When can you decide that a story or poem you're writing is actually finished?

Question

That's the problem I have with writing because it seems like no matter how good you think something is one day or a year ago, you might look at it again and want to change the whole thing. When you're used to deadlines it's easy to say when something is completed because it's not you decision really, but how can you stay focused when you're just writing to finish a piece of writing even though you know it can never be completely finished?

Answer 1

Suzie,

You have to first know why you're writing it. Perhaps you have a story to tell whether it's fictional or reality. Each and every time you go over it you have to ask yourself if you achieved your goal. Did you get down everything you wanted to say in the poem? Did you tell the story completely? Only you can decide whether it's finished or not.

The best thing to do is get it down on paper, edit it the way you think it should be, and then leave it alone. There is always another day to write something else. A person could drive themselves crazy going over the same thing all the time.

I hope this helped.

PJ M

Answer 2

you can never end.About the story though if the character achieves what he wants, if an important xharacter disappears, if their world finally changes or if the ch.changes dramatically by initiation, maturity then that may be an end( the great Gatsby for example).With the poem i think it's easy if you feel it's rhythm you know where it should end ...like a song.I know the empty feeling of leaving it as it is,I never end poems:)) Try manipulating the pattern, every poem has one.End with a structure from the beginning for example.The rhyme may help you too.

i never let any work i like to just gather dust.I give it to someone to read it again and check if it changed him even a bit, if it made him cry, call his friends with anxiety, anything unexpected and unconscious(deep).I couldn't write it for myself it's for a reader, for everyone.That is when i end the torment and sign it up for a contest or publish it.

Answer 3

When you cash the check.

Answer 4

I don't really know what to tell you.  I always feel like I am done when I feel closure for the story that I am trying to tell, but I understand what you are saying.  My suggestion would be: when you feel closure, put it away for a while.  Then, a couple months later, go back and edit.  Look for spelling, grammar, continuity and flow errors.  Don't change your voice or plot at this point (except to add or remove plot pieces to improve the flow and continuity).  Then you are done.  If you think that it is no good at this point, then moved onto another project.  You will just be running in circles if you feel the need to change your voice every time you edit.

I hope this helps (and is coherent to anyone besides just me!).