Writing
Sep 8th 2009PostmasterCommunication & Coping
Anyone reading this blog regularly knows that I love to write. I’ve always been that way and I find the creative process, regardless of what I’m writing, to be very therapeutic for me. So while there are often some gaps in my writing on this site, I will always be back. I have a lot to say and to share.
I reached a significant milestone just last night when I submitted the manuscript of my new book to the publisher, hoping to have it available by Christmas. This book has been 7 years in writing because it is built upon the journal that I kept from shortly after my diagnosis in 2002 through my treatment, recovery and recurrence. It has been through many revisions and additions as I experienced more and more along my cancer journey.
The working title and subtitle of the book is, “The Wolf at my Door – Cancer in my body, Cancer in my mind”. I wrote it, much like this blog, to use my personal cancer experience as a way to show cancer patients and their loved ones what they can expect when faced with this horrible disease. My premise is that the emotional impact of cancer can be as real and as dangerous as the physical disease and affects the patient and everyone who loves them. “The Wolf at my Door” is a metaphor for the fear that cancer creates and the uncertainty that is always hanging over our heads.
I wrote this book for several reasons. First of all, I wrote if for myself, and I encourage everyone to at least keep a journal or diary of their cancer journey. It’s good for the soul. I also wrote it for my family and friends, to share with them the intense emotional roller coaster that I have been on. You can share your own journal with your family and friends to help them understand what you are going through. You just can’t know unless you’ve been through it personally and they need to know in order to support you. Thirdly, I wrote it for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer or who has been told by a member of their family or a friend that they have cancer. I hope it gets wide distribution for that reason and I hope that you will all get a copy and recommend it to your friends. In the meantime, if you have an urge to write, we are always looking for comments or for your own personal posts (click on Contact Us above). As I always say, “Let’s Talk!”
I’ll let you know when my book comes out and how to get a copy.
Posted by: Doug
2 Comments »
David on 09 Sep 2009 at 3:12 pm #
Doug – Congratulations!
Kirsten on 09 Sep 2009 at 4:28 pm #
That’s awesome Doug! Congratulations – I am looking forward to reading it! You have a great writing style, so I’m sure that a lot of people will find this book useful especially as it is written from a personal perspective.