Ceasing Writing is an Option, Yet When These 5 Situations Happen

Discovering five triggers with keen sight, ensuring your writing’s end feels right

Scribella Savory
Writer's Insight Hub
6 min readOct 29, 2023

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Photo by Brian Lundquist on Unsplash

Writing, like sparks of imagination on paper, is an invaluable form of self-expression. When we string words together, we create a new world, convey emotions, and share stories. Writing is a passionate pursuit for many people, not only as a means of conveying thoughts but also as a vessel for self-expression. For some of us, writing is a satisfying hobby and irreplaceable personal therapy.

Regardless of whether you're a professional writer or someone who writes for personal pleasure, there are moments when you may feel like quitting writing. Perhaps it's frustration, a loss of inspiration, or the pressures of life that make you want to set down the pen.

You're allowed to stop writing. You can decide not to voice your thoughts and experiences through words. You can put down the pen, typewriter, or laptop if you truly face these:

1. Lost appreciation for everyday life.
2. No longer feel the need to express yourself.
3. Starting to feel isolated.
4. No longer feel the need to pass on life's stories.
5. Feel that writing is an unbearable burden.

But, before you say, "Yes, I'm actually dealing with one or two of these," let me explain each of these:

1. Have you lost appreciation for everyday life?

My friend, writing gives us the chance to see beauty in the simple things around us. When we write, we tend to become more aware of the colors of life, the small details often overlooked. But if you no longer find yourself captivated by the beauty of simple things, it might be time to reconsider your relationship with writing.

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If you’re feeling apathetic about your surroundings and can’t express it in words anymore, this might be a sign that you need to rediscover the wonder in everyday life.

So take a break from writing! You don’t need to stop entirely. Take a break to reflect and savor your life.
Sometimes, we’re too busy hitting the keyboard keys or scribbling with a pen without truly realizing what’s happening around us.

When we take a break, we give ourselves a chance to reflect, feel the flow of time, and appreciate the small moments in life.

When we rest, we can more clearly see the blooming flowers in the garden, listen more closely to the gentle rain, or simply talk to friends and family without being distracted by the words we have to write.

Keep writing! But don’t forget to celebrate life.

2. Do you no longer need to express yourself?

Is that really the case? Writing is one of the best ways to express yourself. When someone writes, they can convey their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with words. It's an effective way to unite our thoughts and emotions, even when we're not talking to anyone. Therefore, if someone decides to stop writing, they will lose a valuable tool for self-expression.

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Expressing oneself through writing also allows us to reflect on and understand ourselves better. A personal journal or a short story can be a place where someone reflects on their life, seeks solutions to problems, or remembers precious moments. Without writing, the opportunity to gain deep insights into oneself will be limited.

Do you really want to lose all of that?

3. Do you feel increasingly isolated?

Writing is often a solitary activity, but that doesn't mean you have to feel isolated. If you're starting to feel more isolated in your writing world and losing connections with the people around you, it might be time to reevaluate your writing habits.

Writing is not just about self-expression but also about communicating with others. The ability to communicate effectively is a highly valuable skill in everyday life, both personally and professionally. If someone stops writing altogether, there's a possibility that their written communication skills will deteriorate.

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Regardless of how often we speak, writing allows us to sharpen our overall communication skills. Writing requires clear thinking, organizing ideas, and choosing the right words. When we stop writing, we may become stiff in expressing our ideas effectively in written form.

In writing, we have the opportunity to share stories, thoughts, and experiences with others. Writing can be a bridge to connect with others who may have similar or different views.

If you feel increasingly isolated in your writing world, try to find ways to share your work with others. Discussions and feedback from friends or the writing community can give you a fresh boost and a sense of connection.

4. Do you no longer need to pass on life's stories?

Writing also allows us to create a valuable personal legacy. Our written works are an enduring trace of our thoughts and experiences that can be left for future generations. A collection of letters, diaries, or personal literary works we write is a way to share a part of ourselves with those we love.

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If we decide to stop writing, we miss the opportunity to create this legacy. In the future, we may regret not being able to provide something meaningful to our family, children, or friends. Our written works can become a valuable emotional treasure for those we leave behind.

5. Do you feel that writing is an unbearable burden?

Writing is a task that requires discipline, patience, and time. However, if your writing tasks have become an unbearable burden, it might be time to step back. Often, we feel trapped by deadlines and the pressure to produce perfect work. This can drain our creativity and make us feel burned out.

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Don’t let writing become an activity that burdens your life. There are times when we feel tired or frustrated in pursuing our passion for writing, and it’s okay.

That's normal, and there's no need to feel guilty if you decide to take a break. Maybe you just need to pause for a moment, look out the window, breathe in the fresh air, go for a walk, or read your favorite books that have been gathering dust.

By resting your mind, you'll rediscover the enthusiasm to write with joy. When the right time comes, you'll return to writing with a renewed spirit.

“Discover five signs, don’t quit in haste, ensure no regrets in your writing’s embrace.”

So, you can stop writing if you feel it's necessary. However, before you decide to end it altogether, reconsider those 5 things. You can take a break from writing, but just for a while. Don't let your light as a writer go out forever.

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Scribella Savory
Writer's Insight Hub

Sharing my writing motivation-improvement for mental & social success. A poetry and fiction enthusiast. "Another me" is on www.savorywrites.blogspot.com