~ The Book Shadow ~

🌘📓📜 Some of the new authors I've worked with over the years have been 'shadowed,' as I call it, by the book they felt they had in them. It might be a gradual thing, something that slowly makes itself known. And it can get stronger and all-encompassing ~ just won't leave the person alone.

And, as a ghostwriter and editor, I can feel that sensation too, with the author's story and struggles often profoundly affecting me. At the same time, I strive to be that professional insider-outsider ~ understanding and absorbing the material, but able to look at it with assessing and critical eyes.

🌘📓📜 I worked with one client for two years, off and on. Some of the approach of his memoir and storytelling changed, several times, as newly-unburied memories made themselves apparent, the experiences of his past, coming out of some hiding-place, and with changing 'shadow' effects.

Our working together regularly involved long phone conversations, where much was explored, questioned, validated. Each time I'd later send him a transcript and recap of our conversation. It seemed to confirm for him that the different mind-travels, the ways of thinking, the memories he thought he'd buried, now all had a place - and were things he could work with.

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🌘📓📜 Doing a book like a memoir or other personal story is often a disturbing, upsetting, stressful, and long journey ~ even while it may ultimately bring some kind of satisfaction, relief and closure. Those positive things are what I think of as 'good shadows.' They are your life's material and their effects of being written about, that don't have to haunt ~ but can embrace you, the author.

By uncovering, accepting and writing about them, you claim them, and maybe no longer have to feel pursued by them. It may be a gradual process, or something that comes to realization quite soon, once released. (I hasten to add, I have no degree in psychology, am simply going by what I understand and have heard from authors I've worked with).

🌘📓📜 And there's another way a book can have a beneficial kind of 'shadowing' effect - it can impress itself upon the reader, follow them around, insist on being read and thought about...and even awaken that reader's own thoughts about telling their story.

Whether you're a writer, or a reader thinking about becoming a writer, be open to how shadows can work for you!

🌘📓📜 And keep in mind: it doesn't have to be a public journey. You may want to write your story only for yourself, an extended private journal.

Or you may prefer to do the total opposite, and use social-media platforms and blogging, leaving yourself the option of later deleting, enhancing or editing your words.

Whichever way you choose, perhaps you'd like a guiding hand and partner on your journey.

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Questions about doing a memoir or similar book? I can help with writing, editing, publishing-related guidance and media/marketing/promo...and overall creativity and coordination!

#memoir #writeamemoir #writeabook #personalstory #shadows

Pic Credit: https://lnkd.in/eWpRCmyF