Overwhlemed writing Grandma's life story

SammieWonder · Post by **SammieWonder** » 24 Dec 2014, 09:39

So, my grandmother wrote out her "life story" in pencil on yellow legal pads before she died.

She left this ridiculous stack of papers that included poems, short stories and recipies for me with instructions to write a novel and then turn it into a screenplay.

I'm sure it's something that TBN would eat up, but I have no idea where to even start.

My grandmother was more than long winded (love her dearly!) and it's a daunting task to even consider typing it all out...not to mention the amount of editing that will have to take place...

I made an account on FastPencil and started typing it all out at one point, but lost interest and motivation very quickly.

Does anyone have any advice, tips or tricks I could put to use?

Skillian · Post by **Skillian** » 24 Dec 2014, 10:21

I don't know how much it costs.. but perhaps there is software or an app where you can either scan the documents and it formats it into a word processor for you.. or and app that would allow you to talk and it types for you. Then either with the first option you can skim through and edit/rearrange a lot quicker. Or with the first just edit as you read by only saying out loud what you want to keep.

I would also consider making it multiple books and not just one. Especially if it is a whole lot. Maybe just separate out the poems in one section... short stories in another... recipes in another. Maybe the poems and recipes can be worked in together in a fun way? stuff like that. So you can have the life story novel. Then a collection of short stories that could partner with it.... and a cookbook as well.. etc. It would also just be easier to treat it as a few smaller projects than one giant one. Less daunting. Even if ultimately you execute it as one piece. Still easier to break it up when going about working on it.

Good luck!

SammieWonder · Post by **SammieWonder** » 24 Dec 2014, 14:03

That's awesome advice, Skillian! Thank you!

Skillian · Post by **Skillian** » 24 Dec 2014, 14:11

haha you're welcome. I just reread what I said... and I apologize for my mistakes...an/and... first.... first? lol I hadn't had my coffee yet! I am glad you were able to understand what I meant. hahaha.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 25 Dec 2014, 07:37

I'm sorry to laugh, but that sounds like such a "grandmotherly" thing to do, completely unaware of the time it would take you to do such a thing. And writing on yellow legal pads. I can't even remember the last time I bought one of those. Hahaha.

But, yeah I would try turning into a smaller project. Maybe even start out small and just SCAN all the pages to create PDF files, so at least you have them in digital version, so their is still some version of them in case something were to happen to the paper copies.