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PDF Anatomy of Writing For Publication For Nurses 3Rd Edition Cynthia Saver Ebook Full Chapter
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Praise for Anatomy of Writing
for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition
“Cynthia Saver opens our eyes to the art and beauty of writing as she provides steps to con-
quer common fears that new writers face. By comparing writing to human systems, she
presents an easy-to-follow template for the beginning writer while providing compelling
insights about publication, presentation, and promotion. Whether you are new to writing or
an experienced writer who needs a refresher, this book is essential to have on your shelf.”
– Jackie Gonzalez, DNP, ARNP, MBA, NEA-BC, FAAN
Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami Children’s Health System
“Cynthia Saver has compiled the quintessential writing guide for nurses, whether novice or
experienced writers, as well as anyone in healthcare and beyond. From getting published in
commercial and peer-reviewed journals to writing evidence-based project reports or creat-
ing and promoting a blog, Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses covers it all. I
refer to this book and recommend it often. It is a must-have for every professional nurse’s
personal library.”
– Donna Cardillo, MA, RN
Author, Columnist, and President, DonnaCardillo.com
Expert blogger at DoctorOz.com
“Dear Donna” columnist at Nurse.com
“Writing is a critical skill in communicating the value and essence of nursing and advocating
for healthcare. Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition, demystifies
the writing process, provides insider perspectives, demonstrates sequential steps, and out-
lines a road map for success across a range of genres. This book will be a valuable resource
for nurses committed to disseminating information and advancing our profession.”
– Patricia M. Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN
Dean & Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
“This much-needed book serves as a call to action for the entire nursing profession. The
authors develop a compelling argument for our members to publish about our practice. But
most importantly, the authors teach nurses how to face the often-daunting task of writing in
a clear, understandable, practical manner.”
– Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP, FAAN, DCC, FNAP
President, Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, LLC
“This guide serves as a primer on writing and publishing for nurses. It has been useful to
DNP students whose expertise lies in clinical practice as they grow in the ability to per-
suasively disseminate nursing knowledge. The text is packed with advice from published
authors, educators, and editors and features resources to make the process of writing and
publishing as familiar as anatomy is to nurses. This book is an essential addition to the
educator’s toolkit.”
– M. Lindell Joseph, PhD, RN
Associate Clinical Professor, University of Iowa College of Nursing
“This book should be on the shelf of every nursing professional who strives to improve prac-
tice. Writing is an acquired skill, and Cynthia Saver has successfully shared tips and tech-
niques to support writing proficiency. Her work has been well-received by DNP students
and graduates through the DNP Inc. organization. We are honored to work with her and
support this book without hesitation.”
– David G. Campbell-O’Dell, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, FAANP
President, DNP Inc.
“Over the past 20 years, I have used numerous resources to help nurses realize their potential
as writers. Cynthia Saver offers the most comprehensive and concise resource for nurses and
nursing students as they develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of scholarly writing—and
for faculty members who facilitate this process. Anatomy of Writing for Publication for
Nurses will strengthen the foundation of every writing scaffold and ultimately help more
nurses realize their potential as writers.”
– Elizabeth A. Gazza, PhD, RN, LCCE, FACCE
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
University of North Carolina Wilmington
“Cynthia Saver’s book is a must-read for both new and more seasoned writers. It provides a
step-by-step guide with all the key ingredients needed for success. This book is essential for
writers who want to see their ideas become published reality!”
– Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
Vice President for Health Promotion
University Chief Wellness Officer
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing
Professor of Pediatrics & Psychiatry, College of Medicine
Executive Director, the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for EBP
“This edition includes new information on hot issues arising in the last few years, particu-
larly the complexities of open access and tips to avoid predatory publishers. I believe that
writing for publication should be a valuable learning experience that enriches other compo-
nents of academic education. This book provides essential material for faculty and students
to help increase the quality and clarity of their manuscript for successful submission.”
– Marilyn W. Edmunds, PhD, NP
Editor-in-Chief, The Journal for Nurse Practitioners
“What a truly useful book this is—and a wonderful tool for both novice and expert writers.
In an age where good writing and precise expression of thought are becoming both more
valuable and rare, a text such as this is inestimable. What makes this text most useful is
the emphasis on good writing—through use of a primer of skills—followed by the unique
requisites of writing for specific media of the written word. Cynthia Saver and her contribu-
tors have pulled together a resource no writer should do without. What a gift to both writer
and reader!”
– Tim Porter-O’Grady, DM, EdD, APRN, FAAN, FACCWS
Senior Partner, TPOG Associates Inc.
Professor of Practice and Leadership Scholar, The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Professor of Practice, Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Clinical Wound Specialist, Atlanta, Georgia
“Prolific writer Cynthia Saver has brought together experts serving as authors in the third
edition of her book, which helps novice and experienced nurse authors by demystifying the
complexities of effective communication and publishing. This book is written to help nurses
tell important stories that shape the future of practice. A lot of mystery exists in writing for
publication, but Saver and her colleagues have again written an inspirational book that
captures logical and important steps, providing guidance to all who use this reference. This
is an important, updated, and attractive book for everyone’s library. Take the challenge of
writing off your list of concerns and read this new book. You will not be sorry.”
