![\"8-steps-to-writing-an-obituary\"](\"http:\/\/www.regularlink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/writing-3.jpg\")
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The death of a loved one is never easy. Emotions, grief and fear can cloud your judgment and make it difficult to get the necessary tasks done. One way to work through your grief in a constructive manner is to write an obituary. We\u2019ve collected eight easy steps to writing an obituary, to make the process just a little bit easier while you grieve the loss of your\u00a0loved one.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Call the Paper<\/strong><\/p>\n The first step to writing a proper obituary starts by calling the paper you plan on having the obituary run in. Many papers have different guidelines, pricing and word limits, so finding out that information before you begin writing can help you really formulate a writing plan. Most papers work on a \u201ccolumn\u201d system, so ask how many words typically fit into a column and how much it will cost. You\u2019ll also want to ask about deadlines.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Read other Obituaries <\/strong><\/p>\n Before you begin formulating your thoughts, it is always a good idea to read other obituaries. You\u2019ll get a sense of the type of information that should be included, and what can be omitted from the paper obituary. Read a few and take note of what you do and do not like about each. It is a good starting point for your own writing.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Get The Info Down on Paper <\/strong><\/p>\n Before you write the actual obituary jot down the information you\u2019d like to include. This will first serve as a rough draft and, later, will serve as a type of checklist. It will help ensure you have all the details you want to include in your final draft and can really help the writing process.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Write the Obituary <\/strong><\/p>\n Once you have all the information gathered, you should begin writing. Remember to keep the information about the loved one front and center, but don\u2019t be afraid to add a bit of personality into the writing, too. For example, if your Grandma Edna was the reigning bridge champion of her retirement home, add that in.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Proofread Your Work <\/strong><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve written the obituary, you\u2019ll want to proof your work. Often times it is best to walk away from the writing for an hour and return to read it then. You can\u2019t always catch your mistakes right after writing, but you\u2019ll catch them with a fresh set of eyes, so to speak.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Fact Check Your Work and Ask Someone Else to Read It<\/strong><\/p>\n During your proofing of the obituary, it is a good idea to fact check. You want to make sure you have all of the dates correct, as well as the service information. After you\u2019ve done that, ask a trusted family member to proof read the work as well. This is a good way to ensure there are no glaring grammatical mistakes, or spelling errors. Another set of eyes can catch mistakes more easily than you can.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Submit the Obituary <\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure you submit the obituary by the deadline. You should have gotten this information when you called. To ensure the obituary runs on the day you intend, it\u2019s best to submit it at least\u00a0an hour prior to the deadline to ensure someone gets it in time. You can also ask for a proof of the obituary when submitting it, in most cases.<\/p>\n