The Final Details (of a writer's life)

Of all the things a writer writes in his life, the final details are arguably some of the most important...

Today I'm writing about something that none of us like to think about. The final details of a writer's life--the details that are critical they be left behind and spelled out clearly.  I was inspired to do so by some recent sad events in my writing world.

In May, only weeks after I'd met her in person as she traveled through my part of the world, a writing friend died unexpectedly. While I read a wonderful memorial post written by a mutual author friend, the words really sunk in. There were unfinished projects.The mutual friend had been critting with and for her for quite some time. And not only was she grieving the loss of a wonderful friend, she was grieving the unfinished stories she'd been looking forward to seeing completed.

Unfinished projects.

Two weeks later, my dear friend, editor, and crit partner died unexpectedly. He was an extremely private person. I believe I am the only person who has copies of his writing files. But now, this crazy-good book that was 2/3 finished will likely never see the light of day.

These horribly sad and unexpected deaths, and the unfinished projects left in their wake, compel me to consider intellectual property rights beyond my death.

My daughter knows--I've told her many times, that she will inherit all of my unpublished books, every manuscript and outline, every file of story ideas...  But if I died tomorrow, no one would have passwords to retrieve these files, No one has passwords to my online sites such as this blog, or facebook, emails, or Twitter.

Knowing who will inherit our unfinished business isn't enough. Our survivors need access to the things we want them to have access to. The final details need to be shared.

Taking it a step further, designating in a legal will who inherits these things is something all writers should consider.

There's some general information at this site: Estate Planning for Intellectual Property Rights

Another good article (the first of a series on IP Estate planning) Writers in the Storm 

On November 3, 2014, I ran across this article and am adding it to the list: What Happens to Your Data After You Die?

There. I've gone ahead and broached the subject. I've shared my personal sad experience over the last two months in spite of not wanting or liking to talk about it. But it had to be said. And as much as you, dear readers, don't like to think about it... please do.

Do you already have a plan in place?

Weekend Writing Warriors July 27, 2014

 

      Welcome Warriors, and Snipsuns. The last weekend of July!  So glad you can stop by for a visit. :-)
 
     Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly bloghop. Each week, participants sign up HERE at wewriwa.com, then post 8 sentences of their work, published or unpublished, to go live between noon, Saturday and 9:00 AM Sunday EST. Then we visit each other and read, comment, critique, encourage--all those things that do a solitary writer's heart good.

     Snippet Sunday group from facebook--not us, but many of our participants do both, can be found HERE
 
    The travelers are now on the boat that will take them upriver into the Firce Mountains. Tayden  nearly takes a tumble into the water. Um, and they haven't even left the dock yet. :-)

     Shouldering his way past the three of them, Wiley untied the cleat hitch securing the bow line, and then untied the stern. His quick movement set the boat rocking, nearly launching Tayden over the side. Wiley grabbed him by the back of his coat, then pulled the lanky man back. Steadying him, he wore a devilish smile when he said, “You need some water-legs, er... were you meaning to take an early morning dip?”

     Tayden stammered, seemingly incapable of making a reply.

     “Don’t you worry none, son. Some of you was made for land, and some you was made for sky. And that’s a good thing for the rest of us cause the river’d be a mighty crowded place if we all was made for water.

That's it. What works, what doesn't? 

Thanks for visiting!

Weekend Writing Warriors July 20, 2014

 

      Welcome Warriors, and Snipsuns.On the downhill side of July already! So glad you can stop by for a visit. :-)
 
     Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly bloghop. Each week, participants sign up HERE at wewriwa.com, then post 8 sentences of their work, published or unpublished, to go live between noon, Saturday and 9:00 AM Sunday EST. Then we visit each other and read, comment, critique, encourage--all those things that do a solitary writer's heart good.

     Snippet Sunday group from facebook--not us, but many of our participants do both, can be found HERE
 
    The travelers are now on the boat that will take them upriver into the Firce Mountains. Kad is making small talk with Wiley about boat motor and fuel. 

