Refocusing on the Important Things in Life Last

Refocusing on the Important Things in Life ? Last

I am back ... and several things have changed since my last post. While not all bad, some of what has arisen has altered my perspective in significant ways. As such, there are portions of Atwood, LLC that I have changed to better fit the fields I wish to concentrate on. And finally, I am adding something completely new to my website ? but what and why?

Family Medical Issues

Although we love the Pacific Northwest, my husband and I have been deliberating about leaving the Seattle area for quite some time now ? at least for the last fifteen years. The current political landscape, ever-increasing taxes, over-building and not enough parking are only a partial list we've discussed. However, our periodic thoughts of getting out of the city are solidifying themselves into more of a decision. And we aren't the only ones ? even my husband's boss is talking about leaving Seattle for an outlying area.

Yet, despite the multitude of justifications for wanting to leave the `big city' for a more rural existence, there are a few reasons why we cannot ? at least for the foreseeable future.

My husband and I are of the age (and generation) where our parents have either already retired or are just getting ready to. Unfortunately, when that time of life occurs, it eventually follows that expected (and unexpected) medical issues may arise.

We also happen to be of the generation where making sure we are readily available in case of emergency is important. As such, we remain on this side of the mountains for three specific reasons:

1. My uncle-in-law 2. My aunt-in-law 3. My father

The Hubby's Uncle

My uncle-in-law landed in the hospital back in March with a scary blood clot matter. He not only has a mass within centimeters of his heart but there are others around his body. Becoming too excited or experiencing a hard fall can be disastrous for him. Therefore, to delay the inevitable for as long as possible, he must now inject himself daily with a blood thinner ? said blood thinner is only serving to keep the clots from getting larger.

Because my husband is his uncle's heir, we received the call from the hospital. So, while my hubby waited impatiently for some answers from the doctors, I had an opportunity to spend time with his aunt.

The Hubby's Aunt

Meanwhile, my aunt-in-law has medical concerns to worry about. First, she has clinical dementia. Second, she has been diagnosed with Sundowning Syndrome on top of the disease. In dementia patients, increased confusion and restlessness arises during the afternoon and evening. It can be anywhere from acute to minor but is not a fun time (for anyone), from everything I've heard. And finally, the ultimate blow is she was recently

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Colleen Atwood

Refocusing on the Important Things in Life ? Last

diagnosed with her second bout of cancer. We are currently waiting to see if the doctors think they can do anything more for her.

During the week her husband was in the hospital, I spend a good amount of time trying to make sure she was occupied during the day. I'd take her to breakfast first thing in the morning (keeping her routine was critical) and even spent some quality time being a couch potato with her and her African Grays. In the late afternoon, I would make sure she was okay until her friend showed up and then could head home myself.

Having never spent any extended amount of time with someone with dementia, having those few days with his aunt opened my eyes. It showed me both sides of the situation ? her living with dementia and what he experiences on a moment-to-moment basis while taking care of her. Dementia is ? and will always remain ? an evil disease. It's heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting. Just horrible.

My Father

My father, on the other hand, is mostly healthy (although he has had his share of medical problems) but things do happen. And should anything ever occur ? God forbid ? I want to make sure I am close enough to be of assistance if needed.

Dad's Non-Fiction Novel

My father has been researching and writing a book about the American Civil War for as long as I've been a part of the family (we're coming up on 30 years now). His subject relates to why General Grant did what he did at Cold Harbor. For anyone who loves history, this will be a fascinating book once he is finished. But first, we need to get through the re-writes and additional research for those random people not originally discovered.

That is where I come in. Over the last fifteen years, I've helped my father out with his book by first working on:

? His bibliography ? Chapter re-writes per his handwritten notes ? Adjusting and/or correcting his endnotes ? Researching specific `missing' information or `overlooked' material

His Bibliography.

As a writer, I know when citing a book, pamphlet, podcast, or other material previously written, there are specific ways you must give credit to the author. Although there are different formats (MLA versus APA versus Chicago styles (to name a few)) to choose from, the information expected to appear is much the same.

My father is very scrupulous in his research, as he should be. You cannot take for granted that the information given at one location will match up with the `same' data at a different place. Things tend to happen:

? Meaning is lost in translation transcribed incorrectly

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Refocusing on the Important Things in Life ? Last

? Specifics are misremembered or hazy the date remembered by the lieutenant who was shot is off by one (1) day due to the drugs given after surgery

? Items becomes misplaced orders are misfiled in a different but similar section

Therefore, for every person he has included in his book, he has a collection of material that must be accounted for.

This has turned out to be a good thing ? particularly when he finds inaccuracies in official government archives. This has also proved true for personal speculations made by soldiers (primarily among higher officials) about expectations, orders and even battles.

Once he compares the material from several sources and establishes which is correct versus incorrect (or can extrapolate his own conclusion from available facts), he will state his correction in the manuscript during revision, followed by comprehensive evidence within the endnotes.