– Jeanette Ives Erickson, DNP, RN, FAAN
Chief Nurse and Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services, Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College
Editorial board for Nursing Research and International Journal of Nursing Knowledge
Anatomy of
WRITING
FOR PUBLICATION
FOR NURSES
Third Edition
Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
Copyright © 2017 by Cynthia L. Saver
All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written
permission from the publisher. Any trademarks, service marks, design rights, or similar rights that are mentioned, used, or
cited in this book are the property of their respective owners. Their use here does not imply that you may use them for simi-
lar or any other purpose.
The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within at the time of
its publication and shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity regarding any loss or damage incurred, or
alleged to have incurred, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book. The author and publisher make
no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the book content, and no warranties may be created or extended by sales
representatives or written sales materials. The author and publisher have no responsibility for the consistency or accuracy of
URLs and content of third-party websites referenced in this book.
The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is
advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Founded in 1922,
STTI has more than 135,000 active members in more than 90 countries and territories. Members include practicing
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than 700 institutions of higher education throughout Armenia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Colombia,
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ISBN: 9781945157219
EPUB ISBN: 9781945157226
PDF ISBN: 9781945157233
MOBI ISBN: 9781945157240
Names: Saver, Cynthia, 1955- author. | Sigma Theta Tau International, issuing
body.
Title: Anatomy of writing for publication for nurses / Cynthia Saver.
Description: Third edition. | Indianapolis, IN : Sigma Theta Tau
International, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017017012 (print) | LCCN 2017017928 (ebook) | ISBN
9781945157226 (Epub) | ISBN 9781945157233 (Pdf) | ISBN 9781945157240 (
Mobi) | ISBN 9781945157219 (print : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781945157240 (mobi)
Subjects: | MESH: Writing | Publishing | Nurses’ Instruction
Classification: LCC RT82 (ebook) | LCC RT82 (print) | NLM WZ 345 | DDC
610.73--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017017012
Thanks to Joan Borgatti for first linking anatomy to writing, and to Judith Mitiguy and
Patricia Dwyer Schull for their insightful comments and unfailing support.
Special thanks to the talented staff members at Sigma Theta Tau International, who always
make authors look great: to Meaghan O’Keefe, for her expert editing; Heather Wilcox, for her
eagle-eyed proofreading; Katy Bodenmiller, for designing an outstanding cover; Kim Scott,
for a reader-friendly layout; Larry Sweazy, for creating the index—the unsung hero for readers
seeking information quickly; and Carla Hall and Emily Hatch, for their generous support.
About the Author
Cynthia Saver, MS, RN, President, CLS Development Inc.
Cynthia Saver, an award-winning author, has nearly 4 decades of experience in nursing, includ-
ing more than 3 decades of publishing experience as a writer, editor, and senior vice president
of editorial. She has written for many nursing publications, including American Nurse Today,
American Journal of Nursing, AORN Journal, Journal of Nursing Regulation, Nurse.com, Nurse
Leader, Nursing Management, The Nurse Practitioner, and OR Manager, to name a few. Her
writing experience includes articles on writing for publication, research reports, case studies,
interviews, clinical articles, and continuing education programs. She has written materials for
nurses, physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dentists, and other
healthcare professionals. Saver has worked with top publishers as an author, editor, managing
editor, and editorial director. Her writing for publication program for nurses has received excel-
lent reviews—and participants have published many articles. She received her master’s degree
in nursing from The Ohio State University, is an author-in-residence for Nurse Author & Editor,
and founder of CLS Development, an editorial services firm.
Nan Callender-Price, MA, RN, Clinical Nursing Editorial Director, OnCourse Learning
Nan Callender-Price, who has worked in nursing and healthcare publishing for the past
21 years, has helped dozens of nurse authors develop continuing education programs. She
holds a BA in English literature from University of California, Berkeley; a BSN from University
of California, San Francisco; and an MA in education from San Francisco State University. She
practiced in women and children’s health at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco.
Pamela J. Haylock, PhD, RN, FAAN, Oncology and Cancer Survivorship Consultant
Pamela J. (PJ) Haylock has held staff, management, teaching, and consultation roles in
oncology care. She is currently adjunct faculty for the Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX)
in the online RN-to-BSN program. She was a core development team member of the National
Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s award-winning Cancer Survival Toolbox (audio instruc-
tional programs for survivors and family caregivers), was Cocoordinator of the Life Beyond
Cancer retreats for women survivors, and continues in an advisory role in the planning and
implementation of survivors’ retreats and retreats for oncology nurses. Haylock is Coauthor,
Contributor, and Editor of three trade books directed toward enhancing self-advocacy skills
among people diagnosed with cancer. She has received the Distinguished Alumni Award for
Service from the University of Iowa College of Nursing and a Distinguished Alumni Award
for Service from the University of Iowa.
