So you’re a writer, and you’ve got this story idea. It’s a really good idea, and you really feel like you need to write it. But try as you may, you just…can’t…get into the flow.

If that sounds frustrating, trust me, it is. There’s no worse feeling for a writer than having a really cool idea for a story that you just can’t get into. Sometimes it’s a matter of skill; you know you’re not yet at the level you need to be to do the story justice. Sometimes (particularly in genre fic or historical) it’s a matter of doing a lot of research. But sometimes you try to write it and, for whatever reason, it’s just falling flat.

For a diligent writer, unfinished projects nag at the subconscious. It’s the feeling you’re supposed to be doing something you’re not. But there’s value in knowing when to back away and try something new.

I often say that, as a writer, sometimes you just have to follow the words. If I’m working on a story (so long as it’s not a “struggle story”) and it’s just not working, sooner or later I step away and try something else. I’ve learned over the years that if I’m unable to gain traction in a story, there’s a reason. Something in my mind is trying to tell me I’m not ready to write it yet. More often than not, that’s when I pivot to short fiction. Spending a week at most on a story, then shifting to something new, has a way of jogging things, getting the words flowing. It breaks the dam, and takes me in unexpected directions.

I decided to write about this given my recent success with my work-in-progress, Aquarius 1. As longtime readers will know, this was my third attempt to write this story. It’s a great story: an intriguing concept with market potential, great characters with strong voices. But the first time I tried to write it, it just wasn’t clicking. It felt flat, mechanical, predictable. And as I wrote I grew increasingly frustrated. So, midway through my first attempt I set it aside and worked on short fiction. Last year I tried again, and though it was flowing better, I still found myself running out of steam. So, around this time last year, I again put it aside, this time to work on query prep for Seven Days on Samarkand.

That time, I began the process that would lead to an almost complete rewrite of Seven Days on Samarkand over the course of this past year. And though I still believe strongly in Aquarius 1, I couldn’t be happier with the work I’ve done on Seven Days on Samarkand. When I first decided to revisit the novel and abandon Aquarius 1 last December, I’ll admit I was hesitant. It felt wrong to relegate my treasured work-in-progress once again. But looking back now, I believe I made the right call. The months that followed yielded some of my best work to date, including the story that won Writers of the Future and “Casual Brutality”, which will appear in Analog next year.

It’s never easy to step away from a story. But sometimes, you just gotta follow the words. – MK