Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Writing About Our Fears

It's the first Wednesday of the month so it must be time for a post from all the folks in the Insecure Writers Support Group. What is IWSG?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

After visiting here, please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find a list at Alex's IWSG page 

Writing About Our Fears
by J.Q. Rose

Are you afraid of things that go bump in the night? Have you ever tried writing about them? Does it help when you face them head-on and vanquish those frightening images, diseases, persons?

I wrote about a topic that scares me--Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia. It was one of the most difficult scenes I have ever written. I know the scene is not complete, but at least I wrestled with my fear of the disease and body-slammed it down on paper. 

In my WIP, the mother of the main character is afflicted with Alzheimer's, a monstrous disease capable of stealing a person's personality and memories. The brain is attacked until it is rendered useless. No speech, no problem-solving, no reading, no recognition of loved ones. Eventually even the ability to brush your teeth is forgotten. Frightening? Yes! And worse is the fact that there is no cure, no turning back the inevitable loss of thinking, memory, and behavior.

Now you understand why I'm afraid of Alzheimer's, because it may attack me and/or someone I love. So I have chosen to fight it through my story. I hope the novel will bring awareness to dementia and bring about efforts to continue research to find a solution. 

If you care to share what scares you, please leave a comment below. Have you written about it? How did you feel?
Thank you for stopping in.


15 comments:

Charity Bradford said...

Coming over for IWSG.

If I look at my writing I'd have to say one of my fears is being alone. Most of my characters start out alone and borderline socially awkward. But they always find the friendships or love that make them feel whole by the end.

So yeah. I fear being alone and misunderstood.

My Writing Journey

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Charity, thanks for sharing. Interesting how your characters have some of your fear in them. I'm glad the story has a HEA ending!

J.L. Campbell said...

My grandmother had Alzheimer's, so I understand what you heroine goes through. Thing is, I didn't even think about it, but yes, I can't even imagine what it must be like for someone not to remember how to brush their teeth.

Kudos for facing your fears. I need to face mine too because I think the disease runs in families.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi J.L., Part of my fear of writing about Alzheimer's is that I have never cared for anyone with it. I'm not sure about reactions to situations they are in. Of course, everyone reacts differently, I imagine. My dad died at an early age, so don't know if he'd have the A gene or not, but my mom never had it. Hopefully there will be a cure discovered for this horrible disease. Thank you for stopping by.

ilima said...

I think I'm afraid of the opposite...my body shutting down but my mind still healthy and clear. It's crappy either way. Great post.

-Ilima Todd (IWSG co-host)

Leona~Author said...

I have the same fear as ilima. I have a neuromuscular disease called CMT that caused nerve deafness and put me in a wheelchair at the age of forty-five. It causes peripheral nerve damage and muscle wasting in the lower arms and legs, but thankfully does not affect the mind.

Even though the fear is real, I don't let myself dwell on it. My mother had the same thing and lived to be eighty-three.

I worry about not being able to use my computer if my hands get any weaker...perish the thought. I would drive my kids crazy then. lol

Nice post, J.Q.--thought provoking.

Tess Grant said...

Maybe that's why I write paranormal. The real world is so much scarier.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That definitely scares me.
Biggest fear is losing my wife. And in a way, I did tackle that possibility in one of my books.

J.Q. Rose said...

ilima--Thank you. I agree. Both scenarios are tough.

Leona--Thanks for sharing about your illness. Never realized it. You have a great attitude.

Hey Tess, good point!

Alex--thanks for sharing your fear. One I think about too..losing my hubby.

~sharyn said...

Writing about my fears, I've found, is quite cathartic. So, yes, I've written about them and will continue to do so. Those fears include being alone/dying alone and never finding love. But the worst is the fear that God doesn't care.

Since writing about it, though, I've been able to work through these fears. I mean, I still have problems. Let's just say I'll always have stuff to write about.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi, more than old age its diseases that scare me. Getting old is inevitable, but getting afflicted with things like Alzheimers would be devastating.

Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium

Anonymous said...

Another thought provoking post, JQ, and the comments were very affecting. I never thought about whether I face my fears through writing until now but now I've analysed it, and it seems I often write about grief and the loss of a loved one.
Thanks for the interesting post.

J.Q. Rose said...

Sharyn--I've found writing about my fears is cathartic, but especially fashioning a villain just like the guy I can't stand and then killing him off! Let me assure you God loves you completely always.

Rachna--We never know what's coming round the corner. Thanks for co-hosting.

Helena--Thank you. Glad this post made you realize how you face your feas thru writing.

Anonymous said...

I've known a few people who have had Alzheimer's. It's a hard thing to see someone go through. I wish you lots of luck with your book.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thank you, Susanne.

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