When to Abandon a Project and Start Fresh

A couple strategies for knowing when to ditch your writing project

In 2011, I attempted to write my first novel. With a brain bursting with ideas, a cup full of coffee, and the insanity of thinking I could write a novel, I quit.

After 20,000 words of nothingness, I called it a day. Now this didn’t happen overnight and took months to realize it was time to let the novel die. Writing isn’t for the faint of heart, and one challenge in the craft is knowing when to abandon a project.

Let me take a stab at a couple of strategies for knowing when a project is viable, or needs to head to the hard drive in the sky.

Houston, we have a problem

Writers pour their hearts and souls into their projects, making it difficult to admit when something is off. Yet, there are signs that signal a project may be headed for a crash landing.

One common red flag is a lack of passion for the project. If I’ve learned anything from writing hundreds of articles, and multiple books is to follow the passion.

I am easily infatuated with new ideas and often force the ideas into existence. Call it the writer gods, or The Muse, but something in our passion and enthusiasm for a project is a sign we should keep going.

Also, closely married to passion is writer’s block. We all get stuck and the creative well runs dry. But persistent and long-term writer’s block may be the gods saying: this isn’t it, not the idea, move on. Writing is hard, and you’ll run into corners not sure where to head next, but watch the passion tank.

When the tank is empty, it might be time to move on.

Is this thing on?

Once you’ve recognized passion levels, it’s essential to assess the project’s viability. Do people want the meal you’re cooking?

Now, I’m going to be careful how I say this. I don’t want to contradict years of advice I’ve shared here and elsewhere.

Write what you want. You have a story about aliens invading Paraguay; you do you. You want to write poetry about sixth century desert dwellers, be my guest.

We all have different writing goals and some of those involve financial rewards and paying bills. If so, we must consider if what we’re making is something the market wants. This doesn’t mean mass appeal, or riches and fame.

What it means is sometimes what you’re writing is too bizarre, niche, and personal. There isn’t a market for it. My first completed novel was too short to be a novel, and too long to be a short story. How do you get this published? Nobody wanted it. So I self-published, which is fine.

The point is don’t spend months and months writing something that has no viability in the market. If your favorite crime novels are 300 pages, don’t write a 200-pager and think you’ll get a look from a publisher.

Embrace the change

When I ditched my first novel, it was a blessing in disguise. The idea for another project came out of the ashes. And the craziest thing happened. The next book practically wrote itself.

Ditching a project can feel like a death. But on the other side of death is resurrection. Life. When you do the hard thing of abandonment, you’ll be amazed at the better work right around the corner. The ideas and work you were supposed to be doing. That whole passion thing.

When you change course, sometimes, you’ll discover a new genre to explore. A friend used to write primarily poetry. When he stopped writing poetry, he found a knack for fiction. Changing course is not a death sentence. It often is the catalyst for fresh ideas.

The catalyst for new expressions of art.

Don’t fear failure

The decision to abandon a writing project can be fraught with fear and uncertainty. Is this right? Did I hear from the Muse correctly? We wonder if the writing community will judge us for being a quitter.

However, it’s essential to recognize that failure is a natural part of the creative process and an opportunity for growth and learning. When I quit my novel, I assumed this wasn’t normal. A true writer has an idea, writes the book, and then gets published, right?

Wrong.

I listened to Stephen King talk about putting Under the Dome in the drawer, completing it twenty years later. He said the novel was too big for him to write at the time of his young life.

We learn from these moments of uncertainty. By cultivating a growth mindset and viewing setbacks as valuable learning experiences, we can overcome the resistance. The resistance is only another sign we’re on the right track.

Would I have loved to see my first book on the desk of a publisher? Sure. But that’s not what I needed in those years. I needed to learn how to become a better writer. I had to find the right idea where my passions could align.

Failure is another opportunity to learn. An opportunity to grow in the craft, and as a person.

The future is bright

Ultimately, the decision to abandon a writing project and start fresh requires courage, determination, and a willingness to trust your instincts.

By recognizing the red flags, assessing the project’s viability, and embracing the pivot when necessary, writers can move forward with confidence and clarity.

Remember that every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.

I’m a writer, teacher, podcast host, and coach from Kansas City. I help people take their art and life to the next level. Get free weekly inspiration: ryanjpelton.com/newsletter