The endless internet


It’s late at night as I sit at my computer compiling a funeral service for David, a person I’ve never met. Earlier in the day, I sat with his partner and family, devastated that the man they spent Christmas Day with has gone, his life extinguished in a heart beat. My job is to craft the words, provide structure to the ceremony, hold space for them as we farewell him on a hot summer’s day in Auckland. But first I need to write, I need inspiration, I need energy.


Fragile and fragmented - and oddly enough, sometimes funny - conversations with families and friends are my starting point, even when a death is unexpected. But after the meeting, after the tears, it's time to explore, and the internet is a great place to begin.

Start with Google (or other search engines) to see what’s available, what’s already been done, and what’s popular. Here are a few things I’ve found useful:

 1. Quotes: there are millions of quotes on the internet. Type in a few key words, and you’ll be flooded with options. Remember algorithms will influence what you see, so try adding extra words to your search, like “unique quotes about love and marriage” or “quotes from African writers about death and dying.” It’s always a good idea to check your sources, but more about that in another post.

 


2. Music: Search out the lyrics of the songs people want to play during their event, whether it’s a funeral, a wedding or even a naming ceremony. You’ll be surprised how often that favourite song has really inappropriate lyrics. (Check out this article from the Evening Press: Songs-with-inappropriate-lyrics). And have while you’re there, head over to YouTube or Spotify and listen to the tracks the family or couple have chosen. If you’re going to cry (the amygdala will get us every time), better to do it in the comfort of your own home.

3. Dates and Events: it’s kind of cool to incorporate other local, national or global events into your scripts. Search “what happened the year I was born?” or “which song was in the top 10 in 2012?" Here’s a top of the head example for you from my fictitious ceremony (but real friends), Anna and Angus:

 “1999 was a big year for Anna and Angus, the same year a determined Helen Clark became Prime Minister, and a scruffy Peter Jackson started filming Lord of the Rings. And while Gandalf was far from this young couple’s minds, a ring - so precious - was about to find its way onto Anna’s finger, glittering with diamonds and the love they shared so deeply.”

4. Synonyms and Antonyms. Thank goodness for the internet. What’s another word for “respected”? How many other adjectives are there for “beautiful’? What’s the opposite of “excited”? Use this feature to zhuzh up your writing.  

And finally, acknowledging your sources, working out what you can have for free and what you need to pay for can be a minefield. But I reckon I’ll save that for another day. 


Arohanui

Sandy

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