My Partner Refuses to Read or Even TALK About Books? Should We Break Up?

Greetings and salutations! Welcome to another episode of the ever-popular "Am I the Literary Asshole?" advice column. I'm your host, Kristen Arnett, and since we're just days away from the holiday weekend, why not continue the festivities? Bring on that colorful margarita and let's jump straight into today's first call.

Caller: How do I know I'm on the right track with my writing?

There are countless ways to respond to this query, but the core of the matter hinges on what exactly you're hoping to achieve with your writing. The "right track" could mean a multitude of things, whether it's creating art that feels fresh and exciting, building upon existing work, or refining your craft. It could even be tied to how you personally feel about yourself as a writer and creator.

When it comes to the secondary issue of whether your work might be commercially viable for publication, that's a bit trickier to determine. It involves considering how others might view your work, as well as what value it holds in the eyes of potential consumers. But there's no way for me to personally assess whether your work is commercially viable or not.

What I can say is that the harshest critic of all is often ourselves. The key to silencing that inner critic is to immerse yourself in making work that you genuinely care about. Even if your work doesn't get published, if you feel confident in what you're creating, then you're likely on the right track. Embrace your love for what you do.

And remember, a margarita tastes even better after that second round. Cheers to that, and let's move on to our next question.