Writing Fiction To Heal: When A Parent Suffers A Life-Changing Illness

This post is about how writing can heal. Writing as therapy for tough times. I also share a quick 298-word piece of Micro Fiction that helped me deal with an emotional situation I'm in the midst of now.

If any of this interests you, read on.

One of the benefits of being a writer is that you can rely on the cathartic nature of writing when confronted with life's challenges. Case in point. One of my parents was struck by a life-altering illness.

If you have ever experienced similar situations, you know how challenging that is: a loved one has a stroke, heart attack, is diagnosed with cancer, is the victim of a horrible car crash. You are the one who has to pick up the pieces. In the case of a son or daughter who now must care for a parent, the transition is emotionally overwhelming. Think role reversal.

As a writer, I can release some of that emotional steam by telling stories. The other day I pounded out the micro fiction story below. I say pounded out as if it took a lot of effort. But it didn't. Because I was feeling so many emotions, the story flowed out. I dare say it was nearly effortless.

Now... it may not be the best example of fiction. That's OK, though. It served its purpose for me. I dealt with my feelings. After writing it, I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. So, I share this to those new to writing, or anyone dealing with grief as an example.

Writing can help you heal - even in a small, temporary way. If you have had the same therapeutic experience through writing, please feel free to share it by messaging me or commenting below. If you're curious about trying writing to help you heal, but don't know where to start, message me, too.

Here's the story I wrote. Although I was dealing with a very real situation, this story is fiction:

Into the Fire
By Pedro Ramirez III
This was it. Love Street, where I almost died 30 years ago.
The tears welled. I placed the truck in park.
"Dad, why we stopping?" My son craned over the dashboard. "I don't see the hospital."
I was about his age when it happened. Can't help thinking my son wouldn't be sitting here if they'd left me on the kitchen floor. They wouldn't let him inside the house. He pushed, pulled, powered through them to get to me. I thought he could do anything.
"We're almost there, mijo." Fewer words to control the tears.
"Where are we?" my son asked.
"Daddy used to live here," I told him.
"Where?" He scanned the street.
The neighborhood had changed. The corner store was boarded up. An auto repair shop was occupying another corner lot. A third corner lost was vacant with sun-scorched, yellow grass. It had been vacant back then, too.
"I don't see a house."
"It used to be there." I pointed across him out the passenger window to two squatty, city lots lined by curb cuts and three tired trees.
"There's nothing there," my son said.
"Grandpa's and grandma's house used to be there," I explained, "before it burned down."
"It caught fire?! Were you inside?"
"Yes, mijo. I was." The tears were welling again. "Grandpa carried me out."
"Were you scared?" he asked.
"Yes…Yes, I am."
A tear fell. I wiped before my son saw.
"C'mon, let's go get grandpa," I said.
I took the truck out of park, inching it three long blocks to the hospital. It felt like 30 blocks, 30 years away.
"Grandpa is gonna live with us?"
"Yes, mijo."
The rest of them want to leave him. Too heavy a burden. But, I'll be damned if they'll keep me from taking him out.

Make Specific Goals: Part One to Setting Successful Writing Goals

The Rolling Stones had a hit when they sang "Time is on my side." Mick Jagger sang "Yes, it is!" But as many times as Jagger said it (and yes, it was cool), truth is time is not on my side or yours. Time is against us. The sooner we understand that as writers, the better we'll be.

As a journalist for more than a dozen years, I learned to respect time. As a college educator, I am trying to teach students to respect it. When you're 20 years old, it may seem time is on your side. Before you know it, however, you'll look in the mirror at a 40-year-old staring back at you wondering, "Where'd you come from?"

OK, enough trying to establish the importance of time. If you're still reading, then you are the type of person who knows this. You're reading to get help with your writing goals. Right? Then keep reading.

So we're clear, time and goals go together. Let me explain.

In my classes, I tell students they should know what they want and how to get it. That is why Step One to making successful writing goals is so important.

Step One: Write Specific Goals.

Writing specific goals means you must know what you want. Sounds simple doesn't it? Fine. Who has a goal like the following:

I want to write a novel.

or

I want to be a published writer.

Sound familiar? It does to me. I've written down similar statements over the years. But the two goals above are not specific. They are examples of "vague goals."

They are vague because they lack the kinds of details that will force you as a writer to take daily actions to make them a reality. You see, a vague goal like "I want to write a novel" is easy to manipulate. A year goes by and you say, "I'll do it next year." You hear Mick Jagger singing? "Time is on my side!"

So how do you transform this vague goal into a specific goal? Try this:

I want to write a novel in 30 days.

"Hold your horses!" you say. "That's ridiculous." If you think so, then you should visit our friends over at the National Novel Writing Competition, better known as NaNoWriMo. True. It is a daunting goal to write a novel in a month, but many have done it (including myself). I will admit it was an excruciating exercise. Yet, I learned plenty about setting specific goals and meeting them (and somewhere in there I learned a little about novel writing, too). This is just one example. Instead, a specific goal might be "I will write a 300-word Micro Fiction story today." That was my specific writing goal two days ago.

Now let's recap...

Time is not on our side. Time and goals can't be separated. Vague goals are evil. Specific goals are good and make everyone smile. Changing a vague goal to a specific goal involves adding details that force you to take action (And that means making a deadline and/or word count, or other quantifiable result, and sticking to it). 

 So, this first step in Setting Successful Writing Goals begins with writing specific goals. Spend 10 minutes brainstorming as many writing goals as you can. Then examine them. Are they specific? Do they include details that force you to pull out pen and paper or your laptop and start writing RIGHT NOW!?

Give it a shot and message me your goals, your thoughts. Try it now. Don't believe you have time to do it tomorrow or the next day. Time is not on your side. Do it now. 

Maybe you want more guidance. Good! This is just the start. Over the month of August, I will outline the four parts to Setting Successful Writing Goals. The four parts are as follows:

• Make specific writing goals
• Plan writing goals in three time categories
• Include goals in areas of your life (outside of writing)
• Reflect often on your goals 

As I explain the strategy, you may recognize parts of it. Truth is I adapted it from general goal setting strategies I have taught to college students using the text, "From Master Student to Master Employee," edited by Doug Toft. So, if you are serious about setting successful writing goals, be sure to read my article series this month. For more immediate help, send an email or leave a comment. I will respond.

NEXT ARTICLE IN THE SERIES

AUGUST 8TH, 2011: PART 2 IN THE SERIES - PLANNING WRITING GOALS IN THREE TIME CATEGORIES