Michael Bywater

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It’s with sadness that I share that long-time friend of Scrivener and regular participant / inciting abettor of Novel-in-a-Day, Michael Bywater, passed away last night.

Michael was lots of things in his life, including a columnist, a humorist, a technologist, a cultural critic, a university tutor, a pilot, a harpsichordist, a book author, a game designer, a babymedic, a wannabe priest, a music director for a dance company, a brother to 500 siblings, and a dog owner to name just a few. The internet is awash with his byline in such publications as The Independent, The Times, The Observer, New Humanist, New Statesman, The Guardian, The Spectator, and Prospect.

Mikey B, as I have never called him, not ever, not even once just as a joke, was a good friend to me over the past decade or so, as well as about as genuine and heartfelt a source of encouragement, advice and damn honest feedback as a comparatively talentless hack such as myself could ever wish for. Plus occasionally he’d feed me cheese and wine.

Michael’s mind was a unique gift from the universe. He saw the world like no one else, and then described it in a way that resonated so loudly and so funnily.

Miss you, buddy. Pint on me next time I see you.

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Very sad. I never met him, but knew him only through this community. So condolences to you PF (and Mrs PF?) for the loss of your friend.

But it comes to us all. I can only hope his passing was easy.

Mark

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I will save everyone expect Mrs * from the litany of profanity that started when Piggy sent me the news. I knew him only through the forum and time spent with Piggy discussing … things. I feel that men like him are often unnoticed until a dimness descends forcing everyone to feel their absence.

I know he and Vic-k are finding each other at the Red Lion.

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Sorry for your loss @pigfender and everyone concerned.

(I am never comfortable with what to say in these circumstances, so I’ll say just that.)

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He and I moved in the same online circles, here and elsewhere, but I wouldn’t say I knew him. Sincere condolences to those who did.

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Sad news, indeed. Thank you for your kindhearted memorial posting here. Michael was a fine writer and in my personal pantheon of NIAD contributors.

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Aye. He wrote using the full length of the keyboard as the situation demanded, without a hint of contradiction or inauthenticity.

“Loss sheds its light on what remains, and in that light all that we have and all that we have had glows more brightly still.” (Michael Bywater)

“Phwoar! Phwoar! Phwoar! Uh-oh. Yuk. Aaargh. [THUD]” (also Michael Bywater)

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Hi, I just wanted to write and say thank you for writing such lovely things about my father, Michael. It’s a terrible loss, but knowing that there are people out there holding memories of him is a great comfort xxx

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This is incredibly sad news. Michael was among our earliest users - I believe he started using Scrivener back in the pre-1.0, Scrivener Gold days; he was certainly using it back at the start of 2007 when we launched. He was an early cheerleader and always so supportive.

Back when Gmail was invitation only, it was Michael who sent me the invite so I could get an account. Once, before our Windows version was launched, when another Windows developer tried to rip off Scrivener, Michael, unbidden, asked his lawyers for advice about it on our behalf. And although I never had the privilege of meeting him in the real world, I have dozens of other emails from him over the years giving encouragement, giving feedback, or just being generally funny and kind. He was also a valued contributor to this forum - those who wish to search should find some great writing advice from him back in some old discussions.

And of course, his entries in @pigfender’s Novel in a Day were always hilarious or bonkers or both.

He will be missed.

@Dittamay I’m truly sorry for your loss.

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