Printer-friendly version
Author:
Taxonomy upgrade extras:
I have something that I would like to be able to share, but I am leery of actually sharing it since it might pain some others here. Basically, I had a flashback last night, and instead of being just a victim, i thought about writing it down. The result is a nearly full description of one of the last times i was assaulted. Trouble is, too many people here have had rapes happen to them, and i have no desire to bring those memories back for them unless they can handle them. Any ideas?
Comments
Flashbacks
I have written stuff that is uncomfortably close to me, but because it is fiction, and fiction demands surprise, I have been deliberately sparing in warnings that might remove the shock effect. Here, you are talking about writing history.
Writing for me is often cathartic. Do it, for yourself, but make the warnings as loud and plain as you can.
Tags 'n' Flags
Add a CAUTION to the tags and flag it up with a nice big warning in the teaser (the section before the <!--break-->).
That should ensure that no-one stumbles onto it accidentally and is reminded of events they'd rather forget.
There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Change it.
Instead of subjecting your poor readers to something that might be more unpleasant than they can take, why don't you use your remembered experience just as the basis for a new story?
Craft a new beginning and see if you can make the ending more positive. Change the names of everyone involved, people, places, things. Change the circumstances, the location, the time of day. Change the number of people present. Take control of your experience, show it who is boss.
That might be a way to deal with such memories. Fashion them into something you wouldn't mind sharing, something you can regard in a positive light.
Penny