It's what's more important? Doing fan service for fans who will revere your grocery list because it brings them joy? Or leaving behind a body of work you're really proud of and is widely respected?
I make it black and white but it's not obvious to me you always want to publish things just because some people will devour them.
> It's what's more important? Doing fan service for fans who will revere your grocery list because it brings them joy? Or leaving behind a body of work you're really proud of and is widely respected?
Since you'll be dead and utterly unaffected either way, I'd go with pleasing the fans. Also, it's really a freebie for your legacy if it's understood that it was written under the influence of dementia and published posthumously.
On the other hand, if I thought it would be depressing or unpleasant to fans more than please them, I would want it destroyed.
But that's what I'd do. Terry Pratchett had every right to make his own decision on this. Even with dementia, that's 100% his call. (Of course, his assistant should make sure he was fairly consistent on this point, when most lucid.)
I get where you're coming from in a way. But speaking personally, the idea of people peeking at my creations before I'm ready for them to is anathema. Like, some fundamental violation of the self.
