To write or not to write

For a while last month I toyed with the idea of giving up writing. Even the thought of doing it scared me. I thought about what my life would be without writing and didn't like it.

I took some time off from writing, read 12 books, and took a ton of pictures with my new camera. Now I'm ready to get back to writing.

Why would I consider it?

• It's hard
• Time consuming
• Thankless
• My work will never be perfect
• I may never get published
• Rejection stinks

Why won't I give it up?

• I love the new worlds and people I meet
• I love the process
• I may get published
• I think about writing even when I'm not
• There is always something to write
• The excitement of a new story
• The joy of a finished story

How about you? What makes you keep writing or do anything that's hard?

Contest

Chuck has announced a contest on Guide to Literary Agents. It is for completed book length MG and YA. Here are the rules: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Dear+Lucky+Agent+Contest+Middle+Grade+And+Young+Adult.aspx