   

Wiley nodded toward the roof of the shallow cuddy. “The tiles up there are collectors; they feed a lightweight battery pack that powers the prop. Them lightweight ones are tougher to come by than an honest Dominion council member. Imagine how dear old Diamante would feel about a man of no account, such as myself, managing to acquire that high'a level of his coveted technology. I suspect he'd be a wee bit pissed off, dontcha think?” His smirk made his eyes vanish into deep  wrinkles behind loose strands of gray hair. 

That's it. What jumps out at you, good or bad? I'd love to hear it. Thank you so, so much for reading this.
 

Weekend Writing Warriors July 13, 2014

 

      Welcome Warriors, and Snipsuns. Did you get to see the moon last night? We got a few peeks between clouds, making for great photos.
 
     Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly bloghop. Each week, participants sign up HERE at wewriwa.com, then post 8 sentences of their work, published or unpublished, to go live between noon, Saturday and 9:00 AM Sunday EST. Then we visit each other and read, comment, critique, encourage--all those things that do a solitary writer's heart good.

     Snippet Sunday group from facebook--not us, but many of our participants do both, can be found HERE
 
    Arriving at the dock (number 6 as instructed) The boat that will take them upriver into the Firce Mountains. Creative punctuation in use.

   

A man emerged from the boat; his face looked like old leather, wrinkle upon brown wrinkle, and his hair was as gray as the weather-worn boards beneath their feet. Sunshine and water appeared to have aged the boat driver’s clothing as well, fading it to pastel memories of the color it once had been.  He reached out to steady each of them as they stepped across the narrow span between dock and boat. Unless Kad was mistaken, the driver’s voice carried a tone of mirth, as if he were speaking through a hidden smile when he said,“I’m Wiley. Fode filled me in. You, with the hood shading your face? Keep it up until I tell you the worst of the threat is behind us.”

That's it. What jumps out at you, good or bad? I'd love to hear it. Thank you so, so much for reading this.
 
And for your viewing pleasure:

Weekend Writing Warriors July 6, 2014

 

      Welcome Warriors, and Snipsuns, and anyone else who wanders in If you live in the USA, I hope you're having a good holiday weekend. Mine involved hot dogs over a wood fire, s'mores, campfire songs. I could get no one to sing with me and I'm just not a soloist. Also, fireworks that scared poor Leo half to death (Leo = small fluffy dog that allows me to sleep in his queen size bed as long as I don't take up more than a couple of feet near the edge.)
 
     Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly bloghop. Each week, participants sign up HERE at wewriwa.com, then post 8 sentences of their work, published or unpublished, to go live between noon, Saturday and 9:00 AM Sunday EST. Then we visit each other and read, comment, critique, encourage--all those things that do a solitary writer's heart good.

     Snippet Sunday group from facebook--not us, but many of our participants do both, can be found HERE
 
    The morning after--picking up from where last week ended. They've survived, and are ready to start walking to the dock, to the boat that will take them upriver into the Firce Mountains. Creative punctuation in use. 
  

     Putting an end to their friendly jibes, the woman of the house shoved a sack in each of their directions. Unlike most things from the Dominion, Dom-Cen coins were much desired among off-worlders; they'd paid not only for a roof over their heads for the night, but for the breakfast and lunch each sack contained.  It had been an easy purchase; no doubt these friends of Fode wanted nothing more than to be rid of the hooded man hiding in their home. And eating breakfast along the way helped move him along--and took the threat with him.  
      The coins jingled in the woman's apron pocket as she waddled away, vanishing into the unlit house that was silent but for creaking floorboards.

     When they stepped outside, Kad shivered--as much from a sense of unease as from the cold. He looked at the black velvet sky pinpricked with starlight.  In the darkness of the off-world predawn, once again the weight of the journey settled on him, on all three of them.
       With hearts  heavier than just yesterday, they started for the boat.

That's it. What jumps out at you, good or bad? I'd love to hear it. Thank you so, so much for reading this.