Reply To: Has anyone here tried writing and then given it up?

[Herr D]

Glad you’re better. Being ill makes the backlog worse sometimes. Unfortunately, I am just dead serious. Don’t worry about it not being as good as you like yet. Writing (art forms) is the only horse you can flog until it DOES get moving. In my experience, when your skill improves, your expectations rise. Sorry for the bad news, but the way to become good is just to never become too happy with your work.

About the best news I can give you is that there are moments of happiness, like you just gave me when you complimented my writing. (Thanks.) About the best advice I can give you is to use your best medium to improve the ones you can’t give up. (companion pieces, co-inspiration, etc.) About the nicest thing I can say to you is: I’m sorry you are similarly afflicted but not above enjoying the work you put out. (I can as much see Maxim 5 in Pratchett’s work as that I use too many parenthetical notes. Like illustrating one of the chapters about that cleric apprentice who listened so well he saved the l—?)