Just needed to be heard for a little while

jobbingmusician

Ooooooooo how wonderful to hear that there's already a lot of material! Looking forward to it so much! xxx

whitewing

Have you actually re-read your diaries at any point, WaS?

Waves_and_Smiles

I am glad that I kept diaries, JM as it confirms everything isn't false memories which happen sometimes when psychosis is bad. They are quite detailed and give quite a good idea of what my life was like growing up. I started them after the missing 9 months so that I would have a record as I got very scared of my memories disappearing.

I have read some of them and glanced over others, whitewing. Some of them are very triggery for me, particularly the parts where I am writing about abuse right after it happened. On a positive note what stands out is how determined I was to keep going, no matter what happened I never gave in even when attacked by mother and placed into care. Some of my memories of that time are very hazy now as my mind found it easier to blank things out, so having the diaries is really helpful.

My teacher friend feels that we should publish the diaries intact as part of the book and flesh in around them. I am all for that as it is less writing now!

whitewing

I agree with teacher friend. I think young adults would relate to them knowing that they were similar ages to you then.

Waves_and_Smiles

That is what he said, too. The fact they are written in young adult language makes them more accessible to younger people and as I said to him if it helps one person reach out for help then they are worthwhile. They're also quite interesting for adults because you can see me mature and grow, they are a lot different at 13 to what are they are by the time I am 16.

whitewing

Yes, one person reaching out early enough could be the difference between that person having a family of their own or not. It would be a wonderful, wonderful gift to the world to have your book published. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Waves_and_Smiles

It doesn't, I just have to convince myself of that. The more I think about it, the more I think it might be a good idea to send the posts I have made on here. If it is a diary format for part of the book anyway, then posts could fit in with it with a bit of tweaking. This has got me thinking now...

Pyxis

whitewing wrote: »

You can't croak before you've written your book.

Yeah! Too right! I wanna see 'The Cupboard of Doom' in Waterstones!

Pyxis

Waves_and_Smiles wrote: »

It doesn't, I just have to convince myself of that. The more I think about it, the more I think it might be a good idea to send the posts I have made on here. If it is a diary format for part of the book anyway, then posts could fit in with it with a bit of tweaking. This has got me thinking now...

I was just going to say that!
Please do copy the thread. Not only would it be good for the book, but if anything did happen to it, you might think it had never existed. Having a hard copy would prevent you thinking that.

Recording your thoughts and memories on tape or disc is also a good idea. You don't have to play it back. Just record and send it off. In some ways, that's a more genuine stream of consciousness too!

lostinrates

Waves_and_Smiles wrote: »

It doesn't, I just have to convince myself of that. The more I think about it, the more I think it might be a good idea to send the posts I have made on here. If it is a diary format for part of the book anyway, then posts could fit in with it with a bit of tweaking. This has got me thinking now...

Re perfection,

If you were to try the traditional root of publishing house bear I. Mind and editor WILL be involved if they accept it.

Every author has corrections made. There are a lot of published writers in my family, i think the most prolific one is an academic who also published some fiction, but, any way, well up in double figures of books, several dozen at least, and THEY ARE EDITED . Even from such a prolific writer no one expects perfection.

Self publishing is also an option. If you choose this option I would ask you teacher friend to edit for you. Its not a job you can do your self effectively.