I dont like my story anymore - Writers Forum

Shen · 03-01-2008, 02:45 AM

i have written quit a long story about a year ago and put it away to give it a break. ive read it again 3 months ago and liked it, then put it aside again. now i tried to continue rewriting it, but i found out that i dont like it anymore. there are new things in the world that i started liking and the subject i chose does not enchant me anymore. what can i do? i remember i loved this story so much, and i even finished it! i simply dont want to rewrite it. maybe i should change the things i dont like? but ive changed enough, i dont want more changed. i feel like it was a waste of time if i dont complete it totally. what can i do to return my love for this story?

Destroyer · 03-01-2008, 03:49 AM

Start rewriting it. It'll get better that way.

Non Serviam · 03-01-2008, 03:51 AM

If you don't love it, stick it in a drawer and write something else for the moment.

Mike C · 03-02-2008, 02:32 PM

Dump it. It's not time wasted, you learned a lot while you wrote it. Take that knowledge and write something better.

quarterscot · 03-02-2008, 02:59 PM

Just check the thing for typos, then either send it off to a publisher or put it in a drawer. Move on. Completely rewriting a story is nonsensical. You might as well start a new one which you'll have more enthusiasm for. And maybe in another six months you'll reread your original story, find you love it again and be glad you didn't touch it.

Dookie · 03-03-2008, 07:50 AM

There is nothing nonsensical about rewriting a story. The very fact that you have asked what to do with it tells us that you wish to at least do something. Dumping it in a drawer is doing nothing. I suggest you follow the idea of Destroyer and rewrite it. Come the end of the story it may bear no resemblance to the original.

Shen · 03-04-2008, 01:19 AM

ok, thanks. ive decided to rewrite it. i dont like it the way i used to love it but at least i dont hate it anymore. ill finish it and give it to somebody.
thanks!

Destroyer · 03-04-2008, 03:49 AM

Quarterscot, are you trying to say I completely wasted three months rewriting Karmenren? I'll have you know it turned out way better than the original draft. Rewriting is always worthwhile.

seigfried007 · 03-04-2008, 04:56 PM

I'll ditto Destroyer. It never becomes worse for rewriting--not unless you have a stroke or other impairment happen mid-rewrite. I'm working on a project I've already rewritten twice, and I was finished with the third book in the five-part series when I scrapped the series and started over this last time.

If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing to the best of your ability, and you'll only get better so long as you keep writing. Not to say you keep rewriting the same project for all eternity, but that if something's glaring at you now, you might as well fix it before you toss it out the door.

MisterVanOsten · 03-04-2008, 08:23 PM

I would have to say rewrite it. My English teacher always tells us that there is no good writing, only good rewriting. Although, me telling you this seems a bit hypocritical because I throw a lot of stuff away. I suppose that the best thing would be to see if you like the ideas behind your story, if not, then throw it away and get new ones. Hope this was even the slightest bit helpful, and I also hope that if you do decide to rewrite that your story turns out the way you want it to.

Sam Winchester · 03-05-2008, 03:28 AM

There is nothing nonsensical about re-writing a novel. If you aren't happy with it, and chopping and changing bits here and there doesn't make it better, than you have no choice than to put it aside and re-write a better version. This is time-consuming, but the alternative may be even more so.

Sam.