Do Not Quit

Some Advice for Writers Thinking About Throwing in the Towel

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

This past weekend, the family and I hit the carnival that’s posted up outside of the Lake Creek Pinballz here in Austin until November 24. It was the first time my son and daughter got to experience such a thing. That day, I’d made the mistake of drinking almost nothing but coffee. Why was that a mistake, you ask? Well, first off, getting proper hydration is a no-brainer if one’s goal is to stay healthy. One day of misbehaving usually doesn’t cause me too many problems, but the first ride I got on at the carnival was called Bear Affair. Think Tilt-A-Whirl teacups but inside a hollowed-out, giant bear. Well, my son and a couple of youngsters who shared the inside of a purple bear with us got that vessel spinning so fast that you’d think it was a basketball on the finger of a Globetrotter. The nausea kicked in almost immediately, so I kept my eyes closed for an agonizing few minutes. When I got off, I left my son and daughter with Jean and stomped off to either puke or find another way to feel better.

I didn’t vomit, but I relied on some tricks from my distance runner days to put my guts at ease. This involved pacing and breathing with my hands resting atop my head until the feeling passed.

So, stay hydrated, kids. That’s the lesson here.

But that’s not what this week’s newsletter is about.

For the uninitiated, I am Lucas Mangum, Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Snow Angels, Haunted Hearts, and Saint Sadist, among others. This is the newsletter for family, friends, and readers of my work. Almost three years going strong, gang—so, thanks for that. This is a space for me to post updates, thoughts on books and other media, and fiction (be that short pieces or excerpts of longer works).

This week’s post is in response to a trend I’m seeing in the indie horror writing community that I’d like to address. If that’s not your area of interest or why you read these missives, feel free to click away. No hard feelings—I’ll see you next week with another piece of fiction.

Still here? Okay, but I warned you.

In the face of a seemingly endless stream of disruptions in the indie horror community, coupled with unease about the current state of the world, I've seen a lot of you say you're quitting or taking a break from writing.

Take it from me: DON'T.

I say this because, chances are, if you’ve written a few stories and made the effort of joining an online or local community, then, on some level, you need to write. Maybe you’re doing this full-time, or maybe you’re doing it because it’s a hobby, but my guess is that it keeps you somewhat sane. During stressful times, putting words on the page can be therapeutic. Don’t worry about what you’ve written making sense or looking like a story. You can always revise your word vomit during the editing process. Always write for you first. Whether you’re stressed about election results or infighting among your peers, writing can help you vent. It can also help you gain some perspective.

Oh, and there’s no rule saying you absolutely need to publish it.

Another big reason to keep going is your community. I know it seems like a toxic trash fire whenever there’s a public bust-up or a respected member shows their uglier side. I’ve been writing professionally for a dozen years or so, so I’ve seen my fair share of these incidents. It always sucks, and it’s even worse when you’re one of the people directly affected. That said, I’ve found that when I stick things out, I always make new connections, and more than that, I strengthen the ones I already have.

Seriously, I’ve met and formed bonds with a lot of people in this business over the years. Not all of them have hung around, but the ones that have are some of the best friends I’ve ever had. They’re essentially family—and some of them don’t even live near me!

Also, if you’re one of the good eggs, and you throw in the towel because we find a few rotten ones in the carton, all you’ve done is left the community with one less good egg. There’s of course nothing wrong with taking some time to work on your mental health—I recommend it, in fact—but don’t abandon your friends. A good lot of us are happy to lend an ear if you need it. It’s also likely that we’re also affected similarly by the same things, and it will help both of us if we commiserate.

Lastly, I know we’re facing a lot of uncertainty and fear in the world as a whole. But you know what kind of art people need at times like this? Horror.

History does not lie. Horror thrives in scary times. What you and I do helps people. I’ve always believed that, even if I occasionally forgot. Here’s the thing: even if you’re not as widely read as Stephen King, chances are good that you’ll reach somebody. And it might be exactly what they need.

Remember: like a Ferris wheel or a spinning, hollowed-out bear at the carnival, this is all cyclical. This too shall pass.