I had to read it like it was a real book. When I was writing it, I was looking for places to rewrite, chapters to move or to add.
At first it was like I was reading someone else’s story but that didn’t last as long as I would have hoped.
It’s very surreal and it did rekindle the grief and made me pine for the days when Charles was a toddler and things were simpler. That’s kind of odd for a forward thinking person like myself. I’m not one for wanting things to be like the old days.
By reading it as an actual book, I saw Charles songs differently than before. Funny how the package changed the experience.
It just made me miss him. God I miss him. Charles’ personality and presence took up a lot of space. That’s a big hole to leave behind.
Anne,
I know reading my own book as I was getting it ready to go “as a reader that might by it” was challenging. The chapters that really dealt with my story were rough. Sometimes I found myself checking out as I was doing that. Jeff was such a big help in this because he knew my story and helped me fine tune these parts. They are still difficult for me to read. I commend you for what you are doing – helping others through your own trials and struggles with this story. I am looking forward to reading your book.
I know you get it. Thanks for that, Don. So other authors feel that way, too. Especially those of us who’ve shared our story in those pages.
Your revelation made me cry. Your book about Charles, and his “ Diary of a broken mind”, will open people’s hearts up to how devastating mental afflictions are to the person, and the people who love them.
That’s it. I want others to see it from two points of view. His and ours.