A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown - day 21

Listen to me reading this.

<< Day 20 (No audio yesterday, not in the mood.)

Only gradually, as I put this illustrated book together, does it occur to me that I need to set myself a new rule.

For instance, I’m still not sure if I’m going to use type or handwritten text.

The rough nature of many of the drawings – both the execution and the things depicted – seems to call for text that is similarly unpolished, wonky.

If I do use type, will it be cleanly word-processed or should I use one of my smudgy manual typewriters

Another rule I’m wrestling with: am I only allowing myself to use drawings I made at the time? Am I allowed to redraw any part of them, or must they be left exactly as they were?

What about photos? Are they allowed in the mix? Of me? Of anyone else?

Which brings me to the biggest problem: how to write this without intruding on other people’s stories?

One of the biggest lessons I learned in therapy and in other group work was to speak for myself, not make pronouncements about other people or their experiences. I take that very seriously. But if you only talk about yourself you can sound terribly self-absorbed.

I mean: I was terribly self-absorbed at the time. Someone said: if you can’t feel sorry for yourself, who else will? But I want to populate the book with other people too, and I’m wrestling with how I can possibly do that.

Well, I’ll keep at it.

If you’d like a copy of the book, buying options and shipping costs are here.

Yep, just six days to go.

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👉 For a change, today: if you or someone you know is struggling please call a crisis line, and / or take a look at Reasons To Stay.

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Someone forwarded this?
Start from the beginning here.