Cheryl L. Mee, MSN, MBA, RN, Manager of Faculty Development, Education, Elsevier
Cheryl L. Mee presents to nursing faculty on such topics as writing for publication and NCLEX
success, and she consults with faculty on analyzing testing data and improving student out-
comes. Previously, she was Vice President of US Nursing and Health Professions Journals at
Elsevier Publishing, managing 54 journals. Mee was Editor-in-Chief of Nursing for 7 years
and has been in publishing for 22 years. She has received national writing awards for her
editorials and helped the journal achieve key publication awards. She received her MSN and
MBA from LaSalle University. Mee helps support Native American nursing students and the
health of the Native American people through her work with Americans for Native Americans
(www.americansfornativeamericans.org).
Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, Professor and Associate Dean,
Research and Innovation, University of South Florida College of Nursing, Tampa
Cindy L. Munro has served as Coeditor of American Journal of Critical Care for 8 years. An
experienced peer reviewer, she has published more than 150 articles and presented at many
national and international conferences. Munro received a diploma from York Hospital School
of Nursing, a BSN from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and an MS in nursing from
University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in nursing and microbiology and immunology
About the Contributors xiii
Leslie H. Nicoll, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, Principal and Owner, Maine Desk LLC;
Editor‑in-Chief, CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing and Nurse Author & Editor
Leslie H. Nicoll has more than 40 years of experience in nursing and healthcare and has
worked in clinical practice, research, and academia. She founded Maine Desk LLC in 2001.
Nicoll has been Editor-in-Chief of CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing since 1995 and
Nurse Author & Editor since 2014. She served as Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Hospice and
Palliative Nursing for 8 years (2001–2009). She is author of more than 120 published profes-
sional articles, book chapters, and books, including Writing in the Digital Age: Savvy Publish-
ing for Healthcare Professionals, which was coauthored with Peggy L. Chinn and published
in 2015. She was founding Editor of Perspectives on Nursing Theory, the first edition of which
was published in 1986. In non-nursing literature, she is author of four “Dummies” books—the
most recent, Kindle Paperwhite for Dummies, was published in 2014. Nicoll enjoys helping
nurses and other healthcare professionals achieve their publication goals through one-on-one
support in her business and through leading writing workshops for the National League for
Nursing, a consortium of universities in Switzerland, and various colleges and schools of nurs-
ing in the United States. Nicoll became a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2014.
She is active in INANE: The International Academy of Nursing Editors and received its leader-
ship award for excellence in editorial publication in 2015.
Susanne J. Pavlovich-Danis, MSN, RN, ARNP-C, CDE, CRRN, Professor, Nursing &
Health Sciences, University of Phoenix, South Florida Campus, Miramar, Florida;
Director of Cinical Continuing Education, TeamHealth Institute, Knoxville, Tennessee
Susanne J. Pavlovich-Danis maintains a private adult primary care practice in Plantation,
Florida, and is a certified diabetic educator and a certified rehabilitation nurse (CRRN).
She is also an approved continuing nursing education provider in the state of Florida and
an Alzheimer’s education provider recognized by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
Pavlovich-Danis has been published in the nursing literature more than 500 times since 1996.
xiv Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses
Demetrius J. Porche, DNS, PhD, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN, Dean and Professor, Louisiana
State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in New Orleans
Demetrius J. Porche is Chief Editor of the American Journal of Men’s Health and serves on the
editorial board of the Journal for Nurse Practitioners. He was Associate Editor of the Journal
of the Association of Nurses in AIDS for 10 years. He is a Virginia Henderson Fellow of Sigma
Theta Tau International and a Society of Luther Christman Fellow for Contributions to Nurs-
ing by Men. He is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and American Academy
of Nurse Practitioners. He is board-certified in healthcare by the American College of Health-
care Executives. Porche is author of Health Policy: Application for Nurses and Other Health
Care Professionals, and he has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals.
including labor and delivery, postpartum, home health, and adult surgical units. In 2012, she
obtained an MSN with an emphasis in leadership in healthcare systems from Grand Canyon
University. Salmon is also an international board-certified lactation consultant and is certified
in nursing professional development by ANCC.
1 Anatomy of Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Cynthia Saver
Why Write?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Anatomy of Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Breaking Down Barriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Collaborative or Team Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Publishing Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
All About the Publishing Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Get Ready to Write. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Appendices
A Ten Tips for Editing Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421
B Proofing Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
C Parts of Speech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Julie A. Goldsmith
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
Foreword
Writing is an essential skill in every nursing role. Direct-care providers, administrators, edu-
cators, and scientists all rely on written communication—to share ideas and experiences; to
provide guidance and directives; to report findings from major scientific efforts; and to create
effective and engaging communication with patients and families, other nurses, scientists, the
general public, and policymakers. Yet, the challenges of the writer’s craft can intimidate. This
sense of intimidation is exaggerated by the belief that writing is an inborn ability rather than a
skill that can be learned and honed. That professional writing can be a pleasurable experience
may be almost beyond belief.
