FINISH WHAT YOU START
I just finished my first novel, a cozy mystery. Actually though, it’s my sixth novel, but I’ll get to that in a minute. The point I want to make is that the world is full of great starters, but far fewer finishers. Although I’ve written and had published nearly two dozen books, I’ve had my share of false hopes hung on half-finished projects. I’ve written five novels that will never see the light of publication, but I did finish them. Making myself finish those stories taught me something about myself and also about my own writing process. I found ways to tunnel through obstacles and I learned to devise techniques to keep myself inspired and the project on target.
What Happens When Inspiration Fades?
Whether writing a short story, novel, or screenplay, most writers seem to share a heightened sense of enthusiasm that inspires them to work hard in the earliest phase of a project. Unfortunately, few writers keep fingers to the keyboard when inspiration fades. When the muse withdraws, even then, they must still keep typing words, figuring out plot twists, imagining powerful dialogue, creating verisimilitude, and dreaming of how to push the story forward. Perhaps you’ve experienced the “sagging middle” of a book. It often occurs before quitting.
What Are Your Reasons for Quitting?
The reasons for quitting on a project are seemingly endless–no time, need to make money, lack of enthusiasm, loss of inspiration or interest, or your project is too similar to another. Some writers fear not being able to sufficiently lift their project out of mediocrity or they fear the opposite, dizzying success. Perhaps you are listening to an inner critic that tells you that the work isn’t good enough or will never sell. The voice of the inner critic has to be silenced when it’s the voice of the creator you need and want to hear.
When Your Project Demands Your Unique Voice and Vision . . . Write
My own moral imperative is to finish what I’ve started. My ideas . . . your ideas are just as important as the next person’s. The inspiration for your particular story didn’t tap someone else on the shoulder and whisper,”write me . . . give me form.” It chose you. Quitting is not a good habit; finishing what you start is.
At one time or another, I’ve experienced all of the excuses for quitting. But I believe my reputation as a writer is only as good as my word. I feel honor-bound to do what I have promised, whether that promise was made to an editor, agent, and publisher or to myself.
What Message Does Completion Communicate?
Finishing what you start communicates to publishing professionals that you have staying power. It shows that you know how to complete a project, and that is huge! Why do you think first novels must be completed before being considered by an agent or publishing house? Those professionals need to know you can reach “the end.” They have to know you can pull the plot all the way to finish, orchestrate character arcs, and deliver a satisfying conclusion. They have to believe that you know what you are doing in order to invest in you, the writer.
What Will Be the Future of Your Project?
Once you have finished your project, you get to decide how to deliver it as your gift to the world–that is, through conventional sources (like traditional publishing companies) or to release your project as an e-book on your website or on Amazon.com or elsewhere. Through e-publishing venues, you might even decide to release your book in chapters (for sale). But for all those options, you have to finish.
Discover the Gifts
That brings me back to my opening–I just finished my first mystery. Will it sell? This, I do not know. What I can tell you is that I have an agent, and we both believe the project has a good chance. When I started this book a year ago, I wasn’t even sure of some of the plot twists and the ending, but here I am with a completed, polished manuscript. I am now writing two new book projects. Both evolved from that initial mystery. Just imagine what gifts your story might hold for you.
