Help Writing a memoir about the disease

[Rukia]

I am thinking about writing a memoir like Arnhild Lauveng's "A road back from schizophrenia" or Elyn Saks' "The center cannot hold: My journey through madness"
Anyone with similar idea? Or maybe some advice?

I was told I am a good writer but now I am stupefied by the disease so I am worried I wont be able to do so...

 

[AngelGirl]

I have never thought of it but I support your idea.
I used to write journals. I have them from many different years and some of them include pretty dark stuff. I don't do it so much now but the journals from the past I kept are extremely valuable to me today.

I think a memoir from a schizophrenic person (or other psychotic disease) would be very interesting.

 

[Ruffian]

Yes, whether for yourself or for the world it sounds like an interesting read. you might even become flavor of the month and reach a lot of people.
it could be helpful.

 

[H2H2]

Go for it , Rukia, a day at a time. If you liked to write when you were young and you feel your writing has been numbed down by drugs, apathy, lack of practice, etc, its going to be frustrating at the beginning. But if you practice everyday , some of your writing style comes back to life and its exciting and moving to see sparks of it suddenly popping back. And it does wonders to be busy and feel productive at least a couple of hours a day.

I read " The center cannot hold " years ago. The first thing I remembered about the book after I saw you mentioned it was she saying that her uncle ( her mothers brother if I remember correctly ) killed himself after years of suffering from mental illness and how much she regretted with time not going to her uncle's funeral to honor his fight. It something that moved me when I first read it.

Imho, there is a need of first hand accounts regarding mental illness. If its tragic, its always parents talking about their kids, sisters or brothers about their siblings, psychiatrists about their job or mental illness in general, etc. Even if you are lucky and you find a compassionate psychiatrist with decades of experience treating mental illness, if you spend enough time with him you get the feeling that they get it but they dont. Nothing beats being there.

 

[Rukia]

Thank you guys for all the support...It means a world to me...

Unfortunately I have destroyed my journal but I am thinking about photocopying my psych records...

 

[Memento Mori]

why don't try :)

 

[Scribble Fan]

I'm sure you can do it, Rukia. Sounds like a great idea.

 

[Rukia]

Thank you guys for all the support...

I am working on it but I am also daydreaming about it being a great success...There are 6 pages but I am already daydreaming lol...I am dreadful...

Another time I am worried about being sued because some things are drastic...Bug again nothing out of ordinary is happening...hardly a minute without paranoid thought...

 

[Echoko]

I would love to read it. The stuff that may seem obvious or uninteresting to you may be really insightful for others. If you feel like sending me some of the stuff you've written so far, I would like that and would try to help you out.

 

[Ruffian]

Yes I would love to reAd some as well. You can also PM me if u like.

 

[Boonks]

Hey! This is so awesome! I want to do this as well!

 

[Rukia]

For those who want to read it, it is in Polish :) But thanks for wanting to help:)

When it will be translated hopefully I will send you a free copy :)

 

[AngelGirl]

For those who want to read it, it is in Polish :) But thanks for wanting to help:)

When it will be translated hopefully I will send you a free copy :)

I would love a copy in English :)
Thanks :)

 

[Rukia]

I would love a copy in English :)
Thanks :)

Guys, so you have to hold on...I think a year is a reasonable time....

I already told my mother I am going to write it...I am ashamed as it is full of porn, sex so on...:( I doubt she is gonna like it...lol...It will be drastic...

 

[Jean Améry]

I think it's a good idea and I wish you succes. Perhaps you could keep a notebook with you at all times and just jot down your thoughts. Might be helpful in developing ideas.

 

[Rukia]

Thank you for your kind words...How I wish all would survive to this day when it is published...All ppl from the forum will get a free copy