Having One Of Those Why Bother Days

I spent the day reading and watching videos on the Protestant Reformation — research for a small portion of my next novel.

After 8 hours of time, for what will amount to less than a few thousand words of the story, I wondered — Why?

And not just the day I spent researching, but why bother writing at all?

I believe I am a good writer. In my heart I think I have managed to come close to equaling one of my inspirations, Ernest Hemingway. I don’t say this with arrogance, I have worked hard at powerful, simple and short prose, and I am getting better and better. I also, deep in my heart, believe that my stories are at least equal to what is being put out my traditional publishers. Yet, I can’t figure out how to get myself to that next level.