Was there ever a time you thought about giving up on your writing dream? If so, what motivated you to keep writing?
Here's a sneak peek at our answer:
Many, many times. Just last night Lisa called me and said she wanted to give up. When I asked her why, she said she felt like we could never be good enough. We commiserated for approximately 2 hours (our standard phone call length) and hung up with a renewed sense of hope. Yes, there are incredible, fantastic, award-winning, we-bow-down-to-you-genius-writer books out there. Books that make you want to hold the delete button, slam your laptop shut and GIVE UP. Will our books be amongst them? Maybe? Never? Definitely? In our dreams? Who knows! The beauty is in the trying. If you give up, you'll never know if you could have gotten there! One of the best parts about writing is that there is no race. People will always need books to read. As a result, people count on us to get better (or something like that). None of our books will ever be as perfect as we want them to be. In fact, we have a pact to NEVER read a final copy of the published book. There's just no way we wouldn't want to change something and that would kill us in a very slow and painful way. So we write. And we delete. And we re-write. And we complain. But at the end of the day we hope. Because you just never know. That next big book could be right around the corner. And I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of it.
16 comments:
Love you girls, thank you for sharing this. I certainly have struggled with my fair share of "I should just quit-itis" over the last, oh, six years. But I just keep on keeping on. Hopefully someday I will join the ranks of such wonderful, inspiring and talented authors such as yourselves! <3
I think you always want to do your best, and as long as you love what you're doing and are working hard at it, I don't think you can do any better. The huge accolades may come, or they may not come, but there will always be people out there who appreciate your work.
I actually just re-read The Liar Society this week in prep for The Lies That Bind, and I totally adored it just as much as the first time around. You ladies are super talented, so keep it up!! =)
Yes. This.
I think about giving up ALL THE TIME. Especially lately. But you are so right, the beauty (and fun) is in the trying.
HUGS!
I don't ever want to give up, but I do slam doors and yell a lot. That makes me feel better.
I have accepted that I may never be as good as my favorite writers but I am going to give it one hell of a try.
Really brave post. Thank you for sharing. So even published authors feel like giving up sometimes?
You guys are awesome. :)
LOVE this. So honest ;o) I've been there too. Kind of a right of passage, huh?
You guys ROCK, you know that?
<3<3<3
Thank you Lisa & Laura. You just totally made my day!
Amy Trueblood
www.chasingthecrazies.wordpress.com
Lovely post! We have all been there. Multiple times.
Yeah, I needed this. I've been letting those downer thoughts in lately, but I think if I ever really tried to give up it wouldn't be long before I just had to write down some idea. Addicted to stories. Thx as always for being your wonderful selves.
Well said. Don't EVER give up ladies!
this.This.THIS. <3
It really is a roller coaster, isn't it? Keeping heading to those heights!
I did need this today. You ladies are the best! Thanks! <3
This is so encouraging. I always assume other writer-peoples don't struggle with discouragement like I do. The answer that I'm always afraid to give to this sort of question ... is that I pretty much quit every day. Or every other day. But I think the truth for every writer I know is that, truly, you can never "quit." I read the best article about Madeleine L'Engle recently. I might be remembering this wrong, but I think she got a rejection on her 40th birthday or Christmas Day - a day whence no rejection should commeth. And she was totally heartbroken over it and decided to quit. But she said as hollowed out as she felt, she woke up the next morning thinking about what she wanted to write next. Grateful that you guys (and everybody else on this twisty-turny path) are brave enough to chase after that nefarious, notorious Next. :) Never, never, never give up!
You have no idea how perfectly timed this post was for me this morning! Sometimes it just helps to know that there are other people in the same boat! Thanks...
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