I have been working on this one short story, off and on, for like four months now, and the thing just won’t work. I’m on my fourth draft of it, which also means that I am attacking it from yet a new direction. I would like to say that fourth time’s the charm, but at this point, I would just be happy with a glimmer of hope that I am moving in the right direction.
Which brings me to this question; When should I throw in the towel on this story?
But as soon as I asked that question, it made more sense to invert the question; Why haven’t I given up on this story?
Well… I think it’s funny, and original. I think there is a kernel of truth in it, which needs to be shared. And I like working on it, though it does feel laborious at times.
Now, I do write stories which, I know while writing them, are complete pieces of shit, or when I finish them, confirms they are pieces of shit. I’m not being hard on myself, these things are garbage, but I know the exercise of writing a story is important too, even if no one will ever see it. And sometimes I have to get a story out of my head so I can move on to the next thing.
Not this story… it keeps poking at me, and won’t let me leave it alone. I hate rewriting, but it keeps pushing me to take another crack at it.
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