Meg Dowell Writes

A LOT of writers struggle to finish what they start. It’s likely that the majority of aspiring storytellers who never end up publishing work have, at some point, tried and failed to write a complete story from start to finish. And while this is a judgment-free zone and there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you’re struggling in this area, there’s still hope.

I’ve started dozens of novels and articles I never finished. ADHD is a contributing factor to this for me personally, but anyone can deal with this problem. Writing is hard; finishing what you start is even harder. But trust me … if I can do it, so can you. And I promise I’ll try to give you some advice here that isn’t just “turn off your phone and set a timer.” Because that has never worked for me. Not even once.

Writing Stories Takes a Lot More Than Skill

To be able to write something from beginning to end, you obviously need basic writing skills to be able to craft a complete narrative. But starting what you finish isn’t just about how skilled of a writer you are.

Successful writers are also extremely disciplined where it counts. They rarely believe not finishing is an option. They’ve also likely developed specific systems that work for them and know how and when to switch up those systems when they stop working. All these things take years of practice, trial and error, and learning from failure to master. This is why writing, as a profession, is not as easy as most people think it is.

Side note: Successful writers are also usually pretty good at shutting out all their intrusive thoughts causing self-doubt and shame, at least while they’re actively writing. I’d strongly recommend therapy for that — it’s sure helped me.

Finishing What You Start Is Harder Than It Used to Be

You don’t have to live with something like ADHD to struggle with focus and executive functioning. There are dozens of distractions surrounding us at every angle now whether we welcome them in or not. You can turn off your phone, your WiFi, your electricity, but trust me. You’ll still find a way to avoid writing when you’ve hit a roadblock in your story or your brain is in overdrive.

Despite all this, plenty of people still write full books and articles (even without AI, believe it or not — myself included) all the time. If you’re serious about finishing something as a writer, it’s up to you to figure out how to make that happen in your own environment. For me, sometimes Focus Friend and a background instrumental soundtrack is enough. Sometimes it isn’t. And that’s the issue for a lot of people — wanting to do the work but not being willing to take the steps to figure out how.

Here’s How I Avoid Abandoning My Writing Projects

I’ll stress one more time that there’s nothing wrong with moving on from a project if it’s just not working. But I’ve gotten a lot better at finishing what I start over the last few years, and I’m here to offer a few practical tips that might help you practice figuring out how to do the same.

1. Try not to work on more than one writing project at once. I know it’s tempting, and I’m currently not following this advice and I’m paying for it! But unless you’re getting paid to chip away at multiple things at once, focus on just one. Finish that thing, and then move on to the next one. It’s harder than that, I know, but you can at least try.
2. Step away from writing completely when you get stuck. Instead of “project-hopping,” shift your focus to a different creative outlet for a little while. Sometimes you’re burnt out and need a break. When I’m feeling stuck, I have a little container of Play-Doh nearby that I mess around with for a little bit. Pick something that keeps your hands busy but leaves your brain free to decompress, process, and recover.
3. Tell yourself that quitting isn’t an option. This won’t work for everyone, but it sometimes does for me. I’ve desperately wanted to start writing a new book for months now. But I’ve refused to let myself open a blank document until I’ve finished revising my WIP. I don’t like it, but it’s working.

Again, what works for me might not work for you. These are just some ideas to get you thinking about what you might be able to try that could help you individually. I believe you CAN finish what you’re working on, even if you don’t!