All writers seem to have this problem. We all have those half-finished projects: books, blogs, wooden chairs.
On my computer I actually have a folder of “Unfinished Blog Posts.”
If you're like me, finishing projects is always a struggle, especially books, which are the hardest projects to finish.
Recently I've buckled down to finish several major writing projects, including my first book, and I've learned a few things about how to finish your writing along the way.
Three Secrets to Finishing Your Writing
Here are three secrets I've discovered about how to finish a book, blog post, or any other writing project, and some hints to keep you going.
1. Choose Just One
At one point I had five different documents open on my computer, all possible blogs, all different topics.
This is the worst way to finish anything.
The first thing you need to do is pick one project: pick one chapter, one blog post, one book you're trying to finish. Give it your full attention. If you're able to keep saying no to every other project, you will have no choice but to finish.
2. Kill Your Darlings
Stephen King said:
Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.
Your darlings are those perfect sentences, the string of words that flows so mellifluously and which you love.
About two-thirds through many of my blog posts or book chapters, I find myself asking, “Wait, what was my point?”
As writers, we tend to sidetrack, or tell other stories, or make points that are good but not always relevant.
Instead, keep your writing focused on your central message.
And if you have any “darlings” or sections that deviate from that central message, don't delete them. Rather, move them to a separate document and title it, “My Darlings.” Save those darlings for a rainy day when you don't know what to write about.
Tying up loose ends is essential to finishing strong, and killing your darlings is part of the process.
3. Finish with Questions
One of the best ways to end a writing piece is by asking questions.
Questions are perfect for summing up your point and making sure your readers understand.
Check out the posts on The Write Practice. Almost all of them end with questions.
It's a fun, easy way to finish your piece and engage your readers.
Have you ever had trouble trying to finish a book writing project? What is something you use or do to help finish your writings? Let us know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Take fifteen minutes and finish something! Go to your drafts folder or scan through your documents until you find a piece you've been meaning to finish. (We all have them!) Post your completed product in the comments below and let's celebrate our accomplishments together!
Kelli,
I have to raise my hand on all three points. Guilty, guilty, and guilty. As I write this, I have 10 browser tabs open; all articles I want to read.
I also have two documents open.
And three blogs to work on (though they’re not open… my poor computer wouldn’t throw up it’s hands and stalk out of the room).
My husband is constantly telling me to choose something and finish it. I know he’s right–and so are you–but, oh, the agony of choosing!
Thanks for a great post and a much needed reminder.
Best wishes,
Carrie
Carrie,
This is my biggest struggle too! We’re not alone!
Good luck in your choosing!
This advice is oh so true, but oh so hard to do. After I reluctantly cut out the first 100 pages of my WIP, I actually felt better. Now it’s getting easier to spot and kill off those “little darlings”.
Great job Linda! Keep going! 🙂
Lokoja-Minna.
I was nervous, it was the first time I didn’t sleep in a journey that lasted over six hours, it wasn’t my first journey. Didn’t have any idea what I could use my time in the cab to do, I felt alone but wasn’t alone, to my left was a fair fat-cheek guy who looked like a lady and by my right was this red colored hair lady who I disliked immediately I saw her hair, I didn’t dislike her ’cause it was a wig but because the wig was red, in this part of the world where we are, why should anyone wear a red wig? That was by the way, the guy by my left was wearing Georgio Armani’s masculino, the scent reminded me of my uncle Alex, finally I got something to take my mind of the trees and the cars that got past ours that I was counting, Uncle Alex had given me that perfume when I got admitted into secondary school, it was a big deal ’cause he had only just returned from london and that was his first gift to me. Sitting at the front seat of the car was the blue eyed driver with his punk hair cut and sliver magnetic earrings, it must have been contact eye lenses, he couldn’t have natural blue eyes when he was almost a black as my self, with his intonation I could tell he was a yoruba man, coupled with the fact that he played a ‘Fela Kuti’ song true out the entire six hours, twenty five minutes drive. His appearance made me scared, I began to wonder if I didn’t make a mistake by paying my t-fare before seeing the driver, the earrings, the ‘razz’ punk haircut and his blue eyes made him look like a tout but he drove responsibly and the way he interacted with the other passengers in the cab proved my initial suggestion that he was a tout