by Simon Wright

Created on: February 20, 2009

My take on this article title is that it covers two scenarios. The first covers instances where a writer is considering quitting writing for good. However, it could also be taken to cover the question of at what point a writer should quit on a particular piece of writing. I'll cover off both dilemmas in this article.

Knowing when to call time on your writing career:

Whether you're a professional writer or an amateur writer, every piece of creative writing that you do adds to the sum total of your writing career. There may be times when you lose inspiration in one genre and find yourself shifting your focus to another writing genre. However, for most of us, the thought of actually stopping writing altogether probably sounds implausible. This is because people who have the writing bug generally expect that it's something that they will do until they draw their dying breath. Having said this, there may be some circumstances that may conspire to make you give serious thought to what had previously seemed unthinkable.

1. Ill health:

I imagine that Terry Pratchett never envisaged having to call time on his writing. However, the sudden and cruel revelation that he is suffering from an incurable form of Alzheimer's disease means that he will now have to confront the reality of his situation. Hopefully most of us will not have to face such a debilitating condition but common ailments such as failing eyesight or arthritic hands may make it more difficult and painful to continue doing what we love.

2. Falling standards:

There's no reason why a writer's output should become any less good as they get older. In fact, quite often the reverse is true as we continue to hone our writing skills. However, some writers may get to the stage where they believe that the quality of their writing is not up to their previous high standards. This is a bit like the syndrome of a footballer who used to play in the Premier League and is now having to face up to the prospect of playing in a lower league. Some retain their love of the game and accept that fate, whilst others decide they want to get out whilst still at the top.

3. Falling out of love with writing:

Writing is a deep-seated passion for most writers and it is this passion that keeps us putting words onto page and shaping them into something that we feel proud of. If this driving force, of love of writing, begins to falter then it may become increasingly difficult to keep writing. In most cases, this malaise will only be temporary and

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