Why write if you can't get published?

I personally think there is a distinction to be made between the extremely pleasurable act of writing, which is in some people's nature, and the commercial process of selling a product.

Write because it's in your nature. Publish because there's a perceived market for it. If you can't publish does that mean your writing is no good? No. If you do publish does that mean your writing is good. Absolutely not. I don't go anywhere near most of the tripe that's on shelves nowadays.

So I guess you need to ask yourself why you do it? For the pleasure of your creative process? Or to have that necessarily validated (in your perception) by publication? If it's the latter, yes, at some stage you might have to give up. If it's the former, you won't ever stop.

Also I think a better gauge of quality is to get honest feedback from other writers. If serious about publication, I think it's worth going to workshops specifically setup to help writers improve the quality of their work. If you go and your writing is trashed there you will have better suggestions for areas of improvement rather than a black/white view of the matter. If it's largely appreciated you'll get your validation whether it's ever published or not.

Sorry to go on. Guess I'm just passionate about this subject.

All the best to those of you wanting to publish :)