The Handwritten Notes.

Instead of getting into his writing program and making the corrections himself, he prefers to handwrite each paragraph on legal pads. And although this sounds like a lot of extra work, from time to time it helps to physically write things down for easier internal processing.

Once he has written what he wants the material to sound like and notated where his endnotes are required to show up, we'll meet up at my house for the handoff of legal sheets. All changes are input according to his chosen format and the most current version is emailed back to him.

Overlooked Information.

Finally, he is beginning to send my way names of misplaced letters and/or diaries he needs from a specific source. He sends the appropriate link for what he wants, and I follow the link to wherever it leads. This means I need to determine if I can order a copy online or if a telephone call or email will be needed to request said copies.

For example, the most recent one he sent me includes the following information he is looking for:

? Name ? Document name ? Specific pages needed ? Note section ? Citing letters from [name] to [family member] ? Date(s) ? Family Papers reference ? Primary location of archive ? Library name ? Collection name

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Refocusing on the Important Things in Life ? Last

This arrangement is an ultimate win-win for both of us: he can focus on his writing while I handle the details. He is always willing to answer questions or give clarification where needed. I work independently yet expand both my personal and professional skills into an area I've considered diving into for some time.

Writing My Books

There is one thing in life I simply cannot live without ? writing my books. Give me unlimited access to my laptop, the internet, my three-ring binders and I am good to go. Make sure to send coffee my way, a few snacks, some quiet time and I'll get lost for hours. Writing is where I can be who I want to be and not what someone else needs me to be. My books are my slice of heaven.

The Early Years

As revealed in previous posts, I moved into my adopted parent's home about thirty (30) years ago (I was 10 at the time). My early life had been ugly and chaotic, so by the time my half-brother and I moved into their home, I was an emotional train wreck. And although our situation had gotten considerably better, it did nothing for my inner health in the least.

By 6th grade (1990-1991), I could not take anymore - I was ready to call it quits, literally. And yet, somehow, I found the courage to speak my mind for the second time in my life (the first was refusing to give in and go back to my biological mother when she gave us the option of coming home less than a year before). Had I not made those two very personal and life-altering decisions; I would not be where I am today. I began counseling and working through my demons.

During 7th grade, I decided to challenge myself. My therapist had suggested very early in our sessions either writing in a journal or writing short stories. Doing so would give me a place to express myself in a healthier way than what I had contemplated previously.

So instead of creating a boring journal with only dates and random words about the day, I decided to write a book ? which has turned to something much more than I originally bargained for.

A New Direction

When I first sat down with this experiment, I had no idea what I was doing (mind you, I was 12 years old). I had a vague idea of what I wanted to say but nothing sharply defined. I was in a crazy place ? angry, hurt, confused ? and I had a ton of things I wanted to go over. I wanted to use this space to think things through as far as I could ? just to see where it would go. Eventually, I realized that a single character wasn't going to do it for me ? I had too much to say and not enough voices.

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Refocusing on the Important Things in Life ? Last

Split Personality

I split my protagonist into four ? quadruplets. Each character has a different type of personality and looks at the world in a very distinctive manner (like real people do). I wanted to examine how alike and unlike people can be:

? How would one protagonist's approach to solving a problem differ from another's? ? Why would it be different? ? How do these protagonists interact with one another and others outside their group? ? What internal and external factors are influencing each person? ? How would it help form their opinion on the matter? ? Does the character change or react differently than expected? ? Can this story be told using these four characters? ? Are new characters needed? Why? ? What psychological characteristics are at work here and how does that explain their

reaction?

Worldbuilding

What I failed to realize ? at least in the beginning ? was that I was creating a fictional world of my own design. I take aspects of real people, places, circumstances, historical events and many other facets and scramble their makeup to fit my universe's interpretation. I change what I need and work from there. And to preserve my decisions, I include it in what I call my Worldbuilding Bible.

So, as an example, my Worldbuilding Bible contains the following information: 1. The Groundwork 2. Key Concerns 3. Secondary Concepts 4. Worksheets & Supplementals

The Early Writing Process.

Now, this is not to say I haven't done any writing. I've written three (3) books up to this point, but they will never see the light of day. Why? Because what is written in those books has helped me create the foundation (or groundwork) for my fictional universe (not to mention they are grossly inadequate as they sit). And that is priceless.

When I write, I try to look at as many perspectives as possible. I delve deep into the issue or problem I am having and break it down as far as possible. Once I reach the desired stopping point, I can begin to address the issue and the various responses that could occur ? as well as those responses that surprise the hell out of you.

Considering I have been doing this for almost 30 years, I have folder after folder of hoarded ideas, written scenes, random notes, plot lines, family trees and background information. It therefore goes without saying that trying to centralize everything into one place is better than scattered about. But it's a time-consuming process to undertake.

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