At least once in every writer’s life the question “should I quit writing” has popped in his or her mind.
It may have flashed for a millisecond, a brief flicker of doubt, but it has been asked by each and everyone of you. Many laugh it off, knowing the insanity of the question. Come on! You would die if you went 2 hours without writing something down. While others struggle with the question and seriously contemplate it…
This isn’t a question that you should be ashamed to ever ask. In fact, I find it a healthy question. It guages your current commitment to the craft. Writing is a craft, for those who are committed, that will flow through your veins until the day you die. Author Chuck Wendig wrote a brilliant and energizing post about how to react when you find yourself asking the question on whether you should give up writing. I was riveted (and a bit terrified) by what he had to say, and wanted to share it with you today. If anything, his post is a swift kick in the ass for an honest answer when you find yourself asking “should I quit writing”.
Follow this link to Chuck’s blog post “Should You Quit Writing?“
The Sarcastic Muse 
This comes at a timely moment for me as well. Fortunately, I was able to answer “Hell, no.” But I’m glad I asked the question. As for you, Ms. Amanda, I can only say that I do so hope you don’t stop.
So happy to hear you say “Hell no!” as I rather enjoy your writing. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Thanks for sharing Chuck Wendig with us, Amanda. He’s all kinds of ballsy. His bluntness is both shocking and refreshing. I can so relate to much of what his said: it took him FIVE years to write the FIRST draft of one of his novels. It took him 17 years to become a published novelists.
Those are numbers I know. Plus, his honesty that despite all the success he now has a (gasp!) full-time author, he still has family members who think he’s chosen an utterly pointless career for himself. WOW.
Good stuff.
I love his “no-BS” posts. He is definitely a great motivator. I also admire his honesty about his writing career. Helps to put things into perspective that no one is a natural born novelist. Writing is a talent that takes time to cultivate and learn. It is hard (and sometimes frustrating) work!
I am in dismay that there are those who think that about him. Their loss because his work is just so damn awesome.
Yeah, Chuck is quite a character. Thanks for sharing this thoughts + yours. m3
Thanks for sharing. It’s such a brave question we all ask, but we chuck it up to fear. Personally, I needed this article today to rebuke me. Thank you very much:)
You are welcome! I am glad it helped. I have Chuck’s post bookmarked for the next time I have “one of those days”.
I have been ashamed – in the past, at least – to even entertain this question. And entertain it, I did. I haven’t been writing for long, but the ebb and flow of confidence and ideas makes these thoughts a natural consequence of the writer’s life. Although Chuck’s verbiage is a bit “harsh” for me, I can empathize with his message. So, this question does resurface from time to time, but there is always something that ultimately causes me to blurt out a “hell, no!” at the end of things. And for someone who is a recovering perfectionist, the thought that I strongly desire to keep writing no matter how unpolished and unrefined a piece may be always convinces me that the “hell, no” is exactly the right response for me 😉
Don’t be ashamed by asking the question. It a natural one to ask. And like I said in my response to Chuck’s post, it is a question to gauge if this is something you want to do with your life. Giving the “hell no” response shows that this is what you are destined to do.
Welcome the question when it rises its head again-hopefully you give the same resounding answer! (I am sure you will, because in talking with you on previous posts I can tell that writing has infected your blood.)