ABOUT THE BOOK A loved one has passed, and you’ve been given the task of writing a eulogy. Where to begin? Writing a eulogy can seem like a daunting task; in fact it has been said that people fear public speaking more than death. When writing a eulogy, you are preparing to speak publicly about death — probably the death of a loved one or close acquaintance. Though this is undoubtedly a difficult time, writing a eulogy doesn’t have to add to your stress. With proper planning and organization, composing a eulogy can be done relatively quickly and painlessly. MEET THE AUTHOR Kate has over 10 years of experience writing, researching and editing articles, eNewsletters, web content, press releases, and resource books. She's a huge nerd, and is interested in everything from science and the latest technology to crafts, food and celebrity gossip. Because of her eclectic tastes, she has written about topics ranging from childhood brain development to fuel efficiency to micro-breweries. Kate loves writing and researching, it gives her a chance to inform and entertain readers, and also as an opportunity to learn something new. Kate a native Mainer, and when she is not shoveling snow or writing, she's huddled near the fire with her daughter, her husband, and her dogs. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK The first stage of writing a eulogy is often referred to as information gathering. Experts recommend sitting down and brainstorming about the person you are commemorating before you begin the actual eulogy writing. By getting thoughts down in a free flowing manner, you may come up with details, stories, or attributes about the person that you may not if you try to follow a strict outline setting from the outset. Think about what the person looked like, hobbies, career, family life, and any stories you might want to share. The more details you can add the better. Don’t worry about flow or organization at this point. All you are tying to do is get some ideas down on paper. Next, call some family or friends of the deceased and ask them if they have any stories or memories they would like to share, find out if the deceased had any favorite songs, poetry, or literature that would be good to include. Next you will want to start organizing your eulogy. Some people like to prepare an outline. You will want to include biographical information, perhaps a bit about where the person grew up, their family life, places they lived, also mention their children and spouse if applicable. You could also include career information in this section as well. Buy a copy to keep reading!