Confession
Sometimes I stop working on writing projects. This could be
a slight pause or a complete halt.
Why pause?
It gives me time to solve a plot problem.
It gives me time to improve my craft so that I may complete the story.
Another--more interesting or promising--writing project has caught my eye.
Why halt?
I’ve lost interest in the story for some reason. There are many decisions to be made while I write. What point of view will I use—first or third person? Whose story is this? What plot will I follow? My lack of interest may be the result of a wrong decision.
I'm struggling to answer the question: How will I market this manuscript and to whom? I'm focused on building a career, and if a project doesn't contribute to that, I will stop working on it.
Am I disappointed when I have to abandon a project?
Yes, somewhat. However, I firmly believe that no writing time is wasted. Each sentence, paragraph, and scene I write develops my skills. And the words aren't lost; I have mined unfinished projects to assemble new ones.
