Ready to carry on? Then let’s continue with our tips on maintaining positivity when writing about tragedy.

Choose a Partner

When you write about tragedy and loss, you can find yourself in some very dark and lonely places. Find yourself a partner; it can be a friend, a member of your family, even someone from a writing group you joined. That person will be your anchor during the darkest part so share your plan, tell them every morning that you are writing and ask that, at the end of the day, they check with you. That will keep you in the light, reminding you that you are not doing this alone.

Set Your Stage and Then Bring the Curtains Down

Find the things that will take you back to when you experienced the loss or tragedy. This could be mementos, photographs, letters, keepsakes, anything that can push you back in time very quickly. Keep these things around you as you write but, at the end of the day, bring the curtain down on them and shut them away. They are not meant to be reminders that are always there; they are meant to be props and must be shut away when you no longer need them to write.

Don’t Overshare

If your memories are raw, going into too much detail about your writing with another person is not a good idea. You need that emotion on the pages of your book, not in someone’s ear. Often, when you talk to another person about your experiences, you will find it hard to remember things when you go to write about them. You need that emotion inside you so that when you write, they come pouring out on paper. Not only that, your pace will be far more consistent and you will get through it much faster.

Keep On Moving

Even when you forget details that are important, don’t hide it. Instead, acknowledge it. Start a clean piece of paper and head it up “I remember”. Then do another piece of paper headed with “I don’t remember”. Write down what you do remember on one page and then what you don’t remember, although it happened, on the other. This can sometimes kickstart your memories, those that you locked away or that you can use in your book. Never be afraid to tell your readers that you don’t remember something; honesty just creates more respect. We all know that grief can cause gaps in the memories so recall the things you do remember and acknowledge what you don’t. Then move on.

Be Patient

Grief is a unique thing; we all experience it differently and it affects us all in different ways. The same applies to you and your writing. Never fall into the trap of pitting yourself against another writer and comparing yourself. Pick your own goals and milestones. Only you know how difficult this is going to be for you; only you can go back to a time when things were painful and then write about it. It isn’t about impressing others; it's about being patient and working your way through.