Cynthia Saver’s indispensable guide, Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third
Edition, exposes these beliefs as unfounded, demystifies the writing process, provides infor-
mation needed to create a winning manuscript, and demonstrates that writing can be its own
reward. The anatomy metaphor brings the structure of a written piece to light in a memorable
way that is familiar to all nurses and sets the engaging and encouraging tone that has charac-
terized the book since its first edition. The new, value-added third edition includes expanded
content about collaborating with coauthors from other fields, altmetrics and journal selection,
databases and other search tools, marketing your work, and writing abstracts. New appendices
include a list of guidelines for reporting results, statistical abbreviations, and an article with
tips from experienced editors. The chapter on writing the nursing narrative was reworked to
include advocacy, teamwork, reflection, resilience, and skill acquisition. Don’t miss the new
tools, such as a table comparing the features of research approaches and a checklist for prepar-
ing graphics for submission. An instructor’s guide has been added for those who choose to use
the book as part of a course, but the book also stands alone as a resource for nurses.
As editor of Nursing Research, my days are occupied by reading manuscripts and peer review
documents written by nursing scientists, with an ultimate goal of creating new knowledge for
nursing practice. The scientific form—refined since its introduction at the time of the inven-
tion of the printing press during the Early Modern Period in Europe—focuses on lucid, logical,
concise exposition of thought and investigation. Careful referencing connects the work with
the past, while adequately detailed methods allow replication in the future. In combination,
these features create the scientific record and document the history of an idea. Mastery of
the standards and conventions of scientific writing to reach the level needed for publication
requires practical resources, encouragement, practice, and persistence. All of this support is
provided in Anatomy of Writing for Publication in Nursing, Third E dition.
who come from a variety of settings in research, practice, and education. They use components
of classical rhetoric to provide sage and sensitive guidance, offering the skills and insights
needed to create documents that convey clear messages from authors to readers. Aspiring and
seasoned authors will find valuable information, reference material, and trusted advice about
writing—from tweet to tome.
Writing well is not the result of luck or innate talent. Writing is a skill you can learn—just as
you learned nursing skills, such as venipuncture and suctioning.
However, nurses often find it challenging to write. After all, as Margaret McClure says in
Words of Wisdom From Pivotal Nurse Leaders (Houser & Player, 2008), “One of nursing’s big-
gest handicaps is that we are in a field where your basic practice requires that you never write
in complete sentences” (p. 70). Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition, is
designed to help you bridge the gap between incomplete sentences and a published manuscript.
The book’s contributors include the best and the brightest from publishing today. Most of the
contributors have experience as editors of nursing journals, where their role is to decide which
articles to accept for publication. These decision-makers share important insights that will
enhance the likelihood your manuscript is accepted for publication.
The reader can draw a wealth of knowledge from the many years of writing experience that
contributors bring to this book. These authors have a long history of success in having their
work published; the important tips they share will set you on track to seeing your work in print
or online.
Part I, “A Primer on Writing and Publishing,” describes the basics of publishing, from gener-
ating a great idea and writing the article to revising your manuscript and sharing your work.
This section is packed with information on how to bolster the chance that your manuscript
will be accepted for publication.
Topics include how to query a journal; writing and submitting the manuscript; legal and ethi-
cal issues; and effective use of tables, figures, graphs, illustrations, and photos. If English is
your second language, don’t miss the chapter for global authors. Part I also includes a chapter
on peer review, a great way to improve your own writing skills. Even if you don’t plan to be
a peer reviewer, understanding the reviewer’s perspective will help you anticipate what com-
ments reviewers might have about your manuscript.
Part I now includes more information on publishing trends, such as open access, that can
expand the reach of your work, provided you understand the options. You’ll also learn how
to protect yourself from publishers who prey on unsuspecting authors, luring them with
false promises of quick publication. Another trend covered in the book is interdisciplinary
xxvi Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses
When you see your article in print, you’re not done. If you’re passionate about what you do,
you need to take steps to widen the dissemination of your work through such tactics as social
media and online researcher networks. The chapter on promoting your work has been revised
to give you a better understanding of practical strategies for dissemination, so the most people
possible can benefit from your work.
Other new or expanded sections in Part I include topic research, a new table summarizing
databases available for finding information you need to write the article, tips for keeping a
writing schedule, altmetrics as a publishing tool, and a checklist to use before submitting
f igures and tables.
By the time you complete Part I, you’ll have a solid understanding of the entire publishing
process.
Part II, “Tips for Writing Different Types of Articles,” is where you can apply what you learned
in Part I. Each chapter takes you through writing a particular type of paper or article, includ-
ing clinical articles, scholarly journals, abstracts, books, reports, personal narratives, continu-
ing education, and writing for consumers. You can dip into the relevant chapter in Part II for
your writing goals.
For this edition, the chapter on writing for scholarly and research journals has been expanded
to include more on reporting qualitative research; a new table comparing quantitative, qualita-
tive, and mixed methods research approaches; and more on writing abstracts. You’ll also find
many more examples of nursing narratives and an updated chapter on writing continuing edu-
cation (CE) that reflects the rise of interprofessional CE.
In the back of the book, you’ll find a wealth of resources, including a new appendix on com-
mon statistical tests. In addition, appendices have been updated on several topics, including
publishing terminology (like nursing, the publishing industry has its own jargon) and a direc-
tory of guidelines for crafting your article. Don’t miss Appendix G, “What Editors Want and
What Writers Want,” which is designed to promote the valuable partnership between you and
your editor, and the new Appendix H, with publishing secrets from top editors in the field.
