{"id":122,"date":"2026-05-02T05:05:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T05:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maryannesteitz.com\/?page_id=122"},"modified":"2026-06-29T06:26:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T06:26:21","slug":"122-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/maryannesteitz.com\/?page_id=122","title":{"rendered":"The Book"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Book<\/h2>\n\n\n
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This is where you will witness the development of the book. My challenge, to tell you the story without telling you the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Book is called The Book because my novel still does not have a name, but I have a list of possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Carer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pact<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In sickness and in Health <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regrets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Heidi’s Voice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is What it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

22\/05\/2016<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have writen the first draft and sent it out to alpha readers for developmental feedback. The response has been VERY POSITIVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am now working through my first edit, taking into account the feedback I have recieved. This time through I am looking at filling any gaps in the story, making sure I move between scene, dialogue, action, that I am showing not telling, that the story is told by meaningful, beleivable characters. I am removing glue words and sticky sentences, dotting the is and crossing the ts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It won’t be the last edit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am up to chapter 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to read the first few paragraphs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 1<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The fluorescent lights begin their backward slide, a brick wall gradually appears beyond the open window. The coiled cord slinks back into tight loops as the nurse returns the controls to the bed railing. I am sitting upright.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi there. How are you feeling today?\u201d the nurse asks, as though I can answer, her voice muffled by the mask. Why ask a question I have no way of answering? What would she want to hear if I could?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cHi, there,\u201d I could reply in the same fake chirpy tone. \u201cHow am I feeling? Well, the fact I can no longer move my body is a little devastating. But it\u2019s the total inability to communicate, to tell you I am still in here, listening, watching, remembering that is causing the deep despair that engulfs me. How are you feeling?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nurse has moved to the top of the bed. I can\u2019t see her but the smell of hand sanitizer hangs around my face like a cloud. She tells me that the physiotherapist will be there at ten, with a speech therapist who will assess my swallowing. What the bloody hell does it matter how well I can swallow? I close my eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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29\/06\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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