Last month, I stopped writing a novel mid-first draft. It was the first story I had quit in more than ten years. Was it a return of a much-maligned phase from my twenties, in which I seemed to quit more stories than I finished? Was my writing career over? Should I stop querying my novel and give up every literary based dream I’ve ever had? Obviously, I’m dramatizing, but only slightly. I spent a week panicking, but eventually realized it was for the best. That’s right, dear readers, being a quitter can be a good thing, though it will take me a thousand words or so to explain why.
The trouble with Dirt (the tentative title of the story) started from the beginning of the planning process. It was a story that I felt readers would enjoy, though didn’t bring forth much excitement from me. Now, I had wrestled with such stories before, and thought I could handle it, after all, I had been writing for twenty years. I would buckle down and write the novel. It was the wrong decision.
Things started rather promising, as I constructed the foundation of the novel through character development. My main character was complicated (read not entirely likable), which happens to be the type of character writers tend to enjoy writing. Unlikeable characters are fun because they don’t act like your typical protagonist. Instead, they make decisions that causes the reader to question their judgement. It’s the type of character that leaves a reader screaming at a book, leaving people around you to question your sanity.
The main problem with Dirt was the introduction of an unimportant secondary character. This character had a run-in with the M.C.’s wife while in a cafe. Dazzled by my own writing abilities, I allowed myself to integrate this character into the main plot of the novel, therefore, changing the plot entirely. She was much too interesting to be a sidenote, she needed for the entire novel to revolve around her! It turned the novel about city slickers dealing with strange happenings on a farm into a love triangle. It was not the novel I set out to write.
I forged on, figuring that while I didn’t set out to write a love triangle, some readers would enjoy it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t enjoying the writing process. I avoided coming to the laptop after work during my regular writing time. Eventually I had to face the truth. I wasn’t enjoying the novel; therefore, it would never get done. I decided to take a break.
Two weeks later, I returned to the story having solved my character problem. I would kill the meddlesome character, which worked for the overall plot of the novel. Problem solved, right? Wrong. The trouble was me. I still wasn’t enjoying the story and the words abandoned me. I was blocked.
When you quit a story there are a lot of thoughts that flood your mind, most of which pertain to being a failure. At least, those were my thoughts. In my twenties, I had a problem with quitting novels. You see, in those days I was a short story writer focusing most of my time and energy into building a resume so I could acquire a coveted literary agent. My brain worked on the scale of the short story, therefore, writing a novel was a daunting task (ironically, now I’m long winded and writing short stories is much harder). I would start with a flurry, but eventually would grow bored and quit. It took discipline before I was able to finish a novel, though it wasn’t a good one.
Had my old habits returned? I don’t think so, though I have yet to start a new novel (only time will prove me right). Instead, the failure of Dirt can be accounted for by several errors on my part. I chose to write a story I thought would interest others, rather than myself (always write for yourself, outsiders should be involved only after the first draft). I also broke a big rule of mine, which is listen to the story, for it is king. The story didn’t need that secondary character to take a front seat, she was well-placed in the back seat where she belonged. If you only listen, the story will tell you where it wants to go. I stopped listening. I thought I knew better and was humbled for it.
Are there valid reasons for quitting a story? That depends on your point of view. Here are the various reasons I’ve found for quitting a story in the past:
- Writer’s block
- Didn’t enjoy the story
- Didn’t plan enough
- Planned too much
- Got bored
How about a positive list? Here are some ways to avoid quitting:
- Choose a story that you’ll enjoy writing.
- Whether you’re a plotter or a pantzer, choose a method of story planning that works for you (I’m a hybrid).
- Don’t tackle a novel until you’re sure that you’re ready.
- Shake things up if you get bored.
- Listen to the story, it’s king, after all.
One last thing about quitting. I found my voice while attempting to write that elusive novel. I never would have finished one if I hadn’t started in the first place. So, if you’re waiting for an invitation, well, allow me. Go ahead, write that novel, and don’t be afraid to quit if things go awry. Just don’t make a habit of it. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.
Stephen Roth
Stephen Michael Roth 