Tag Archives: New book

New Project: “Impact: The Lives of Women After Concussion”

Elaine Morin and I are co-editing a new anthology tentatively called, “Impact: The Lives of Women After Concussion.” Is there anything more optimistic than starting a new writing project?

The enthusiasm from the writers we have invited to contribute is so encouraging. It’s an important topic, and a hot topic. There are all kinds of reasons to focus on women’s experience of concussion. A recent article in the New York Times offers a few insights into why. And our book will offer more.

Elaine and I have been sharing concussion stories for a long time, tinkering with the idea of an anthology. It’s a lot to take on. We know this because we’ve done it before. Speaking for myself, it will be slow and hard work, but I’m ready. Knowing everyone involved “gets it,” knows that there are good and bad days and times the return of an email might be a bit slow is a big stress reducer.

It’s strange how when you begin to put something “out there,” it can get reinforced in so many interesting ways. I don’t mean to sound flaky, but this is exactly what is happening to us. There is a quote often misattributed to Goethe,

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

Indeed. We have met and spoken with so many concussed women writers and they all have such profound things to say. We can’t wait to show you the results of our work.