I like your small q quit vs big Q quit explanation. Over the years with my writing I’ve small q quit several times but I kept writing. After several years of writing and 60 plus rejections from literary agents I quit working on my first novel and wrote a second novel. I’m now working on finalizing my third novel, though nothing published yet, and feel like this one is publishable. The difference now is that I’m no longer focused on a traditional publishing route via a literary agent. You could say that I small q quit going after a literary agent. For me these small acts of quitting are based on reality checks for what I write, military political techno-thrillers. While there’s an audience for my work, my books don’t align with literary agent big five press publishing route and that’s OK with me. I’m now looking for a small press or possibly self publishing.
I’m stubborn and never big Q quit writing, I just regroup after every hard lesson and keep going. I probably won’t make money or have massive sales but I’ll get my books out into the world and find my readers who will love my stories as much as I do.
Thanks for reading. I think small-q quitting actually moves us forward. It’s a way of getting real about our circumstances and our goals. Best of luck to you!
This advice is perfect for writing, but I think it also applies to any creative practice as a whole. Iteration on both small and large levels is so important for me to find things that work—and often, I’m able to pluck something from the things that didn’t work, and place it where it seemingly belonged the entire time.
Excellent post. I had a few of those books where I just had to put them aside because they weren't working; I still like the ideas, but back then...I didn't have the stamina to keep at it. Maybe some day I'll pick them back up? Who knows.
Yes!! Fab, well done Sara - for this post, and for your latest manuscript. I love "stepping up to the next stair".
Thank you!
I like your small q quit vs big Q quit explanation. Over the years with my writing I’ve small q quit several times but I kept writing. After several years of writing and 60 plus rejections from literary agents I quit working on my first novel and wrote a second novel. I’m now working on finalizing my third novel, though nothing published yet, and feel like this one is publishable. The difference now is that I’m no longer focused on a traditional publishing route via a literary agent. You could say that I small q quit going after a literary agent. For me these small acts of quitting are based on reality checks for what I write, military political techno-thrillers. While there’s an audience for my work, my books don’t align with literary agent big five press publishing route and that’s OK with me. I’m now looking for a small press or possibly self publishing.
I’m stubborn and never big Q quit writing, I just regroup after every hard lesson and keep going. I probably won’t make money or have massive sales but I’ll get my books out into the world and find my readers who will love my stories as much as I do.
Thanks for the encouragement to keep writing!
Thanks for reading. I think small-q quitting actually moves us forward. It’s a way of getting real about our circumstances and our goals. Best of luck to you!
This was excellent!!
This advice is perfect for writing, but I think it also applies to any creative practice as a whole. Iteration on both small and large levels is so important for me to find things that work—and often, I’m able to pluck something from the things that didn’t work, and place it where it seemingly belonged the entire time.
Exactly! That’s why I never actually delete anything.
I love this and found it at the right time. Thank you!
I’m glad it found you :)
Excellent post. I had a few of those books where I just had to put them aside because they weren't working; I still like the ideas, but back then...I didn't have the stamina to keep at it. Maybe some day I'll pick them back up? Who knows.