Are you a creative writer who is constantly juggling multiple projects? If you’re like me, your brain is probably a non-stop factory for “great ideas.” At any given moment, you might have three different plots for a thriller, a half-baked memoir, a collection of short stories, and a children’s book idea all swirling around at once. It feels exciting to start, doesn’t it? That initial rush of adrenaline when you open a fresh Word document or buy a brand-new notebook is addictive.
But then, reality sets in.
Your laptop folders are likely a graveyard of “Chapter 1” files. Your notebooks are full of brilliant premises that never made it to a middle, let alone an end. Those ideas were all started with massive enthusiasm, but right now, they’re of no use to anyone. An unfinished story can’t be read, it can’t be published, and it certainly can’t change a reader’s life.
Finishing a book is hard work. There are no shortcuts, and anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t being real with you. It takes discipline and the willingness to show up even when the “muse” has decided to take a holiday. If you’re struggling to cross that finish line, I want to share some practical, no-nonsense tips to help you move from being a perpetual “starter” to a published author.
1. Stop starting new projects (The “idea bank” strategy)
It is incredibly tempting to jump ship when a shiny new idea pops into your head. Usually, this happens right when your current project gets difficult, around the 30,000-word mark, where the plot feels like it’s sinking in mud. Suddenly, that new idea for a sci-fi epic seems so much easier and more fun than the novel writing you’re actually supposed to be doing.
You have to resist the urge.
Instead of opening a new file and abandoning your current work, create an “idea bank.” This can be a physical notebook or a simple digital document. Whenever a new idea strikes, write down a summary, some character names, and the core conflict. Then, tell yourself: “I’ll get to you as soon as I finish my current project.” By putting it in the bank, you’re acknowledging the idea without letting it sabotage your progress.
2. Conduct a ruthless project audit
Take a look at all your current works-in-progress. It’s time to be honest. Some of those half-finished stories deserve to be finished, but some of them probably don’t.
Make a list of every project you’ve started. Now, go through them and decide which ones actually have merit. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is the plot strong enough to hold up an 80,000-word story?
- Are these characters clichéd, or do they have real depth?
- Do I still care about this message?
If the answer is “no,” clear it out. Delete the file (or archive it somewhere you won’t look at it) and free up that mental space. You don’t need the guilt of ten “failed” projects hanging over you. Narrow your focus to the ones that are truly valuable.
3. Prioritise one main project
Multi-tasking is a myth when it comes to deep creative work. While you might be able to juggle several small tasks at your day job, writing a book requires a level of immersion that doesn’t play well with others.
Go through your list of good ideas and pick one. Just one. This is now your “priority project.” This doesn’t mean you can’t occasionally write a poem or a blog post on the side, but it means that your primary writing time: your best energy: is reserved for this one project. Commit to seeing it to the very end before you even think about making another project the priority.
4. Embrace the messy first draft
A major reason writers fail to finish is perfectionism. They spend three months polishing the first three chapters, trying to make them perfect, and then they run out of steam.
Your first draft is supposed to be messy. It’s supposed to have “plot holes big enough to drive a truck through,” as some writers say. Your job in the first draft isn’t to write a masterpiece; it’s simply to get the story out of your head and onto the paper. Give yourself permission to write “badly.” You can fix weak prose and flat characters later. Completion is the goal; perfection is for the second (and third) draft.
5. Write the ending early
If you find yourself stuck in the “muddled middle,” it’s often because you don’t actually know where the story is going. One trick that works wonders is writing your ending before you’ve even finished the middle.
When you know exactly what the destination looks like, the path to get there becomes much clearer. You stop wandering aimlessly through scenes that don’t matter because you know which direction the finish line is in. If you’re stuck writing forward, try working backward from that final scene.
6. Set a deadline with a real reward
Some of us are naturally self-motivated, but most of us need a push. If you don’t have a deadline, your book is a “someday” project. And “someday” isn’t a day of the week.
Set a reasonable, realistic deadline for completing your manuscript. Then, attach a reward to it. Maybe it’s a weekend getaway, a fancy dinner, or that new gadget you’ve been eyeing. Knowing there’s a lovely reward waiting for you at the finish line provides that extra bit of motivation on the days when the writing feels like a slog.
7. Get some accountability
This is the one thing that works best for me. If I know someone is expecting me to turn in a chapter, I’m going to produce it. Left to my own devices, I might make excuses or decide that something else is more important than my word count.
Accountability can look like a few different things:
- A writing buddy: Someone you check in with weekly to swap word counts.
- A support group: A community where peers keep you on your toes.
- A writing coach: Working with a professional who won’t let you slack off.
As a book coach, I see this all the time. Writers have the talent and the ideas, but they lack the structure. A coach provides that external “nudge” (and sometimes a shove) to keep you moving when you’d rather quit. Whether you decide to work with a mentor or join a creative writing community, having that support system is often the difference between a “would-be” author and a “published” author.
8. Celebrate the small wins
Don’t wait until the 80,000th word to feel good about yourself. Novel writing is a marathon, not a sprint. If you hit your word count for the day, celebrate it. If you figured out a tricky plot point, give yourself a pat on the back. These small moments of triumph build the momentum you need to keep going. Research suggests that focusing on small wins boosts creativity and keeps you from spiralling into the “this is all rubbish” mindset that causes so many writers to quit.
Are you ready to cross the finish line?
If you’re tired of the cycle of starting and stopping, I want to help you break it. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to keep struggling with the same unfinished manuscript for the next five years.
At Accomplish Press, we specialise in helping writers get unstuck. Whether you need the structured guidance of a creative writing course or the one-on-one focus of a writing coach, we have the tools to help you finish.
Let’s say goodbye to procrastination and finally get that story finished. You have something worth saying: let’s make sure the world gets to read it.
Which project are you going to prioritise today? Let me know in the comments.