wrong. He was a responsible young man who took into driving to make ends meet, during his conversation I got to find out that he is a graduate of a top university in Nigeria but the rate of unemployment made it impossible for him to practice his profession. The person sitting by his side in front was a lousy yoruba man who had about three different skin colors definitely as a result of bleaching, he shouted throughout the trip until he fell asleep, from politics to education, power and corruption he didn’t see a reason why Nigeria was a habitable country, the most notable part of his talk was the fact that he kept saying ‘tor’ after very few words, I got to understand him well that I had mastered every time he would say it and mimic him in my mind. He had a good sense of humor, he carried everyone along, yes he did make the trip lively. “Young man, why aren’t you talking? You’ve barely said two words in this cab? ‘you no dey even laff to our jokes, abiee you be saddist nea’?” those were questions directed to me by the ‘lousy yoruba man’ I pretended he wasn’t talking to me because I had no idea of what to say and he was constantly looking at me from the front mirror so I couldn’t fake sleeping, I was done for, there wasn’t an answer to such questions in my whole head. ‘Na you I dey talk to oh’ he said again, ‘Me?’ I said hurriedly. “No, the person wey wear your shirt, na you joor” he responded without wasting time. “Wow, I didn’t hear anything you said trust me, my mind wasn’t here” I lied, I heard every word of his but had to make him say more things so I can think of an answer for all his questions. He didn’t have to talk, it was the fair fat-cheek guy who faced me “stop the drama, it doesn’t suit you” he said. “Bosso, mobil, Bosso,” we had already gotten to Minna, so I didn’t have to answer any of the questions or prove my self to anyone, I just said to the driver, ” I’ll stop here ‘oga’.” Before, they knew what was happening I was out of the cab even if I hadn’t gotten to my bus stop, that is all there was on my first trip to Minna from Lokoja.
That was great! Hooray for finishing!
Thanks to you, your tips made it possible,
I never realized I had ‘darlings’, until I read this post. These are some of the truest writing statements I have ever read, and I needed them all.
I’m working on a novel, a screenplay, two poems, a short story, and I am starting a career in Christian songwriting. It is so hard to choose one! I’m fairly new to this (three years, which doesn’t seem so long anymore), but I have read that you shouldn’t start your writing career with a book, so I’m working on the smaller projects first.
Definitely taking your advice and creating a darlings folder!
P.S., I’ve been trying to guest post for WP, and haven’t gotten any responses when I send an email. Any advice??
Reagan,
Thanks for your encouragement, and I’m glad some of the tips helped you! I’ll try and ask Joe, who is in charge of those emails about posting. He just had his second baby and bought a house, so he’s taking a little longer than normal.
Good luck with guest posting!
Thanks, Kellie! Love your post and hope you can do more. And congrats to Joe!
I needed to read this today!
Finishing is my #1 challenge. I have plenty of ideas and I usually get up to about 1000 words… and then something blocks, and I can’t go on. Can’t finish.
I’ll keep your tips in mind for sure!
It’s such a struggle. I hope these tips help you in your finishing endeavors!
those are some good looking knees in your photo. Wow!
You have great knees.
I finally finished a chapter from my next book, but it took me longer than 15 minutes. If anyone wants to read it, let me know.
R.w Foster, what kind of book are you writing?
If it’s not fiction or some tech guide, I will read your chapter.
I appreciate it, but it is indeed fiction.
Kellie, this is a great post! Three tips that make sense.
I have three projects hanging: My Ithaca journey book, my memoirs, and a Mediterranean cookbook. I need to get the journey book out of my hands, but it has gotten so big that it’s overwhelming. Time is restricted for me also.
Your tips are great. I will begin each chapter, but I know it will take longer than 15 minutes. My darlings? That will be a challenge. Not sure I will even recognize them. Questions? At the end of the book, or each chapter? I end chapters with some sort of challenges, many of which include questions. Have one in the end of the book as well.
I know I have to get it out of my hands. I just have to find the time and energy to finish.
Thank you for your encouragement and suggestions!
Blessings and light!
Katina
I read this yesterday and actually did the practice and completed something, but I published it on Medium instead of leaving it in the comments. I’ve been wanting to write about writing productivity for awhile and had started something, but this post encouraged me to go ahead and finish it.
Link below for anyone interested.
https://medium.com/p/3-writing-hacks-for-the-productive-writer-ca60b78d59b8
Great essay! Thanks.
I killed my darlings alright, I killed a whole character. She just wasn’t fitting into the story the way she was supposed to. I had a lazy character.