Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Unbearable Lightness of an Almost Finished Project
My book feels unbearably lightweight to me tonight. I worry that it simply does not have enough substance to be a real book. Maybe because I've been able to write most of it fairly easily, without strain or anguish? I'm hoping that finishing the last two chapters will give me the sense of solidity that I am missing. It is very strange. Maybe I just need to add a bit to a few key chapters. Maybe I'm worrying for nothing. I will have nine chapters, and each one should be solid on its own terms. Together, they should add up to something significant... I hope... but I will remain in doubt for a few more months.
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Yes, and feel free to reassure me in the comments that my book will in fact be solid.
I'm not in the position to reassure you about the value of your finished project, but today I have looked at mine (which is almost done), and felt really good about it. I've struggled with it for such a long time, but I feel a made a really good progress over the summer.
Now I'm thinking that maybe I should be more worried about it if eve you are worried about yours.
I also wanted to ask how long it took you to create the whole thing, from its conception to the point where you will be able to submit it.
The book really began in earnest in the fall of 2008 though it incorporates material written in 06 and 07. I'm hoping to submit it at the end of '11.
The degree of worry is really related only tangentially to how solid the book is. Some people are just worriers. I'm sure part of my worry will be assuaged by concrete things I do to eliminate problem I know are there. It is a way I have of telling myself what I need to correct.
"It is a way I have of telling myself what I need to correct."
-Well, I have you for that. :-)
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