It is amazing what a little perspective can do. For most of August I was hard at work on the chapter on whales, ignoring nearly every other section. This allowed me to focus on what I wanted for one of the most important chapters of the book, but now that I have gone back to some of my earlier writing I have to admit I am horrified. When I opened up the chapter on the evolution of birds I could not believe what I was reading. How could I have written such drivel?
I started to edit the first part of the bird chapter, but no matter what I did I could not see a way to turn what I had already written into something good. The point I'm trying to make and the core of the historical narrative are still there, but they are so covered in terrible prose that I don't know if I can salvage what I have already written. I may have to go back to square one and start writing it from scratch. I can barely stand to read my first attempt.
Things aren't as bad as they sound, though. Although I am disgusted by what I had written previously, there are some good quotes and ideas present. I can keep the foundation and start over. It will be far easier (and expedient) to start back at the beginning than to reshape the ugly thing now sitting on my hard drive. I fear I might have to do the same with the chapter on human evolution, too, but I will not worry about that until I get to it.
Here is the Wordle for the 1st iteration of the bird chapter;
For previous updates, see the "Books" archive. I am working on a dedicated tab on this project (including a summary of what I'm trying to do for those new to the blog), and should have it up soon.
Education & Careers
Comments
Just wanted to give you some encouragement. You'll get it, and when you do, it'll be better than you expected. I'm a new reader, so I don't know much about your project. What is your book about? Evolution in general, or the mechanisms by which is progresses? Just curious here, but it sounds like a book I'll be interested to read.
Posted by: Ethan Zook | September 2, 2008 11:02 AM
This disappointment actually a good sign, showing how much you've progressed a lot as a writer this summer. But the perfect can be the enemy of the good, and you may be unnecessarily harsh on your own work. Do you have someone or a group of people that can look at what you've written and give you some feedback?
Posted by: synapse | September 2, 2008 1:42 PM
Ethan; Thanks for the encouragement. I should have a page up soon all about the project. I'll announce it when it's up.
Synapse; Although I've generally kept everything to myself while I'm actively writing, once I get things in order I usually have my wife read them. Then I go back and edit at least three times, at which point I take a break and come back later. I've sent one chapter that's just about done to some friends to look over, as well, so I have been trying to get some feedback. Like you said, though, I take my disgust at my own writing as a sign of how far I've come over the summer and how much more coherent the project has become since I started it.
Posted by: Laelaps | September 2, 2008 1:51 PM
That is the most encouraging observation on the writing life that I have read in a long, long time!
It shows that you're a better writer now than when you started.I wish I had noticed that before now; I think I gave up too easily.
Posted by: Susannah | September 2, 2008 3:36 PM
Brian you have stepped up your game
Keep up the great observations.
Posted by: Acai | September 6, 2008 10:40 PM