Episode 311 - What to Quit and How to Know with Becca Syme

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Becca Syme discusses WHAT TO QUIT AND HOW TO KNOW, including how to recognize when a writing or publishing strategy no longer serves you, how to overcome fear-based decisions that lead to burnout, and how to build a sustainable, hope-filled author career. Becca shares insights on trusting your intuition, quitting the right things, and finding long-term satisfaction and success as an indie author.

Becca Syme (MATL / Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.

Episode Links

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqcMMgtLuogKNSbxlwyJ5ug

Episode 030 - Common Writer Wisdom: Is it Right for You with Becca Syme

Summary

In this episode of The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Becca Syme about what authors should quit—and how to know when to do it. Becca explores how indie authors can navigate burnout, fear, and decision-making in a shifting publishing landscape to build sustainable and fulfilling writing careers. Drawing from her experience coaching thousands of writers, she shares insights into trusting your intuition, maintaining hope, and redefining success in a post–gold rush era of indie publishing.

TRUST AND DECISION MAKING
Becca begins by describing how many authors struggle with trusting their own decisions. Writers often hear conflicting advice from conferences, workshops, and podcasts, leaving them uncertain about the “right” path. This lack of confidence leads them to follow trends—such as jumping onto TikTok—out of fear rather than alignment with their own personalities and goals. “We use fear as a mechanism of making choices,” Becca says, explaining that decisions made from fear rather than understanding are rarely sustainable. Instead, she encourages authors to learn how they’re wired—their “cemented” traits versus more flexible ones—and use that knowledge to make decisions that serve them over the long term.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF STARTING VS. QUITTING
Matty asks whether the psychology of quitting differs from that of starting. Becca notes that when someone resists trying something new, it’s often a valid intuition worth respecting. However, when fear rather than self-awareness drives hesitation, she encourages small experiments rather than wholesale rejection. “If it’s something they’re going to do, they will eventually do it,” she says, emphasizing that timing and readiness are personal. For Becca, the key isn’t pushing people to start or stop arbitrarily but helping them understand why they’re making a choice.

THE ROLE OF PERSISTENCE
Matty shares that her own challenge isn’t starting new things—it’s quitting them soon enough. Becca explains that this tendency often aligns with a “learner” or “developer” personality type, which thrives on mastering complex systems through trial and error. She compares it to Thomas Edison’s quote about discovering “a hundred ways not to make a light bulb.” Persistence, she says, is valuable—but it must be tempered with awareness of when an experiment has served its purpose.

THE END OF THE GOLD RUSH
Becca contrasts the indie publishing landscape of 2017 with that of 2025. The earlier period, she explains, was a “gold rush,” full of novelty and excitement as self-publishing exploded with opportunity. That era has now given way to a “golden age,” characterized by stability and maturity—but also less adrenaline. Early adopters who thrived on disruption often feel burned out in this new, steadier phase. “The most important thing we can have,” Becca says, “is persistence, because the gold rush is over.” She cautions that fear-driven urgency—believing “this has to work right now or else”—can sabotage thoughtful, long-term success.

MAINTAINING HOPE AND ENERGY
As indie publishing evolves, Becca argues that the key challenge has shifted from managing overwhelm to protecting hope. In 2017, authors struggled to say no to endless opportunities; now, they must resist despair and cynicism. “We have to quit listening and watching things that make us question whether there’s hope in the future,” she says. For some writers, that might mean leaving toxic online groups or limiting social media exposure. What matters most, Becca insists, is nurturing the desire to keep going: “If you lose your will to continue, you won’t continue.”

CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH WRITING
Matty asks how authors who miss the excitement of the gold rush can rediscover motivation. Becca suggests they may need to “quit expecting that the writing is always going to be the most exciting thing in life.” When financial or career stakes rise, creativity can lose its spark. She encourages writers to seek new forms of joy—learning a new skill, exploring other creative outlets, or simply giving themselves permission to step back. “Some people need to stop writing completely for a while,” she says, emphasizing that quitting temporarily doesn’t mean quitting forever.

THE DANGERS OF BLACK-AND-WHITE THINKING
Becca warns against the “all or nothing” mindset common among writers who feel they must either succeed spectacularly or give up entirely. Life and creativity, she says, don’t operate in straight lines. “People who walk away completely can come back,” she notes, citing clients who stopped publishing for years and later returned renewed. The key is to replace rigid, despair-driven stories with flexible, compassionate ones.

SUSTAINABILITY AND REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Matty connects the discussion to a recent conversation with Jane Friedman about the publishing industry’s renewed focus on midlist authors. Becca agrees, saying that the obsession with massive earnings—fueled by the “six-figure” and “seven-figure” success narratives of the gold rush years—has distorted realistic expectations. “The more money you make, the more money you have to make,” she says, pointing out the stress that comes with sustaining high income levels. For most authors, aiming for a modest, consistent income is both more achievable and more sustainable. “It’s better to aim not at the top 100,” she explains, “but at 10,000 to 2,000 in the store. You’re more likely to make more money over a longer period of time.”

CRAFT VS. BUSINESS
The conversation turns to how authors can identify whether their struggles stem from craft or business. Becca notes that the distinction often depends on an author’s priorities. Some writers are deeply invested in craft and less focused on marketing; for them, frustration arises from the slower pace of creative growth. “To actually have people increase in their craft requires them to write more novels,” she says. In contrast, business-oriented authors can experiment rapidly through ads and data-driven strategies. Each path brings its own challenges, and Becca encourages authors to understand which they value most.

THE VALUE OF BEING A PART-TIME AUTHOR
Matty shares that when faced with a choice between doing what she enjoys and doing what might sell better, she nearly always chooses what she enjoys—and supplements her income through other writing-related work. Becca applauds this approach, noting a positive cultural shift toward embracing “the happy part-time author.” She says, “We need to see more people who take the pressure off writing to make their mortgage payments.” For many, diversifying income streams—through nonfiction, teaching, or creative services—leads to greater peace and longevity.

WRITING FOR JOY, NOT JUST MARKET
Becca pushes back against the idea that every author must “write to market.” While it works well for some, she explains, not everyone has the analytical wiring to succeed that way. “There are so many more people who sell better by writing what they like,” she says. The pressure to constantly chase trends leads to burnout and creative disconnection. Removing financial stakes from creative work, she adds, often rekindles enjoyment and motivation.

SUSTAINABILITY AND SELF-CARE
Becca returns to the theme of sustainability, stressing the importance of making decisions that protect mental health and creative endurance. Many authors, she observes, drain their resources on conferences, courses, and marketing strategies that don’t yield results. Frustration often arises not from failure but from unrealistic expectations shaped by a constantly changing industry.

CHOOSING ACTION OVER AVOIDANCE
Matty concludes that sometimes continued learning becomes a form of procrastination—reading another craft book instead of writing the novel. Becca agrees, noting that fear often disguises itself as preparation. The key, she says, is to recognize when it’s time to stop studying and start doing.

RESOURCES AND FINAL THOUGHTS
Becca wraps up by inviting listeners to explore her Quitcast for Writers YouTube channel and podcast, where she continues these conversations. She also mentions her upcoming Kickstarter for the final installment in her QuickBooks for Writers series, which focuses on perseverance, patience, and building an “author for life” mindset.

Ultimately, Becca’s message is one of hope and agency. Authors, she says, must learn to quit what drains them—fear, comparison, and despair—and embrace persistence, peace, and self-trust. The goal isn’t endless productivity or overnight success, but a sustainable, fulfilling creative life that lasts for the long haul.