Yes but why
Literally the central question of my entire life
You know that big writing passion project you gave in the works? Today, write very candidly about why you’re doing it. You don’t have to show this writing to anyone (unless you want to), so be honest with yourself. Is it really that you want to tell this story or deep down are you writing a vanity project or gunning for a big award or trying to get revenge on an ex? ALL OF THOSE REASONS ARE FINE REASONS. And you never have to admit them to anyone. What’s less fine is not being super clear about what’s driving you to write it.
One could argue the why doesn’t matter so long as the writing is good. And, that’s mostly fair, but I also don’t totally buy it because until we’re super clear about the motivation for doing a thing, it’s going to be harder to slog through the hard parts, it risks being vaguely inauthentic, it risks the driving spirit of the thing (that is so palpable to readers even if they can’t name it exactly) being somehow muddied. Be clear. Your secret’s safe. Let’s go.
