Novels and other writing fizzling out unfinished? What to do?
Hi folks, thanks very much for your warm welcome to ASPA. In the meantime, have anyone had this dilemma I'm about to talk about?
You see, in the past I've started a few full length novels but when I reach a certain point in the venture, I seem to get demotivated and pulled towards another project. So far three full length novels have gone that way, and a four one is threatened. No matter how much I say to myself "I'll go back to it in the future" I can't get the motivation to finish the unfinished fizzled out novels.
Has this happened to anyone here? Have you left a novel unfinished and intended to go back to it in the future? If so, have you finished it? And how did you push yourself to?
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Hi Luke,
I can absolutely relate! When I was working on The Utopia Conspiracy, it took me over ten years to finish. There were so many times I put it down, got distracted, or lost the drive to keep going. It felt like the story was always calling to me, though, so I’d pick it back up again after long breaks.
Interestingly, the sequel, The Utopia Treaty, hasn’t taken nearly as long. I think having a finished book under my belt gave me the momentum to keep going. That said, I also have a third book I’ve started drafting but have lost interest in for now. I know I’ll come back to it eventually, but I get how frustrating it can be to juggle multiple unfinished projects.
What’s helped me in these situations is:
Remember the ‘why?’ Reflect on why you wanted to write the book in the first place. What excites you about the story or the characters? Sometimes reconnecting with that passion can reignite your interest.
Set small goals, instead of focusing on finishing the whole book, aim to write a chapter, a scene, or even 100 words at a time. Progress, no matter how small, builds momentum.
Share your progress with someone or join a writing group (like ASPA!) to keep yourself motivated. Even having one person ask how it’s going can make a difference.
If you’re stuck, sometimes switching to a different book can help. Just make sure to come back to the one you set aside—keep the draft visible or schedule a specific time to revisit it.
You’re not alone in this, and it’s not a bad thing to have multiple projects on the go. Sometimes stories need time to mature. The important thing is to keep writing, even if it’s just a little at a time.