Comments on: 1000 Days of Doubt

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:20:59 +0000

This is a total tangent….but OH MY LORD. I, too, feel this way ALL THE TIME. And I’ve been a working engineer for three years now AND I have a master’s degree. It has been getting slightly better over time. I did think up till recently that I had lost a client for our company and was feeling stupid and like a fraud and all sorts of bad (and expected to get fired)…and finally I said something to my boss about it and he was like, dude, seriously???? No one else thought that I was the reason for the client leaving, no one thought I was a fraud, no one thought I was stupid. There have also been situations in which I kept quiet because I didn’t think I knew enough to speak up…and six months down the road it turns out I was actually right and should have listened to my gut and spoken up.

I think maybe it’s a nerd thing. We all think that we actually don’t know anything, when actually we know a lot and just don’t give ourselves credit for it.

I know these situations aren’t the same as yours, but the FEELING is the same, and I think to some degree we all feel it. Anyway. That’s just my two cents. I think you are doing fine, and you’re going to BE fine, and you know a hell of a lot more about personal finance than I do, and that’s enough for me to keep reading your blog and buy your book. Even if there’s some stuff I might already know, not everyone will, and it will be a good read either way!

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:24:14 +0000

I thoroughly enjoy you blog. The book will be every bit as informative and entertaining as the blog is because it is you, not something that you are making up just to get something in print. It won’t meet your expectations, like when I bought my first car. I wondered for some time about if it was the best car, if I got the best deal, etc. I finally had to tell myself to stop continuing to shop for the car I’d already purchased.
Do that with your book (when it comes out) and then write a sequel to refine and add all of those things that you learned, found out, remembered and decided to add to the first book.
And we will buy and enjoy that one, too.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:51:32 +0000

You are the only professional blogger I read who doesn’t receive hatemail. If that doesn’t mean you’re doing something right, I don’t know what does. This is a truly pleasant and supportive blog community.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:39:37 +0000

I still strongly recommend grabbing one of Robert Boice’s books on writing/productivity. It sounds like you’re doing great in terms of progress, and the questions you’re down to are ones that your editor can help you out with, but still run the risk of burning yourself out. A lot of writing is mental. Just do it. Start before you’re ready. Break things into smaller tasks. Take breaks. Finish before you’re ready. Set yourself up so your subconscious can do most of the frustrating work.

Also, still recommend On Writing by Stephen King.

Of course, I have TWO 30+ page articles I have to finish by the end of the week. Fortunately I’ve been taking them in bits and pieces.

By: Beatrice

Beatrice — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:50:52 +0000

Worrying can be a helpful process — I’m at a point in my career where I’ve come to accept that it’s part of my way of working through a project. It sounds to me like some of the things you are “worrying through” on your book will make it a better (well thought out) book.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:44:09 +0000

I’m with you man. It’s nerve racking putting yourself out there with a blog and a book. I think the biggest thing that’s holding me back is I’m afraid to put myself out there more and grow my site because I feel the bigger I get, the bigger the target I become, and the bigger my failure will be if it does happen.

I’ve been in this rut for awhile now and I don’t know how to kick it.

By: Jessie

Jessie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:24:00 +0000

What’s worse – the doubt if you go for it and write the book or the regret if you walk away? Doubt sucks, but regret is forever.

Breathe.

By: bethh

bethh — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:41:05 +0000

(Hi J.D., Steve at brip blap linked to your very hilarious Disposable story. What a priceless look at a Younger You!)

I hope you are giving yourself a LOT of credit for bravery. It must be really hard to so consciously put yourself out there every day. I’m glad you’ve got such great support in your life propping you up and patting your back. The book process sounds brutal but I’m really looking forward to the result. Lucky us with the shortened wait period!

By: Mike Piper

Mike Piper — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:18:36 +0000

Errr, second-to-last sentence should say “And it can’t help but be exactly that.”

By: Mike Piper

Mike Piper — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:14:56 +0000

It is scary. There’s no doubt about it. People say what they want in Amazon reviews, and there’s nothing you can do to stop them.

What’s worked for me with my books is exactly what’s worked for you with your blog: Don’t overpromise. As long as you don’t position the book as something it isn’t, you’ll do fine.

As long as the book matches the title matches the promotion, things seem to work out–regardless of whether the book is lengthy, short, written by an expert, or written by a regular joe.

And, as Beth mentioned, for about 60,000 of us, we’re expecting the book to be “J.D.’s book about money.” And it can’t help but be anything but that. No worries there. :)