• Mood: contemplative

A question for fellow writers

Hopefully, this won't sound too morbid. ;-)

Over on fanthropology several weeks back, there was a discussion about how people handle their fannish identities--stories about how people have put plans in place in the event of their death, for fellow fen to delete slash fic off of their computers or whatever.

This isn't what I'm asking about, but the discussion made me revisit an old line of thinking that I hadn't pondered in several years:

What do I want done with my stories (fic and original) in the event of my death?

Some authors want their journals, etc., burned. I'm not sure about that, but I'm also not sure I would want to risk just anyone reading them. What about fic? I'd love it if my stories lived on, in their archives, after I'm gone--but I'd need someone to keep an eye on said archives and be my proxy person, wouldn't I?

What about half-written ideas?

Part of me says, you know, it'd be easier to just say I want the hard drive wiped and all my papers burned. Words to dust just as my body returns to dust.

Another part of me thinks I should at least specify someone to look at the stuff and see if there's anything worth salvaging.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of other writers on this topic.