print – oh
what a difference!) and also Aspergers’
syndrome. Well, that explains the
computer-like memory for words and
the weird and wacky imagination then!
‘I have written some more stories, articles and a great deal of poetry
since last Christmas, and I have had a blog article published online
for my old university, an article in the National Autistic Society
magazine, and I have just heard that a poem has been shortlisted for
publication in a poetry journal. I still tutor, raising students’ GCSE
and A level results, sometimes by three grades. Words are more than
a hobby, a job, or even a passion – they save my brain from overload
and stagnation. Writing literally calms me and makes me a happier and
healthier person.When you’re sending in submissions to appear on those pages, feel free to
send us any additional content you have available. Whether it’s an interview
video, book trailer, podcast, audio extract or anything else,
we’ll give you as much exposure as we can through our digital edition and
website. As ever, send your details to [email protected]WE’LL HELP YOU SELL YOUR BOOK!
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See http://writ.rs/sellyourbook for more details‘Thinks: Am I the oldest writer to get his first
novel published?’ writes subscriber Graham Mole.
‘It’s called Paper Chain.
‘As a freelance journalist I write features
for Forestry Journal magazine among others
but that came way after a full time career as
a TV documentary maker and a director on
programmes like BBC’s Countryfile.
‘Paper Chain basically is about what happens
when a bug from space destroys America’s forests
and turns it into a third world country. It even gotbacking from Robert Redford who called it “An
important environmental concept.” Terrifyingly in
the real world a bug called the emerald ash borer
is currently destroying forests in the US.
‘I’ve also written a fishing book which has a
wincing title: A Multitude of Fins.
‘Thanks to being a subscriber to Writing
Magazine I spotted the publisher for Paper
Chain... SilverBow in Canada.
‘And my age? You’ll just have to guess... but
being a pensioner you have time to write.’Chain of events