Polish & share · Tip 81 of 82 · 4 min read
Finishing Your Story (Even When It's Hard)
Stuck in the soggy middle? Small, clever steps will carry you all the way to The End.
Starting a story is exciting. Finishing one is a different feeling: proud, a bit tired and very satisfied. Lots of writers have a drawer full of beginnings. Be the writer who reaches The End!
Why stories get left unfinished
- A shiny new idea comes along and you want to write that instead.
- The middle feels long and you can't see the ending.
- You worry it isn't good enough.
Know where you're running to
Runners can keep going because they know where the finish line is. Before you're halfway through, write one sentence about how your story will end. You can change it later, but having a target helps you keep moving.
ENDING: Olu finally makes it to the top of the hill and lets the kite go, because she realises her grandad would want it to fly free.
Park the shiny new idea
When a new idea arrives, don't chase it. Write it on an "ideas waiting room" page and promise it a turn as soon as this story is done. It will still be there.
Take small steps
You don't have to finish today. Write one scene, or even just three sentences, each time you sit down. Little steps add up, and soon you'll see the finish line.
Finished is better than perfect
Your first draft is allowed to be messy. You can't fix a story that doesn't exist yet, but you can always improve one that's finished.