But pain seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life. Being dead is quite painless. Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless. Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?
I began my writing career in a very isolated place and time.
Do it for yourself. The universe will be around to collect its cut later.
Never do yourself, what you can con professionals into doing for you.
For me, writing is more a process of discovering the book than planning it.
One learns better than to hand one's choices to fear. With age, with every wound and scar, one learns.