What do you do when a story doesn’t seem to be successful? Perhaps you’ve submitted it many times and have now decided it doesn’t have a future. Or perhaps it’s a story you just didn’t feel so passionate about by the time it was finished. It might feel like some stories are doomed to be shelved forever... but... there are still ways you can use existing work, even if it is not in its current form. So, what can you do?
Consider favourite elements
The easiest place to start is probably to identify your favourite elements from your shelved story. What do you love most about it? If you could only pick one component of your story, what would it be? You can also think about what first initiated the idea. What was your inspiration? Identifying this can even help you rediscover your passion for the shelved story
