Why do Writers Stop Writing?

One day you feel the dire need to start writing. The story in your head needs to come out and be put into words, and then you just do it. The satisfaction that fills you when words cover page after page comes from nowhere else. You feel happy. You feel fulfilled.

And then one day, you notice you haven’t written a word in a week. That week turns into a month, and suddenly it’s been a year, maybe more. What once seemed impossible becomes reality, and you look back and wonder, why am I not writing anymore?

Of course, every writer who experiences this arrives there through different circumstances. A comment I read on Wattpad made me think about what could cause a writer to stop devoting time to their passion.

Being the way I am, I did some research. I found several reasons that could make a writer quit writing. The first one is something every writer has experienced at some point: writer’s block.

Writer’s block, that unwelcomed companion of every single writer during their creative process. That point where you hit a wall that doesn’t let you move forward in your story, where you simply don’t know where or how to continue. That little fucker.

The causes of writer’s block can be diverse. They range from stress or exhaustion (we all know one of those talented writers who can produce long, beautiful stories and then suddenly cannot go on anymore), to fear of criticism (we all know it is there, and criticism is a bitter pill to swallow), to perfectionism or rigid thinking, that point when nothing you write feels right and you delete it all.

Then, there is the ever present fear. Whenever you expose your work to the world, no matter the platform, fear is always present. Now, most of us fear failure, that nobody will like what we write, that nobody will want to read. But there is also a fear of success. Deep down, some of us fear change, and success almost always brings change in one way or another. Fear, in all its forms, is a powerful deterrent for writers.

Real life is another enormous obstacle. At the beginning, and many times throughout our lives as writers, we need an income to support ourselves and our families. That means jobs, time constraints, stress, and often burnout. Money, or the lack of it, can push an author away from their craft.

Writing also is not easy. There is a massive amount of work involved: research, drafting, editing, rewriting. It is only natural for an author to feel overwhelmed by the process and see it as insurmountable.

Last but not least, there is the lack of support. A lack of feedback or community can easily discourage a writer, sometimes enough to make them abandon the creative process altogether.

Personally, I have experienced most of these situations. I am trying to overcome them and return to writing by prioritizing personal time so the creative juices do not dry up forever.

You, my fellow writer, ditch the guilt. Your reasons for stopping are yours, and they are legit and valid. Take time for yourself and do not force it. It will come back to you.

And you, my dear reader, can be a great help to your favorite author so they do not quit, or so they find their way back to writing. Engage. Support. Encourage. Even criticize. Just remember that writers are sensitive creatures, so be kind to us.

Be well,

Shini