How To Know When To Quit Writing
When should you quit a writing project? Discover the warning signs, ask the right questions, and learn when it’s time to move on.
Writing Isn’t Always Fun
Let’s be honest. Some parts of writing are just downright necessary, like research, plotting, and spell-checking. Some require discipline. We all know what it’s like when you’d rather be procrastinating.
I bet you’ve heard about the ‘Shiny New Idea’ phenomenon, or a downright lack of motivation. We’ve all been there. What if it’s none of that? How do you know when it’s high time to quit your writing project? And what do you do with it?
5 Serious Questions To Ask
Before we begin, put your finger where it hurts. Ask yourself these questions:
1. What kind of writer are you?
This is the biggest question: How professional are you as a writer? Do you write in your spare time? Are you a professional? Whatever you are, that really determines your energy as a writer. Nobody should force a writer to plough through if there are only 15 minutes per week of writing time. That kind of writer deserves to have fun.
2. Have you made sure that you don’t chase every shiny new idea?
Shiny new ideas are tempting. They pop up in your brain every time the going gets tough on the page. If you succumb, then chances are, you’ll never finish a writing project in your life. That’s not a great feeling. If you need ideas on how to fight the ‘Shiny New Idea’ syndrome, then please check out this blog.
3. Are you scared of being a writer?
Yes, there is such a thing. It’s called the ‘Impostor Syndrome.’ Some writers think that they can’t possibly be good enough to call themselves writers. So why write at all then? Because it’s fun. Period. You write; you’re a writer. You don’t have to earn a Pulitzer first to call yourself a writer. Just write.
4. Are the physical demands of writing a problem?
If you’re in pain every time you sit down to write, then writing isn’t fun. There are ways to deal with that, of course. But you still need to be physically pain-free. Nobody can get into the flow of things if they’re in pain. Address the health issues, then come back to the writing desk.
5. Have you asked your peers about your writing?
This is an important one. You need to get independent feedback on your writing project. Maybe it isn’t half as bad as you think. Maybe a writing friend has a brilliant idea that will get you out of a plot hole. You’ll never know if you never leave your ivory tower. Seek writing friends. Find a community. How about signing up for a class with Writers Write? You could also try the friendly community at Deadlines For Writers.
So, you’ve answered all those questions? You still feel bad about your writing project? Here are the right reasons to quit.
5 Reasons To Quit Your Writing Project
1. Your writing no longer feels like fun.
It’s not a lack of craft. It’s not a lack of ideas. Theoretically, you could finish this project. It just feels like a waste of time. It’s not fun anymore. Well, that’s a good time to quit. Because writing should be fun most of the time. After all, you once started it because you enjoyed it. If you no longer do, then you’re in danger of losing your spark! It’s better to quit the project than to quit writing.
2. You don’t want to talk about it. Not now, not ever again.
It’s not that you’re ashamed of your writing. No, it’s just that the project no longer owns a space in your life. It’s so boring that it makes you feel boring as well. That’s a sure sign that the project has lost all relevance. If you can, try to find out why. That reason might be important in the future. Writing projects are always pet projects. You must talk about them. Otherwise, your finished project will never see publication. How will an agent or a publisher or even a reader know about your writing if you don’t want to talk about it?
Maria Semple says: ‘I believe that there are books that don’t want to be written.’
3. You’ve outgrown your project.
Sometimes we start a writing project because we have a cause. So that story or poem feels like it must be brought into this world. Until it doesn’t. Could it be that you’ve outgrown your project? That you’ve resolved your own issue so that yesterday’s noble cause has now lost its attraction?
That certainly puts your own motivation to the test. If you have written half of a novel, you might want to think about whether you can finish anyway. It would be a shame to waste all the time and effort you’ve already put into the project. But, I suppose, you need to be an experienced writer to do that. And certainly not a writer who writes in the morning hours, after the day job is done, and the family is fed and asleep.
Timing is important. In this case, if you’ve written a considerable amount, you may want to put it on a shelf for some time. You might still gain the experience or the professionalism needed to finish the project later.
Andy Weir says: ‘Before Artemis, I wrote 70,000 words of a different book that I had in mind. It just wasn’t coming together. I was just like, “This isn’t a good book. If I release this, people won’t like it. I don’t like it.” It was very difficult for me, but I abandoned it.’
4. You hate your main character.
Your main character is who you spend most of your time with. If you are unable to like him or her, then you should probably abandon the project. Don’t get me wrong. The main character doesn’t have to be likeable in general. The MC can be a villain. But even evil MCs must have a quirk, some tragic flaw, just a little something that makes them likeable. If your readers hate them, seriously think about them. If you, as a writer, don’t like your MC, you’ll hate spending time with your project.
5. Your story is said to be ‘interesting’, ‘unique’, or ‘salvageable.’
All these words are just polite ways to say your story is crap. ‘Interesting’ is polite, and you can still learn a lot if you ask for more details. But a manuscript that is ‘salvageable’ means that you need to rewrite it from beginning to end. You need to decide whether you want to invest that much time and energy.
So, after all that thinking, you’re quitting that project. Don’t destroy it, though! Creative energy is never truly lost. Here are some ideas on what to do with abandoned manuscripts.
The Last Word
One more piece of advice: Quit the project; don’t quit the occupation. It’s that simple. I know you’ve thought hard about quitting your writing project. That alone shows how serious you are about being a writer. Treat yourself with some respect. You’re still a writer. The world needs more stories. Go write.
Photo by Steve A Johnson on Unsplash
By Susanne Bennett. Susanne is a German-American writer who is a journalist by trade and a writer by heart. After years of working at German public radio and an online news portal, she has decided to accept challenges by Deadlines for Writers. Currently she is writing her first novel with them. She is known for overweight purses and carrying a novel everywhere. Follow her on Facebook.
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