Our goal is to show you that even though writing effectively takes work, it is within every
nurse’s reach to do so—and you can have some fun while doing it.
• Opening quotes: Quotes at the start of each chapter provide pithy words of wisdom
related to the craft of writing.
• Q&A sidebars: Answers to some common questions related to the chapter’s topic.
• Confidence Booster: Lack of confidence can hold nurses back from sharing their
wealth of knowledge. These special sections are designed to inspire you and to
encourage you to break down that barrier.
• Write Now!: These exercises at the end of each chapter help you apply what you
have learned.
A Call to Action
Remember: The best way to become a better writer is to write! Like any other skill, practice
is a key component to success. I hope this book inspires you to take on writing as a lifetime
practice.
I also hope you use Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses, Third Edition, as a guide to
getting your work published. We have an obligation to share our knowledge with other nurses,
other healthcare professionals, and the public; in essence, we have a duty to disseminate.
References
Houser, B. P., & Player, K. N. (2008). Words of wisdom from pivotal nurse leaders. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma
Theta Tau International.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
mercifully drugged with opium, and was probably unaware of her
fate; she was ordered to recite the Mussulman profession of faith;
this she was of course unable to do. Her hands were bound behind
her, a priest recited the profession of faith in her name, and the
executioner, saying “Be-ro!” (“Get thee gone!”) by a touch of his foot
launched her into eternity. Such executions are getting less common
in Persia than formerly.
In Shiraz, where intrigues among married women are very rife, the
husband’s relatives—and often the woman’s make common cause
with them—generally take the matter into their own hands, and either
fling the woman from a roof or into a well, or administer a dose of
poison; the adulterer generally taking refuge in flight, or getting off
with a severe bastinado if the affair is brought home to him;
generally, however, such things are hushed up. In any case no
notice is taken of them by officials, and no punishment is visited
upon the actors in these private tragedies.
I had a man-nurse for my children, one Abdul Hamid, by trade a
gold lacemaker, a native of Shiraz; he was the quietest and most
humble of little men—nearly a dwarf. I was told by him a curious
incident in his history. Marrying his cousin, a young and handsome
Shirazi, she was not long faithful to him; and his mother, who is
usually the master-spirit and guardian of her son’s honour in a
Persian household, finding that the lady’s amours were becoming
notorious, at length informed her son; there was unfortunately no
room for doubt; the husband ran with his woes to his mother and
brothers-in-law, respectable artisans; one of these the same evening
brought some corrosive sublimate, and the girl’s own mother, her
mother-in-law, her brothers, and her husband compelled her to
swallow a fatal dose of the drug.
Although in a few days the affair was common bazaar talk, no
notice was taken of the matter, the thing being looked on as a natural
ending to the woman’s intrigue. I asked my man one day if the story
were true; he replied, “Oh yes, sahib, it was her fate,” and proceeded
to inform me that he was on the best of terms with the family of his
late wife.
In the garden of Jahn-i-ma (my soul) is the grave of Rich the
traveller; he died in Shiraz when on his road home. Close to this
garden, in a small cemetery having a mud mosque, is the monolith
covering the grave of the poet Hafiz; it is a huge block of Yezd
marble beautifully carved with verses from the writings of the poet.
The Yezd marble is very similar in appearance to alabaster. It is a
favourite place of resort of the literary, who may be frequently seen
reading the works of the poet, and smoking or meditating over his
tomb. Around him are buried many who look on his works as
religious and inspired writings; some, and the major portion of
educated Persians, simply consider Hafiz as an Anacreontic
dreamer, and his works the ways of wickedness made bright.
A mile off is the tomb of Saadi, another poet, the author of the
moral tales upon whose teaching the mental course of most
Persians is guided. The first story forms the keynote to this system,
and explains the otherwise mysterious course pursued by most
Orientals, who usually prefer the crooked to the straight. The tale is
well known, and I may be permitted to quote it from memory. All
these “moral tales” are very concise. It is as follows:—
“Once a great king, having overcome his enemies in battle,
caused the principal captives to be brought bound into his presence.
On their arrival they commenced to revile him. The monarch, being
ignorant of their language, turned to his minister and requested him
to explain their speech. The minister, instead of faithfully repeating
their sentiments, said, that overcome with the magnificence of the
king, they were expressing their astonishment at his greatness, and
imploring his clemency. The king, pleased, ordered their release.
The moral is, ‘It is better to tell a lie that produces good, than to tell
the truth which produces evil.’”
Thus the tenets of the Persian sage and those of the Jesuits are
similar. To do evil is lawful, if a greater good be the result. I fear the
evil is often done without the expected good resulting.
