The toughest thing to do as a writer is to step away from a project without stepping away from writing itself. I think this is what distinguishes beginners from intermediates. A beginner must have a project they are inspired by to be able to write. Once inspiration from that project runs out their days of showing up gets put on life support and soon they will stop the practice. Until they are inspired by a new project.

You already know where this story goes. it's a familiar one, because you're surrounded by people trapped in this same

beginner's loop

. Or more likely it's so familiar because it's the trap you find yourself in. 

People obsess over becoming experts when they haven't yet become intermediates. I bet a lot of people think being intermediate is a joking matter, they might laugh and say they'd rather not write at all then be stuck in the middle.

If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn't bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.