Why you can't stick with a single novel (and keep starting new ones)

Why writers keep abandoning novels — and how to finish them

Speaker: Ellen Brock (novel editor)

A concise guide to the common reasons writers start new projects instead of finishing them, plus practical steps to stick with and complete a novel.

Key problems (why you keep starting new projects)

• You believe a better idea will fix the problem — you undervalue craft and execution and overvalue premise.
• You get bored once the idea stops feeling new or “shiny.”
• You romanticize winging it (being a pantser) and skip plotting/preparation, then get stuck not knowing what happens next.
• You avoid editing because it feels slow or overwhelming.
• You hop between projects impulsively instead of finishing one.

Common symptom: repeatedly stalling around ~20–50 pages and accumulating many half-started projects.

Practical tips and steps to stick with a project

Shift focus from idea to skill

• Learn and apply craft: characterization, scene and story structure, pacing.
• Execution matters more than the premise — invest time in developing techniques that make a story work.

Know your writer type

• Figure out how you work best and use methods that suit you (Ellen recommends her “four types of writers” videos).

Don’t hop projects impulsively

• Keep one book as your main focus.
• If new ideas come, jot them down in a single place (notes or a doc) so you don’t lose them, then return to the main project.

Reignite interest when boredom hits

• Reconnect with why you started the story.
• Use playlists, mood boards, images, or reread favorite scenes to rebuild excitement.
• Expect boredom phases and plan to push through them.

Plan and prepare if pantsering fails you

• Try more plotting or a preparation phase to reduce messy first drafts.
• Find a plotting/planning method that suits you so your drafts feel cleaner and less directionless.

Embrace editing

• Recognize editing is often the most time-consuming part but essential; skipping it only delays a finished book.
• Editing reveals specific weaknesses you can target and improves future drafts.

Build confidence through micro-wins

• Polish one or two scenes (often the opening) to near-perfection so you can see you’re capable of the tone/voice/scene quality you want.
• If polishing exposes skill gaps, use that clarity to guide targeted learning (read, study, watch tutorials).

Use self-discipline strategies

• Allow yourself time to brainstorm, but keep it separate from main writing sessions.
• Be realistic about deadlines and the time editing takes — accept that editing “will end” eventually.

Practical resources / mentions

• Ellen’s video series on the four types of writers (recommended).
• Ellen’s Patreon (channel support and additional resources).

Notable speaker and product

• Speaker: Ellen Brock, novel editor.
• Product / mention: Patreon (channel support).