Henry David Thoreau must contribute to this introduction, for his words sum up the heartbeat of my writing. “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.”
As a young girl, I was one of the fortunate ones that knew in advance what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was forged by the process of elimination. I threw out the idea of being an astronomer. One night I stayed up until four in the morning with my telescope on the hood of the car. I waited with anticipation to see the Ikeya-Siki comet, which never showed up. I was,instead, witness to a splendorous meteor shower, which I chose to believe was displayed personally for me.
Later, my future narrowed to two destinies. I wanted to be a writer, but I also wanted to be a doctor. I ended up being a nurse and held fast to my dream of writing.
Throughout life, I’ve found myself in unique situations with stories to tell. People told me I should write these things down. I discovered Writer’s Market (https://powells.com/s?header=Search+Form&kw=writer%27s+market). Nestled in the covers, I found a smorgasbord of markets. I ventured forth.
The first article was born when I cared for my Vietnam Veteran spouse, ailing from multiple sclerosis, courtesy of Agent Orange. Simultaneously, I homeschooled my three children. I chose to write for the “Journal of Christian Nursing.” This publication, in addition to editorial review, was subject to a panel of peers purview. The notice came one morning as I was feeding my husband: “Accepted for publication.”
I danced all the way inside from the mailbox, jumping up in down in front of my nonverbal spouse. I was going to be a published writer. Ironically, the article was published the summer of 1999, after my husband passed away. The title was “When Hope Comes Hard”, and I wished he could have read it, since he was the main character.
Ten years later, I am still writing. As in the design world, beauty is in the beholder’s eye. An article rejected by one editor might be a gold mine for another. I write for magazines and websites. I am currently working on a memoir of my husband’s days with PTSD,MS, and my caregiving episodes. I find that I can share trials to strengthen others. In so doing, I am leaving a legacy for my children. It is in this purpose that I catch dreams that began when I was a little girl.
Frances Hansen has been a Freelance writer since 1999. Her articles, appearing on websites and in magazines, have been published in Journal of Christian Nursing, Home Education Magazine, The Old Schoolhouse, VietnNow, back2college.com, mommythink.com, and several others. Some of her clips can be viewed at her website. Fran is also a Registerd Nurse and Graphic Designer. She is mom to three children and lives in Auburn, NY.
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