WHEN TO GIVE IT UP
No, not giving up writing. It's more to do with the idea. I usually have about three novels cooking at the same time. I work better that way, even though some people may think I'm spreading myself too thin. For now, it works for me.
However, there are times when a story I'm working on simply doesn't come together. Either the plot is too stale, the characters aren't totally relatable or...Lord help me...it's just plain bad.
Many writers run into the same problem, and perhaps their first inclination is to scrap the whole thing, delete it...send it to cyberheaven. The rationale is if it is that bad, then why bother continuing?
There are a number of reasons why you shouldn't, though.
1. There may be passages worthy of use. With a little tweaking, they may be usable in another novel. An example of that is my most recent novel, The Titans of Ardana, coming out next year. I had originally called it The Children of Endor, and had about fifty pages written. Those fifty pages, though, didn't really thrill me, but some parts--mainly about the eating habits and abilities of the Endorians--stuck with me, so I reused them in the present story and it worked.
2. Even if the story is crap, the idea may be worthwhile if, once again, tweaked. The dialogue, action scenes, some descriptions may not be total junk. So if they are salvagable, use 'em.
3. Writing something, junk or not, is a great mental exercise, not just in what to do, but also in what NOT to do. In that sense, no story is a true failure, as it keeps the writing thinking and their imagination firing on all (or most) cylinders. See bad in good and all that.
I'm sure other, more famous writers have had the same experience. They may not talk about their failures much, if at all, but they are smart enough to pick bits and pieces and pigeonhole certain ideas to be used later on.
For what it's worth, throw nothing away. Even if it's one good line, one good paragraph, that can help a future story achieve a level it couldn't have achieved otherwise.
However, there are times when a story I'm working on simply doesn't come together. Either the plot is too stale, the characters aren't totally relatable or...Lord help me...it's just plain bad.
Many writers run into the same problem, and perhaps their first inclination is to scrap the whole thing, delete it...send it to cyberheaven. The rationale is if it is that bad, then why bother continuing?
There are a number of reasons why you shouldn't, though.
1. There may be passages worthy of use. With a little tweaking, they may be usable in another novel. An example of that is my most recent novel, The Titans of Ardana, coming out next year. I had originally called it The Children of Endor, and had about fifty pages written. Those fifty pages, though, didn't really thrill me, but some parts--mainly about the eating habits and abilities of the Endorians--stuck with me, so I reused them in the present story and it worked.
2. Even if the story is crap, the idea may be worthwhile if, once again, tweaked. The dialogue, action scenes, some descriptions may not be total junk. So if they are salvagable, use 'em.
3. Writing something, junk or not, is a great mental exercise, not just in what to do, but also in what NOT to do. In that sense, no story is a true failure, as it keeps the writing thinking and their imagination firing on all (or most) cylinders. See bad in good and all that.
I'm sure other, more famous writers have had the same experience. They may not talk about their failures much, if at all, but they are smart enough to pick bits and pieces and pigeonhole certain ideas to be used later on.
For what it's worth, throw nothing away. Even if it's one good line, one good paragraph, that can help a future story achieve a level it couldn't have achieved otherwise.
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