Feel like throwing in the towel? Believe it or not, I don't even entertain the idea of quitting. Of course, I've thought, should I quit? But I don't entertain that thought. I push it away. Doubts can easily trip us up and interfere with our focus.
I've said before that I don't know what words will be on my tombstone, but I know it will not say, "She gave up."
I like the sentiment that's been on many memes floating around social media:
Don't quit! (What if you were to quit right before you succeed??)
What you should do when you feel like throwing in the towel:
Don't quit. Persist.
Find your people, those who will encourage you.
Dream, it gives you a goal.
Rest, don't quit.
Take the next step, whether that's writing a chapter or attending a seminar.
Pray.
Keep your passion alive.
Like everything, it's easier said than done. But if you believe you're called to be something, then BE IT!
I'm called to be a writer. Maybe I'll never get another contract, but I won't give up. The journey is wonderful and terrible and exciting and heartbreaking.
I'm not on the journey alone. I have a wonderful agent and some amazing writing/critique partners to encourage me. My family and friends believe in me. I believe God made me this way. So, who am I to doubt?
There's a passage in the Bible that reassures me:
Honestly, some days it does feel like wandering through a wilderness. That piece of scripture means that even in my most dismal moments, I haven't been alone on this journey. It means that through the long days and moments of doubt, I have been blessed. (True. I'm blessed, and I know it. I get to try to reach my dream!)
Most importantly, God watched my every step. Every single day that I've sat at my keyboard. Every proposal I've put together. Every rejection I've received. Every moment of living in that wilderness of hoping and praying and longing—God has seen it all.
So, hang in there, friends. And, write on!