On Writing : Have you ever outgrown a story before you finished it? by Kat Spencer

I don't think I have, Kat Spencer.

I never tire of my stories.

I once got a commission to turn a ten-minute short film into a full movie script. I was quite reluctant, but they asked me to do it, so I had a go as a favor because we had other projects. By the time it was sixty minutes long I hated the darn thing. It was a disgusting story and could only get more so to reach the end. I stopped and handed it back, with notes for the third act. They were pleased and grateful. I was just glad to get rid of it and took my name off it.

Yes absolutely. Some of the stories I've been writing when my children were young have been 'shelved' due to the lack of joy finishing them by myself. It used to be fun at bedtime to make up stories and continue them for nights on end. But now they are teens and the last thing they want to do is stories at bedtime. Writing them alone is not the same. They are shelved until I have the inspiration to continue them. :) Great post Kat Spencer

I think until now people are missing what You're really asking (or better what you seem to slowly starting to see); it's all about perspective, is it?! The only interesting thing here is the "pauze," what could that be? Probably at least a few things. But let's make this extreme? That's what people like nowadays aggressive polarization, it's either black or white. Let's say a writer wo's anti Trump, starts writing a "Civel War" story, but now something insane happens that makes him pro Tantrum Toddler Trump; everything is lost, he/she feels the story has no future, the story has to be abandoned ; aha, now I here a lot of you saying: "but, NO, Rutger, you just write it from the OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE, and you still have the same concept, the same war story!" Precisely, that wasn't that hard, was it?!

Not really, but I have changed some of my stories quite a lot between and even in the middle of drafts.

I have frequently shelved a story, or not completed it, over the years. Mainly because of distraction or working on different projects. I revisited "The Tree" after several years and developed it into what became my first horror novel, The Roots of Evil. It's worth going back and revisiting those unfinished works. Attitudes, environment, experience, all change as we age and coming back to things with "fresh eyes" frequently brings surprises and motivation to complete them.

No. The only story I've shelved was one that could attract some controversy, and I didn't want to deal with that.

Surely, a story that attracts controversy would sell itself with the free publicity Debra Holland ?

Kat Spencer I've paused for a time then revisit the premise. Spend time in the world building or work on a back story to a character. How have you moved beyond your story? Has your audience changed as well? Perhaps you have more than one story demanding attention.

Debra Holland OK Debra, I have to ask hahaha, what is the storyline of that work?

You asked, if any of us ever"changed faster than the story (any of us were ) writing" & because of that quit writing?

Personal conviction: If a story can't change me --open my thoughts more than if I'd never written the story -- then it is probably not worth writing..Editing a story because of increased vision is part of the process, not a reason to quit.