Works in Progress

I think it would be amazing if, as part of our estate planning, we also included a bit of information about the written part of dying. The package we leave behind could include a suggested obituary or funeral announcements, message(s) to loved ones, and a draft eulogy or tribute.

As a professional writer, I've seen how hard it is to work from a blank screen. Much of my work is creating a first draft - something to which a client can respond. Hopefully I've nailed it, and the response back is just a bit of tweaking. Sometimes, though, seeing the words mapped out helps a client realize that's actually NOT the way they want to go... but editing is much, much easier than starting from scratch.

So why don't we do the same for the words required when we die?

A couple of years ago, I put the idea out to my Facebook network. I said I would like to help anyone who wanted to draft something to leave behind - a package of written materials to give to an estate lawyer, executor, or trusted helper. I made a list of questions that would help me write a draft, and I sent the list to the 16 people who were interested.

15 out of the 16 are still works in progress.

I'm very grateful to everyone who offered to participate. They have reinforced for me that this is HARD.

Thinking about dying is tough.
Planning for it is grueling.
Writing about it? Almost impossible.