Should You Quit Writing Your Book?
- Jenna Moreci
- Nov 11
- 5 min read
HelloOoOo everybody!
Today's topic is kind of a controversial one. But it's a topic I get asked about on a daily basis, so what the hell? It’s only my reputation at stake, right? A lot of people ask me, "Hey Jenna, should I quit writing my book?”
How the fuck should I know? No one, especially a stranger, can tell you if you should quit writing. That's a decision you need to make on your own, based on your life, your obligations, and how you personally feel about your project.
That said, there's a lot of negativity surrounding the idea of quitting your novel, but I don’t think it's always such a bad thing. Writing a book is grueling, so quitting is going to cross your mind every now and then. But if you're truly passionate about your project, obviously, you should probably see it through. However, there are situations where quitting might make sense. And I don't think it's fair of us to force people to pursue writing if it's not in their best interest.
With that said, bear in mind, I will never, ever tell any of you whether or not you should quit your book, okay? And by no means should this video convince you to abandon an idea if you truly care about it. However, due to the volume of messages I’ve received on this topic, I am listing the top five valid reasons for quitting your work in progress, or quitting writing altogether.
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Number 1: Growing Up
This is something no one ever talks about, and I don't understand why. Sometimes we grow out of certain stories and genres. Something that appealed to us when we were sixteen may not appeal to us anymore when we're twenty-one, and certainly not when we're thirty. Just because you were passionate about a story as a child does not mean you have to continue writing it as an adult. Sure, if you still feel the same way about it, have at it. But if you feel silly or disinterested or disconnected from the piece, it probably means you've outgrown it.
Sometimes writers feel bad when this happens, like it somehow devalues the work, but that's not the case at all. Certain stories are powerful to specific audiences and age ranges. And that doesn't change just because the story is no longer relevant to whatever group you're in now. Nothing was necessarily wrong with the story; it's just not right for you anymore. And that's okay.
Number 2: Shifting Priorities
Sometimes we don't want to quit writing, but we have to because life's a bitch. College can be awful; it can monopolize your life. And sometimes you can't write a book and graduate with a half-decent GPA. If you're a parent, it's hard to shower and brush your teeth while keeping your kids alive, let alone write a book. Writing a book is a difficult, time-consuming, and torturous task. And if you're already being tortured by life as it is, sometimes adding a book to the mix is not only unfeasible, it's ridiculous.
If you're barely hanging on by a thread, there’s nothing wrong with being honest with yourself and saying, “Hey, something's gotta give.” You can't quit your job because you need money to survive. You can't stop taking care of your kids, because that would be child abuse. In this situation, putting your writing on hold is a logical and potentially healthy decision.
Number 3: Prolonged Loss of Passion
Let me make one thing clear: it is perfectly normal to lose passion for your project multiple times during the writing process. No one feels consistently jazzed about writing. You're gonna get frustrated, and you're gonna get bored, but if you've never once experienced any joy while writing, that's not normal. If writing consistently feels like a chore and nothing else, you may need to reassess exactly why you chose to become an author.
Writing isn't an easy gig to make money at, so people will typically embark on this journey because they're passionate about it. They love it. It makes them happy and fulfilled. If this story isn't fulfilling you at all, you're essentially torturing yourself for nothing.
That's not to say writing isn't for you, but maybe this story isn't for you. Reassess why you started it in the first place. Maybe you chose this topic because it was trendy, or you're trying to emulate an author you admire. These are bad reasons to write a book. So it might be a good idea to quit this topic and choose one that you genuinely care about.
Number 4: Personal Epiphany
Sometimes people think they want something, and then they turn out to be incorrect. It happens every day. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with this. Lots of people, especially people in their teens and twenties, try new and exciting things, only to find out it wasn't what they were expecting. If that's the case, you have absolutely no obligation to continue down this path, especially if it's a path you fucking hate.
Writing is no different. If you try your hand at crafting a story and realize you hate it, you can stop at any time. There's this societal link between quitting and failure, and I get it in some situations, but I think busting your ass to pursue an endeavor you genuinely despise is its own kind of failure. There is no shame in moving on to something that actually makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
Number 5: Gut Instinct
There's a lot to be said about gut instinct, and I feel like a lot of people ignore their gut for stupid reasons. Sometimes we ignore our gut because of trends. Sometimes we ignore it because of pride or outside expectations. But the fact is, if your gut is telling you that writing or maybe this particular story is not for you, then you should at least try to figure out why.
And this is not something that anyone else can help you with. No one can tell you how you feel. You need to be honest with yourself and figure out why you're feeling this way. Is it just nerves and anxiety? If that's the case, then fuck it. Anxiety is a little demon trying to get under your skin, and you cannot let it win.
But if you analyze the root of the problem and realize that you're writing the story for the wrong reasons, or you're only writing it for prestige, then it's fair to acknowledge this and step away from the project. There is no point in pursuing a path that doesn't legitimately serve you. And no one's gonna know what's best for you better than your own gut instinct.
So that's all I've got for you today!
Those are my top five valid reasons for quitting your writing project or quitting writing altogether. I know this topic is gonna get a lot of people riled up, but oh-fucking-well. I'm just being honest.
Please keep in mind that writing a book is hard work. So if you're just feeling like, "Ugh, I'm tired,” that's not a valid reason to quit; you're lazy! But if you genuinely do not have time to support your family or if the story you're working on was better suited for a teenage version of you, versus the you that you are now, then it’s perfectly fine to acknowledge this.
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