Go to I WRITE, THEREFORE I AM
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- Go to MayB asked a great question that I don't know how to answer. Can you help??
and lastly, to Scriber:
uh...WHAT??
posted by
Julia.
on May 24, 2005 at 2:42 PM
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A thank you to:
Kingmi, Passionflower, Katray, Justsouno, ginnieb, jemmie211, mayb, littlemspickles, factorfiction, tapsel-t, tigerprincess, Ca88, Jimmy68, offbeatpub, zenresistance, word.smith, mary x, elan27, flightpath, gem-ini, L.E. Gant and zentropa.
I appreciate that you took the time to offer your opinions and/or advice...THANKS! You guys and gals ROCK, and I will print out your suggestions to think about this some more.
posted by
Julia.
on May 24, 2005 at 2:41 PM
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Every writer has a different methodology.
Some people prefer a more structured approach, others a less structured approach. Try one thing, and then if that doesn't work, then the other. Try not to be afraid of what people think of you for what you write--it sounds like that is part of your "block". Everybody starts by loving their family members, but it doesn't always end up that way, especially when judgement enters the picture. Try writing about some of the experiences that you had with your brother that you loved about him. This should at least make the reader more sympathetic to your present position.
Just my two cents' worth, of course.
posted by
zentropa
on May 24, 2005 at 2:24 AM
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It might be too late, but, autobiography is a lot harder to write (well) than any other form. Too often, it becomes sickeningly sentimental, even for the most interesting life.
Why? Because we all have so much in our lives, good and bad. It's hard to recognize what to drop and what to pursue in depth: not everything is worth the effort of reading. On top of which, there's always some new idea or experience that adds flavour.
One way of managing it is to break your life into a series of snippets - make the bio out of these snippets,not always in chronologicl order. Then you can always add afewmorewith each edition...
Oh, as for which format... it's more important to structure the whole,and then find what you want to say. As snippets (chapters, segments, whatever), you can easily cover them up as fiction,if you want, or present them as facts.
posted by
L.E.Gant
on May 23, 2005 at 9:29 PM
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You have given me confidence. I am going to write my autobiography
not that it is any major deal; it is just that whatever befalls any one of us that freezes us is major. I began today first post in Memoirs of A Nobody. Thank you for telling just what you did, it helped me.
posted by
Justi
on May 23, 2005 at 7:34 PM
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Quirky...my two cents worth
Everybody writes differently, some form a skeleton plot before writing, some just write as they go along. It is a matter of what suits you best. Personally, I'm the latter sort of writer. I have an idea of where my story is going but no set rule as to what I write in each chapter. I revise and change things as I go along. It might help you get started if you pen down about 3000 words of how you feel right now about what has happened with your brother. You could then choose to tell the story as an autobiographical flashback, or you could tell the story in the first person but make it partially fictional. The latter tends to be less tedious. Let your experience seep through in your writing and through your fictional character, sometimes you get to know yourself even better that way than when you try to portray the truth about yourself in an autobiography. I hope this helps.
posted by
Black_Coffee
on May 23, 2005 at 11:34 AM
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Quirkyalone - You might find it most comfortable to first outline the story, then write as though fiction. Here's a suggestion for beginning the outline - First Chapter: Childhood times with loved one who later comits horrible crimes.(When you write that first chapter, include dreams, or nightmares, foreseeing future disaster. This creates suspense). Perhaps with this beginning, the rest will follow more easily.
posted by
reasons
on May 23, 2005 at 5:07 AM
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I feel, you should have a directed thought, which is, the way you want to write. It shall come, the way you go on, but the way has to be decided before you begin. Because, it can become quite a confused state of affairs, if the three ideas of yours get mixed up!
I feel, u being the protagonist or the whole book, being in the first person, will be bettter.
All the best! Though you are the best judge. Do lemme know how u decide and what u decide!
posted by
Elan27
on May 23, 2005 at 3:28 AM
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Who thought of calling it the Bible?
posted by
scriber
on May 22, 2005 at 4:13 PM
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QuirkyAlone,
Maybe starting offline could free you, just open a word processor program and pour it out, then let the form take shape from the material, afterwards. Editing and writing simultaneously can make you blocked and paralyzed.
posted by
Blanche.
on May 22, 2005 at 3:53 PM
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Quirky,
It would certainly be interesting to hear about how the lives of the relatives (like yourself) have changed for better or worse. If you're not sure what form your work will eventually take, I would agree with just writing - after you have some kind of outline - until the shape becomes clear.
posted by
word.smith
on May 22, 2005 at 3:46 PM
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As other have suggested...
Just start writing. No thinking, just writing. The form wil emerge. It won't be great literature at first, but that's why God made us edit in the next step. Get your thoughts down first, then sort them out later. Once their all written out you may come up with a new way to put them together, but you have to get them down first. All of my Blogit entries are raw, no edits. (You can probably tell right off.) But now that their down in print I can go back and polish them for later, should I decide to assemble them into a book or whatever. That's the key.
