"If there is a special Hell for writers it would be in the forced contemplation of their own works"

This quote by John Dos Passos recommends that writers might be their own worst critics. Writers frequently pour their heart and soul into their work, and when they look back on it, they might find defects or areas of improvement that they want they had done differently. This quote suggests that the worst punishment for a writer would be to be required to contemplate their own work, as they would be unable to leave the extreme criticism they have for themselves. It suggests that authors are typically too difficult on themselves, which they may be not able to value the appeal of their own work. This quote is a reminder to authors to be kind to themselves and to value the effort they take into their writing.