Relief sets in on an artist when he or she says, “It’s done.”
Some of us take longer. Some projects are shorter.
In my life, I’ve written three full novels. Those are the manuscripts I completed. Two were the warm ups to the third on which I spent seven years.
I’ve written as a news reporter for county and small town newspapers. Stories from my fiction, and my short memoirs have been published. A poem that paired with my former novel was published. I’ve been fortunate to earn the name author.
Memoir in the works still
People have told me I should write a book about my experiences:
Experiences I faced as a mother of a child newly diagnosed with autism.
Dealing with the treatment of a doctor when John faced MRSA.
The loss of a home.
Challenges as a teacher.
The family that was there.
A tornado that took parts of the farm with my husband in the house.
Life during COVID-19.
The loss of a treasure.
During all of these experiences that I’m finally putting into one untitled memoir, John and I stuck it out with our children. To have a memoir just focused on Hayes does not work. To have a memoir just focus on Corrie does not work. To write a memoir focused on the trials and celebrations of us as family works.
But I could not get a memoir moving so soon after Corrie’s death. I wrote more poetry that I ever did.
when we danced in the rain
I hope you celebrate somewhere with me today. I finished the first collection of poems about our journey with Corrie called “When We Danced in the Rain.” The title came from something John said one day, just like “Corrie’s Season.” They are memoir poems. Each one captures the photographic essence very much like the poets of the 1920s I adore like Carl Sandburg.
The excerpt I shared above comes from “Your Sun will Rise Again,” written for my son. It is written in recognition of a child who will journey through his toughest years without his best friend. It is dedicated to a boy who must overcome the odds in his grief unique to a child with autism and ADHD.
The poem “Your Sun will Rise Again” was also written because so many said how great Corrie was for Hayes. A few people got to see how great Hayes was for Corrie.
The poems are grouped in what I call episodes, like chapters, with a total of five. There are a total of thirty poems.
As a traditionally fiction and memoir-minded author, I know what the poetry market is. I also believe there is space for a collection about loss, heart break, hope and redemption after a child earns his or her wings.
I am very proud today. Corrie would be so proud of “When We Danced in the Rain” because I tried so hard to capture her voice as I knew here.
This 108 page manuscript is in the hands of an editor I’ve known for a few years.
What now?
I mentioned I still have a memoir when it seems like I’m writing one every year, but there is an art to figuring out what type of story you want to tell. I think with Corrie’s inspiration we’ll get it right.
I am putting together two more poetry collections to follow “When We Danced in the Rain.” The first to follow is “Corrie’s Season” and then “All the Children I have Loved.”
Corrie would be proud today.
And, what a perfect day to put on a thick red coat with faux fur without a hood, argue with your mother that it’s okay, and go dance in the rain.
By Rebecca T. Dickinson
Corrie's Season 
Reblogged this on Autism Candles.