Skip to content

Failed projects

David Gane
David Gane

Sometimes projects don’t go as we want. They got lose steam, lose energy, and get lost along the way.

Sometimes it’s too big, too unwieldy to get it on the page. Or we don’t have enough information or time, or skill to sort it out.

Any of it can happen. It sucks, but we also need to understand that it’s okay.

When the project fails, allow yourself to mourn.

But also set it aside. Maybe the project hasn’t failed—it’s not—your not—in the right time and place to do it.

Failed projects are only failed if you let them be. Maybe they’re a 25-year gestation. Or you move on to big and better things before they're complete.

Either way, you get to choose.

Blog

David Gane Twitter

Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

Comments


Related Posts

Mistakes happen

Yesterday's newsletter didn't go to the right group, so I had to resend it tonight. It may even come out after I'm finished with this blog post. I finished it early yesterday, did several edits, then had my wife read it before I sent it. Yet, it still failed—but

Pebbles

Write a blog post every day. Write your book every day. Show love to those close to you. Take walks. Exercise. Read. Each of these is a small pebble in the pond that ripples forward and backward through your life. Throw enough, and eventually, they'll ripple back. (h/t to

My first posts

I first started posting on Tumblr in May 2007. I shared family stuff and links until I eventually started writing about writing. Usually, it was about trying to convince people to write. A lot of it is uncomfortable to read now—a little too cocky and unsympathetic to people's challenges.