Proofreading at the Cafe

“Time Hears No Sound”
Good news! I’ve completed the first draft of my manuscript and have begun the initial proofreading phase. I’m delighted to share that my previous editor and publisher, Judy Rankin, along with the talented cover designer and illustrator, Kerri Costello, have both agreed to join me on this new project. Their support means the world as I take this next step.

Manuscript Details:
189 poems, 177 pages, and 11,555 words.




Proofreading at the Cafe


There’s a manuscript in my knapsack,
Traveling along with every step I take
Proofreading is a necessary backtrack –
Page after page, in between coffee breaks,

Until the task is completed,
Even if I am feeling exhaustipated.





On the Nature of Daylight‘ by Max Richter
— the kind of music I listen to while proofreading. Gentle, expansive, and quietly stirring, it helps me hear the silence between the words.




Ivor Steven (c) November 2025

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ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

42 thoughts on “Proofreading at the Cafe”

    1. There’s no show without Punch 🐶 … as is my way, it’s been full steam ahead until the project is done … I’m so relieved to have completed the manuscript and although I’ve “exhaustipated” myself it’s basically plain sailing from now on … 📖📘🌏💙😍🐶

      Liked by 2 people

  1. Continued bestest wishes for your manuscript! 🙂
    So lovely of Sir Frankie to lend you a helping hand! 😉 🐾
    I’ve proofread stories and whole books for other people…it IS exhaustipating! (GREAT word! 😀 ) Proofreading makes Frankie dog-tired! 😉 😛
    So glad Kerri and Judy are a part of your team again! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 2 people

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