Do you think i should attempt to write a book about my father?
Asked by
jamzzy (
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February 12th, 2009
My dad is in his late 40’s and is from Mexico. Growing up his dad died at an early age and his mom was left raising him and 6 other kids. He left his home about the age of 17 because his home life was unsatisfying. He than lived on his own going around to different states in Mexico finding random places to live with people he didn’t know. He has some pretty LUCKY and CRAZY stories about his time in Mexico as a kid, also of his times here. Like other Mexicans my father crossed the border with no money, english, and with one family member with an apartment where 14 other immigrants stayed. My dad literally came from nothing into something, and his stories amaze me. He has stories about him getting shot at in a bar in Tijuana, and getting lost in New York with out speaking ANY english, money, or without any idea where he was. Now after having so little he lives in a big nice house with his wife, two cars, and has a sweet job without having to worry about anything. I think my dad had an amazing life and i wanted to know if it would be crazy of me to write a book about it. I’m willing to drag my dad by the computer so he can tell some of you guys some stories.
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25 Answers
Your dad’s story sounds wonderful. If it inspires you, it may well inspire others. Why not, jamzzy? I say go for it.
You could join this thread to report on your progress and get support.
My Honors English teacher in high school, who I hated, actually said this one thing that made sense, and it happens to pertain to your question: “What makes my story special? Who the heck wants to read about this?” If you can answer those two questions, then go for it!
And my English comp instructor said ‘Write what you know.” I say go for it!! It sounds like and interesting and inspiring story. Good luck!!
Of course you can write a book about your father. If his experiences turn out to have some sort of universal appeal or lessons for everyone, then it may even get published and read by people who have never met you or your dad.
At the very least, though, you could print out multiple copies to share with the rest of your family so they can remember him eventually when he passes on as we all do, as well as learn more about family history.
I’m lazy – instead of writing a book about my father, I asked him to write a book about our family history, thus killing two birds with one stone. Or maybe three or so: it gives me knowledge about my dad without having to work for it, it gives the entire family a record of all those family stories, and it keeps him busy constructively. When it is done he plans to use one of those vanity presses to publish a limited edition and then hand it out to everyone (that means about 200 copies or so).
Yes! Absolutely! You should most definitely write a book about your father. Even if you never publish it, if you get his stories now, you’ll have them in that horrible future when he’s gone. You can give it to your children or their children. Once you’ve written it, you can print it on something like Lulu and give it to other family members or your father. But yes, absolutely you should write it.
Thanks a lot guys, uhhh what do you think of me asking my dad to tell me a short one right now and you guys tell me what you think?
I wrote a book in elementary school. I was at about 110 pages until my brother deleted it all because he got jealous. He supposedly created his own one and said he had “206 pages”, but opened it up to see only 1½ pages.
Yes, write that book! Set up an audio or video recording device and interview him, just let him talk. Then you can watch / listen later and get the nuances that you didn’t pick up while you listened to him and pick up more of who he is that way and it will inform your writing.
That sounds like a great book. I would read it. However a cool twist would be to actually go to the places you are talking about yourself. try to recreate the experiences… without getting shot in a bar though. In order to make great things one must do great things!
Go for it! I had a chance to write a book about my Dad and I blew it and some stranger ended up doing it. I can’t tell you how much I regret that, so don’t make the same mistake. You write that book! Good luck!!!
Do it. In the process you might come to know him even better.
The fact that you ask the question, means you should.
Go for it! We’ll all be rooting for you!
@loser: A stranger wrote a book about your father? Must be an interesting guy. Was it published?
@augustlan Yeah, it was published. It’s called, “Baited Trap”. It’s about what happened to him during an eventful Korean war Air Force mission.
I’m totally picking that up.
Putting it on my list, too!
You know, you could still write a book about how the experience(s) shaped your father, and how that, in turn, has affected you. Told from your point of view, it could take a whole new direction!
@90s_kid Ha! I’ll take that as a compliment! Thanks for hunting down that link! Cool!
First of all, start writing.
Secondly, once it’s over, you may realise that it’s not worth publishing, because your dad’s life may not be as interesting for others to read as it is for you. But it would still make a wonderful present to him and I’m sure it would make you, and everyone in your family, happy.
Thirdly, it’s something you would never regret, and might actually prove a useful experience, both as an accomplishment (writing a whole book is a huge challenge), and as practice for a possible career in either writing or something related to that. You have absolutely nothing to lose, and even if you don’t eventually finish the book, whatever you do write will be cherished by people who know your dad.
You need to write that book. However, I would suggest getting someone that’s objective toward you and your Dad’s story to assist you in the edit.
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