Do not quit!

Advice for Writers, Part 3

Scenario 1: You just received feedback from your editor (or beta-reader, or friend) AND... your book still needs some work.

Scenario 2: You just got a one-star review.

Scenario 3: You had a very busy few weeks and had no time to write.

In each of these scenarios, it would be easy to quit, place your manuscript (or new idea) on the shelf never to be written, edited, or shared with the world. This may seem easy, or even the correct thing to do, BUT your heart will always yearn to create. The joy you feel when you write an amazing scene will forever be missing if you don't pick up up the pen or sit at the computer to write.

Now, that is not to say things are not difficult. My husband would be the first to note that I oscillate day to day on how I feel about publishing (the writing, I ALWAYS love), and I am sure you can relate.

Most of us write in our spare time. At work, we daydream about writing, and then in the wee hours of the night (or morning), we write less words than we want to, always wishing for a time when writing could be our main focus. There are stories in our heads and hearts that need to be told.

So, for this reason, I suggest, nay, implore you to keep going. Keep writing, keep creating, keep showing up to your craft. That is not to say, "write every day", or "write multiple books a year" . Show up however you can, slow and steady, and keep creating.

DO. NOT. QUIT.