A number of people have been asking me about the status of my book lately. I only wish I had something interesting to report!
By mid-January I had completed about 100 pages, or roughly one third of the book. With that goal reached I began to draft my proposal but I began to feel discouraged. How could I, a no-name science writer, make my work appear unique and important among the tidal wave of evolution books being released this year? I have no authority to trade in on and the quality of my work must stand for itself (as well it should).
At present it appears that the best thing for me to do is go back to the three chapters I have written and edit them again. There is at least one chapter that could be made stronger and there are plenty of new discoveries to discuss. The proposal for the book can also use some more fine-tuning, especially since it is so vital to whether my work is published or just sits on my hard drive.
Am I feeling discouraged? Absolutely, but this project is too dear to me to set aside. (I am not sure what else I would do, anyway.) I am committed to finishing this book. I have learned so much in the process of writing it that what I have learned will surely not go to waste, but it would make me even happier to contribute something novel to public discussions about evolution.
[For previous updates and chapter excerpts see the archive for this thread.]
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Every writer suffers from doubt. I don't know how novel your work is, but I do know that nobody else has your mind or your thoughts. Why shouldn't you write and write freely, fruitfully and without justification?
First, I like your writing style. As a writer I can tell you that what you write is clear, concise, and for the most part,easy to understand (I sometimes have to look up some of the technical terms you use, but that's be cause you write about things that I am not totally familiar with).
I just wanted to tell you that you can write a book, and get it published. You have the talent. Now you have to show that you have the will.
Thanks for a great website!
What Lilian said. Discouragement and self-doubt happen to the best of writers; it's a normal, if not a desirable, experience. But those feelings are not an accurate evaluation of you and your writing; that is in the body of work you have produced, and in the following you have inspired among people who enjoy and relate to your work.
Your work is too good not to finish; do what you need to do, but please don't let it derail you from finishing. I and many others have been waiting too long to read it!