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writing helps

les
Community Member

i have had depression for a long time but after a marriage break up 20 years ago the depression really peaked. i was eventually hospitlised. it was then one sunny morning while leaning against a colum in the hospital , thinking i have only got 20 cents in my pocket and yet previous i ran a business and turned over a quarter of a million dollars per year. strange but i started to laugh and thought i have to write about this. so off i go i asked the nurse for an A4  sheet and a pencil. that was the start of my writing and boy did i give the pencil some work.. this would lead to me publishing a book in 2008 and having my photo in the paper in the north and south of western australia.

even if you start writing about your life and dont want to publish give it to your grand kids or someone close so they would know your feelings and what you got up to in your life .?  a lot of comedians and famous singers have suffered depression. cheers . les

4 Replies 4

Jo3
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Les

I too find writing helps.  I am writing at the moment a book on my childhood sexual abuse, my depression and my borderline personality disorder - all coming out 4 yrs ago after memories of my abuse that happened over 30 yrs ago.

I am not even half way through the book, but one day I hope to finish writing it.

Can I ask Les? - how did you get through after running a business that lost so much?

Jo

Neil_1
Community Member

Dear Les  

Congratulations to you.  

Fantastic stuff and I might be here a bit more on this thread if you don’t mind.   I too have written a manuscript on my life’s journey so far – my own battle with the black dog, the many issues (some major) and others perhaps not so major, but they all add up – and how I’ve dealt with that over the years and more.   If it wasn’t for the money that stopped us (my partner and I) from taking this further, my book would have been out in stores in either late April or early May.  But the one publisher I’ve tried so far, they were willing to take it on, but for an enormous cost – the price of a brand new small car.  

I would really like to hear more Les of how you were successful in getting you book published?  

And also is it still available to be bought?  

I would be very keen on reading it.  

Kind regards  

Neil

les
Community Member

it was not easy jo , i had to go bankrupt then go on sickness benefits fo 18 months.

after i came good i started taxi driving and boy you soon forget your own problems whilst listening to others.some people sure do blurt it all out. but thanks to taxi driving it helped me greatly. people think all you do is drive the cab but oh boy you cetainly see a lot of going ons. you pick up sorts of people rich poor ,sad happy, crazy.

to my way of thinking jo the fix comes fro within, sure there are counsellors but a lot is up to you. you only get one life and you must keep pushing through and then you become very proud of yourself at the other end . cheers jo......les

les
Community Member

hi neil good stuff. i found writing , you tend to give a lot of yourself and dont hold back.

they call me a coversationist writer, i write as though i am talking to you and somtimes i blame you. my book was about my taxi driving experiences "take the taxi ride of a lifetime " sold a few.i drove in 6 towns over 5 years. i was bashed had a dagger pulled on me ....blah ,blah. i had a blue with the publisher in the end and stopped the book.

please neil keep going with your manuscript. i got a small town publisher to do mine. also wrote a lot of poems and songs and organised bands at pubs etc. i thought i would never survive but in the end i did. yea i have depression and i am not ashamed i tell people. but as i have said some people can be hurtful by their remarks which is sad for them not me....catcha mate....les