1. All stories must end.

2. All writers must say farewell to familiar characters and places to make room for creating new ones.

3. You are not a “failure” for leaving a beloved story behind.

4. In fact, the best writers are the ones who can let go, move on, and look back only in positive, constructive reflection.

5. Just because you never publish it doesn’t mean it never mattered.

6. We are meant to grow beyond our stories. They teach us. They mature us.

7. A new story isn’t something “better.” It’s just a next step.

8. That being said, you do tend to improve your craft a little bit each time you write something new. If you stick with the same story, you’ll stay stuck where you are.

9. There is a reason this story is your favorite story. You can figure out what it is about this story that you love and make it a part of the next story you write.

10. No one is counting how many stories you have and haven’t finished writing.

11. You don’t have to forget about the stories you set aside. They will always be there. They’ll always be a part of you.

12. There are great things ahead of you. Stories you haven’t even met yet. So go. Leave all this behind in favor of what’s soon to come.

Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is an editor and writer, and a 12-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and Star Wars.

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