Hi, I would like to ask fellow authors and readers a simple but important question.
when it comes time to choose not to continue writing your book.
The followers and other things I would like to hear your thoughts.
Thank you.

When you don't derive a single spark of joy from continuing the story. E.g you can't bring yourself to write the next chapter because you feel like it's meaningless.

That's for me, seeing as I do it as a hobby rather than a business. I have zero plans on monetizing anything I write for now.

When it starts to feel like torment to write the next chapter, or when you have to bend backward to find something to continue the story. 

I think there's going to be at least a few different factors at play.

First off, what is your goal with the book in question? If you're just writing for fun or to "get it out there", do whatever you want.

If, however, you're coming at this from a business angle, especially if the work is monetized or intended to be, then it becomes more of a calculation. Things to take into consideration include what level of performance you expected from the work vs. where it is now. Is it underperforming in some way? Are you not reaching milestones in readership and revenue?

If you're looking to generate a profit from the book and it just isn't earning its keep, then it's time to think about the viability of it and whether indefinite hiatus or cancelation would be better options.

The other factor in consideration is the hit to your reputation as an author. Readers are understandably going to be upset about it, especially if there isn't a satisfactory conclusion. This could affect future projects or necessitate an entire new identity to publish under depending on how poorly it goes. Writers need to inspire trust in their readers so it makes sense that abandoning a project is going to have some ripple effects down the line.

Regardless of what choice you make, always be honest yet tactful with your readers about it.

I started writing a comment, but I didn't finish it because...

You stop writing when you get to the end. Anything before that is just quitting, and there isn't an excuse for quitting. 

Cymas Wrote: I think there's going to be at least a few different factors at play.

First off, what is your goal with the book in question? If you're just writing for fun or to "get it out there", do whatever you want.

If, however, you're coming at this from a business angle, especially if the work is monetized or intended to be, then it becomes more of a calculation. Things to take into consideration include what level of performance you expected from the work vs. where it is now. Is it underperforming in some way? Are you not reaching milestones in readership and revenue?

If you're looking to generate a profit from the book and it just isn't earning its keep, then it's time to think about the viability of it and whether indefinite hiatus or cancelation would be better options.

The other factor in consideration is the hit to your reputation as an author. Readers are understandably going to be upset about it, especially if there isn't a satisfactory conclusion. This could affect future projects or necessitate an entire new identity to publish under depending on how poorly it goes. Writers need to inspire trust in their readers so it makes sense that abandoning a project is going to have some ripple effects down the line.

Regardless of what choice you make, always be honest yet tactful with your readers about it.

Pretty much this. And I also agree with the people that say if writing the story is no longer enjoyable, that's time to consider if you need a break or draw a line under the story.

Though I just want to add that if you do decide to stop, try and leave the story at the end of an arc or volume. A conclusion of some kind of your readers even if it's not a full finale.

Unless of course IRL stuff has forced your hand, in which case be honest with your readers. Don't beat yourself up for not being able to dedicate the time your fiction needs. You also need to look after yourself.

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I say you can end if you're breaching out from your intended plot. What had driven the characters in the first place is important, taking that away is basically the story ending.
On another note, I write because I feel complete and excited whenever I finish. If you think you don't feel that accomplishment, maybe archive it for a while? I don't like stopping a story because it would feel like an abandoned baby to me. You can catch a drift for a while. Take a break. Leave it in the storage and start something fresh. Maybe you'll have the time to walk to it in the future when you're ok to restart. 

LegionOfReason Wrote: You stop writing when you get to the end. Anything before that is just quitting, and there isn't an excuse for quitting.

I love your initiative 😂 quit when it's done. But to the author, don't pressure yourself 😊

When the story ends? 

tbh, I don't think I've ever really quit or stopped writing a book. I do have an unfinished rough draft of a book, but I plan to come back to it with a fresh rewrite of the same premise. I went into that one with a bad approach and too little planning. 

And I do have a few completed rough drafts that await edits. I procrastinate on edits. I think that's one reason I love posting online--an audience encourages me to make those edits, chapter by chapter. 

Personally, I would not start writing a novel unless I had a solid concept, premise, characters, trajectory for it, etc. But I might over-plan things. 

The way I see it, there is a lot of pre-production and post-production involved. The actual writing is less than 1/3 of the whole effort. 

If you are just feeling a bit burnt out or you need some time off, just go on hiatus. If you are done writing full on, as in you just cannot do anything to continue the story for whatever reason, then you stop. Simple really, but the key in this is your communication with your audience. People are understanding, and though they may be disappointed, this is a better outcome than leaving them in the dark. Don't abuse this and think you can do this whenever you feel like it though. Trust is hard to build once it has been lost, nobody is going to follow a story that can die at any moment. 

If you're writing for fun, and it's not fun, then it's not worth writing because that's presumably the entire point of doing it. So you stop writing when it stops being fun.

If you're writing to be successful on this specific platform, I would say if you don't hit rising stars within like a month or so it's probably best to cut your losses and start up a new story that might work better on the algorithm. There are probably some better ways to gauge it, but that seems about right to me based on what I've seen.

I can't tell you when to stop writing a book if you love it. Even if it's unsuccessful, it's a learning experience or the wrong target audience. Different websites get different receptions.

But the main reason to resume writing is to find your 'why' outside of followers, money, engagement, and any other external validation. I've learned that mine for me is 'freedom', the freedom to escape reality and create a world where things happen the way I want them to

Jack0fheart Wrote: I can't tell you when to stop writing a book if you love it. Even if it's unsuccessful, it's a learning experience or the wrong target audience. Different websites get different receptions.

But the main reason to resume writing is to find your 'why' outside of followers, money, engagement, and any other external validation. I've learned that mine for me is 'freedom', the freedom to escape reality and create a world where things happen the way I want them to

This. I've also realized recently (for me) that each story I write is a form of practice for the next thing that I write, i.e. my writing skill and style improves the more I actually write, making my next story better. If you have a story that YOU like, even if that story isn't being received well, write it anyway. Practice completing the story, tying up the end of a plot, wrapping up your character arcs, ALL THE THINGS! Because as long as it is making you happy to write it, it is also serving as practice for the next project you undertake. Good luck! I believe in you!