Giving Up on a Story

Discuss writing, including writing tips & tricks, writing philosophy, writer's block, etc. If you have grammar questions, marketing questions, or if you want feedback on a poem or short story you wrote, please use the corresponding forum below.
Featured Topic: How to Get Your Book Published
Forum rules
If you have spelling or grammar questions, please post them in the International Grammar section.

If you want feedback for poetry or short stories you have written, please post the poem or short story in either the Creative Original Works: Short Stories section or the Creative Original Works: Poetry section.

If you have a book that you want reviewed, click here to submit your book for review.
User avatar
See_B00kReaDs
Posts: 224
Joined: 29 Jan 2018, 09:18
Favorite Book: The Bible
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 13
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-see-b00kreads.html
Latest Review: Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks by Morton E Tavel, MD

Re: Giving Up on a Story

Post by See_B00kReaDs »

KS Crooks wrote: 17 Feb 2018, 12:55 I tend to be in favour of ending the story, even a bad one. Once you start leaving things unfinished it could become a habit. The other benefit of a bad ending is that you know it's bad and may go back to finish it properly later. Perhaps the one story should be two, and finishing the first half will be enough for now.
I agree that it should be finish or it could become a habit. As of when to finish it, you can set it aside first and get motivation by reading more stories, and then once your creativity is back, that's the time you end it whether it's a good or a bad ending.
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
– Francis Chan


God bless you! :D
User avatar
Mana_Hale
Posts: 14
Joined: 25 Mar 2018, 13:25
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 35
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mana-hale.html
Latest Review: Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! by Len Foley

Post by Mana_Hale »

It all depends on why you started writing the fanfiction I think -

If you started writing it for fun, and it's not fun anymore, then by all means stop. If you didn't have a plan before diving in and now you're in a corner, stop. There's no shame in letting go of a story that isn't working and taking what you've learned from the act of writing it and turning around and applying it to the next story you write, be it fanfiction or something original. :)
User avatar
Morgan Jones
Posts: 453
Joined: 16 Apr 2016, 12:24
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 138
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-morgan-jones.html
Latest Review: Fate Won't Compromise by Catherine Blakely

Post by Morgan Jones »

It's okay to leave a story dormant when you feel like you have nothing to give to the plot. Just simply leave it and focus on a new project with different ideas, then return to your old story whenever you're ready. You can always reread parts of the story to remind you what got you so passionate to start it in the first place, that always works!
"Reading is a conversation. All books talk. But a good book listens as well." - Mark Haddon
emidio125
Posts: 286
Joined: 20 May 2020, 08:15
Favorite Book: Tortured in Ashram
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 38
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-emidio125.html
Latest Review: The Fox by M. N. J. Butler

Post by emidio125 »

When that happens to me I usually pause. Sometimes you run out of inspiration or read or hear something that demotivates you. And concluded that your story is trash. That's why you need to pause and do other things eventually inspiration will hit you again and you may want to proceed with your story.
Casey Kowalewsky
Posts: 27
Joined: 10 Mar 2021, 12:03
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 11
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-casey-kowalewsky.html
Latest Review: The Scarlet Queen: by Mitch Reinhardt

Post by Casey Kowalewsky »

Give up on it when it's no longer swirling around maddeningly in your mind. There's no point continuing with it if you aren't in the least bit interested in even thinking about it.
Post Reply

Return to “Writing Discussion”