Welcome to this month's posting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! I'm feeling generally insecure about a number of things at the moment but I'm not going to talk about them right now. Instead I'm going to jump right in with this month's question . . .
Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
Whilst I've never actually said "I quit," I've been quite close to it! Probably, most writers have at some point. I love writing, I truly believe it is what I should be doing, but it is hard. It is hard to keep motivated and enthusiastic when all there seems to be is rejection and knock backs.Then comes that little nugget of gold . . . you know the request for a full, genuinely positive feedback, a place in a writing competition . . . and I feel the 'buzz' again and the urge to persevere kicks in.
There may be times when the words aren't flowing and I seem unproductive but I always seem to drag myself out of that feeling and keep chasing the dream. I sincerely hope I never quit!!
Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
Whilst I've never actually said "I quit," I've been quite close to it! Probably, most writers have at some point. I love writing, I truly believe it is what I should be doing, but it is hard. It is hard to keep motivated and enthusiastic when all there seems to be is rejection and knock backs.Then comes that little nugget of gold . . . you know the request for a full, genuinely positive feedback, a place in a writing competition . . . and I feel the 'buzz' again and the urge to persevere kicks in.
There may be times when the words aren't flowing and I seem unproductive but I always seem to drag myself out of that feeling and keep chasing the dream. I sincerely hope I never quit!!
I came close to it a few times but I enjoy writing poetry very much.
ReplyDeleteGreat read Suzanne.
Yvonne.
And we like to read it, Yvonne.
DeleteAll the rejections and knock-backs definitely make it hard to stay motivated sometimes. Glad you've always managed to find a way to avoid quitting!
ReplyDeleteGot to keep on trying, Heather!
DeleteI think when we feel like quitting we just have to find a way to get the motivation back.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sarah - motivation is key.
DeleteI know exactly what you're talking about. The rejections are always hard to take.
ReplyDeleteThey can sometimes be physically painful!
DeleteIt can be super hard to stay motivated sometimes!
ReplyDeleteIt can Kyra and I think that is why sometimes a break is a good idea. Something about absence making the heart grow fonder perhaps!!
DeleteEven though the motivation is lacking at times, and we take hits from all angles, the joy is in the writing and that's why we will never quit. Keep going Suzanne. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGot to enjoy the writing process or you could not keep going. Thanks Nicola.
DeleteBeing a writer is hard, but so rewarding at times. Motivation is the key!
ReplyDeleteIt is very rewarding.
DeleteWhenever I've come close to giving up, those nudges have helped me too - pretty much every single time!
ReplyDeleteWhere would we be without those nudges!!
DeleteNot so much we quit as just put it on hold, right?
ReplyDeleteAn occasional break can be a good think, Alex.
DeleteAnd that's what matters in the end, eh? That we never quit. Keep on keepin!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Thanks Crystal.
DeleteJust have to keep on keeping on when we can. Those little extra nudges that come along don't hurt either.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they don't!
DeleteBeing close counts. Not actually quitting counts even more.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine quitting. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou're right. I think we all have come close to it or even considered it, but hopefully we don't go through with it. I know some do. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to hear that folks have quit, maybe they will return to it one day, maybe when the time is right.
DeleteThe frustration is a test that's for sure. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
It can be a very frustrating business!
DeleteHi Suzanne - I'm not for quitting ... nor turning away - and am so glad you're not. We can have frothies and throw caution to the wind ... ie just getting out and about and doing something different - but we'll be drawn back in ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI think if it is something you really want then you keep coming back, thanks for the visit, Hilary.
DeleteI regularly berate myself and let myself be abused by destructive criticisms, but I've never got to the 'quitting' point. At worst, I'll take a few weeks off or procrastinate on a certain project.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right. We all have times when we want to quit. Glad you haven't given into the urge.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't quit. It's so much a part of who we are. Getting knocked down isn't as important as getting back up. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh hey, I quit all the time. I come back in a couple hours, but it's very liberating to just throw up your hands, yell at the computer and storm away.
ReplyDeleteIWSG June
Everyone feels frustration once in a while, when nothing goes our way and it seems that nothing ever would, but if you keep at it long enough, something always comes up. It could be unexpected and different from your expectations, but it will happen. Don't give up what makes you happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll have fewer frustrating days and more productive ones coming, Suzanne. It's important to do what makes you happy.
ReplyDelete