html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> From the archives: She didn't seem convinced.

Friday, December 29, 2006

She didn't seem convinced.

The woman I talked to this morning asked me if I'd ever written a book before. I said no. She asked why I thought I could do this one. I said "Because I've done hard things before and because I decided to and I want to." That is reason enough, right?

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't know you but I agree with ogged. I'm sure you can. You can write a blog that's interesting enough to return regularly, so why not a book?

3:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sure enough.

Getting it published is a much bigger hurdle.

I'd recommend finding a couple non-fiction books you like with similar subjects (nature/enviro/projects), to give you some ideas about tone, structure, etc. I can recommend some good non-fic by journalists, but nothing on enviro subjects.

Sure would be cool if it was the sort of thing profs made supplemental reading as part of some class, eh?

3:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Speaking as the writer of five-and-a-half (four published, one dropped when the publisher reorganized, one in progress right now), the answer is definitely "yes."

If it's non-fiction, email me if you want to see a few of the book proposals I've put together to get a sense of what (at least some) publishers like to see. If it's fiction, I'm no help. :)

3:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, I don't think so. One might be able to do some hard things but not do other hard things and I don't think desire is enough.

I'm not discouraging you. I think you have bags of talent and passion and will be able to write a book quite easily.

I'm just saying that I don't think what you've stated in this post is a "reason".

1:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Indeed, to echo billo, your reason was a bit vague and not completely convincing. Think of it as an interview question and decide how you would support it...the examples you gave in your Thursday post ("Miss you...") are a much stronger response to her question.

Having said that, it is completely obvious from your blog that you can write the book. Sorry if that was a compliment, but at least it seemed relevant at the time ;^)

7:05 AM  
Blogger m/p said...

RIGHT!!!

you can do this because your mind is set to do it.

it isnt just about desire. its also about having the balls to do something about that desire.

youre awesome.

heres to a wonderful 2007!!!

10:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this sounds like something that belongs in a magazine or newspaper.

4:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy New Year everyone!

b.

1:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Depends on how high you set the bar. Write a good book? You can definitely do that. Get it published? I don't know, probably. Get people to read it? Maybe.

But you'll never know until you try. Go for it!

3:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nearly everyone has done at least some hard things in their lives. I would wager that most people have done more hard things than you. No offense, just seems like you've lived a relatively easy life. But none of that has anything to do with writing a book. Finishing a book is a long, long process. If you met Mr. Right and he wanted children post-haste would that redefine your goals enough that the book project is never completed?

It probably doesn't help your credibility much that this is the time of year when every one is making resolutions about long term endeavours and everyone believes most of those resolutions are complete bullshit that will never be followed through with.

One of my friends said she was going to give up putting mayonnaise on her french fries. That is a relatively trivial task compared to writing a book and I still think she is full of shit :)

7:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That combined with self-perception, honesty, and understanding of the task at hand is sufficient. This can't be the first time you've launched into something with the "I want to and I'm capable" rationale.

5:47 PM  

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