A visit to the tomb of Saadi, or that of Hafiz, is common among the
Shirazis for the taking of omens or “fal,” as they are termed. For a
few coppers the dervish who usually acts as guardian to the tomb
produces his well-thumbed manuscript copy of the poet, and, after
an invocation to the Deity, he thrusts his knife into the closed volume
between the leaves. Taking the passage at the top of the right-hand
page, he recites it to the anxious inquirers, and, if they be ignorant
people, he generally manages to recite a passage favourable to their
wishes. Nothing serious is done in Persia without the taking an
omen, “fal,” the casting of lots, “istikhara,” or the decree of an
astrologer. It was a common thing for a patient to tell me that the
reason he consulted me was, that he had put all the names of the
doctors of the town in a bag, and mine had been drawn. I also was
commonly told that a man had refused his physic because the omen
was against it. They will close a bargain or not by an omen, start on
a journey or refrain from the same reason; and their action in such
little doubtful points as the staking in games is ruled in the same
manner. A common way to take an omen (in this case “istikhara,” for
“fal” is generally confined to the omen by the book, be it Hafiz, Saadi,
or the Koran) is to grasp the rosary haphazard (every Persian man
or woman carries a rosary) and count from the bead grasped till the
end is reached—good—doubtful—no; the last bead reached being
the decisive one.
On a taking the “fal” at the tomb of Hafiz by Captain T⸺, R.E.,
who was a gold medalist in Persian, a curious incident occurred. The
old dervish, taking the book of poems between his palms, muttered
the usual invocation to God, and opening the book proceeded to
recite some stanzas highly favourable to Captain T⸺’s proceeding
on his journey. But T⸺, taking the book from his hand, and looking
only at the first line, closed the volume and recited from memory that
line and some fifty that followed it. The dervish certainly was
nonplussed. Here was a Feringhi, who could not make himself
understood by even the servants (so different is the Persian of books
and that learnt in India from the colloquial), reciting correctly, and
with appropriate gesture, the poetry that he, the dervish, prided
himself on being familiar with. His eyes rolled, he looked with
astonishment on the gifted European, put his spectacles in his
pocket, bowed, and disappeared, not even waiting for the present
that he knew he could be sure of. We were naturally much surprised,
but we were cognisant of Captain T⸺’s being well versed in the
Persian classics; for did he not address my servant as “cupbearer,”
“sorki”? and did he not request, to the man’s astonishment, when
requiring beer, that he should bring “the soul-inspiring bowl”?—which
phrases, being poetical, were quite as Dutch to the servant as if a
London waiter were ordered to “fill high the bowl with Samian wine.”
Saadi, though more influencing the actions of the people, is less
read by the upper classes than Hafiz, to whom are paid almost
divine honours; and the humble tomb of the one, in its little unkept
garden, is little visited, while the handsome stone over the grave of
the other has generally a few reverent idlers round it.
CHAPTER XXVI.
SHIRAZ—PERSIAN CUSTOMS.
This latter is more than usually comic, and relates to the supposed
conversion and immediate martyrdom of a Christian ambassador;
the former of which is effected by the sight of the head of Houssein.
The deaths of the various saints (imams) are portrayed with a
ridiculous minuteness, but so excited are the audience that they do
not appear to cause amusement. Thus, on the death of Ali Akbar, he
enters wounded and thirsty, and beats off some thirty assailants,
then after a long speech exits; then enter more assailants; re-enter
Ali Akbar, covered with arrows sewn on his clothing to the number of
sixty or so. He puts his assailants to flight, killing several, is
wounded, exit. Re-enter Ali Akbar, long speech; he has now only one
arm, puts assailants to flight, speech, exit; re-enter armless, his
sword in his mouth.
Enter a murderer. They fight. The murderer is slain.
Enter thirty assailants. At last Ali Akbar, after rolling up and down
the stage, is killed, to the immense relief of everybody.
His head is stuck on a long spear, the band strikes up, the
mourners shout Houssein! Hassan! for ten minutes, and the drama
for the day ceases.
There are other irregular interludes, Adam and Eve, Cain and
Abel, etc. Some of the scenes are very comic; as that between
Yezeed the tyrant and his physician.
On the day when the martyrdom of Houssein himself is portrayed,
the place is thronged. The cruel Shemr, generally very vigorously
represented, is at times roughly handled by the mob. The crowd are
often regaled with sherbets by the personage at whose cost the
tazzia is given, also pipes, and even coffee; and the amount
expended in pipes, coffee, tea, etc., to the numerous guests is very
considerable indeed.
Almost every house has its rosehkhaneh, or reading of prayers
and Scripture. These are generally given either to men or women;
and in the latter case, female readers and singers are employed.
When given to men, the moollahs officiate; and the reading takes
place from a pulpit hung with black, the roofs being crowded with
rows of veiled women.
The tazzias are not approved of by the higher classes of the
priesthood, but custom has made the people cling to them, and each
small village has its local tazzia. Wherever a tazzia or rosehkhaneh
is held, small black flags are exhibited at the door, and any one
walks in. By the performance of the tazzia the commemoration of the
death of Houssein and Hassan is annually brought home to the
Shiah Mahommedan, and the more fanatical yearly hold a sort of
Guy Fawkes day, when a comic tazzia, in ridicule of Omar, is held,
and the (from their point of view) usurper is finally conducted to the
infernal regions by the devil in person.
