Writers of every stripe know that at least some of their efforts will land in a drawer or on the back burner. Can these manuscripts be revived??

Writing Tip for Today: Here are some tips for repurposing old projects:

Practice Makes Perfect

Some of the stuff you write will probably never see print. If you’re a newer writer, consider your early efforts as practice. For whatever reasons, we tend to think that since we know how to “write,” we should already be producing publishable work.

Pros know that like every creative, writers must hone their skills over many words and some length of time. New writers sometimes complain that they are spinning their wheels. They receive rejection after rejection. But don’t ever give up on your goals—just know that it’s very common to start  in the “minor leagues.”

Try to set up a writing schedule where you show up, put in your BIC time and write as much as you can. Even if what you produce isn’t publishable, it’s great practice. Some complain that it’s all in who you know. But editors always recognize writing that’s professional and polished.

Re-Imagine Works

Let’s say you wrote your first novel, but it’s now languishing in a drawer or on a file. Should you keep trying to revise the novel indefinitely? What if you re-imagine the story kernel in a different form?

You could adapt your novel to a short story or a screenplay. The short story market is steep, but if you can write a good screenplay (which will be mainly dialogue and stage direction), you could succeed with your story. If the material is based upon true life or your life, rewrite as a memoir or a personal experience essay.

Often, the theme of any novel is broad enough to encompass evergreen subjects like love, belonging, forgiveness. Try writing a nonfiction article about a person or situation that illustrates the theme.

Try re-imagining old work in a new form, and revise accordingly. 

Revise and Resubmit

Another idea is to hire a pro editor for development or content editing. This type of editor differs from copy editors. A developmental editor can help you with structural problems, scene writing and character development.

Developmental editors sometimes give you a dizzying array of things to change in your novel or book-length work. These pronouncements may discourage you from tackling a substantial rewrite. Sometimes, it makes sense to actually write the novel again rather than try to squeeze in all the fixes.

By adapting your novel to a different form or audience or theme, you will undoubtedly grow and learn your craft. Becoming a paid or published writer can be a long road, but if you can’t NOT write, it may mean that you’re willing to practice and reimagine and revise so that you can resubmit the work.