Illustration by Catherine Burns
There are a few morals to that last behind the bee book story, especially for readers who may also be nonfiction writers …
In my experience, writing nonfiction almost always requires an up front investment of time and, harder still, money. I don’t know any way around it. But I can tell you this: I have never regretted the investments. Not even once.
The dance—that back-and-forth between myself, the publisher, and the scientists I write about that happens while I am trying to secure a contract and the subject’s cooperation—gets easier over time. For example, it was much easier for me to approach the scientists for THE HIVE DETECTIVES than it had been for my first book, TRACKING TRASH, simply because I could put an actual book in their hands and say, “This is what I’ve done before, and I’d like to do something similar about you and your work.” Also? I’ve gotten more comfortable with the concept of rejection, from both the publisher and from subjects. It happens. It’s not personal. It’s just part of the job.
I’m a firm believer in cutting one’s self a little slack. So I chickened out of a great opportunity in that elevator with Dennis. Whatever. Beating myself up over it wouldn’t help a whit; forgiving myself and coming up with a new plan helped a lot.