Writing felt like therapy.

[Philippa Jane]

Many members here are very good at describing their adventures when out and about enfemme.
Without mentioning any book, blog titles or authors for that matter have any of you penned a manuscript or similar and published it?

For me when I started doing this it became a sort of therapy. It was a place to open up about my life, my enjoyment and my fears.
I never contemplated writing in this manner, in fact I never thought I had it in me even though we all have a story to tell.

In the beginning it was just for me but my therapist showed a lot of interest and I eventually gave her a copy of my writing. After reading it she told me how it reminded her of how I had opened up in our sessions as if she had been there with me all the time.

Now that I have completed my memoir (I cannot give out a title, author name or where it is published) but I now feel an uncomfortable loss.
It has been an important part of my being for the past 10 months.
Now that it is out there where do I go from here?

[KatyaCD]

Hi Phillipa Jane.
I've been married a long time, and for many years now have been in the closet regarding my naughty desires. Since both my wife and I took early retirement, I rarely get the chance these days to slip into something soft and delicate.
I've never told anyone in my real life about my Katya side, so have never had therapy or anything else, but a few years ago, I wrote a story about a crossdresser and used 'first person' point of view, and as I wrote the story I felt such joy. I was writing the main character as if it were me, and he/she was living the life for me. Since then I've published many more stories, all related to crossdressing, and more recently I've used mature characters, and it gives me a much needed outlet for my hidden desires.
If I were you, if you haven't already, I'd leave the factual story behind and try writing a fictional tale to see how it goes.
I can usually tell the authors who write what I write, but have never practised it, and those who have crossdressed always write more believable tales about it.

[SaraLin]

Without mentioning any book, blog titles or authors for that matter have any of you penned a manuscript or similar and published it?

Well, the only thing I ever wrote that got put before other people's eyes, was in the writers' forum on this site. It was incomplete at the time and I was asking for feedback. I got a lot of really nice suggestions and I did eventually finish it, but I don't think I ever posted the finished version.
Needless to say, I've never done anything else with it either.

[kimdl93]

I did some journaling years ago as part of therapy (for depression). It helped me to express things that I had difficulty saying aloud.

[SophiaRose]

I journal once or twice a month to help me sort out thoughts and ideas around CDing and other issues. I find it to be a great way to compartmentalize and move on from ruminations. I've also thought of someday consolidating it into a hard copy for my kids to read after I'm gone. For some reason I'd like for them to understand my motivations and failures as a father at times. Would this sort of mea culpa help them to understand that all of us "have something" we deal with or just make them feel a bit creeped out?? What a confusing legacy that would create!

[Jenn A116]

I write a column that appears on a well known (avoiding naming it as requested) site most Mondays. Like Philippa says, for me it is therapy. I get to express myself through my writings and I learn more as I do it. Most recently published was the story about how I bought my new wig. That reminds me - I need to update my avatar for my current look.

[Philippa Jane]

Katya. I was OK about writing my own story but I don't think I have the imagination to write fiction.
I am a dreamer and there were often times I'd fantasize but making up a plot and dialogue might be beyond my talent.

Kim, I also wrote a parallel narrative when I was writing my book which were my own more private thoughts. At one point I considered this to be a sequel but it might just be too explosive about a particular person I was involved with. I also find it easier sometimes to write things down where I can express myself better.

Sara. Not every story that gets finished needs to be seen by others. A story is yours and is there for you to help express your thoughts which might in other circumstances never be seen or heard.

Sophie. Just my take on how you are thinking about leaving your journal for the kids to read after you leave this life. It comes to everyone of course. The thing that comes to mind is the amount of questions they might have and there will be no one there to clarify how you felt and lived your life.
As you say a confusing legacy.

[Stephanie47]

Writing about experiences is a form of therapy that the Department of Veterans Affair counselors utilize for the treatment of war related PTSD.

[Helen_Highwater]

During some of my earliest week long holidays as Helen I found myself losing track of what I'd done only a few days earlier. Hence I started to keep a diary of each day's exploits.

That then became a daily thing for me. Every night before bed I sit and write about my day. Some is mundane drab stuff, some is about that day's femme activities. But then there's the times I write about how my dressing has effected me, made me feel. Whether it's been a feeling of calmness, really enjoying an outfit or trying to just understand better what I get from my Helen time.

Just putting things down on paper I guess ultimately just brings things into focus. I don't want to share those thoughts. I just want a way of chrystalising them.

[docrobbysherry]

I do quite a bit of wrinting. Phillipa. But, not about Robert. Except for some of his adventure's when he's out dressed he's pretty boring!

Sherry, on the other hand, lives many incredible fantasy, female adventures in my stories featuring her as various female characters! Some r soft and silly. But, most r very adult themes that suit my kink at the time of shooting and writing!

And, u know what they say, "Without a photo, it didn't happen!" So, my picto stories r mostly located on Fetlife. Some have over 600 captioned pics! Occasionally I post a few frames here!

[fireandlace]

For a number of reasons my opportunities to dress are limited. One way I deal with that is writing erotic fiction. Most of stories have a TG/CD theme. Almost of my stories have a bit of autobiographical element to them and the characters have some real life inspiration behind them. I have written a couple stories that the character and story felt almost like it was real or something.