JOAN’S BOOK PROJECT

I am writing a book that is scheduled to be out between Christmas and Valentine's Day, and I would like you to be a part of it. This book will tell the stories of us, the caregivers in the trenches, and how our life’s experiences have helped us through our journey.

For those of you who would like a chance to be part of this project, the guidelines for submission are below.

My editor and I will choose only 20 stories from those submitted, to be included in the book, so get your submissions in as soon as possible.. If yours is chosen, we will ask for non-returnable pictures and a signed release, allowing us to use your stories and pictures. If you are not interested in participating, maybe you know someone who is, and will pass along this information.

Guidelines for Story Submission

All stories must be received by October 1, 2009.

1. Write a story about your experiences as a caregiver for your spouse who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia. Stories should be non-fiction, between 800 and 1,000 words. (To determine the number of words, use Word’s “Word Count” feature, found in most versions as an option under the Tools menu.)

Stories should have a positive tone and might expand on one or more of the following topics:

a. What you have learned from life (for example, in your career, in the military, or from a previous life crisis) that has been helpful in getting you through the caregiving journey.

b. How you successfully managed a particular caregiving crisis.

c. What you wish you had known earlier about caregiving that may have helped you cope more effectively.

d. How caregiving has enriched your life or enabled you to help others.

e.Privacy – You may request that your last name not be used. You have the option of total anonymity by using a pseudonym and no personal pictures.

Humor is often a great way to illustrate a point or teach a lesson (not to mention a way to get through the day)! If your story has a humorous element, don’t hesitate to play it up.

Submit to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com

INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT A HARD COPYAND PHOTOGRAPHS, ALONG WITH PERMISSION RELEASE FORMS WILL BE POSTED SOON.

JOAN’S WRITING TUTORIAL

Gee, I feel as if I should have made a DVD for you, but no time for that, so we’ll go with the written version. This is not going to be as painful as you think. I promise.

Get comfortable. Kick your shoes off. Sit back and relax.  

1. First of all, by POSITIVE, I mean that you have taken something from your Alzheimer’s journey that has either made you stronger OR given you the incentive to help other’s through their journey OR given you a different appreciation of life OR made you live your life with a different philosophy. Positive does not mean that you LOVE your role as caregiver. It means that you have learned or shared something worthwhile from it.

  2. Look over the topics – like a term paper – choose ONE topic:

            a. What you have learned from life (for example, in your career, in the military, or from a previous life crisis) that has been helpful in getting you through the caregiving journey.

b. How you successfully managed a particular caregiving crisis- maybe because of something you learned from the military, your job, raising children, a life crisis.

c. What you wish you had known earlier about caregiving or Alzheimer’s Disease that may have helped you cope more effectively.

d. How caregiving has enriched your life or enabled you to help others.

1. Narrow your focus – choose the one topic and stick with it.

2. Don’t try to write a narrative yet. Write a list of things you want to say.

EXAMPLE:

Marsh could choose “a”. His list would look like this:

Doctor for 40 years

My job to listen to symptoms and come up with solutions to heal people

Saw many caregivers and AD patients

Never had time to find out all about AD

Never had time to understand how caregiver affected

Example of a caregiver and AD patient I saw – how I handled it

Retired to spend quality time with wife – examples of what we wanted to do together and how we interacted as a couple

Hit with her diagnosis

Discovered what AD was really like – give examples

Discovered how difficult it is to be a caregiver – give examples

Determined to educate doctors on AD and caregiving

Took my experience as a doctor and experience as a caregiver and speak to physician’s groups – examples of what I tell them.

Ending
How my experiences as a doctor and caregiver have given me the opportunity to make a difference in how Alzheimer patients and caregivers are viewed and treated by other physicians.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

Tony could choose “c”. His list would look like this:

My life as a husband, father, and business owner

The loving relationship I had with Tracy

Made the decision for Tracy to stay home and raise the boys while I attended to the business

Changes in Tracy that led to friction in the marriage – give examples

Years of incorrect diagnosis due to her young age – give examples

How  public and physician knowledge and awareness of EOAD could have made my journey easier

How education about what caring for an AD patient entailed could have made me better prepared to care for Tracy

Dedicate myself to raising awareness of EOAD and the financial and emotional toll caregiving takes – give examples of what I have done

Ending – My work as advocate to raise awareness as tribute to my wife and my boys.

Getting the idea now?  When your list is finished, write it as a narrative, and don’t worry about it. I have a PROFESSIONAL EDITOR. HER JOB IS TO EDIT AND REWRITE.

VERY VERY IMPORTANT – Never make a statement without backing it up with an example. For example:

“I liked the movie. It was good.”  That tells us nothing. Replace with – I liked the movie because it was full of action – car chases, buildings blowing up, people running in the streets. It kept my attention every minute.

“I have loved my wife for 50 years.”  Replace with – “I have loved my wife for 50 years. Her smile lights up my life; I love her kindness and compassion for everyone she meets. She has been my supporter and cheerleader for everything I have ever wanted to do in life.”

There you go. Writing 101. Choose one topic; make a list of what you want to say; back up your statements with examples; tie it up neatly at the end with a lesson, goal, changed philosophy, etc. and you’re done. Let the editor worry about fixing it.

©Copyright 2009 Joan Gershman

The material included on this website contains general information intended as information only. This site is not intended to provide personal, professional, medical, or psychological advice, and should not be relied upon to govern behavior in any certain or particular circumstances. The opinions in the blogs are solely those of the owner of the website. The opinions on the message boards are not necessarily endorsed by the owner of this website, and are the opinions of those persons writing the messages. All material on this web site is for demonstration and informational purposes only.

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