tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post7309695931803548618..comments2024-03-12T03:54:14.577-04:00Comments on The Historical Society: Finishing a Book: Ditch the Ego, Act on the Criticism, Pick the Hills to Die OnRandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-88695612866910593562013-07-13T11:26:08.988-04:002013-07-13T11:26:08.988-04:00Hi Phil
Being asked? told? to change something you...Hi Phil<br />Being asked? told? to change something you feel deeply about is like someone criticizing your baby! Rejection is even worse. Difficult, then, not to fall into a pit of angst, with a black dog on your shoulder.<br /><br />Ignoring the Facebook thing - this is a Facebook free zone - you should maybe remind yourself that you have many readers, it is just they are all out on the beach with Laird right now!<br /><br />Meg<br /><br />Megnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-77199946821667116042013-07-09T17:19:40.930-04:002013-07-09T17:19:40.930-04:00Thanks for your comments, Lisa and Randall. The eg...Thanks for your comments, Lisa and Randall. The ego is becoming an ever more sensitive beast, I believe. Even in the case of this blog post, I was bummed for a couple of days to not have had any comments. Oh, woe is me! It's the Facebook mentality: "Like" me. Notice me. Make me feel special. <br />Quite sad really. If it wasn't for the convenience of setting up interviews on FB and promoting my books, I would quit it right now. <br /><br />Regarding the editing process, I think that to improve at anything, you can never think you've 'made it.' The people I admire who are dedicated to continued excellence - surfer Laird Hamilton, writers such as Lynne Olson and Matthew Pearl, etc., are constantly looking for ways to get better. Good to know that somebody's passing this lesson on to students. Ok, end of 1,500 word comment. <br /> Philip Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-16706502966343108602013-07-05T07:24:54.254-04:002013-07-05T07:24:54.254-04:00I think you're right about the how difficult e...I think you're right about the how difficult edits can be. Got some of my own recently and had to reverse the Beach Boys lyric "hang on to your ego." Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-58284314136389047722013-07-04T22:47:23.247-04:002013-07-04T22:47:23.247-04:00Thanks so much for this. I keep reminding my stud...Thanks so much for this. I keep reminding my students that part of research is character-building--being humble and listening to others and being okay with not being the last word on the subject. Part of why it is important for a teacher-scholar such as myself to publish with an academic press is exactly what you've said. It forces me through this (very painful) process. Thanks for sharing this.Lisa Clark Dillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155783885263417225noreply@blogger.com