Note: I originally posted this on twitter, but I've been meaning to post it here. I wrote this right before disappearing, and everything written in this post became completely literal.

9. I Give Up

"I give up."

I want to say those words.

And mean it.

I mean, why NOT give up? Is giving up all that bad? We've been educated to believe giving up due to failure is the worst possible thing one could do. But is that true?

If you won't make it, won't finish that book, won't get an agent, won't get published. If it just won't happen and you let go—what then?

Well, sure, there are people out there who haven't struggled your struggle and will dub you a loser—but they're obviously not your friends so why would you even care what they think?

And other than that?

Nothing.
Nothing will happen.

The alternative to creating is....

...not creating.

So when you give up on writing,all you're actually doing is leaving that page blank.

Leaving the book orphaned, unwritten.

Letting the ideas spiral into the void.

Writing is an activity. The flip side is inactivity.

Sometimes, the urge to give up is almost irresistible. Sometimes. You. Just. Can't. Take it anymore.

You've tried to make it. Again and again and again and again.

But did you ever try to give up?

Try.

Maybe it will stick.

And if it does, you did the right thing. You are now free. You can stop chasing something that maybe you didn't actually need.

You can find out something new about yourself, maybe something that won't break your heart and disappoint you.

Though, more likely than not, if you're here, reading this, and it resonates with you—

The state of doing nothing just won't hold.

When you least expect it to, it will come out of you. That muse, that whimsical energy. You'll be minding your own business and suddenly—

BAM!

A story's taking over.

And then the words pour out. And they're so sparkly. And so, so good. And even if it's actually crap, you love it.

You LOVE it.

The truth of it is, you never even wanted to give up. You just wanted to relax for a bit. So you told yourself that this was it, it's over.

For good.

Sometimes, we have to trick ourselves into taking a break.

Being a writer is a way of life, not a race.

The finish line—it doesn't exist.

You finish writing that book, you go to the next, and the next. I never ends. It's not SUPPOSED to end.

So, there's no rush.

Take your time.

And go take your breather.

Come back to us when you're as amazing as we know you are.

❤️

Einaty