During the greater part of Mohurrim bands of boys visit the houses
of their quarter singing a long chant commemorative of the death of
the martyrs, and collecting a few pence at its conclusion.
The month of Ramazan is the fasting month of the Persians, and
the great majority of the people rigorously observe it, tasting no food
nor water, nor even smoking, from sunrise to sunset. Of course
when the month falls in the summer the penance is much more
serious.
The more ascetic go “peishwaz,” that is, observe the fast a few
days before it is really in force.
Only the sick, very aged, young children, and travellers are
exempt, and no one dares to openly break it, though, of course,
many of the more advanced or irreligious do so in secret.
In the night, an hour before dawn, the cry is, “Oh, water, water and
opium!” This is the warning given to the people to take their last
snack, the farewell cup of tea and pipe; and a copious draught of
water and an opium pill are generally swallowed just at the gun-fire
which announces daybreak.
Now the fast commences, and all compose themselves to sleep.
At nine or ten the usually early rising Persian gets up and prepares
to maunder through the day. He does no business save that which it
is absolutely impossible to avoid. Half the shops in the bazaar are
shut, or only opened for a few hours; the Government offices are
closed the greater part of the day; everything is put off “until after
Ramazan.”
Towards the latter part of the afternoon the streets become
thronged; as sunset approaches every one gets more lively, and at
the fire of the sunset gun the longed-for pipe is seized, a cup of tea
taken, and in half-an-hour every one sits down to a heavy meal.
Many parties are given in this month, the guests generally
spending the night at the host’s house.
A peculiar form of eatable, called zalābi, is prepared during
Ramazan. A thin paste of starch and sugar, mixed with sesamun oil,
is poured in streams upon heated copper trays, and a kind of fritter
produced, which is delicate-looking and rather appetising. When
eaten it is served cold.
A particular Mahommedan will not swallow his own saliva during
this month; and riders may be seen during Ramazan with their
mouths and nostrils carefully covered by the end of their turban, or
by a handkerchief, thus in their idea preventing the breaking of the
fast by the swallowing of dust, or animalculæ invisible to the eye.
Generally, however, this is merely affectation of religious scruple.
The most severe trial, however, setting apart the thirst produced in
hot weather, is the abstention from smoking; and a merchant or
shopkeeper, who has the tube of a water-pipe between his lips eight
hours out of the twenty-four, really suffers considerable
inconvenience from a fourteen hours’ abstention.
The long nights of Ramazan are enlivened by numerous festivities;
dinner-giving takes place throughout the month, and the number of
pipes smoked till two a.m. is considerable. The story-tellers are now
in great request, and drive a roaring trade going from house to
house. Poetry, too, is much recited and read aloud, the favourites
being Saadi, Hafiz, and Firdūsi. Story-books, cheaply printed and
roughly illustrated, are much read. They mostly contain short tales.
Here is one paraphrased, with a facsimile of the rude woodcut
illustrating the tale. I must premise that Mortaza Ali, the fourth
successor and son-in-law of Mahomet, was assassinated by a
fanatic; the caliphate having been previously usurped by Omar and
Abubekr, an old man the father-in-law of Mahomet, who succeeded
the prophet on his death. (So say the Shiah sect.)
Now the gentleman, on the mention of the word mole, cheek, girl,
Shiraz, Samarkand, or Bokhara, would instantly introduce the
quotation; and as Shiraz was the town we lived in, and Central Asian
affairs are continually on the tapis, Samarkand and Bokhara, unlikely
words as they were for general conversation, were invariably
introduced, and the inevitable quotation made. Unfortunately another
member of the staff, jealous of his rival’s reputation, betrayed him,
and Othello’s occupation went.
Books are treated with consideration in Persia. They are generally
bound in boards, and these are elaborately hand-painted, generally
with representations of birds and flowers. From two kerans to two
hundred may be paid for a pair of these boards. Sometimes a book
is bound in leather. This is, however, less common, save for account-
books. A sort of outer envelope of cloth or chintz is made, and the
book enclosed in it, thus preserving the binding and work at the
same time.
Great expense, too, is lavished on the pencase (kalam-dān); it is
nearly always of papier-maché, about seven inches long, one wide,
and one and a half deep; it draws open and contains the pens, which
are reeds, an ivory or bone block for nibbing them on, a tiny spoon
for moistening the ink, and a penknife, also the peculiar scissors for
trimming paper. At one extremity is a small box of silver or brass
containing a skein of silk, which absorbs a quantity of Chinese ink,
and is wetted with the tiny spoon as it dries up. A roll of paper is also
carried at the girdle, and a few adhesive strips of thin coloured paper
are provided for the closing of letters.
