Writing Eulogies

[ysabetwordsmith]

Really excellent advice on a challenging type of writing. 

Comments

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

It also points to What Can I Say That's Actually Helpful in Times of Grief?, which is also good.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I've found it's hard to go wrong with "I'm listening," "I miss X too," or "I'm going to the store. Can I pick up anything for you?"

[technoshaman]

I think "write from the heart" is probably the most important thing there.

OTOH, maybe you don't know the person, or don't know them well. Then it's time to go story-hunting. I've written my share of eulogy-by-request the past ten years... the best ones of these have good stories, or at least mention something that would make a good story.

I got a "dumb question." Most of us here know what a psychopomp is. (For them as don't, it's someone - often themselves non-corporeal, though not always - who show confused spirits the way between this world and the next.) Is there a specific word, other than minister/medicine person/etc. who guides _those who remain_ through the process of letting go? 'cause I seem to be good at at least part of it...

[zeeth_kyrah]

That, too, is the work of the psychopomp, the escort to the next stage.

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I have one specific example, but it's not from around here: In Torn World, the Duurludirj people have a profession called widow-keepers. When a married warsailor (who defends ships from sea monsters) is killed in action, the guild assigns a widow-keeper to tend the spouse and/or children through the grieving period however long that takes. This greatly reduces suffering and mortality among the survivors.

I wish we had those here.