Monday 02 December 2024
The etymology of “acknowledgment” points to a recognition, a revelation, and a discovery. And when I think of all the people (and my dog, Laska) who have in their own unique ways inspired, coached, and helped me during the writing process of my Katyn manuscript, I must recognize their friendship, love, and support. I must reveal through words that I appreciated and continue to be grateful for their belief in me.
While writing my decades old Katyn manuscript, I have discovered many insights about myself as a creative writer and academic scholar. More importantly, I must say that because of my “Acknowledgments” people, I have also uncovered many revelations about being a human being. I know that without my “Katyn” people, my future published Katyn book wouldn’t have materialized.
Word origin specialists also point out that the meaning of “acknowledgement” is “token of due recognition.” I like this meaning of “acknowledgment” because ultimately, I couldn’t have written my Katyn manuscript without certain people being in my life. Therefore, my Katyn manuscript’s “Acknowledgments” page is my token of gratitude. Those people on my Acknowledgements page… I owe them.
I’ve written an Acknowledgements page for my Herman Melville dissertation and first published book. So, I have experience creating one. Writing my Acknowledgments page for my Katyn manuscript then should be an easy process. It hasn’t been. The Melville Acknowledgments page was relatively easy to write because the writing process for the dissertation was shorter compared to the Katyn project. And the people whom I met along the way during the Melville project were fewer. In contrast, during the Katyn manuscript writing process, I met and interacted with many people over many years. How do I begin to list them and express my appreciation for them all?
And, just now, while typing that previous paragraph, I thought about the people during my Katyn book writing journey who didn’t believe that I should have written a book about the Katyn Massacres. And those who didn’t comprehend that I should have written a memoir about my Katyn journey. Moreover, some people couldn’t accept that I could and should have written such a long manuscript on the subject. Well… their indifference, hostility, and mockery did embolden and stimulate me to not give up on the Katyn project. And so, Anonymous, I acknowledge you, too.
Now that I vented a bit, let’s continue….
Etymologists also reveal that the meaning of “acknowledge” connotes “to admit or show one’s knowledge.” How then do I “show” my appreciation for my inspirations, coaches, and supporters? Are a line or two on an Acknowledgment page enough? I “know” that my people “know” that I appreciate their efforts, especially during the difficult moments of writing and rewriting the Katyn manuscript. Nonetheless, I know the power of the written word. I know that seeing, rather than just hearing, those words of appreciation feel more real. After all, those words on the published page will last “forever;” their names on my Acknowledgments page will live on.
“Acknowledgement” also means a confession. If “acknowledgment” is a confession, mine isn’t one necessarily of faults and sins but of praises and thanksgivings. Although I know that I tested the limits of my most cherished advocates’ patience and encouragement, and I know that the anxiety and corresponding sense of trauma I experienced while writing a nearly 600-page manuscript also affected them, I must now confess something.
They, too, have lived with Katyn (my manuscript’s title is: Living with Katyn). They, too, have experienced the specter of the abyss I explored while writing the Katyn manuscript. My acknowledgments of their own personal perseverance during my writing process can’t be stressed enough. Not only did they keep me tethered while I dove deep into the dark waters, they, too, endured painful “dive bends.” Studying and writing about war crimes and great Evil took its toll on everyone, not just me. I love them even more that they stood beside me during the most challenging moments of the writing process.
I wrote this blog as preparation for the final editing of my Katyn manuscript and before sending the “final” version of it to the publishing world. And as my teaching semester quickly is ending, my Katyn project is also quickly arriving at its conclusion.
To write an Acknowledgments page, one must be reflective, sincere, and even philosophical. In one sense, this part of my future book is, perhaps, the most important part of the manuscript. Without the many acknowledged people, not only would this blog be impossible to write, the Katyn manuscript would never have been written, let alone conceived. So, thank you in advance, my dear, dear supporters.