Some people who wrote me a year ago about a web page I made in like 1998... about its subject I mean... about an interesting diarist... just wrote me back to say that they did indeed make real plans to publish it all and would I write them a quick 500-word introduction to the book?
Mixed feelings... on the one hand it would be fine with me and I shoudl be able to spend an afternoon digging into that book and writing something. On the other hand I have not thought about it, gave the book to my dad, and would want to go find it in the library and read it all over again and think about it and read MORE about it before posing as any kind of expert introduction writer. On the other other hand, such a last minutey project that doesn't even find a real expert on the subject but asks a random person with no credentials off the internet who never even finished the original project.... well...
But no matter how half assed anyone else is or I was in the past on the project I am in a mode now where I want to produce as good of a "thing" as I possibly can and so the temptation to overdo it is high.
For right now I already have 2 deadlines - the translations & the article with Q.
So i should probably say no... or just make up my mind to grit my teeth and toss off something very quick for that introduction.
there's that "real" person thing again! you ARE a real expert, you wrote the thing they found when they googled, after all, so you are a "known name" in the field of this poet, which makes you realer than real. they don't want a whole book report, they've alrady got the book, they want a flap-copy like intro to catch the eye is all. you are very real and this is quite doable, badg. if you were dooce, or somybody, you think you would not write 500 words that would extend your name? no, you'd write it write away and add to your dooceness. you can write this in your sleep! and it will be good!
Posted by: e | August 30, 2006 at 06:03 PM
There are history scholars in this very area who are experts!
I read a bunch of books and took some notes... I would say I have the equivalent of a college level upper division course in the subject.
On the other other other hand, I am definitely an expert on beaver.
Posted by: badgerbag | August 30, 2006 at 06:10 PM
but remember, they don't necessarily need an expert, maybe they just need somebody visible.
Posted by: e | August 30, 2006 at 07:14 PM
Do it! Your name in print is a good thing, being asked to contribute your golden words is a good thing.
Posted by: toobeaut | August 30, 2006 at 09:44 PM
What e said. You might not be an "expert," but you are a recognized authority ... recognized by them, at least.
If you do decide not to write the intro, do it on the basis real considerations like your other commitments, not because of any imposter-syndrome feelings you might have.
Posted by: Alan Bostick | August 31, 2006 at 07:11 AM