Quitting work was a risky decision financially, but so far it has definitely been worth it. Obviously, getting published and staying published are the two basic challenges a writer faces. So far, I've been pretty lucky. Luckily the Internet can be a tremendous help in this regard. I've taken full advantage of that over the past couple of years, including creating my own website.
Writing is a craft, and like any craft it takes time to become proficient.
Don't expect to be successful right away. On the other hand, just because one story or novel doesn't get accepted today doesn't mean another won't get accepted 2, or 3, or 10 years from now. Don't believe the people who say that publishing is in deep trouble, or that there's no good or innovative writing anymore, or that publishers are only interested in finding the next Tom Clancy, or that there's no room for the new writer in today's tight publishing market. And it's harder to stay in print these days than it used to be, even once you've published several books. They're still interested in good writing, and they're still willing to take a chance on something different.