When it is wished to write a letter, the Persian sits if he can, but
this is not a sine quâ non; he tears from his roll of polished paper
(made in the country) a piece of the needful size, and commencing
in the right-hand top corner, he proceeds to fill his sheet, writing from
right to left, and leaving at the left-hand side of his sheet a large
margin of at least an inch; should he reach the bottom of the page,
and have still more to say, he turns the paper round and proceeds to
fill the margin. He then concludes, reads the letter, and with his
scissors carefully trims off the torn edges, and cuts off all needless
paper. If it be an important letter he now seals it at the right-hand
bottom corner, or at the end; the sealing is often repeated on the
back, and is equivalent to our signature. He damps the paper with
his tongue, inks his seal, breathes on it, and presses it sharply on
the paper. A permanent and very distinct impression is the result. He
now cuts a tiny piece off one corner, for to send a four-cornered
letter brings ill-luck, the Persians say. The letter is either rolled up
and squeezed flat, or folded as we should fold a spill; it is thus about
three to four inches long, and half an inch to an inch wide. A strip of
adhesive paper is rolled round it, and the end of this is sealed in the
same manner as before. The letter is now addressed.
Titles are continually used in writing letters, and the language is
usually high-flown and even bombastic. Thus an ordinary invitation
to dinner would be couched from one merchant to another:—
“To the high, the great, the influential, the descendant of the
Prophet Lord Ali Baba; please God you are in health. It is my
representation that to-morrow your slave will be delighted to be
honoured, in the house of your slave, with your illustrious and
pleasant company to dinner. I trust your Excellency’s health is good.
I have no further representation to make.”
Or after a long string of compliments and inquiries after the health
of the correspondent, comes the “mutlub,” or essence of the letter,
which is expressed thus:—“and please send by bearer your horse. I
have no further petition to make.”
A Persian is apparently very pious in his conversation, the name of
God being continually introduced, but these phrases have merely the
meaning of affirmatives or negatives.
Thus:—“Inshallah (please God), you will ride out to-morrow.”
“Alhamdillillah (thank God), I have nothing to do. Inshallah, I will.”
“Bismillah” (in the name of God), handing a pipe.
Friend admiring it: “Mashallah” (God is great). And so on.
Many of these phrases in which the name of God is used are with
the intention of avoiding the evil eye. Nothing must be admired, in so
many words, without one of these invocations.
Thus, one must not say, “What a fine boy!” on seeing a Persian
son, but “Mashallah” (praise God). In fact, the word “Mashallah,”
engraved on gold or silver and ornamented with pearls, is commonly
worn sewn to the caps of young children, and the word is often
written and worn as an amulet to protect a fine horse. For the same
reason a blue bead is often put in the tail of a horse, or sewn on the
caps of the children of the poor. Cats’ eyes are frequently worn for
this protection from the evil eye, and a hand[31] with one finger
extended I have seen used. This hand was, of course, quite different
from the metal open hand which surmounts religious buildings and
banners, all the fingers of which are extended. Talismans (“Telism”)
are constantly worn; they are generally enclosed in metallic cases
and affixed to the arm (“Bazūbund”). They are often verses from the
Koran, at other times merely figures rudely drawn, or a collection of
letters placed in some eccentric figure, as the well-known
Abracadabra; often the repetition of some of the names of God being
simple invocations.
A Persian is very loath to let these talismans be seen. They are
generally obtained from dervishes, priests, or old women.
During the cholera time in Shiraz I was attending the daughter of
the then high priest. I happened to see the old gentleman, who was
sitting surrounded by a crowd of friends, petitioners, and parasites.
He was writing charms against the cholera. I, out of curiosity, asked
him for one; it was simply a strip of paper on which was written a
mere scribble, which meant nothing at all.
I took it and carefully put it away. He told me that when attacked
by cholera I had but to swallow it, and it would prove an effectual
remedy.
I thanked him very seriously, and went my way. The next day he
called on me and presented me with two sheep and a huge cake of
sugar-candy, weighing thirty pounds. I did not quite see why he gave
me the present, but he laughingly told me that my serious reception
of his talisman had convinced the many bystanders of its great
value, and a charm desired by an unbelieving European doctor must
be potent indeed.
“You see, you might have laughed at my beard; you did not. I am
grateful. But if I could only say you had eaten my charm, ah—then.”
“Well,” I replied, “say so if you like,” and our interview ended.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SHIRAZ.
Behind the town of Shiraz, under the hills, lies the Bagh-i-Takht, or
“throne garden.” In addition to its large size, it is remarkable for a
peculiar building on terraces, once very magnificent. These terraces
are faced by a wall of glazed tiles, white, blue, black, and yellow.
Placed behind a tank so large as to be almost a lake, this curious
construction is reflected in the water, and presents a sufficiently
strange appearance. On some of the terraces are rows of orange-
trees, and on others a succession of fountains; these, alas! play no
more. The terraces are very narrow, and do not at first strike the eye
as such, and appear a many-coloured wall with rows of trees,
apparently growing out of it, and the whole crowned by a lofty
building, having more large trees within its walls, and then the sky;
the reflection of this and its consequent doubling forms a very
striking, if rococo, picture. At either side is a lofty summer-house of
several stories, and at the further corners of the tank are low towers,
which serve as points of vantage from which the curious view can be
admired.
The whole is more like a representation made upon screens of
canvas than a solid structure, and it looks like the pictures exhibited
at the Surrey Gardens in old days, from which the beholders were