Abandoned Drafts: Why You Should Keep Them
- Kayjah Taylor
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
If you don't have a billion and one unfinished drafts, are you really a writer? (The answer is yes, but I'm obviously biased).
You swear you'll get back to them at some point, but it never happens. You lose motivation; you forget about it, etc.
I'm here to tell you, don't hit delete! Don't throw away your notebooks! Your abandoned drafts are treasure troves, and here is why
Stories mature as we do
Your story isn't wrong; it may just be a little too early.
There are plenty of reasons you may ditch a story. Perhaps you didn't have the skills to world-build. Maybe you didn't learn your characters well enough.
Stories mature as we do.
Revisiting an abandoned draft can be the spark you may need. Perhaps time can help you find something deeper in your story. Remember, drafts previously abandoned are not failures. They are stories that have not matured yet.
Abandoned drafts can be gold mines
A single sentence can turn into a new idea for a novel. A paragraph can form a beautiful plot. Maybe you want to re-explore a character you started but never got to know.
Something I discovered a long time ago is that written words never get wasted. You may not want to use your entire story, but pieces of it can survive. To write is to re-use, renew, and recycle (as cheesy as it sounds). Old drafts are real and raw material waiting to be used.
They show how you've grown
Imposter syndrome is real and alive. It sucks, but it's something all writers have to live with.
There is nothing like opening an old draft and realizing how much better your writing has gotten. For me, it's an indescribable feeling. It's progress.
Storytelling, voice, pacing, and craft all change as we and our writing styles grow. Sometimes, it's hard to pinpoint how far we've come, but these old drafts make it easier.
When you need encouragement, or feel stuck with your writing, refer to these drafts and recognize your skills. You are more creative than you think. Sometimes you will find little nuggets you won't believe you wrote. Characters you used to love, and a plot that has potential.
The more you read, the more you will realize . . .
One day, you might return to them
It might seem like a long shot now, but I promise you, a day will come. A project you may have labeled a lost cause will become a story. You will fall back in love with the world you created, and with the skills you've honed, you will make them better.
Drafts need time to breathe. You won't know how much until the time is right.
Unfinished does not equal unworthy. Keep your drafts and honor them when the time is right.
I hope you can find love and inspiration in your unfinished drafts. I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday <3