Here’s How To Know When It’s Time To Shelve Your WIP
It’s not easy to let go of a book once you’ve started writing it. A lot of writers can feel an immense amount of pressure to see through the projects they start. Sometimes this is due to a desire for perfectionism, and sometimes this is due to a fear of “failing”.
However, sometimes, our stories don’t develop the way we expect and not every story is one we can tell.
Knowing when to shelve an idea is important to avoid burnout, frustration, and self-doubt. Ultimately, shelving an a project is about looking after your creative wellbeing.
Let’s look at the 4 reasons reasons you may need to shelves your work-in-progress.
#1 You no longer resonate with it
Often, we write stories that resonate with us in the moment. That story may be significant due to the time of life we’re in and the themes and ideas we want to explore. This is how we become initially attached to an idea.
When we are no longer in the place we were when we started the book, it can be hard to maintain the same level of attachment or know how to explore your original ideas. Ultimately, you might feel like it’s no longer something you want or feel able to write about. You might feel like it’s coming from a different place.
#2 Writing it feels like pulling teeth
Writing is supposed to be fun. If you’re not enjoying it, you won’t be able to produce your best work and you likely won’t be happy with the result. If this is the case, it’s important to examine why you’re struggling to write.
If the book is difficult or unenjoyable to write, it suggests that something is wrong. Either the idea isn’t developed enough that you feel clear on how to write it, or the story is one that you’re finding too challenging to tell. This could be because of the subject matter, the style, or the point of view. Either way, it’s a sign that you might need some space from the project so you can gain some perspective.
#3 You aren’t sure how to move forward
One of the biggest reasons for struggling to write is being unsure how to move forward. Turning an idea into an 80,000-word novel is no small feat. Sometimes, our ideas won’t stretch that far.
If you’re struggling to know where to take your story, it’s a good indication that you need to go back to the drawing board and flesh it out. Some time away from writing to mull over your ideas might help you see what the story is missing. Often, a break is a good way to allow inspiration to strike.
#4 Your circumstances have changed
If you’ve experienced a big change or shift in your life, it’s understandable that your writing has probably been impacted. This sometimes means losing interest in our current works-in-progress.
Life happens and we can’t help it. If your circumstances are different now to when you started writing your book — for example as a result of a big writing break, mental health struggles, living changes, a baby, etc. — then it’s natural to feel disconnected from your book and unsure how to pick it back up. This could mean that you may no longer resonate with the original idea (see point #1) or that you need to adjust your ideas and approach to write to make it work around your new circumstances.
Final word
Taking a break from your writing isn’t an indication of failure. It’s also not an indication that your idea is bad. What it is an indication of is needing some mental clarity and a break.
Shelving a book doesn’t mean you won’t ever come back to it. It will always be there, and if you feel ready and the story calls to you again, you can pick it back up and try again.
