Finish Your Novel: A Note to Help You Persevere

Finish your novel, because you learn more that way than any other.

James Scott Bell

Starting is the easy part. You come up with ideas, characters, initial plotlines. Plenty of writers create an outline to work from and jot down notes to reference. Plus, there is research to make sure you know what you are talking about. That is a job unto itself! And finally, you start putting words to the page. There is a joy in just having begun.

Invariably though, you hit roadblocks, sections you need to scrap, and the sinking feeling that your novel will never be done. The trick is to keep going. Keep putting more words on the page. And even more. Write until you reach the end of your novel.

Don’t stop there though. First time writers might be tempted to celebrate and walk away. I hate to tell you though—this is just the FIRST DRAFT. You still need to jump back in and edit your novel. Then edit it some more.

Don’t stop until it’s done, even if you think it might break you. What you will end up with is a life-changing process and a whole lot better writing by the end. And remember that those cracks are where the light shines in (yes, I am roughly quoting Leonard Cohen here—he’s a smart guy). But the trick is, finishing it. In order to let that light shine in, you need to finish your novel.

Now, time to get back to your writing…