I took the advice given here and am taking a break from my memoir (based on the 400 pages of letters my father wrote during WWII and gave to me a few years ago) that I just finished (rough draft). However, it looks as if I may have a problem. Though my father was pleased that I was finished, he said he has no desire to read it. I don't take it personally AT ALL. This is his story too and he has to deal with it whatever way works for him. And PTSD is anything but predictable! So it seems that no matter my plan, my agenda, this book will be written in a timing not my own.
I'm not asking any questions in this post, simply sharing. I can't finish this book without him. While I was very careful to get the facts right, I can't be sure without going over it with him. I know that in time we can begin the process again. One chapter a week, two chapters a week... it doesn't matter. As I've spent this time away from the project I discovered a few things.
At first, I had a hard time being away from it. Then it was easy and almost a relief to be rid of it. And now, I feel like I can think more clearly about the project. I am thinking that the next steps will be to go through the whole thing chapter by chapter. I'll write a timeline to be sure it follows chronologically, and also to be sure that important themes run through it consistently. Of course, along with this, I'll have my father read a chapter at a time and he can critique it for accuracy.
So much of my part of the book is my emotions as relating to my father, that I already feel weird about him reading it. But I gotta get over it. Anyway- My plan is dig in again about mid-April, after the kids have had their spring vacation and are back to school.
Thanks again for all the good advice here. It is really just SO valuable!
Lavinia
I'm not asking any questions in this post, simply sharing. I can't finish this book without him. While I was very careful to get the facts right, I can't be sure without going over it with him. I know that in time we can begin the process again. One chapter a week, two chapters a week... it doesn't matter. As I've spent this time away from the project I discovered a few things.
At first, I had a hard time being away from it. Then it was easy and almost a relief to be rid of it. And now, I feel like I can think more clearly about the project. I am thinking that the next steps will be to go through the whole thing chapter by chapter. I'll write a timeline to be sure it follows chronologically, and also to be sure that important themes run through it consistently. Of course, along with this, I'll have my father read a chapter at a time and he can critique it for accuracy.
So much of my part of the book is my emotions as relating to my father, that I already feel weird about him reading it. But I gotta get over it. Anyway- My plan is dig in again about mid-April, after the kids have had their spring vacation and are back to school.
Thanks again for all the good advice here. It is really just SO valuable!
Lavinia
