If you truly enjoy writing, never give it up. We have this one life, and if writing gives you joy, then keep doing it. I’m not saying give up your day job, live in a box, and write. I am saying—don’t stop. Don’t let that nagging voice in your head defeat you, don’t let that bad review or critique get you down, just keep going. Why? Because fame is just around the corner and that’s why you should write. Okay, that is total bullshi*, I just wanted to see if you were listening. Writing success may or may not be around the corner, but if you don’t write, you’ll never know.
I don’t think most of us are drawn to the page, compelled to fill it with stories, because we seek riches (although they would be nice). Writing gives us a way to look at the world, make sense of it, and to explore human truths. When we’re tired of the world we live in, we create new ones. Writing is a way to connect to life and imagine the possibilities. Writing is not only an exercise; it’s a way of being.
So, my advice to you on this dreary Michigan day is this: no matter how cheesy it sounds, don’t give up on writing. It has things to teach you if you’re willing to continue with the journey. Who knows where the adventure will take you, but writing will make the journey a more interesting one. And isn’t that worth something?
The Writer's Journal 