What if I spend years of my life writing and never get published, or no one likes my books?

What if it’s all for nothing? Do these questions make your insides shrink a little? Me too. I worry that the novel I’m writing won’t ever make it, and neither will all the others that follow it.

I had a conversation with a writer the other day who was trying her hand at a new genre, and she was nervous she couldn’t pull it off. That worry had stopped her for a good six months. She had the same concern: What if it’s all for nothing?

It got me thinking that maybe we’re asking the wrong question with the wrong mindset.

Writing stories is about exploration and discovery. It’s not about control.

So maybe you aren’t great at it yet. Maybe you will never turn prose like your favorite author. Perhaps you won’t get a trad deal. Maybe no one will buy what you write.

But do you love it?

Is it fun?

Are you in it because you enjoy learning about it and love talking with other writers about the story? Doing what we love simply because we love it and are excited to learn more is enough. What if we reframe and let go of the worry over outcomes we can’t control? I think we will all be a lot happier if we do.

Besides, in ten years, what statement would you rather make.

“I tried to write a novel but worried it wouldn’t go anywhere, so I quit.”

or

“I’ve written so many books that are interesting to me, that helped me explore topics I’m curious and passionate about. It’s been the weirdest ride: Writing a novel is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the best thing I’ve ever done.”

The choice is yours and mine.

So let’s not quit over outcomes we can’t control.