There is no calling more rewarding than being caregiver to my husband. He is not only my constant companion, he is the best patient anyone could be.
I retired a few years early from my job working in Human Resources when the doctor said my husband needed 24-hour care. God has faithfully provided all our needs as He promised in His Word.
While unpacking boxes on the day we moved into a small apartment, I discovered a manuscript I had started several years earlier. Since I no longer worked outside the home, the opportunity to spend time writing was an unexpected blessing.
I thought for sure I’d tap that manuscript into my computer, print it, and send it off to a publisher within a few months. Every time I’d come to the end of another revised draft, I’d think I had completed it.
I spent time researching the how-to of the daunting task of marketing my manuscript as the last draft lay waiting for me in a drawer. Finally I started reading it again. Oh, alas! I had to revise it again, and again, and again!
Since I started my Blog in early July, 2010, I haven’t had a minute to read it. When I put it away this time, I believed it was truly finished.
When I begin to read it again, will it cry out for yet a n o t h e r revision? Oh, no. NO!
Carol Ann…thank you for sharing this aspect of your life!
funny…just tonight I have begun the process of making word document copies of all my posts on WordPress…not quite the same thing…but daunting…
blessings
jane
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Your writing is precious. It’s good that you are saving it. You could put it all together in a manuscript of memoirs. Amkuska told me that after we publish our writing on our blog, we still have reprint rights. I know you wrote them for your bloggers. This is what I have done with the stories and poetry on my blog, also.
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Carol Ann–
You might want to consider putting a copyright on your blog. Head over to mine, if you want, to see what it looks like. Protect your work from cut-and-pasters!
🙂
jane
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You are talented to write manuscripts…I write a poem and I think it’s aweful!! Never ever have I posted any single one without the fear of not being good enough!! I think we as writers, in any form, always have that hanging over our heads… I honestly think you have so much potential Carol, they say we should always face our fear!!! I send you and your husband lots of love dear friend. Always ~ Amanda x
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Thank you for your kind words, as always. Your poems are lovely. I always enjoy reading them. Your accompanying illustrations and music add beauty and dimension to your artful creations. Thank you for visiting. Love and kind regards to you and yours.
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There’s always something in a mansucript crying out to be revised but eventually you have to make a judgement on whether it has gone as far as you are willing to go with it.
Hopefully when you read it this time you will be happy with the work you have already put into it and any revisions will be minimalistic.
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Cassandra, I know you are right about revisions on a manuscript. I must finally call it quits before I revise my way into oblivion. I believe I am finished this time for sure. I will know when I read it. Thank you for stopping by and for reading and commenting.
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I’m sure your loving husband feels equally blessed to have the best and most loving nurse as well. I’m glad to hear you’re also able to devote more time to writing now! It never ceases to amaze me, this love and passion a writer has for writing. It’s uplifting and inspiring. I’m sure your manuscript will do well, Carol Ann!! Good luck and God bless.
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Good morning and thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I took time to figure out how to make a blogroll. Life of Bon is on it. I thoroughly enjoy your blog.
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I turned to writing flash fiction in part because I can never get around to finishing or editing longer work. I have what I think is a fairly decent first draft of a novel printed out, sitting on my dresser, waiting to be revised. It’s been there since December 2008… So you’re at least a few steps ahead of me!
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You have a great writing talent, Kari. It is amazing that you are so prolific as to produce a short story everyday! Look around at other writers’ blogs. Instead of writing a story everyday, spend time revising your novel. Post something everyday, but make it something small about life in general or whatever. Writing a story everyday must take a lot of your time. Post one or two short stories in a week and get the novel manuscript moving. Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to reading that novel someday. 🙂
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Oh Carol, I’m so glad you posted this. It always feels like I’m one revision away, and it’s comforting to see others in the same boat. I hope you’ll consider letting us see a snippet of your manuscript at some point. (You can post small amounts of your work, no more than 10% I believe, without losing your first print rights.)
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I would love to expose a portion of it on my blog if this is an okay thing to do and it would not offend a prospective publisher. How would I present it? Snippet of…?
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Oh dear. I know exactly how you feel. It takes me forever to edit my simple blog. I edit several times a day, then I publish and end up editing my post at least 10 times. I even edit old posts.
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Carol Ann,
I think it is so wonderful that you have been able to be your husbands caregiver. I worked as a home health care provider for several years. It is so much better for people to have care at home, especially from a loved one.
I hope that your manuscript is just perfect this time and you can move on to the next step, publishing! How exciting!
Good luck,
Jessica
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I love being my husband’s caregiver. It’s a cushy job because he is such a good man. I am not a professional caregiver. That would be a very rewarding job. Thank you so much for your well wishes on my manuscript and for stopping by. I put “Love Me Anyway” on my blogroll. I hope you don’t mind. Blessings to you…
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Welcome to Rally week 26:
Please sign in via this link:
And visit and comment for a minimum 18 poets via this link:
Comment to let me know after you are done.
BEST!
ignore if you does not want to be part of it.
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I would love you to be part as well Carol,,….if you dont know, just let me know and I’ll help you to do it…..:):):)
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You are so kind, Amanda. I don’t think I want to put a poem in this time, but I would like to attend and look around and comment. So, if I just attend, I would I click the second link only, I think. I will do it after church today. Thank you for encouraging me.
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you are like me. 🙂
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I am? Are you also a caregiver and writer? I do enjoy your poetry.
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