Monday 25 February 2013

HOW I CAME TO WRITE 'PUTTING RIGHT THE PAST'

Today I want to tell you about how my book 'PUTTING RIGHT THE PAST' came about. It all started in 2009 when I moved my elderly father from Devon to live with me and my partner in The Midlands. He was eighty three at the time and had lived by himself for twelve years after the death of my mum, my sister and I took turns going down to Devon every weekend, but that really was not enough as he was starting to need looking after 24/7.

As a family we decided a retirement home was not an option for us, nothing against homes but we felt with just a few changes to the way we lived our lives and a little more planning we would be able to cope. The four years have been really good for us; sometimes it's been a challenge and we have good days and bad days.

The more the months went on the less and less we were able to leave him. I was very lucky that someone would check on him while I was out at work, but my evenings out and long walks on a weekend slowly came to an end. Not  being the type to spend all my time in front of the TV I felt this seemed the perfect opportunity to fulfil my dream of writing a book, This is when 'PUTTING RIGHT THE PAST' was born.

The last twelve months have been the hardest as I've had to give up work, he is now bedridden and needs care 24/7 as he is unable to do anything for himself. In a future blog I would like to tell you about the wonderful support I get from family, friends and the NHS.

Perhaps the book I've written should not really exist, I'm not really qualified to write as you will see in the blog covering the editing. 'PUTTING RIGHT THE PAST' was it just a dream too far? and have I been silly thinking I could write a book. Well I have done it now and loved every minute of the writing, to sit at the laptop escape from everything and put these characters that I have come to love into a story, has been a very fulfilling experience. I'm well aware I've put myself out there to be criticized, but as one of my favouite authors said.....

'There are a lot of people writing books that really should stick to just reading'

I must admit in a lot of ways they are right and I don't hold that against them. But writing this book and another that I have just finished have helped me get through a very difficult time in my life.

I have so much admiration for carers, there are so many out there that do not have the support from family and friends like I have, I really don't know how they do it. So thats it for now I hope you are having a good day, in my next blog I look forward to telling you where the idea for 'PUTTING RIGHT THE PAST' came from.

18 comments:

  1. A lovely post and one I can relate to in so many ways. I wish you every success - out of bad some good can come. :) xx

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    1. Thank you so much Amanda for all your encouragement x

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  2. Fate moves in mysterious ways! Look forward to following your story: )

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    1. Thank you very much Amanda I hope you enjoy following me x

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  3. I find writing is therapy, Ian. I don't have a bedridden father, as you do, but have had a lot of family problems from a very early age. The release has come in writing, creating other worlds where I can inhabit and to a certain extent, control. (Though as you know, characters have a way of taking over). NEVER think of yourself as not a writer!! You have every 'write' to create a book,and share your undoubted talent with the world. If for no other reason than you are one of the nicest and most supportive people on Twitter! And I shall chin anybody who disagrees!

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    1. Thank you Carol I look forward every Saturday to reading your blog, always something very diferent x

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  4. I'm glad you've found therapy in writing, Ian. So many 'readers' are quick to criticise but how many can actually say they've written book? It's no easy feat and you deserve a hearty pat on the back for your dedication to your father and to your writing.

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    1. Thank you Fiona it is a good feeling to think I have actualy writen a book x

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  5. Thank you for letting us share in a part of your journey Ian. My outlet was poetry! Definitely a therapeutic experience.

    Fate moves in the most mysterious of ways :)

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    1. Thank you,I look forward to reading your book reviews, how you get through so many as you do, i don't think you ever sleep x

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  6. Writing can bring lots of comfort and oh so much pain but it is worth it :0)

    Your father is very lucky to have such a caring son.

    Thanks for sharing and wishing you every success with your novel.
    x

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    1. Thank you very much Sue I always look forward to what you and the other ladies(THE ROMANIACS)have to say and Tuesday Chit-Chats is always fun x

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  7. Carole is right, writing is theraputic and good for the soul.I only started writing just over a year ago,I'm not writing a book just my blog and some stories but I am loving it more than anything I have ever done. So good on you for getting a book finished as well as taking care of your father. Something like caring that takes up so much of your emotional strength needs the carer to have some sort of outlet. Welcome to the blogging world.

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    1. Thank you very much, for someone who has been only blogging for a short time there is no stoping you. Always somthing diferent i think you are another one that never sleeps x

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  8. I am a carer myself and find that writing, even if it is only for my blogs is so therapeutic. Love this blog. Well done and wishing you every success. x

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  9. Thank you so much, I do think reading blogs is a little bit addictive but such a great thing to do x

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  10. I am also a carer. My partner has Parkinsons and it is getting more and more difficult to leave the house. I have always written (I have had four novels published under another name) but writing is now my salvation, even though it took eight years to write The Second Footman, what with one thing and another.

    The Marquis de Sade, in solitary confinement in the Bastille, wrote to recreate the world he was no longer able to live in. Being a writer/carer is a bit the same - although my work is not quite as racy as the Marquis'.

    Glad the writing bug has bitten you and you will now be a writer forever.

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  11. Thank you so much, it is a bit hit and miss with the writing one day you think you can get stuck in and end up doing nothing and another day you can get tons done. I'm best in the mornings 5am onwards, but come afternoons i give up and do the house work.

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