Get the words and ideas down on paper first, then sort it out later.
Good luck.
posted by
zenresistance
on May 22, 2005 at 8:48 AM
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Quirky
Just start writing.. it will come to you and as you progress, you will know how to label it. Whether you write from a 15 year old's view or as an adult recalling, it will be fine. Just do it your way sweetie and the best of luck ~~
posted by
Offy
on May 22, 2005 at 3:31 AM
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Write the truth as you see it...
though passionflowers point about writing through the eyes of the child you were is well taken...I'm with MayB here, just start writing and see what happens...
posted by
jimmy68
on May 22, 2005 at 12:46 AM
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I agree with a few comments here. As May said, it should be written and you should just start writing. It will take shape as you do. I also agree with Passionflower - written from the persepective of a 15 year old will give it impact. Also as has been said (I can't remember who by) it should be non-fiction. Good luck with it!
posted by
Ca88andra
on May 21, 2005 at 8:38 PM
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Write it from your heart
That means first person laying it all out there. I think it's a great idea writing about the families who are left behind from the criminals side.
posted by
tigerprincess
on May 21, 2005 at 8:25 PM
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Quirky, I think that it would lose impart if written as fiction. There are many people out there who have experienced a family member murdering some one. I specifically know two families who have been dealing with this for years and years and are still lost and, yes, hiding, thinking the situation is unique to them.
posted by
TAPS.
on May 21, 2005 at 6:35 PM
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Hi Quirky
I like Passionflower's ideas especially about writing it as if you were a 15YO.
I also could swear I read a blurb about a book written by someone whose relative was one of the more notorious criminals. I wish I could remember what it was... it was a couple of months ago that I read about it.... I remember thinking it would be very interesting to read from that point of view. I have pondered how the murderer's family feels , whether they suspected the person was even capable of it, etc. I would find your mother's point of view to be heartbreaking...I went through those pregnant phases where I pondered who my child could turn out to be...my thoughts ranged from president to serial killer...and of course being pregnant, the killer idea really panicked me!
posted by
FactorFiction
on May 21, 2005 at 4:25 PM
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a lot of great ideas...
interviewing families and telling their stories would possibly be a form of therapy for yourself and others to get it out their in the open and discuss your feelings - the market for the book though may be limited - it may be too confrontational for some. A novel loosely based on truth would possibly reach more people and still achieve the same sort of release without leaving yourself too open to attack.
Just some thoughts...
posted by
littlemspickles
on May 21, 2005 at 3:54 PM
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Ultimately it will become clear to you even if it means starting the process and changing it as you go. No matter what the "market" is you can only write your book. It will be received for what it is.
posted by
Azur
on May 21, 2005 at 3:44 PM
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Actually, I agree with MayB
Just start writing. I find that with difficult topics, if I just write the form does come to me.
posted by
Jemmie211
on May 21, 2005 at 3:13 PM
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Quirky...
...my thoughts are to write non-fiction, including interviews with other families and situations, similar to your own. I think this could be a healing for you, for the other families and possibly from the families of the victims too. My mother has a friend whose son murdered someone and I spent some time with her shortly after her son was sentenced...this was a woman broken in pieces...and feeling abandoned by so many friends. I cannot believe what you said about a former blogger's comments..how horrendously cruel. Good luck with making a decision about writing about your experiences.
posted by
ginnieb
on May 21, 2005 at 2:20 PM
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I think if you could get victims families to talk that would be great.
Your family and their family are all victims of this crtime. Having both sides of this opened up would be so good. That would probably be a self-help book or one to be used by groups. Give it a try.
Be ready for new trauma, and old trauma to be so hard.
Bless you dear.
posted by
Justi
on May 21, 2005 at 12:29 PM
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Searching my mind...
I can't recall ever reading anything similar to these ideas Quirky. I believe you would be a pioneer in this market. If it were me, I'd start with the fictional account you described - to test the waters without opening myself & family too wide to the public. If the response was mostly positive, I'd consider a non-fiction work involving other families. My two cents. p.s. - Good Luck whatever you decide. With your gift of words, I feel sure you will be successful.
posted by
Katray2
on May 21, 2005 at 12:06 PM
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Here's my opinion and this only comes from my Gut Instincts --
As a writer...You must eventually decide for yourself. If it was my story though, I'd write it from a child's point of view.
You, as a child telling the story, would be the most effective way to tell your story. I dont think you should white-wash over the things that happened either. And I don't think you should paint the picture thru rose-colored glasses or be kinder to some than others simply bec of personal feelings or blood relationships.
Be brutally honest in telling the tale, but give it the feel of fiction. It will make a gripping tale, but this will be one of the most difficult things you ever do.
posted by
Passionflower
on May 21, 2005 at 12:01 PM
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Q, Writeaboutitregardless&avoidwriters'block!That'smymotto.
posted by
kingmi
on May 21, 2005 at 11:49 AM
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