Quitting

How do you know it's time / Issue 1,140

Oh, hi friends!

Are you thinking about (or rethinking) the point of your project?

I did a Q&A for the great So Relatable Substack by Chrissy Hennessey, and here’s a little excerpt answering that question.

Chrissy: One thing I love about your newsletter is that you don't shy away from the hard stuff. Making art can be difficult and heartbreaking. (Maybe I'm just speaking from experience here, lol.) What would you say to someone who's thinking about giving up on their art, or wondering if making things is actually worth it? 

Kara: Mmm, yes, I have been there. Often. Haha.

Here’s one way of looking at it: Give up. That’s right, just give up. Hide the draft in a folder, take back those hours you spend every week on your project, stop talking about it or thinking about it and simply quit. You’re done. You’re no longer a writer or composer or ceramicist or entrepreneur. 

How does that feel?

I’m guessing…not great.

I’m guessing you are saying “wait, but…” and that alone is proof and ammunition that it’s not over for you. You don’t want to give up — and so you’re not. 

You are not giving up. 

Once you’ve decided that isn’t an option, you have to fall back in love with the work.

In my experience, the absolute worst, soul-sucking time during a creative project is when you’re a) waiting on someone or something else or b) seeking approval or validation from something outside your control. 

The actual writing — the process — isn’t without hitches, but you probably do enjoy writing or revising or thinking! You probably do not enjoy refreshing Amazon bestseller stats or checking your inbox for a response from your agent.

We have to remind ourselves that these things are adjacent to the work, but they aren’t the work itself. 

The work is where your heart is. Go there.

Full interview over here, where you can also subscribe to So Relatable! I always get a lot of value — and great snack recommendations — from her dispatches.