What if...An author friend of mine died unexpectedly, tragically, and much too young. I know he was always working on something. In fact, he would often let me know when he was mere chapters in that he would be in touch "in a few months" with a new manuscript. I know for a fact he left behind a wife and children as well as many beautiful unfinished stories. Oh what I wouldn't give to get my hands on his computer. Those stories will likely be forever lost and for that I am sad. It certainly gets my wheels spinning though. What happens to everything I've been working on if something happens to me tomorrow? I have a back-up plan for my children, my spouse, and even at work I have instructions written for someone who may have to take over. Why do we treat our writing any differently?
We talk about our books being our babies - and yet many of us have made no preparations to care for our 'book babies' after we pass on. Let that sink in for a bit...
What are things we should do to plan for our inevitable departure from this planet?
Who should we appoint to finish raising our book babies?
If you've made those important arrangements already, please share with those of us who haven't put those back-ups in place?
And on a brighter note, this is my favorite time of year and NO - I am not dying...I'm concentrating on living my very best life with a pumpkin spice latte' in hand and horse slobber on my sleeve!
Hugs,
~Crystal
You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books here, and at her personal blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!
Crystal ~ It's interesting you bring this up because a writer contacted WOW about this topic yesterday! She was asking how to find someone trustworthy enough to finish her book should something happen to her. I recommended finding a ghostwriter, since they are sworn to secrecy. (She was also worried about theft.) Since my book is memoir, no one would be able to finish it for me, but they are welcome to try and publish any of the essays I have lounging on my computer. And I say "try" because they are problem essays. ;) You brought up a good point about having a plan in place for someone to take over at work, and I should do that. Your posts always give me food for thought. And...speaking of food, a pumpkin spice latte sounds yummy right now. :)
ReplyDeleteWriting friend Traci Sorell did the rewrite for Indian No More after the book had been accepted because her friend, the author Charlene Willing McManis, died.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd have to have a special connection to the project to be able to take it on.