Probably A Crazy Idea But...

[FauxLiz]

I was just reading the thread in the research forum seeking information to write a fictional novel with the main character suffering from PTSD and it made me contemplate for a moment about whether any of the members here have considered writing a non-fiction book about their journey. The reason I contemplate this is there have been occasions that I have considered taking the personal journals I have written in since the age of 12 to where I am now 35 years later. I don't have much other than anecdotal memories of my life before then which is when my first physical trauma happened.

The issue I have with converting these journals to a book is I have absolutely no idea how to go about it. I was just wondering if any other member had considered writing their story?

 

[ladee]

It has been suggested to me by a fellow member to write my story.... Guess that is where an editor would come in, which she can do... but I would really have to give putting myself out there like that, a lot of thought....
If I thought it would help another sufferer/survivor, I would try ....eventually.

 

[FauxLiz]

@ladee thank you that is a good point do I think if could help someone else or would I be doing it as a way of sort of putting everything out in the universe to try and purge myself of all the pain, sorrow, anxiety, memories etc. to see if that could heal me from the past.

 

[ladee]

I don't know, other than us, who would read a 'purge' book... I don't think I would... coming here tests me to my limits some days...You can do that by having a diary here... it is personal... your space, to say what ever... and you can write in it a hundred times a day if you want... then you would know if it would help others by the responses you get...Or if you still felt the need to write a book... and guess it would depend too where you are in recovery... if you haven't reached the maintenance stage it would leave a lot of unanswered questions... not only for the reader, but for you... just my two cents.

 

[Fayne Jane]

I think being new to this forum and into my 6th session of EMDR it is a great idea. So much of the public believes that PTSD only occurs with combat vet's. I did and couldn't find help and I thought if I found a PTSD group for Vets I wouldn't fit in as their tragedies were so worse than mine. Now I understand we all have trauma that led to PTSD, it isn't just war, but first responders, victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, others experiencing natural disasters it goes on and on. I lived in denial of my PTSD for 13 years and now just coming to terms with it.

 

[FauxLiz]

@ladee you are probably right that most people would not be interested in a purge book. You are right that I could do a trauma diary here but I guess you could call me old school. I have my hard copy paper journals and still use them. I have total anonymity as they are locked up, non-electronic meaning unhackable and I never have to worry I will lose them because a hard drive crashed.

 

[ladee]

But you can 'back up' your journal here... but I understand.. I kept a diary starting at 17, spiral notebooks , hundreds of them... I decided one day to burn them... the only ones I kept were the 'inner child diarys'... and that was five years worth... so I really do understand.... so guess getting it out one thread at a time will work too.... we are interested in your life and your story... just don't know if it would sell... but you could also ''self publish', research that and see if that would be something you would like to do... not saying you are wanting to make money.... not at all...nor would I, even if it inspired...

Check into self publishing... there are many ways to do that nowadays.... let me know what you find out... it is a good idea to purge and have someone acknowledge your pain and success.... we all want to be heard, and to get it out... hope you find something that works for you...

A thought just came to me... don't know if you are allowed to do screenshots here.... might be a question you could ask admin... then you could share it.. and still keep it with you....

 

[FauxLiz]

@ladee I suppose I have always considered if I did attempt some form of publishing as an anonymous autobiography. There was a book I read around 5th/6th grade called Go Ask Alice. It was an anonymous diary of a teenage drug addict. I think it is actually part of a series of similar teenage autobiographies. I had no idea what life could be like for a teen aged drug addiction at that time asi lived in rural America and the town was pretty tame. If if I did try to publish that is what I would be using as an inspiration. I think that unfortunately there are a lot of young people that don't realize that they are experiencing neglect, emotional,psychological and physical abuse. Add the shame and guilt when sexual abuse is included I don't think the know or believe there are others like themselves.

 

[Changing4Best]

I would suggest reading some Memoirs by folks who have some kind of mental illness, my Therapist often lends me such books to read, and they are fascinating. Secondly I would suggest taking a class in writing and also reading a good English grammar book. Ask your writing professor which one he or she suggests.

It has been suggested to me many a time to write a book about the 3 years I was homeless and how I survived. I chicken out because of my dyslexia and the fact that even though I have taken college level English courses and also a grammar course, I still feel VERY inept at best about my writing skills. However, I know that probably a good editor could help me to overcome these obstacles, so maybe I will yet get beyond the problems with my writing skills (or lack thereof) and get to it.

Either way, I wish you the best!

Oh, and don't forget any humor that you can put into it. Humor is our best medicine sometimes, and a good laugh at just the right moment is real medicine, because you can bet that others who have PTSD will be reading and need that laugh!

 

[ladee]

Ok, I see where that would be a direction to go... that would be cathartic for you and helpful for young ones.... keep thinking about this, you will find what is the right direction... I don't know that you would have to go to classes, that is what an editor is for... but if it is a dream, follow it... we are only going to be here for a short while... so do what makes you happy and that has purpose.

 

[Teamwork]

I have written two novels. One on incest, from a teens perspective and intermingled in the plot is the different ways to get help. The second was on suicide. In this the mom killed herself leaving a father and son to deal with life afterward. In each case the starting points were, target audience, including age group. Secondly what the story wanted to achieve once read by target audience. Third, choose characters, map out plot. In my case what's inserted in each book is a whole lot of my life written through characterization of people, plot, setting.

 

[The Albatross]

There have been/were (?) a couple of members who had books published. Personally I've not yet found a moral or anything other than cathartic crap to endeavor to try to write one though some have said I should.