After leaving my second young adult novel in the Wishes and Dreams series in my to-be-finished folder for years, I decided to tackle revisions, and I’ve been working at it for several months. At this point, I’ve realized the book needs more work than I first thought, and the temptation to just chuck it and focus on other projects is strong. I’ve concluded that, for me, revising older work is harder than writing a new novel.
And yet, I’m three-fourths of the way through this round of revisions and loath to abandon it this far in. The problem is, I’m not sure if the story is working.
Should I give up on the manuscript, or do I just have revision fatigue? Time to step back, separate my emotions from the work for a minute, and base my decision on what I know.
Revision Fatigue (Signs to Keep Going)
I’m tired of looking at the story, yet still care about the characters and the central question. While my aggravation overflows and I might say, on occasion, This book is bad! most of the time it’s more along the lines of I can’t stand to look at this book anymore. Edits are changing the book, but not making it obviously better… yet. My frustration is growing in relation to my awareness of flaws that have become clear now. (This is actually a very good sign.) There’s still a spark of excitement about the possible finished version.
Experience has taught me that as the editing process progresses it often becomes more painful, more tedious, and makes authors feel worse before things get better. While this fact doesn’t remove the pain of rewrites, it helps to know it’s normal.
All of these are positive signs the book is making progress.
Shelving the Book (Signs to Move On—for Now or Forever)
There have been projects I’ve abandoned before, even after a great deal of investment.
This can happen when I no longer believe in the story or feel passionate about the reason I wrote it. Or, every fix only creates several more issues, an indication the foundation isn’t storing enough to hold the book together. If a great deal of my writing time is persistently spent focusing on details, and I do things like endlessly polish sentences instead of ever getting around to tackling the larger structural problems, it could be time to let the book go. Perhaps another project captures my heart, even if I know it will be just as hard to write. Maybe I feel obligated to finish rather than feeling it is my choice, and the idea of abandoning it forever is a relief.
Notice I said could be and perhaps. That’s because I have felt or said or done these things often, and it didn’t mean I should quit. But when there are multiple reasons that stick, it could be more than a bump in the road.
Figuring Out When and What to Quit
When I find myself in this place, I try to remember not to pressure myself to finish the book. Instead, I can commit to finishing THIS revision pass, complete the draft, then put it away for a few weeks before bringing it back out and reading it as a whole before deciding anything.
Writing often seems impossible. Authors spin entire worlds, create characters, do the hard work of digging for the truth, often while being confronted by their own weaknesses along the way. I can’t pile regrets on top of all that.
I have to ask myself: Am I ready to let this story go, or am I simply tired of revising it?
There is a big difference. Exhaustion can make me want to quit a manuscript that still has a purpose and a message.
I don’t want to confuse being weary with being finished.
For Christian writers, there’s another layer to consider. A story can come from a place of calling and require perseverance. A difficult manuscript isn’t always a sign of being on the wrong path! The revision process teaches us patience, humility, and trust. Sometimes the story changes us before it ever reaches a reader. In the case of my current work, I have changed and grown, as has the novel. That may be part of the purpose, but after thoughtfully talking myself through my recent writing experience, I’m not ready to completely give up on this novel just yet.
What about you? Ever given up on a manuscript or felt like giving up?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books. Her novel When the Wildflowers Bloom Again is a 2025 ACFW Carol Award Winner.
Her contemporary young adult novel and 2025 SCWC Notable Book, Promise Me Tomorrow, is available in ebook, print, and KU. For the latest news on upcoming releases and other author news, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at donnajostone.com.
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